Back in February 2025, I managed to get a reservation at Bar Kabawa which is located where Momofuku Ko used to be. The place was small and I learned the bar area was only opened to the public. The staff and Chef Paul were welcoming and positive. The music is reminiscent of being in the Caribbean. Food was on the small tapas side but deceivingly packed with flavor and filling too! It was very cold out when I dined here so I skipped out on dessert. To start I got a mocktail called the Leeward Spritz made with sorrel, N/A blanc de blanc and orange. For my meals, I ordered the solomon gundy and crispy cassava chips. I loved the smooth and fully flavored packed dip because it had a kick to enhance the smokiness of the herring. In addition I ordered the curry crab and squash and short rib, conch and bone marrow patties. The price listed is for one patty. I enjoyed both patties but I loved loved loved the short rib, conch and bone marrow patties. Hopefully I will be able to return with more people to experience Kabawa. read more

See all

- excellent service - excellent soundtrack - excellent rum based drinks the only liquor during the day that i was there was rum they had wine and beer selections - make that resey, space is small - it was a packed house at 9pm - patties were alright (we had an oxtail and a chicken geera) - coco bread was great - i enjoyed the chow - wasnt a fan of the bao bun - fish sandwich was A+ - crispy pork was good - kale fritters were alright - shrimp was really good and fresh - only on bathroom read more

I was so wildly unimpressed by this place. I truly don't understand all the positive reviews. First things first, the service was STELLAR. From the cook, to the hostess, to the bartender. Perfection. However, the food was so underwhelming and overpriced for what you get. Canned sardines and slivers of avocados with stale saltine crackers for one dish. A $16 jamaican patty that was good but not great. A small piece of bread that's the size of a hawaiian roll, for $4. A fish collar special that was flavorful but was mostly bone and had very little meat. A shrimp dish that had barely any shrimp. A pate that comes with chips that were so delicate, they kept breaking when you tried to spread the pate on them. I'd come here again for cocktails only, but the food was such a miss for me. read more

See all

Snagged a reso for 2 people at 7:15pm and a Thursday. The space is pretty small and it does get a bit loud if youre looking for a quiet place. When we arrived we waited for our table to be ready for a bit but they gave us menus to decide on what we wanted. We tried a couple of patties and a few dishes off their specials of the day. Sadly, most of the specials were sold out already including the bone marrow. The patties were really flavorful but i would def say a bit pricey ~18$ for just 1 patty. Don't expect to fill yourself up for dinner here. The staff was friendly but we also had a hiccup on our bill where we were charged for a dish that we didn't order. Overall, not a smooth night, but the drinks and food tasted good. read more

See all

I spend a lot of time in Flatbush aka Little Caribbean eating $3 Haitian patties, so the $20 patties here of the same size definitely made me raise an eyebrow. I do think most non-European cuisines should charge more for their food commensurate to the cost of ingredients and labor required to make the dishes, but perhaps we've gone a bit far here. My friend and I split the 6 items we ordered and had to be soooo precious about each bite. Having spent about $160 total with just one drink each and not leaving full is an unfortunate reality of dining out, but it didn't leave me feeling any less disappointed. I thought the patties were good, but maybe not $20 each good. The space is fun and vibey, a few banquette seats, high tops, and seats at the bar. They're playing really lively latin music-- "Suave Menthe" came on as I walked in. They're known for their daiquiris so I ordered the classic Kabawa one, which I found pleasantly not sweet. My friend ordered their holiday special coquito, which was pretty good though a lot sweeter than mine. The shrimp and ginger, chicken criollo, and crab & squash patties were all tasty but did not at all warrant their $18-$20 price tags. The coco bread, which was served in the same basket as the patties, was so fresh, buttery, and phenomenal though. Great to dip in the solomon gundy, a delightfully savory fish dip that came with some chips. Similarly, the shrimp piklitz was great for dipping our coco bread into, but a few bites and that itty bitty dish was gone. Glad I went once but I don't see the value in returning. read more

See all

Kabawa has been on my list forever and their reservations are so hard to snatch. I decided to stop by Bar Kabawa in the meantime to check out their Caribbean influenced drinks and snacks. The geera goat patty hit the spot! It was very flaky and buttery on the outside with a well seasoned and tender goat meat on the inside. The shrimp with pikliz was very delicious! The raw shrimp pieces were super fresh and sweet with a contrasting smokey flavor cause they torch it. It was my first time trying pikliz, which I learned was a type of traditional Haitian spicy pickled veggies. The tanginess and spice kick made it a nice bar bite! For drinks, I got the coquito in celebration of the holidays! It was very coconut-y with a hint of cinnamon in a smoothie-like texture. The kabawa daiquiri was fun and strong, and you even get to pick the type of rum! The Residente was similar to a Manhattan with a strong herbacious profile from the vermouth and hibiscus. The Gwayav was definitely guava-forward. The Kafe Wonm was like their version of an espresso martini but with rum. It was sweet and tasty as expected. I absolutely loved the cheerful, enthusiastic staff members and the upbeat Spanish music! The bar itself has some bar seating, some high top tables, and one slightly larger table for bigger parties. The dim lighting made it intimate and vibes were great! Loved the energy from not one or two staff members, but the entire team! They were also super helpful with recommending drinks/explaining dishes. Definitely interested in coming back! read more

See all

I loved my time at Kabawa so much that I kept the party going at Bar Kabawa. Bar Kabawa is the laid back sister of Kabawa, right next door. Large section of daiquiris, many of which made with a very thin, shaved ice (which is fun to watch being done with their giant machine). Various types of daiquiris, with ingredients like key lime graoefryutm chartreuse, allspice, with various types of rum. They also offer several types of rum drinks with additions that include kola tonic, annatto, passion fruit, guava, orange, vanilla, ginger, and more. They also offer a wine selection, non alcoholic drinks, and some punch and coconut drinks for two. Everything was tropical and delicious. Servers were on it. I didn't have their food, as I had just eaten next door, but they offer a smaller, less formal menu offering shrimp, sardines, oysters, okra, and baked and fried patties (goat, chicken and mushroom, eggplant/tomato/raclette, short rib, bone marrow, kale, etc). If you want that tropical vibe without the dramatic production of Kabawa, the bar side might be more your speed. read more

See all

Overall, an enjoyable experience. It is definitely on the pricier side. You're here for the location and vibe. Maybe you're here waiting in line for next door or just having an intimate moment with your friends/partner/etc. Service is very astute and everyone checks in on you. We ordered a decent amount from the bar menu, drinks, oysters, patties, and cornbread but keep in mind this isn't supposed to fill you up. Drinks were complex and well made. Oysters - fresh, and corn bread soft. Patties (3) were light and flaky itself and filling was savory and hot. We got the baked patty filled with Eggplant, Tomato, & Raclette. Then two fried patties, Short Rib, Conch, Bone Marrow and Pepperpot Duck & Foie. The short rib was prob my favorite, with the duck coming in second. read more

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

See all

Stopped in for a drink and quick snack. The shaved ice in the Floridita daquiri was fun, but the drink itself was a little unbalanced - not my fave daiquiri in town. Would try other drinks next time. The patties, however, were phenomenal. I tried the short rib patty and chicken and mushroom patty and both were sooo good. read more

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

See all

Food recommendations- Bay Scallop, Bajan Black Pudding (for texture enthusiasts), Baked are better than the Fried Patties, Caramelized Ducana I went to this restaurant or rather more accurately, a bar that happens to have food, a while ago with a larger group which I personally wouldn't recommend doing. The place doesn't really hhave seating for larger groups and at most, I would recommend three or four people partially because of the seating and partially because of the portion sizes because there's small plates and then there's the food here which are rather tiny. Shoutouts to the service however who did the best they could to accommodate a larger group. We also met the chef Paul Carmichael who seemed to be a very pleasant and down to earth guy and I hope the best for him along with his more popular option, Kabawa. They serve Bahamian food here which is unique and a lot of the dishes had some spices that I'm not used to such as nutmeg and otherwise which made the food very different from other nearby islands. The drink menu primarily consists of rum and rhum (apparently the latter means sugar cane and the former is from molasses) based cocktails as well as daiquiris and I went with the 'Ti Punch for $20 with Pere Labat 59° Rhum Blanc, lime coin, and cane. The cocktail was pretty tiny and was mostly rum (or I guess rhum) with a tiny bit of lime flavor and a little bit of sweetness. The good quality rhum made it drinkable but I wasn't the biggest fan otherwise. My favorite of the small bites was the Bay Scallop for $23 with pikliz (or piklitz on the menu.) the dish was tiny but the scallops were good quality and there was a nice citrus element along with a good amount of spice of course from the pikliz. The Bajan Black Pudding for $18 with pig's head souse had probably the biggest portion though this was to be expected as it was offal. The black pudding had good flavor and it went nicely with the pickled pig's head. The dish also had a unique presentation with a lot of green on top of it along with some cucumbers and was surprisingly refreshing. Last was Dad's Sardines for $24 with avocado and pepper sauce was good in terms of flavor but not in terms of portion size. For the price point, you get 5 rather microscopic sardines though they are good quality and the pepper and avocado work well with them. In short, all were tasty though I would split this with two people at most for any of these and that's pushing it especially for the scallops. We also got a bunch of Patties and the price points I'm listing are for one so they add up fast. In general, I liked the texture of the patties with a slightly buttery outside and a soft inside and they all were filled nicely. I preferred the baked ones a bit more as I felt they showcased the texture more with my favorite one being the Curry Crab & Squash for $18 with the Geera Goat having a nice kick of cumin as per the name along with tender meat. For fried patties, my preference was the Short Rib, Conch, and Bone Marrow for $16 though I couldn't exactly tell the conch as it was rich from the bone marrow and the star was the short rib. The Pepperpot Duck & Foie for $19 was a bit of a waste as the spices overwhelmed whatever foie gras flavor there was and honestly I think it should just be pepperpot duck for maybe $15 or something as the flavor of the duck was excellent. These were overall good regardless of the crazy pricing for patties. For dessert we went with the only option which was the Caramelized Ducana for $14 with nutmeg ice cream. Ducana refers to a type of dumpling made from sweet potatoes and it had a nice texture on the outside from the caramelized sugar with a somewhat soft inside which was fun to scoop. Speaking of scooping, the nutmeg ice cream had good nutmeg flavor but it wasn't overpowering like the version that Ill Labortorio though perhaps it was just because I was combining with the Ducana. I think that our group and therefore I didn't get the best experience because we went here with too many people. If you go here with one other or maybe two at the most, I can imagine you having a good time and not leaving hungry even after spending a good chunk of change here. I'd go back for a drink and maybe a patty and appetizer. read more

See all

Interesting concept, little pricy for the food. Favorite was the Solomon Gundy, it's like a mix of typical fish dip and chicken liver mousse. Something new. Bajan Black Pudding was good and refreshing as well. Tried 2 Fried Patty (Short Rib & Duck) and 2 Baked Patties (Curry Crab & Eggplant) not bad but they are more or less quite similar from one to another. Thought the Coco Bread was pretty unmemorable... read more

See all

We stopped by on a Friday night. Some positives: fun atmosphere (but very, very, very loud; we could not hear each other without screaming), very relaxed staff and vibes - e.g., we had a reservation for 2 but had no trouble adding a person at the door Food was quite good - we liked the okra, salmon dip, shrimp - in fact, we liked the shrimp so much we had 2 orders. The patties were OK, but weren't exceptional or memorable especially given that they were $20 a piece The drinks were just OK. They are all rum-based, which TBF was not my choice of alcohol to begin with. We asked the waitress if we could have our drinks less sweet, and she responded, somewhat confoundingly, that there wasn't much sweetness in them, and that some had fruit flavor. No, they were definitely very sweet drinks... For 3 people we ran up a $400 tab. I guess it was fine given drinks + food on a Fri night, but given that it was bar food (and 2 of us had tacos before), it felt steep. The table next to us were 4 guys and did $650. So be prepared to spend some $$ here. I have been to Kabawa and prefer that experience. read more

I stopped in before a show for a drink to kill time so I can't wait to come back and try the food because the ambiance, service, and drinks are really good! I also really liked the cozy bar in the back. Again, I only got 2 drinks but the service was phenomenal - extremely attentive and inviting. The food looks and smelled amazing. Can't wait to come back for a proper visit. read more

Very cute vibe at this spot. Small and intimate. Make a reservation or get there early. The bites were delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed the food. That being said the portions are definitely on the small side for the price point. Nice for a date night, girls night drinks were top tier there were a few that were booze forward that I loved. The staff was super nice and helpful. Give it a try read more

