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    Bar Contra

    4.5 (22 reviews)
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    Updated 2 months ago

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    Stuffed chicken wings
    Aditya S.

    This acclaimed cocktail bar is located in a sliver of space with an easy to miss entrance on Orchard Street in the Lower East Side. The low lit vibe offers a chill area to enjoy unique strong cocktails and inventive bar snacks. The drinks almost taste medicinal but in a good way. The Sagittarius B2 with rum, raspberry acid, and almond syrup tastes like a light boozy milkshake. The Candarin Orange offers a floral citrusy take on a martini with tequila. The filling chicken wing is packed to the brim with Stilton cheese stuffed sausage. The Comté tart with a creamy mushroom and truffle custard topped with green asparagus is baked to perfection.

    Jessica S.

    Got off work at a reasonable hour and we got drink and snack in LES. The cocktails here are great, i loved the daquiri inspired one and the Umeboshi w the mini beer was AWESOME! I think u can skip the food, the tuna w potato cripsies was a lil nothingburger imho and a tad fishy. The snack vibe is they are doing a lot w the descriptors on the menu and fancy ingredients and adjectives and stuff but idk if its coming thru in the bites themselves. Tis not an anju place for me alas

    American Wagyu Beef Tartare
    Gordon Y.

    Cuisine: 7 Service: 6 Decor: 7 Value: 6 Overall: 7 Moody wine bar in LES with dim lit bar and dining area. Stopped by recently to try some of their food items I saw on Yelp and Google, but unfortunately some of them no longer exist. Here are the four items we did get to experience. Summer Tomato Tart (9/10) - This dish replaced the Mushroom Tart that I came here for. Fresh and sweet cherry tomatoes, with skin peeled off, and slightly roasted, over a creamy sauce piped into a small crunchy tart. Delicious! Dunno what I missed with the Mushroom Tart, but not too unhappy. American Wagyu Beef Tartare (6/10) - Why does American Wagyu not taste more flavorful? Well, it's severely under seasoned for one. Another issue is that the condiments and accompaniments, such as ramps and artichoke, add a slight bit of texture but not any real taste differences. I prefer a classic one with capers and more salt. Not worth the high price. Montauk Scarlet Prawn (8/10) - Simple and delicious. You can taste a slight brininess along with the natural sweetness of the prawns. The sauce adds a hint of savory umami to the dish. Maine Scallop (6/10) - The masa batter was okay, but I would have preferred something more crispy for what is essentially tempura. The shiso leaf is a nice touch, but I really didn't taste the walnut condiment. Service was decent but somewhat slow. Not sure if I would return regularly, but I will not hesitate to visit if they bring back that Mushroom Tart.

    Banana Justino and passionfruit low ball
    Gab G.

    Came twice within a few months and can definitively say this is one of the best cocktail bars in NYC right now. Dave Arnold (Liquid Intelligence) did the bar and if you're into forced carbonation, acid stuff, etc, you'll love this place. The drinks also just TASTE GOOD. The first time, my friend booked ahead for Tuesday evening drinks. Bar is a tight squeeze, so would recommend making a reservation for a table if you can. I tried: + Frozen Green pisco-lada - had great flavor but a little too much air + viridian sour - incredible, 5 stars for this drink alone. Hope they bring it back! + Sagittarius 82 - like a raspberry gummy candy, yummy and sweet + Banana justino - amazing + Celeriac crumpet - delicious + Montauk scarlet prawn - great texture, though a bit too fishy for me The second time, I booked through Capital One dining and they comped us a crumpet, which was a nice touch! Other new things I tried this time: + Fantasy Island - perfect, definitely get this + Passionfruit low ball - great flavor but too carbonated for me (I was warned lol) + Frozen popcorn - insane. What is this sorcery?? Don't think, just order Will try the potato sundae next time!

    Tuna Mayo
    Luna C.

    I came here with friends to celebrate my birthday. The staff were friendly --the small gesture of adding an extra chicken wing since there were three of us. Food-wise, my favorites were the oyster tartare, the celeriac crumpet, and the potato & strawberry sundae--each one unique and full of flavor. I also enjoyed the mushroom tartlet; it had a strong truffle aroma which I liked, though it came with just a few tiny pieces of mushroom--not quite like the photos that were posted here from a few months back. The cocktails were great across the board: well-mixed, not overly sweet, and nicely balanced so you could taste the alcohol without it overpowering the drink.

    Passion fruit Low Ball
    Katie C.

    My first thoughts really are about the service we had here, which was just stellar. They made my husband and I feel like VIPs. Really lovely people and service. We had a comfortable corner table towards the back. I appreciate that we weren't smushed into a smaller table. We tried a few of their cocktails including: Passion Fruit Lowball - delicious, not overly sweet or overly carbonated, with a very forward fruit flavor. Very refreshing, and light. Xipe Totec - this had a nice smokiness to it, a smoky pineapple daiquiri. Sagittarius B12 - creamy, delicious raspberry and rum. Hard to pick a fave but this was really good!! Brandy Savage - I didn't get to have much of this one, but my taste of it was yummy. I don't recall any cranberry? Food-wise, they were out of the crumpet, and while the prawns were tasty, they were soooo teeny tiny. Smoked Pacific Oysters - I'm not usually a fan of canned, but tried them anyway and found the smokiness nice. I wish they'd been fresh though. Tuna Mayo - pretty sure this was also canned fish. Heavy on the mayo and not the freshest tasting tuna. I would return for the delicious, unique drinks and impeccable service, but would skip the food next time.

    Menu
    Wendy B.

    The return of (bar) Contra! Enjoyed the new concept and the bar bites menu. - Red Prawn: smelled fishy but tasty. Maybe it's frozen? - Maine Scallop: tempura concept, pretty good but would think there should be 2 shiso leaf so each bite of scallop gets the flavor? - Tuna Mayo: though it's like tuna tartare but the tuna is cooked. Nothing wrong with it just didn't expect it. Crunchies are good. - Chicken Wing: pork sausage flavor was a bit overpowering the chicken. Will come back and try their drink next time!

    Fantasy Island
    Nathaniel P.

    TLDR: I was a huge fan of Contra so naturally, I loved all the bites I had at Bar Contra. Need to come back to try more of the drink menu, but I liked what I had. I see myself coming here regularly. Walked in on a Friday and was able to grab a couple seats at the bar. Space was cozy and dimly lit. Not sure what changed since it was Contra, the layout looked pretty similar from what I remember. I was excited to see familiar items on the menu like the mushroom tartlet, chicken wing, tofu with caviar, and potato dessert. Ordered a mix of new and old. My favorite bites were the celeriac crumpet, Maine scallop, and both the potato & strawberry sundae and the Bar Contra Bar desserts. For drink, I didn't get to try as much as I wanted, so I'll update later when I try the rest of the menu. For now, I enjoyed the Banana Justino which was a banana-y, caramel-y rum old fashioned type drink and the No Words, a mamey gin and grapefruit cocktail that was refreshing and fruity. Overall, loved the friendly service and casual vibe. Loved every bite I had, and can't wait to try more drinks.

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    1 year ago

    Contra I've missed you! Glad to see it back albeit in new lounge form. Cocktails are excellent. Space is cosy so expect tight tables.

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    2 years ago

    Great food. Great wine. Great service. All around amazing experience. The ambience was also great. Definitely going back.

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    Dear Irving on Broadway - Josephine Room

    Dear Irving on Broadway

    4.5(35 reviews)
    3.1 miMidtown West

    Finding a good cocktail bar in NYC is not that difficult for most, but I find that my friend and I…read morehave become a bit of cocktail snobs lately, as we always look for something specific during our travels. We are tequila and mezcal drinkers so a lot of places, we've found lately, so not have as big of mezcal selections. This was the exception. We wanted to go to the location that wasn't in such a touristy area, but it was so cold that we didn't wanna walk so we just did this location. The aesthetic is super warm and takes you to somewhere luxurious and almost even tropical with the light shades and all. The bartenders are actual mixologists so if you tell them what you're thinking of, they'll likely be able to execute. Our bartenders were very attentive and enthusiastic in creating the drinks we had in mind. All we had to do was give them a brief idea and we got these wonderful drinks back. I wish I had pictures, but the drinks were flowing and the conversation was so good. We were thoroughly impressed. Great program they're running here, their mixologists know what they're doing!

