Only went for drinks but loved the service a super cute hole in the wall. The atmosphere was almost speak easy like. Will definitely be back

We waited approximately 25 minutes just to receive our drinks and over 35 minutes for our food. To make matters worse, several items we ordered were never brought to the table at all. When the food finally arrived, the quality was unacceptable. The jerk chicken was raw, which is a serious food safety concern, and the rice and beans were undercooked. After such a long wait, we expected much better. To be fair, the restaurant did remove the jerk chicken dinners from our bill after we brought the issue to their attention, and that was appreciated. However, it did not make up for the excessive wait times, missing items, and poorly prepared food. Overall, the experience was frustrating and disappointing. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this restaurant based on our visit. read more

On Sunday, September 27, 2026, we stopped at Anchor Spa before attending the Chelsea Handler show in New Haven. I've walked by this place a million times and always wanted to try it. I wasn't familiar with their specialties, so I asked the bartender which he would recommend, the rum punch or a skinny margarita. His response was basically, "I don't know, you just need to make a decision." Completely rude and unnecessary. I later learned that customers before us had also experienced problems with the same bartender. He went out of his way to be rude and made our first visit miserable. Unfortunately, what should have been a fun stop before the show turned into a terrible experience. I won't be returning. read more

This review is for the ambiance and drinks only. My husband and I had planned to go to another place after dining not too far away and the place ended up being closed. We found Anchor Spa and decided to try it out and were very impressed. Small and intimate but great vibes, nice theme and great drinks and music. The gentlemen at the bar were super friendly and we were entertained by their creativity as well as the music and just being in the presence of the other patrons. We will definitely return. read more

Anchor Spa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Good stuff behind the bar, the bartenders were pretty outstanding HOWEVER that menu is sort of a drag, nothing was available on it. Also maybe consider having just a drink menu. The storys are a bit contrived for a neighborhood that unfortunately cares little for it, as i've seen. Again alot of things on menu were out of stock. I came to New Haven for a show down the block and strangely I was lured into something that was proposed as an extension of NYC however that it was not. Lastly, I get the concept but at certain hours the same Islander vibe gets pretty Banal after the 5/6 song that sounds like that last 5/6 songs. read more

I'd argue the best cocktails in New Haven. My favorite being the alls pear in thyme paired with some jerk fries. read more

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Came here for drinks on my anniversary. We both had cocktails with rum, one had orange and the other was chocolate liqueur. Both were delicious, poured well, and presented nicely. The staff here is incredibly friendly and welcoming. The interior is dimly lit and perfect for a relaxing and cozy vibe. read more

Anchor Spa - Cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Anchor Spa has a nice ambiance and attentive servers. Can't say I loved the food. My entree took about 45mins to come out, so you know it was fresh. The fried rice and pickled veggies were divine, with some salt and extra jerk sauce-- the chicken was kicked up a notch. read more

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This was my first time in Anchor Spa. The staff's personality is top tier to say the least! The host, Jamal, greeted us and we actually ended up talking for a bit due to having to stand since the seating area and bar were full. He was great and let me know some of the history behind the location. The bartenders were lovely and super quick. I enjoyed the music because it seemed like my own Spotify was connected to the Bluetooth- I'm a big fan of R&B and Neo-soul! There were art pieces that were beautiful as well. Eventually a table freed up and we moved to the seating area which had some antique decor that tied in nice. I had The Carrot One and a Hayman's Tea to drink. I enjoyed the Hayman's because it was light and botanical but babyyyy let me tell you about The Carrot One!! I love carrot cocktails but sometimes they can be overpowering or underwhelming, this one was perfect. The dill complimented the drink very well. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the cigar smell in the bar that came from one of the cocktails that is smoked in a cigar box. I didn't try the food (yet) but I'm looking forward to it. read more

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I am in love! I literally can't wait to go back to this place. All of the staff was exceptionally friendly; from the manager to both the bartenders, their commitment to creating a welcoming environment was exceptional! The space is absolutely beautiful. It creates a really cozy environment. We sat at the bar and met some exceptionally friendly people. My husband ordered the Manhattan after dark, which was quite possibly the most beautiful cocktail I have ever seen. And he said it was equally tasty! Pro tip: get the french fries! They are seasoned to perfection. We can't wait to return . read more