A Must-Try Spot with Flavor and Vibe Incredible apps, vibrant flavors, and the perfect youthful energy. The shrimp ceviche with Haitian pikliz was bright and refreshing, while the okra was beautifully crisp. The goat patty stole the show--flaky, rich, and unforgettable--with the crab patty close behind. Don't skip the coco bread--pillowy, golden, and downright addictive. Music from all over the world set the tone for an unforgettable meal. Can't wait to go back. read more

See all

We went there for their collaboration with Si! Mon from Venice Beach California and the food was exquisite! Chef Paul Carmichael and chef Jose were behind the chefs counter delivering delectable dishes with Central American Caribbean type flavors that blew our minds. The cocktails paired with the food were a big hit at our table too! We'll definitely be trying Kabawa next time we're in NY and visiting Si! Mon again frequently when we return to Ca since it's one of our favorites in LA read more

The food here was delicious. The kale and oats fried patty was my favorite - crispy outside with a savory and rich filling, and the kale was perfectly braised until completely soft. The platanos maduros were perfectly caramelized with a flavorful and spicy tomato topping. I also enjoyed the flaky and funky eggplant, tomato, and raclette patty. The coco bread is buttery and comforting. The ducana (dessert) was also super unique - warm, rich, and a bit chewy, with a bold nutmeg ice cream on the side. This was a great variety of dishes for around $46 after tax and tip. read more

See all

Amazing. The patties are the main event and are perfect -- we loved the chicken (surprisingly our favorite), eggplant, and short rib. The apps were amazing too, especially the Solomon Gundy (essentially a herring dip with chips) and the sardines with avocado. We loved the old Ko bar and will definitely be back here as well. read more

See all

Fun, cozy spot with great music and energy! Came here on a Saturday night after snagging a prime time reservation (7:15 pm). Arriving on time, the place was already packed and we were asked to wait a little while as our table wasn't ready. Not the biggest deal, but the problem was there really isn't any space to wait in the bar right now without being in the way and since it was raining outside that evening, that wasn't an option either. After about 20-30 minutes, we were finally seated at the bar (even though our reservation had said we'd have a high-top). I suspect the tables were really behind and they were just trying to seat people asap. Even though we were at the bar, it took a while to get our orders in. We ended up doing a variety of small plates + patties, plus a few different drinks. Drinks-wise, we each tried a mojito. Personally, I don't really like rum so I can't comment on the quality of the cocktail (the menu appeared to be all rum + some beers, wines, and NA cocktails). For food, we got: - Solomon Gundy: a fish dip with chips, this was a pretty solid option! Would order again. - Sardines: The sardines were good quality but a little on the smaller side (both sardines and plate overall). I'd consider ordering it again but wouldn't consider it a must. - Patties: Short Rib, Duck & Foie for the fried, Goat, Chicken, and Curry Crab for the baked. Personally I liked the baked a lot more than the fried, with my favorite being the chicken. You can order coco bread to sandwich the patties in between, which we did for two of them. The serving was a little chaotic-- they brought us the okra dish, only to whisk it away when we informed them we didn't order it. The same thing happened again with the patties, when we were given an extra chicken one. Fortunately, this time they told us the extra patty was on the house (and I'm grateful since it ended up being my favorite!). Most of the staff (bar one of our two main bartenders) were really friendly and really made us feel at home! Definitely has the potential to be 5 stars and maybe I'll up it after visiting again. However, right now between the wait for seating, long wait for ordering, and mix-ups with the dishes I gotta give 4 stars. read more

See all

Bar Kabawa was one of the most anticipated nyc restaurant openings in 2025. And it doesn't disappoint. Awesome little spot tucked away on Extra Place next to it's sister restaurant Kabawa. It's definitely unique in its approach and I can't think of another restaurant/bar that compares to it. I really like the open bar and kitchen concept. Although the food menu is somewhat limited, what they do, they do very well. I tried the Shrimp and Ginger patty and it was freaking delicious. The filling was a flavor bomb and the flakiness of the crust resembled a pie / pastry...it was so good. The bar menu primarily focuses on Rums and Daiquiris, which aren't my jam, but everyone raved about the awesomeness of the drinks and they did look good as well as balanced. I will say that the wine list is really good. Service was great. Everyone who worked there had a good energy about them. Highly recommend reservations! Definitely check it out!!! read more

