Dark moody vibes in this cozy LES cocktail bar, Bar Goto is a solid spot for Japanese inspired drinks and bar snacks for a solo, date, or small group outing. I had the Bar Goto martini which was super smooth and the Guava & Akajiso which was light and refreshing. My group shared the nori chips and pickles (pickled bok choy), which were delicious! read more

Bar Goto - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Solid spot with good drinks, worth a repeat visit. It can get busy fast, so worth keeping in mind depending on when you go.

Went to Bar Goto for a cocktail and a snack with some friends. I got a Sakura martini and an okonomiyaki. I would love to go back and try other items on the menu. read more

Bar Goto - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Bar goto has entered the chat as the upper echelon of bars for me. From the hospitality to the energy to the drinks. This place is a lover of cocktails dream spot. A bar full of beautiful bottles, a menu of inventive takes on classics, and good people. The bartender was chatting it up with me and giving some wonderful recommendations. Welcoming, warm, and authentic. Their paloma is great. Just a beautiful refreshing classic with a little twist. Please get it read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Bar Goto - sakura martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I came here for drinks on a Friday night. While it was busy, two of us were able to get a table without waiting. I had a can of Kimino sparkling water, but their cocktails looked great. They also have a limited menu with small plates. I really loved the ambiance; it's a pretty small bar, but it feels intimate rather than cramped and the inside is beautiful. read more

I came here for drinks on a Thursday night. When we first got here, we were 1/2 parties inside. It began to fill up as the night went on I forgot the drink I got but it was fine. There's seating around the bar. And there are probably 5-6 two person tables. One side is a booth and the other is chair. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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This is a kind of tucked in bar, on a somewhat dark street. Very very cute and somewhat seductive. Low lights, with a bar and seating for maybe 10 at tables across from the bar. The server/ bartender was very pleasant. We ordered drinks and wings. The wings were spicy but okay. The bar was right across from the hotel we were staying at, so all was good. We liked the vibe, so would visit again read more

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! read more

Bar Goto - Okonomiyaki - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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. read more

Bar Goto - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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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! read more

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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) read more

Bar Goto - Okonomiyaki - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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. read more

Bar Goto - drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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 read more

Bar Goto - Miso wings - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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. read more

Bar Goto - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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. read more

Bar Goto - Melon ball - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My friends and I walked over to Bar Goto after putting down our names for another bar nearby. Bar Goto was already crowded, but we managed to get seated without a wait. The bar is modern, clean, and dimly lit. Menu had tons of delicious Japanese cocktails on the menu that I had difficulty deciding what to get. My friends and I each got two drinks. I tried the Jasmine & Apricot as well as the Suika. Both tasted light, sweet, and refreshing. No issues finishing them. Bar Goto definitely exceeded my expectations. read more

Bar Goto - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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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. read more

Bar Goto - Okonomiyaki - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Bar Goto is a quaint little bar in the LES, they have bar and table seating but don't take resys. The japanese inspired drinks are divine, I got the snow rabbit and it truly felt like a perfect experience - not overly sweet but the egg white brought a creaminess to the drink to round it out. I also got the cherry blossom martini and as much as I would love to love it - the flavor just reminded me of hand lotion and I couldn't think too much further than that. The staff was super accommodating and gave great recs. They also have a great selection of japanese whiskey if that's something you're looking for read more

Bar Goto - Snow Rabbit - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Bar Goto was opened by Kenta Goto who previously worked at the now-closed Pegu Club. It is located in Lower East Side and is heavily influenced by Japan and Japanese ingredients. It is also one of the top bars in the world so I wanted to check it out. They have no reservations as the bar is small and space is limited. My first drink was the far east side ($17) which was light and bright. It was refreshing and tart from the lemon, elderflower, and muddled shiso. My second drink was the koji-san ($17) which was more savory. It was mostly shochu but the mezcal gave the drink its backbone and works well with the celery juice. The rim was dashi and salt which added to its savoriness. Come here early if you want a table or a seat at the bar because the drinks are solid. read more

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Went multiple times through a bar hop in LES. Cocktails are decent but not extremely amazing/memorable. It gets loud because it's popular and gets crowded as soon as the night hits. read more

GET: - Imo Nog - imo shochu, cognac, sherry, egg, cream, roasted kinako & cinnamon - Paradaisu - gin, lychee, bergamot, lemon, sparkling wine They were also so friendly and warm to us even though it was super busy and crowded inside! read more