    I was here for an event, so didn't order entrees/mains. We did have some appetizers and finger…read morefood, which wasn't the tastiest...the best thing there were probably the lobster rolls and sliders. The drinks were very delicious, though! The bartenders were nice and made the drinks very quickly. There was one who was consistently friendly, as opposed to the blonde lady there. I'd go back again on a date night because the interior had major sexy vibes.

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    Dear Irving on Broadway - Cocktails

    Cocktails

    Dear Irving on Broadway - Cocktail

    Cocktail

    Dear Irving on Broadway - Smoky & spicy cocktail it was ;-)

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    Smoky & spicy cocktail it was ;-)

    Sunken Harbor Club - Shallows drinks

    Sunken Harbor Club

    4.5(115 reviews)
    2.0 miDowntown Brooklyn
    $$$

    I've been trying to go to Sunken Harbor for over a year now. I don't know how it's possible but…read moredespite being local it always seems to have a private event whenever we have plans to go. The stars finally aligned this winter and I had the opportunity to try it out. The vibes are perfect. Fog and bubbles, sea noises and all of the art go together seemlessly. Drinks were great. We had three and left suitably sloshed for the night with no aftereffects. We didn't have too many bites but the food was very good for a bar. I'm excited to go back and I hope we have just as much luck getting in next time.

    This is a "speakeasy" above Gage and Tollner. An undersea Tiki style adventure with a sexy mermaid…read moreheading up the bar. Nautical theme throughout with weathered leather, ropes, fish. Cocktails are made with various types of rum and ingredients like grapefruit, maraschino, wormwood amaro, falernum, thyme, Assam tea, spiced lime, allspice, coconut, cucumber, nutmeg, sour orange. All the drinks keep with the tropical, fruity taste with a hint of spice. They are also broken up into categories (dry land = no alcohol, shallows = average amount of alcohol, and abyss (larger amounts of alcohol). The abyss section has some cocktails that are limited to two per customer. They have some bar bites like fried green tomatoes, shrimp toast, broiled oysters, ricotta, dumplings, sliders. I had the French fries with kimchi ranch, which were underwhelming. Bartenders were cool and kept the drinks coming. I got in immediately without an issue or a wait, but it was right after a snowstorm. I've seen some people struggle to get in or have a long wait.

    Photos
    Sunken Harbor Club - View of the bar

    View of the bar

    Sunken Harbor Club - Mary Pickford - IG @bougiefoodieboi

    Mary Pickford - IG @bougiefoodieboi

    Sunken Harbor Club - Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner

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    Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner

    Dear Strangers - Such a nice cute bar!

    Dear Strangers

    4.3(28 reviews)
    1.0 miGreenwich Village

    Dear Strangers is a wonderful hidden gem! We celebrated Valentine's Day there last night and while…read morethe restaurant was incredibly busy, we never felt overlooked or underserved. The owners were milling around making sure everyone was well taken care of and the wait staff were kind and personable. Now the food...AMAZING!!! Every bite we took was wonderful and so surprising with creative combinations and gorgeously presented. The restaurant itself was hip and refined and seemed to be the happening spot of the night. We will certainly be back!

    Met up with friends here for dinner before a show near Washington square. It wasn't super crowded…read morewhen we arrived around 6pm (maybe due to the extreme cold that day) but started filling up gradually. I loved the ambiance and decor, very cozy. As for food, there were some true hits but most of the food was good but basic. The highlights for me were the wild mushrooms & rice cakes as well as the Caesar salad - loved the use of nori in the salad and would definitely come back for the mushrooms. The chicken cutlet and chicken dumplings were fine but I probably wouldn't order them again. The wait staff weren't super attentive nor super warm, but they were efficient when we asked for water refills, etc. There was ample standing room at the bar while we waited for our friends, but the table/booth that we sat at was super narrow, I was knocking knees with my friend all night and generally felt squished.

