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    Blue Bar

    3.4 (194 reviews)
    Closed 3:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Blue Bar Photos

    Business Info

    BLUE BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Blue Bar

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    Jason M.

    My colleagues and I stopped at Blue Bar to grab a quick drink after finishing dinner. We were actually heading elsewhere but the blue hue that exuded from the front doors attracted us so we decided to go in and check it out. Even though it has its own separate entrance, Blue Bar is actually the hotel bar for the Algonquin Hotel; it's located right next door and you can access the lobby from the bar. We walked in around 8:30pm and we were lucky enough to find plenty of open tables so we situated ourself in the back. As suggested by the name, the main aesthetics are blue, and they really take it seriously. You're literally completely engulfed in the color blue - it's in the lights, on the chairs, the decor, and on the bar. I'll admit it's a tad overpowering, but I actually thought it was pretty cool. Anyway, dranks. The menu had a number wines but my eyes went to the creative selection of cocktails they showcased. At $20 a drink these are on the higher side for Manhattan, but it kind of makes sense since this is a hotel bar. Even though it's February, the Christmas cocktail looked appealing so I went with that. I'll be real I don't remember the kind of liquor in it, but it was garnished with cranberry and had hints of cinnamon in it. Overall I thought the drink was fine - it didn't blow me away but also wasn't bad; I guess I expected a bit more. Lots of reviews here complain of the service, but I actually thought that was a highlight of my experience. We were greeted promptly and even though we were seven people they had no hesitation seating us. Servers were quick and on top of our orders, so I really have nothing but praise to give. While I didn't feel my drink matched the price they charged, I would be willing to return to see if my opinion changes. In the meantime, the great service but underwhelming cocktail lands them at a 3 from me.

    Marqus R.

    I believe others have best described the Blue Bar as being a wannbe dive bar at Manhattan prices. That may seem odd as it is the bar of the Algonquin Hotel and the bartenders seem to be top professionals at least at making drinks though seemingly missing the pleasing personality of the job. But the drinks, though pricey, are solid far better than the average and perfectly mixed. I'd venture to say that their best drinks are those of the classics as opposed to those of the more exotic involving caipirinha concoctions or Matilda variations. As for the décor of the place, blue is its name and LED blue, blue, blue it is. The crowd is most of the well-heeled 30's to 40's something, rather decently dressed and generally fun loving as a group.

    James P.

    Fun place to catch a baseball game and some great great drinks. The bartenders are quick, attentive, and witty. Old fashioned is excellent. Nice atmosphere. Excellent service.

    Sahndra F.

    This is the bar for the Algonquin Hotel. Closes at 12;30 pm. Let's delve into the menu. Shall we? Under The Table Cocktails include "The Hamlet " etc. All $18. White wines are 15 -17,most expensive bottle at 84. Priciest red wine bottle's 425 (Ao Yun China) they have food too. The chef's "soup du jour" is $10. The rest go from ( Yes, they have veggie burgers at 22. Under their Bomb burgers, you can eat a NYC classic, a slider , and even a crab cake. I didn't try the food since I already ate at my hotel. Buuuut. I see duck here . And the room is BLUE As a James the James Cameron movie

    Alex I.

    Came here on Sunday afternoon. Plenty of open tables so we were about to get seats immediately. The cocktail menu is the same as the lobby of the Algonquin. It's not a huge selection but I had the Dorothy Parker and really loved it. The drink was great and the atmosphere was unique and classy. Here's where the two stars come in... the service was HORRIBLE. Our server was absolutely so rude, standoffish, and bothered by the fact there were people in his section. He never checked on us, we constantly had to wave him down. We also interacted with two bus boys who were equally miserable. