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Bar Goto

4.3 (298 reviews)
ModerateCocktail Bars
Closed 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

Bar Goto Photos

BAR GOTO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Trendy
Intimate
Moderate noise

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Recommended Reviews - Bar Goto

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Matt L.

An intimate bar with a few fun drinks. Recommended if you want a quieter bar to go to alone or take someone on a date to during off peak hours. Cocktails are an average of $18-20. Easy to pass by because there's no large or obvious signage outside. Would recommend the watermelon cooler, if you truly want refreshing summer in a glass. Ume paloma was also good, though subtle in flavor.

sakura martini
Sophia N.

The sakura martini was so pretty! Was smooth but the flavor was pretty run of the mill. Great ambiance in the bar and I was able to walk in with 3 people on a Saturday night around 10 pm.

Lychee & Pear Chunai and Plum Boulevardier.
Cindy Z.

While wandering around LES for a bar, we stumbled upon Bar Goto. From the outside, it gave a modern Japanese vibe. When we went in, they only had a standing area for us, but moved us to a table when it opened up. We came here only for drinks and tried the Far East Side ($19), Hojicha Old Fashioned ($20), Lychee & Pear Chunai ($17), and Plum Boulevardier ($20). I personally didn't like the bitterness of the tonic in the far east. The chunai and boulevardier were just OK with the Old Fashioned being the best. But for how small of a glass you get, it's not really worth $20 for a drink. While I love Asian inspired drinks, I didn't think they tasted well together. Plus, it was so loud in there with the acoustics of various conversations going on that it was hard to even talk to anyone. Not really the best place for a first date on a busy night unless you're at the bar sitting right next to each other.

Sakura martini
Anita J.

This place is awesome! We had reservations for a party of 2 for a Saturday evening. The place was poppin so make sure you make a res too! The vibe inside is dark and intimate. I would not recommend for parties larger than 4 For drinks we got the: - Sakura martini: surprisingly refreshing? - Far East Side: yum! - Hojicha old fashioned: (I did not taste but was told it's delicious) For food, we got the okonomiyaki. It was pretty salty and I don't think I'd buy it again (esp. for $19!) Overall - recommend for a lovely date night!

Okonomiyaki
Jessica S.

Obsessed... the okonomiyaki is DELICIOUS, i feel like i dont see this dish often enough outside of japan and i love that they have a veg option. These drinks were also the first time in a while that i've felt like a cocktail at an nyc bar has been worth the price - they were delicious. Was in luv w the shiso drink i had. Excited to return!

Nicole N.

We stopped by Bar Goto for some Japanese inspired drinks and snacks, and it did not disappoint!! The lychee pear chu hai featured floral and sweet notes from the lychee and pear but it wasn't too strong nor too sweet. The far east side had a prominent yuzu flavor, along with an unexpected shiso taste, that made it delicious. Instead of the matcha-based Kyoto old fashioned that they serve at their Brooklyn location, they offer a hojicha old fashioned here. It was solid with strong hojicha flavors without diluting the alcohol. While the regular okonomiyaki sounded tasty, we opted for the veggie one. It essentially is a "double layer" okonomiyaki and packed with veggies/ mushrooms. The crispy parts offered a nice crunch and they were so generous with the nori! Sauce wise, I think I would have preferred a little more kewpie mayo to the okonomiyaki sauce, but overall it was delicious. Really wish I had more room to try their fire miso wings, but I guess I'll come back! Staff were nice and friendly! The space has a good amount tables, bar seating, and standing spots.

Okonomiyaki
Joo Yeon Jessica H.

Food: probably the best okonomiyaki that ive ever had in NYC. The taste was flavorful but i was more impressed with the way they put on the sauce they say the drinks are creative but i wasnt too impressed with the drinks (my friends had highball and i had pear? Cocktail but it was okay- not like crazy great) Ambiance: okay- typical Japanese style, modern type of ambiance Service: pretty okay, but didnt like the fact that they pushed for check right after we finished okonomiyaki Overall: 7/10 (mostly due to Okonomiyaki)

Miso Wings
Anthony P.

This place was featured on Bon Appetit's Top 100 places in NYC to check out a few years back, and is one of my friend's favorite places whose taste I trust wholeheartedly. We both love Japanese things and I got the vibe that this would be a bit of a hidden gem. Walked in and was able to get standing room before getting a table twenty minutes later on Fri around 6 for a party of 3. You are welcome to stay in the standing space (not an actual room, it's a small place) while waiting for your party with a drink - they do NOT take names/waitlist people so know this beforehand. The actual bar space is quite small, maybe seats 10 people while the rest is standing room and small tables. Better chance getting a table. FOOD AND DRINK- OKONOMIYAKI - this was delicious. I've been on the hunt for good okonomiyaki and prefer the hiroshima style with noodles but this was sooo nice and hefty, filling, savory, and not ot mention beautiful. FAR EAST SIDE - i like a citrusy drink and really enjoyed this, was bright and sweet but not too sweet. MISO WINGS - tender, miso-ey, savory, what more could you want? I would say to not miss the okonomiyaki if you come here. Also my friend told me to get the celery appetizer which I forgot so if and when I come back that will be a priority order!

Miso wings
Zach R.

The miso wings are a must order! Amazing flavor and spice and only 16 dollars for 10 wings. The cocktails are decent too! The inside is small but it has a Japanese style influence which is cute

Michael K.

I was a fan of the Hojicha Old Fashioned. The Far East was light and refreshing, but maybe not something I would order again. The bar was pretty empty when it opened, and service was quick. Their water cups are like 2 sips so they refilled my water 10 times.

drinks
Jasmine L.

Was able to walk in on a Friday night with minimal wait. Ambiance was nice, space is quite small and it can get a bit noisy. The drinks were extremely extremely dry to the point where my friends could not even finish them. The only decent one was white rabbit. Maybe there food is better but I would not recommend their cocktails.

Melon ball
Matthew W.

It's quite crowded, dark, and noisy here, as per the norm for NY bars. The staff is generally very helpful and friendly. I especially like the Melon Ball, which, as its name suggests, is fruity and creamy, and not overly sweet. It definitely tastes like fresh cantaloupe and honeydew.

Okonomiyaki
Samantha D.

Walked in on a Friday bight. Didn't have reservations, but luckily, there was standing space available. Ume paloma was underwhelming. All the drinks that my friends and I tried seemed watered down. There wasn't a strong, prominent flavor to any of them. I wanted a stronger ume taste. The okonomiyaki was so good. Crispy exterior and soft inside. The best I've had in NYC. A great filling snack to be shared between people.

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1 year ago

nice japanese cocktail bar, very relaxed atmosphere and friendly bartenders. cocktail menu isn't long, wasn't able to try any food

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Ask the Community - Bar Goto

Is this place opened during covid?

Open during COVID-19 as of June 2021 with indoor and outdoor seating.

Is there any kind of happy hour here?

Can the okonomiyaki dough be made vegan?

Apparently so. I emailed them and got an email response back from Kenta Goto that the Herbivore okonomi-yaki should be fine with anyone vegan.

View All 5 Questions

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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!

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4.2(617 reviews)
0.7 miGreenwich Village
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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.

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Bar Goto - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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