New Black-owned spot. Open for about 2 weeks! The owner, Paul, is Bajan and very friendly. Non cliché Caribbean vibes with lively Caribbean music. He's done it right-- from the music to the drinks to the food. We came for drinks only, but the food looked so good. I saw another patron eating the coco bread like she hadn't eaten carbs for days. I'm definitely coming back to eat ( and drink again). The staff is awesome. They look happy to work there and were having an awesome time. Some places that serve rum and Caribbean fare are too heavy on tiki themes and nonsense. This place came across authentic without the necessary additive décor, yet it captured the essence beautifully. I felt like I was at a bar in Barbados hanging out, yet had the brutal awakening upon returning to the frozen tundra that is NYC right now. Rum punch 5/5- right amount of sweetness rounded out with cinnamon Floridita 4/5- definitely sip this tart sensation. Served on shaved ice which they pour over the drink at the table. Overall 5 (Brought to you by your fav former elite helper - life got too busy ) read more

Bar Kabawa - Rum punch - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I really looked forward to dropping into Bar Kabawa as an intro to their main space. The space- lively, warm, and welcoming. It's a breath of fresh air in NYC to have a place that has personality (see great music and warm vibes). The staff- the hostess made me feel like I was being welcomed into a home. Excellent...the server, not so much. We booked at late night and there was fine print regarding the kitchen being closed. My mistake...but to be told "it's there in BIG WORDS" felt....a bit like being talked down to. The food- looked good. See above The drinks- the place sells itself as a rum and Daquiri bar. So, I ordered the jerk Daquiri which features rum, lime, and habanero. I expected a balanced drink with a hint of heat. To my palate, I got a lime and sugar mocktail. ‍ First impression- not great. But given the spirit and feel, I'm going to write it off as an off moment and return another night. read more

We had visited momofuku ko on our last trip and when we found out they were opening a new Caribbean themed bar restaurant we were ALL IN. The mood and vibes inside are super cute and still super nice. We ordered many drinks including the shaved ice daquiri and the rum in a coconut to share!! The waitress also brought coconut water with the coconut and it was an awesome combination. The amount of rum choices was great. We tried the plantains, scallops, so many patties and it was all delicious. The scallops and habanero sauce was my favorite bite. It was fun to try the different patties and se which we liked the most. They all tasted good and we were surprised by all the flavors. Try any or all of them! We had an amazing time and it is such a cool spot! read more

See all

The discovery of this restaurant was worth the gamble. The small size adds to the intimate feel. I look forward to returning regularly to sample more dishes. Employees delivered exactly what we wanted. Everyone needs to visit this place at least once. read more

Our family had the most amazing evening closing down this gem last night. Delicious food and cocktails, fabulous staff. Many many thanks to the awesome proprietor for sharing your slice of heaven : ) read more

I have been so excited to try Bar Kabawa waited to get a resy, finally got one at 9:15 on a Thursday - late for my taste but excited for the try. Got there and they were out of patties! They had 2 options available! Like WHAT?? You are a hot new spot, folks waiting to get a seat and you run out of food... Huh? Thats a food truck move. I will say the music was a vibe. But...left hungry and ended up across the street... womp womp. read more

I had the patties and coco bread and the plantains and damn it was good. The place is super pretty , service was attentive and kind. My one complaint is that there aren't enough vegan/ vegetarian dishes so there aren't enough options to make a night of it for vegans/ vegetarians . Hope the chef adds more vege options to the bar menu. Cute spot read more

Unfortunately we came here thinking that it would be similar to Kabawa next door which only offers a tasting pre-fix menu that is over $100 per person (recently made NYT's top 10 restaurants of 2025!). This place had extremely limited food options and was totally packed. Our reservation was for 7:15 but they were running behind so sat one of us at the bar while the other person stood next to me, thinking that this was an acceptable option. This place seemed to be somewhere people go to just for drinks and maybe 1-2 tiny snacks, oysters or something - so many people were eating oysters probably since the menu was extremely extremely limited. This was a bit of an unfortunate experience since it was my partners birthday and by that point, all of the restaurants in the area had extremely long waits. We asked if they would be willing to transfer our reservation to the restaurant next door but unfortunately Kabawa had a 1.5 hour wait.... Nevertheless we ended up leaving and seeking a sit down dinner elsewhere. I would still be curious about Kabawa - perhaps another day! read more