Anchor Spa - The bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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This is like one of those randomly discovered amazing places that you find when you're walking the streets of NYC, except that you are in New Haven, CT. Outside, Anchor Spa doesn't use Shiny Ball Syndrome (look it up) to attract its customers. I've passed by this place year after year not even knowing it was a restaurant. But, boy was I missing out! The food and drink here is Amazing!!! I learned that the menu changes, I'm assuming seasonally, but they still keep some classic staples like the Bag of Fried Chicken which is juicy, crispy, and light! Hopefully they haven't run out on a night you're visiting. The thing about an evolving menu, is that there is usually something new to try! That's a plus for me! With this latest menu, I tried the Rasta Pasta with added Jerk Chicken Skewers. I was blown away by the chicken. It tasted real, and when I say that, I mean it tasted like it was made in the Islands somewhere rather than the Americanized jerk Chicken a lot of places sell. That brief moment of heat from the chicken was fantastic! Drinks? Anchor Bar raises the standards! Awesome Signature drinks with real alcohol and fresh ingredients! Many ppl come for the drinks alone (but you will miss out if you don't try the food as well) If I worked a traditional 9-5, I would definitely be stopping by after work every night for a drink! Btw, there are Happy Hour Specials!!!!! The atmosphere is amazing! Its so cool and low-key inside. The decor looks like it has a story and is full of history. Would love to learn about it one day. The staff is always amazing! Friendly, welcoming, warm, sexy, cool!!! Honestly, I wasn't thrilled about the menu on my first visit. There weren't many apps/entrees that appealed to me. But I'm glad I came back. I wanted to try everything off this latest menu. This place is definitely a Vibe that I want to experience over and over and over again! read more

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Try the swordfish sandwich and the chicken wings. I don't think you'll be disappointed. The anchor you is delicious. Services is great and delivered with fun and personality. Nice convenient venue, especially if taking in a show nearby. read more

Harlem Biscuits and Biscuit sandwiches are made with love at The Anchor Spa. Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM, you can grab yourself the most delicious biscuits and sandwiches you could possibly imagine. The biscuits come in either Everything, Cheddar or just Buttermilk. We tried the Bodega with bacon, egg and cheddar cheese. The Langston has fried chicken, pickles, onion and chili garlic honey. The Claire has egg whites, spinach and swiss cheese. So many jams to choose from too- grape, strawberry or orange marmalade. Plus--don't miss the chili garlic hot honey! It's so good! There is also a dirty butter that I still need to try! Pro Tip- When you're there on a Sunday- make sure to try the Rum Punch or the Mimosa with passionfruit! Wow! Delicious :) read more

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Stopped by for a drink and heard great things. It was packed but service was still good. Had the Kentucky refresher which is a bit like a whiskey sour but very forward with the whiskey. Some of the other drinks seemed more theatrical and interesting so I would get something else if I came back! read more

Anchor Spa - Kentucky refresher - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Date nights are rare with the little people in our lives - so my husband and I were excited to try a new spot recently! I was drawn in by the carribean inspired menu thanks to my upbringing - and was not disappointed. Lovely black-owned & Yale-alum owned spot, vibrant and intimate atmosphere. The food was delicious (what's so 'sexy' about the Sexy Wings? Perfect balance of kick and tinge of sweetness) and the cocktails were certainly creative. I believe their cocktail concoctions change frequently - but I ordered the "Leo-ness" (Martell VS, Appleton VX, Hibiscus Syrup, Pineapple Juice, Ginger Beer). Not too strong, but oh so delicious. The reason this wasn't a 5-star experience is due to service. We were patient with restaurants bouncing back due to labor issues as a result of the pandemic, but there seemed to be only one waitress this evening. She was clearly stretched thin and forgot our order multiple times. I'd be willing to come back and give it another go! read more

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This bar is super cute and fun. The bartering was also very friendly and attentive, easy to talk to. Enjoyed the time with a couple of nice cocktails. They offer interesting cocktails and all are very delicious and well balanced. read more