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    Dear Strangers
    Dear Strangers
    Dear Strangers - Smoked chicken croquettes

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    Smoked chicken croquettes

    Attaboy - Tiny bar which is why the long waits to get in but cozy and cool vibe

    Attaboy

    4.1(869 reviews)
    0.1 miLower East Side
    $$

    Attaboy has my heart and soul, especially after crafting, curating and creating my dream drink that…read morewill live forever in the memory of my taste buds unable to be erased from my brain's footprints. Our friends raved about this place and we of course were excited (and a bit skeptical at first) to try it. The concept: no menu + no lights + a few questions = the ultimate cocktail experience. The speakeasy vibe and the dark ambiance really makes this place feel even more exclusive. With just a few tables and the bar setting, you're in for an experience you won't forget (unless you answer the wrong questions and really end up with a drink you don't like HA). This wasn't my case. Of course I described my two favorite things: Negroni + mezcal. The obvious answer would be a mezcal Negroni, but that's not why one comes to a place like Attaboy. Our amazing curator came by to ask us all a few questions, write down a few words in the napkins, and mix up the perfect drink that our master bartender crafts, curates and creates. My drink came as I couldn't possibly imagine. It looked like a Negroni smelled like Oaxaca, with all the smoke simmering up and preparing my sensory experience, leading to the best first sip. Ladies and gentleman, I introduce you to The Devil's Backbone. A perfectly balanced drink I'll never forget, one that is sipped slowly and enjoyed thoroughly. It's sexy, it's smoky it's sipped. Attaboy gave the best mixology experience and we can't wait to be back. Pro tip: be sure to be as vocal as possible, even with ice, so you don't end up with a tiki drink if that's not your vibe.

    This is one of the must-try bars in NY. You describe the flavor profile of the drink you want and…read morethe bartender whips up something for you. I only said I wanted something "floral" and I got the best water lily drink curated for me - never had anything like it. Others in my group asked for "something spicy", "something smoky, nutty, and creamy" and something "refreshing". We were all extremely impressed. Our bartender was Steven and he was awesome! He even chatted with us for a bit after to tell us more about attaboy. I'm rounding up to 5 stars but I will say our experience with the "bouncer" was a bit unpleasant. He called us to let us know our table was ready but we missed the call (our fault). We returned the call immediately and got there within a couple minutes anyway. We were ready to patiently wait for the next availability but were met with some attitude and unnecessary comments from him during the waiting experience. Regardless, we had a great time inside to make up for this. Highly recommend, but just be sure to make a reservation or be on alert and on time when getting off the waitlist.

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    Attaboy - Small space but good vibes

    Small space but good vibes

    Attaboy - Interior bar seat

    Interior bar seat

    Attaboy - The Orange Moon

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    The Orange Moon

    The Dead Rabbit - Scotch eggs

    The Dead Rabbit

    4.2(2.1k reviews)
    1.6 miFinancial District
    $$

    The "coconut milk was off" cocktail was soo good. All the cocktails (electric momisette and miso…read morecolada) were fun, creative, and delicious. The food (dingle pie and spice bag chips) were also really good. The spice bag chips seasoning was really good. We walked in Wednesday 8:30 PM and they had a couple of high chair seats at a side bar in the parlor room available. Really fun decorations and ambiance.

    If you're looking for one of the best Irish pubs in Lower Manhattan, The Dead Rabbit absolutely…read morelives up to the hype. Tucked into the Financial District, this spot blends old New York history with some of the best cocktails in the city--and it's easy to see why it's been named "World's Best Bar" more than once. The name itself has a wild backstory, inspired by a notorious 19th-century Irish-American gang from Five Points. It adds a layer of character to the place, but what really keeps people coming back is the atmosphere and the drinks. The space is split into two levels: a two lively, sawdust-floored Taprooms downstairs and a more refined Parlor upstairs if you're in the mood for a quieter, cocktail-focused experience. Drinks are the real highlight here. The Irish Coffee is widely considered one of the best in the world--rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced with whiskey, coffee, and fresh cream. They also get creative with variations like a frozen version and even an Irish Coffee martini. If you want something different, the "Act Naturally" is a standout, mixing Irish whiskey with Guinness and fig in a way that works. Food is just as impressive for a bar. The lobster deviled eggs (topped with caviar) are a must-try, and the menu leans into elevated comfort food. Overall, The Dead Rabbit nails the balance between historic charm and modern cocktail excellence. The D.R. is one of those places that is never boring and consistently delivers.