Bar Goto - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Nice, intimate bar with a reasonable amount of seating. Drinks were also reasonably priced too! I got the matcha tonic soda and my friend got the earl grey martini. Flavor was great. Staff was friendly and we waited on the side at the tables until a table opened up. Will return again next time I'm in town! read more

Great vibes. The cucumber salad was decent and the chips with wasabi aioli was good but unfortunately the cocktail wasn't stellar for me personally. The lychee pear drink just tasted watered down. Service was fast and attentive. So maybe I got unlucky. read more

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

Bar Goto has been on my list for many years (something like a decade?!) but lists get long and sometimes older spots get forgotten. Sincerest apologies to Bar Goto for forgetting, and rest assured I will not forget you again. I wish we could've spent more time here because it was late and we were looking for a nightcap. This is one of those places that has you planning your return even before you've left, so maybe no number of drinks would've felt like enough. In any case, if it's not obvious already, I loved it here. The drinks are delicious and sophisticated and the vibes are also sophisticated yet still down to earth. We came here at around 11 on a Saturday night. We first passed by a little earlier and there was a wait to get in, so we got a drink somewhere else and returned, thankfully, to no line. We got to sit at the bar and while that meant we didn't really get to observe the crowd, we got front row seats to the bartending. The menu here is varied and honestly everything looks amazing so good luck choosing. I probably spent 15 minutes just staring at the options and trying to deliberate as if I was trying to choose what to do in the trolley problem. I ended up going with the Lychee-ish Martini (Vodka, Imo Shochu, Quarts de Chaume), which was other-worldly. The bartender initially told us to put the emphasis on "ish", because apparently there have been many times where folks have ordered this expecting a typical lychee martini, whereas this one has more of the "essence" of lychee. It's a clean and very floral sip, just expertly crafted and dangerously smooth. My husband got the Plum Boulevardier (Bourbon, Vermouth, Aperitivo, Ume) as we've both been very into boulevardiers lately, and this one was easily one of the best variations I've tried. I love ume in drinks (I once had a great one with a salted ume shrub) and in this case it's a perfect complement to the flavors you'll find in the classic drink. read more

During COVID-19 as of June 2021: Japanese (inspired) cocktail bar? Yes, please! This review is only for the drinks on a Friday night. After eating a late dinner nearby, I decided to end the night with some drinks while restrictions are loosening in NYC. The atmosphere here felt as if life was somewhat back to normal with music booming, patrons dressed up and coming and going like NYC nightlife was and is. Trendy young crowd in a small bar down in LES is how to describe Bar Goto. Luckily the menu is limited and the bartender and hostess that night were accommodating and friendly. I appreciated that we were seated at the bar with no stress. I ended up ordering two cocktails while my guest ordered the Kyoto. My recs were excellent in flavor that I wanted a refreshing citrus yuzu drink: Far East Side and the Yuzu Sansho Sour. My only complaint is the one bathroom that was overflowing with tissue paper, so it didn't match the quality of the bar. Accepts cash and card. Open late! Masks and distancing inside as well as temperature checks and a contact tracing form online. Trendy but casual. Great date spot! Drink up! read more

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I enjoyed this quite a bit! It gets quite crowded but the hostess helped us find some great seats. The ambiance is the equivalent to a sit down in a small (albeit a little tight/crowded) classy Victorian library. The seats along the wall are padded with pillows so it was easy to feel comfortable Only had the Far East Side and the veggie okonomiyaki to share with a group. The veggie okonomiyaki appears small but it was perfect as a "savory dessert" and we were able to split it among 3 people. I loved the presentation and the taste, this was great and well done. The Far East Side was a good drink but nothing mind blowing here. If you're looking for something to unwind while not going heavy/strong on the drinking this was an excellent choice. There is quite a bit of alcohol in it but the taste wasn't as pronounced, like a highball or a bourbon I would like to come back and try other items! Solid first experience read more

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This is a conveniently located place in the lower east side by the second avenue F train stop. It's on a very non descript block with a very large door. I don't recall seeing the name anywhere by or on the door so I had to ask to make sure I was in the right place. The interior was dimly lit with music that wasn't too loud. It did give off a very nice intimate vibe. We had two cocktails each. Each cocktail felt like it was missing a key elevating ingredient. I had the Far East side and the Ume Paloma. I definitely enjoyed the vibe but I don't think the drink menu will bring me back. read more