Anchor Spa - Very cool and friendly bartender - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Came here on Valentines day and I was so excited to come here because of all of the amazing reviews. The restaurant is so cozy! I loved the R&B and Neo-Soul music playing. They wanted to place us at a table but were ok with accommodating us with a booth. The booth itself was awesome. My husband and I were able to sit right next to each other and share our food. So here is why I have to rate this place a 3/5. We ordered our food and it took a while to come out. We ordered the plantain appetizer, the salmon special and the bag of chicken and a side of fries. Well the fries were the first thing to come out. The salmon followed. The waitress told me the chicken would be a while but came out next. We then were starting to get full and wanted to make sure at that point the appetizer was not coming out anymore. The waitress then said she would take it off the bill and if it comes out we could take it home. The salmon was tasty but the mushroom sauce was missing from the dish. The appetizer was ok but very greasy. The chicken was amazing with the sauce! It seemed like the manager was also helping with serving some of the food. He asked if our waitress asked us if we wanted refills on our drinks. We told him no so he took our order but never got our refills. All in all we weren't too happy with the service and the order in which our food came out. The waitress was very nice though. read more

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I must have passed this place a million times and never considered it. But upon discovering, I will keep coming back. Absolutely great food- I do not like Rasta pasta at all, but the way they make it here has converted me into liking it. The drinks is properly made. Very attentive staff and friendly bartender. Ambiance is a mixture of a lot of different themes- maybe it explains the name? But nonetheless I'm pleasantly surprised. Nicely done. Yet another really solid places to go to. read more

I'll be honest, if it wasn't for a friend's recommendation to grab a drink here I probably would have left as soon as I walked in because of how strong the incense smell was. Decided to give it a shot anyway and sat at the small bar. Chill but fun vibes from staff. Our bartender was nice. Service was slow but we were in no rush anyway. Drinks were fine, can't speak for the food. Personally wouldn't return because of how many other good options can be found downtown. read more

Such a fun evening hanging out with some friends we had a great dinner and I love the bartender love love love the music you have to go here it was a great time !! read more

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Went to this place for happy hour . The waitresses was very nice , the place was dim with some booth like small seating area . Music was playing looking at the menu this is a Caribbean restaurant . I enjoyed all my food here , we had fried plantains and Chicken Wings for our happy options . Cocktails were delicious and on point . For my main I had Jerk chicken Rasta pasta and it was delicious no spicy sauce from the chicken,but a sweeter flare to it . read more

Decided to stop in after reading various great reviews and this is for cocktails only since we need to come back for dinner. AMBIANCE: 5/5 it's quaint, cozy, chill, cool, all in one. Lighting and music were perfect level. Gorgeous bar, cool decor. Yes. Yes. DRINKs: 5/5 we tasted 3 drinks. Rum punch, Gold fashioned, The Baxter. All 3 were perfect. The bar is a craft bar and has many aromatics, fruits and spices. They use top shelf liquor and mixers. We loved the bartender as well. Can't wait to go back!!! read more

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Incredibly bad vibe here- attributed to one bar tender. Too bad because I really wanted to like the place- the interior and clientele and music was great. One women Bartender working Saturday night was extremely under the influence of something it cannot be denied watching her movements and the way she was speaking. Not only that but she rude to clients, slightly confrontional to me and then basically was kicking people out by turning on the lights at 1am and was like "everyone get out". To be clear- all patrons were just quietly enjoying a late night drink. It was sad and uncomfortable and causing the business to lose money as well as unfair to the other perfectly polite bartender working there. Too bad. I hope the owner reads this and does something about it I saw a lot of people walking in - it was around 12:30am on a Saturday night, a mostly middle aged/30s low key crowd, and most left with no drinks and we all said what the hell out on the sidewalk. Not good. read more

When I came back to visit Connecticut, this was a pace that had good food and good rum punch, now that I live in New Haven, the atmosphere is amazing, I always get to talk to fun and interesting people and it is a good spot to eat and relax, I would recommend it to anyone who comes to visit New Haven and I look forward to visiting 67 Orange Street soon. read more

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I never write reviews, but having visited here twice in the last few months and twice left without a drink because it took incredibly long, I am making an exception. The first time, my friend and I ordered standard cocktails, and after waiting 40 (!) minutes without a drink, we left. The second time, I went with a small group and advised everyone to order basic mixed drinks (G&Ts) based on past experience. After 15 minutes without drinks, I politely inquired about how long it would be since we were in a bit of a rush, and my whole party was asked to leave for having the temerity to ask. I want to like this place, I really do, but these experiences will make me advise anyone I know not even to bother at this point... read more