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    The Dead Rabbit - Irish Coffee

    Irish Coffee

    The Dead Rabbit - Jingle All The Way

    Jingle All The Way

    The Dead Rabbit - Irish coffee

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    Irish coffee

    Apotheke - Apotheke Bar Chinatown

    Apotheke

    3.8(1.6k reviews)
    0.6 miChinatown, Civic Center
    $$$

    Apotheke was one of my first experiences with a hidden speakeasy a number of years ago, and it…read morestill remains the OG in my vast encyclopedia of experiences. :) Strolling down Chinatown's busy and gritty Doyers Street, looking for any sign of Apotheke is a fond memory, then finally figuring out where it was, and entering through the mysterious and otherworldly threshold resulted a transformative experience that made me feel like I time traveled. Mood lighting, comfortable seating, great drinks in a cozy and Victorian-inspired space are the perfect blend of unique and. I always felt like I was part of something special the few times enjoyed creative, delicious, and strong libations from the pros at the bar. While it has always been pricey, I do feel like the excellent service ambiance, and drink quality warrant this, but may prevent more folks from becoming regulars so to speak. I love the clever and compact bathroom design, too. IYKYK Long live Apotheke!

    Fifteen years later and Apotheke is still one of my favorites!…read more You will walk past this hidden speakeasy several times before finding it. I could tell you to look for the blue beaker sign that says "Chemist" but the better tell is the random guy sitting on a stool outside. He'll be the only person on the street, so no worries about missing him! The menu has changed over the years, but the quality has not. The bartenders are social and personable. And the prices are in line for the area. My bestie and I loved the vibe. One of the best speakeasies she's had the pleasure of experiencing. Don't miss out on this place!

    Photos
    Apotheke - The bar

    The bar

    Apotheke - Live Band

    Live Band

    Apotheke - Beautiful bar

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    Beautiful bar

    The Up & Up

    The Up & Up

    4.2(617 reviews)
    0.9 miGreenwich Village
    $$

    Cool vibe. Super nice people…read more Speak easy atmosphere Love the West Village neighborhood

    Serious attitude here. The cocktails were very tasty but the service and vibe were so off-putting,…read moreI will never go back. I made a reservation in person more than 24 hours in advance. I wanted to treat an old friend to a quick birthday toast before a show she was attending nearby. Later that night, another friend became available to join but, because they do not actually have a phone that takes calls (only offers an announcement to go to Resy or email) adding another person was not at all easy. I would have had to cancel and rebook and wasn't sure I'd be able to (reservation was for a Saturday night) In most places, a table for 3 easily accommodates 4. But not here. When two of us arrived, they made it clear this was a big problem. I would have walked out right then but I would have been charged $90! We decided to stay and make the best of it, which was a challenge. For a speakeasy, the vibe was aggressive, not relaxing. Very loud music and not great acoustics.) Too cramped to be comfortable, proving that small does not necessarily mean cozy! We asked if we could take a chair from the table next to us, which was empty (it was only 6 pm; I told our server we'd be gone by 7 because my friend, the birthday girl, had to catch a show.) We were told No! To say the waiter was cold, unfriendly, and indifferent is generous. He was totally rude. He literally told my friend she couldn't sit in a chair that was otherwise empty, knowing we'd be leaving momentarily. Then he had the gail to hand me the bill with a 22% tip pre-selected...and watched over me while I signed it! Definitely the least satisfying $100 I have ever spent. Disappointing. It was good to see my friends, but I so wish I hadn't picked this place. Never again.

    Photos
    The Up & Up - Screen Door Slam

    Screen Door Slam

    The Up & Up
    The Up & Up

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    Bar Contra - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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