A simple, no-frills Japanese bar with dim lighting, minimalistic decor, and wooden accents. Limited space inside but some find it cozy. The drinks here are very good and Japanese-inspired. I'd recommend both the Far East Side and Koji-San. Note that the cocktails go from light to strong on the menu - the Sakura Martini, for example, was extremely strong. This could be a good, casual date spot - chill vibes, not too loud, and dim. If you opt to sit on the same side vs across from each other, some canoodling could happen. I personally find the no-frills aesthetic to be less intimate but perhaps I'd feel different if I came here with a cute boy. Unfortunately they don't take res. The bar was pretty full at 8:45 on a Thursday but we managed to snag a table. Would recommend. read more

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Popped in without a reservation. Theoretically, if you come at the right time you may be able to grab a table. We did not and so grabbed a standing room ledge. The drinks are pretty on-par in terms of price with the area (i.e. expensive). They were fairly tasty and were pretty much what we expected looking around. It was just somewhat difficult to enjoy in the environment as it was super loud, super cramped, difficult to walk around in (especially to the bathroom). Wouldn't necessarily come back and there are probably more accessible spots in the area to relax with a drink. read more

Cute intimate bar! Would be a great date spot. I got the plum boulevardier then switched to beer and shot which was a great deal for $13! read more

Bar Goto - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Good cocktails and loved the classic okonomiyaki. My favorite drink was the margarita. The first tequila based drink I had I did not love. Also didn't love the wings (too spicy for me and didn't love the flavor or texture). It's a little crowded and a tight squeeze but otherwise not a bad place to stop by for cocktails if you're in the neighborhood. They also have good mocktail options. read more

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Cozy and dimly lit, Bar Goto serves up some balanced and creative cocktails in an intimate atmosphere. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, though the indoor seating can be a little tight for parties larger than 6! COCKTAIL HIGHLIGHTS: - Ume Paloma 4/5: tart and fruity. Comes in a collins glass. - Koji-san 5/5: you can't really taste the dashi but definitely a refreshing one: vegetal and smoke thanks to the celery and mezcal. Comes in an old-fashioned glass. - Far East Side 5/5: wish this came in greater quantify than just a lil wine glass. Love the Shiso leaf for garnish; plus tart and floral from lemon and elderflower! read more

Bar Goto - Cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

We decided to stop in here for a drink after having dinner nearby and we are so glad we did! We were instantly made to feel welcome by our server and she continued to be so friendly throughout our experience. She even helped us narrow down our drink choices when several cocktails were speaking to us. The atmosphere in the bar was cozy and joyful, with lots of conversations among and between other customers and the bartenders. The space is definitely intimate, but the decor is refined and the lighting was moody. It was just what we wanted as we were trying to escape the cold. That escape continued as we got our drinks, the Sakura Martini for me and the Far East Side for my partner. Both drinks were lovely, complex, and refreshing. I especially loved the touch of the cherry blossom floating in my martini. My partner also ordered the hot toddy later in the night that he really enjoyed. Highly recommended Bar Goto to those seeking interesting cocktails, friendly faces, and a warm atmosphere. read more

Bar Goto - Sakura Martini Far East Side - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Bar had a lot of sitting tables which was nice. I got the snow bunny drink, which might not always be available? But was very good and I ended up getting 2 of them. Service was also fast and attentjve read more

Bar Goto - Snow bunny - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Great little spot for creative Japanese-inspired cocktails and okonomiyaki. I appreciate quality cocktails with interesting ingredients. Bar Goto definitely has a menu that executes exactly that. It's elevated but also simple. I had the Hojicha Old Fashioned, which contains cognac, aged rum, Kyoto roasted green tea, and chocolate bitters. I love a good Old Fashioned, and thought this was a great take on the drink. I also love Hojicha, roasted green tea. What a great blend of two of my favorite beverages! The roasted tea flavor really adds a nice touch to the rich, sweet and spiced alcohol. It's actually also interesting because when people ask about best okonomiyaki, they usually name Bar Goto. I tried their vegetarian one since I was sharing with a friend. It was shaped like a loaf, which wasn't what I expected, and decorated by sauces in a marbling effect like how a cake would be. It was delicious and a great accompaniment to the drinks. read more