New Haven's International Festival of Arts and Ideas put together a Holiday Vibes virtual holiday party that included a drink kit from the Anchor Spa and a cooking demo by Sandra Pittman of Sandra's Next Generation. I purchased tickets for the event which involved some home cooking and picking up a drink kit at the Anchor Spa prior to the zoom party. This was our first time at the Anchor Spa which was cool because we live near Anchor Beach in Milford which is what the restaurant was named after. We lucked out by getting a parking spot across the street. For anyone who is not so fortunate can easily use the garage which is across from the restaurant. We arrived early and so our party pack was not ready to go. We decided to stay for a cocktail and check out the menu. While we did not eat there, we enjoyed some nice conversations with the staff and a couple of other customers. The decor is awesome. Anchor Spa has a real welcoming vibe and the folks who came in were so friendly we felt like we were part of a neighborhood group. I highly recommend the featured cocktail called the Kentucky Refresher. Its made with Old Forester bourbon, lemon juice, fresh ginger, sage, cardamom, mint and simple syrup. It is a blast to watch the bar tender make it and it is delicious! Anchor Spa offers cocktail kits for you to take home. We made the Kentucky Refresher numerous times since and it has become one of our fav happy hour drinks! I am looking forward to returning for a meal and more of those super refreshing drinks. read more

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Second time coming here and I'm still impressed! Always a big fan of the ambiance and great music playing that isn't overly loud. Waitress was friendly and checked up on us frequently. A big fan of the fact that they also serve mocktails on the menu for folks like me who do not drink. I had the rasta pasta with jerk chicken this time which was good but could've had more flavor with the jerk chicken. Overall, I would recommend and will be coming back! read more

The service depends on the bartenders mood(s). I love this place but it's truly a hit or miss depending on the service staff. I've witnesss them arguing nonstop to just being rude as hell to customers including me. There have been discrepancies with them tab and I just took care of it. Please bring back amazing customer service. read more

Love the food here! And the bartenders are very talented. This is such a unique and interesting place and we love the people here! Tofu Sandwich is excellent and the wings and Anchor salad are also very good. Friends enjoyed Shrimp and Grits and Jerk Fries. Everything about this place is amazing! read more

It's a shame because my friends and I used to love Anchor Spa and it's great cocktails, but the service has been so terrible that I cannot recommend this place to anyone. I came here on a special occasion and waited 40 minutes for a basket of fries, then waited another 20 for someone to pick up our check, despite the bar being relatively empty. I gave Anchor Spa another shot this week only to be met with incredibly rude and slow service again. Manager spoke to us in the most condescending manner. Will not be going here again or recommending it to anyone we know. read more

I had a really pleasant time catching up with a friend and it was really enjoyable and fun. The drink I got - a red tall cocktail called the Leo-Ness (cool name!!), tasted really nice and was sizeable too. It was brandy-based (I found out later..) and made of Martell VS, Appleton VX, Hibiscus Syrup, Pineapple Juice, Uncle Waithley's Vincy Brew - really sweet and delicious! BUT I wasn't fully a fan of the team that served us that night because they promised us a table when one became available and then forgot about us and never moved us to a table... And we ended up spending the whole time at the bar and only I had a stool to sit on (my friend didn't). Also drinks took quite long to prepare and once we were done I felt a bit rushed to be pushed out. So not a huge fan of the team that was serving us that particular night but I'm sure that might be idiosyncratic and the drinks were delicious! :) P.S. Be forewarned that the drinks are quite pricey, since these are fancy well-made cocktails! I think they also have a happy hour menu though if you come earlier. read more

If you're looking for a taste of the Caribbean/amazing cocktails, you have found just the place. This cool and intimate bar is one of the best places to have a drink. They also have a mindful menu for those who do not drink the staff is very friendly and will help you out if have any questions about their drinks. read more

Three friends and I visited Anchor Spa on a Sunday evening and were the only ones at the bar. Anchor Spa is a cute, speakeasy-ish spot with nice nooks and a sleek bar. In love the tile floor in the front. The cocktail menu is a little short. It has a bunch of rum drinks and a whole section for gin. I'm a bourbon and vodka fan, so there weren't as many options for me. However, I went for the NYC After Dark ($13), and it was satisfying. They also had a sign in the window advertising hot cider, which really hit the spot. Some small qualms: The menus were a little grungy, clearly having been handled hundreds of times. Sure, I know menus get handled many times, but they're at a point where you ask yourself why hasn't someone printed new ones. Also, the bar was blasting top 40s. The bartender did ask us if we wanted to turn the music down, which was a nice gesture. That was necessarily my issue, though. This spot could have more interesting music playing; there's a lot more personality here. read more

Very nice and friendly staff here. The bathrooms are downstairs and are impeccably clean. Our waitress kept refilling out water without prompting, and was very helpful with all her suggestions of which drinks to try. Def want to come back again soon. read more

Anchor Spa is hands down one of the best bars in New Haven (if not the best). Everything - from the ambiance, to the service, to the drinks, to the food - is perfect! The only thing that can be a bit frustrating is that it's a great spot that has gotten a little popular, so it can be slightly difficult to find an open table on a weekend. That said, it's not usually too bad. Whenever I go, I invariably convince the table to get at least one carafe of the rum punch. It's ~$30 and has more than 3 drinks so it's a great value. More importantly, it's smooth, sweet without being overpowering, unique while not being too far out there, and strong but not too strong. It's one of my favorite drinks of all time! I don't usually order food, but I have had the jerk fries and the chicken wings. Both were fabulous, but the jerk fries were truly special - they were a fun Caribbean version of normal french fries that packed a ton of flavor. This is the perfect spot for a cute date or a fun catch-up with friends, I highly encourage everybody in New Haven to stop by at least once! read more

I meant to write a review of the Anchor Spa back in April when I got back from a week trip to New Haven/Yale for book research. I took pictures and wanted to post them but didn't and now , well, God knows how long it would take to find. But this place is pure gold. The cocktails are incredible (and I don't usually go in for specialty drinks). The old mixologist moved to FL. I know him (Bootleg Greg) from a theater excursion I reviewed in CT. But don't worry, it's all as good as when Bootleg was there. The happy hour is a great deal and you will drink far more than you intended to. Owned by a Y '97 grad (who also owns a place in Harlem I can't wait to visit when I'm back in NY for a week this fall), the food , the decor, the vibe just perfect. Also a lovely view of the Taft and the Green from the front seats. There was outdoor seating but the winds were nuts the day I went in on my last night. I remember when this was a dive bar. How times have changed! read more

Anchor Spa is an awesome little bar in downtown New Haven that specializes in uniquely amazing cocktails (e.g., Yale Beets Harvard, which is amazing) and Afro Caribbean inspired small plates from the great Chef Steve. Its a great place for a date or to chill with friends. They have live music periodically. The venue and location is full of history and perfect for a speakeasy concept, which New Haven desperately needs. Definitely check it out! Stayed tuned for the new menu coming soon. read more

Anchor Spa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Deliciously crafted drinks. One of our favorites in new haven my go to drink is the warp speed mr Spock. read more

Anchor Spa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I've come here many times usually as a nice chill vibe bar type night. Today I tried the curry goat and coconut rice as an entree , sangria as a drink and the banana bread desert. I LOVED the drink, it was refreshing and fruity tasting. The curry goat was AMAZINGGGGG, tender, and very well seasoned. I like my food seasoned and this is definitely one of the top maybe 20-30 dishes I've had my whole life. This was also the first time I tried GOAT. Very well done, the coconut rice with it was also really good because the rice wasn't over seasoned so it was a great mix, I was super full after the desert. THE DESERT THOUGH really topped it off, the sour cream sauce on it was new for me, didn't really like it because i could still taste the sour cream so it was odd to have it in desert. Overall really good! I will continue coming here. read more

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Updating this review to give it 5 stars. Had a chance to meet and talk with the owner and I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed. He is a very kind man who cares a lot about the customer experience at his restaurant. I did a do-over of my last order (sexy wings and jerk fries) and tried his famous ginger beer. The sexy wings were *chef's kiss*. Perfectly crunchy, moist, and well sauced. LOVEEEEEE them. The jerk fries were well seasoned but I think the chef is beefing with me because they gave me mostly crumbs rather than actual fries... lol. The ginger beer? OOOHWEEEE! It is a culinary experience to be had. You can taste the habanero but the heat is quite muted. It's delicious. I'll definitely be back and may even visit his location in Harlem. read more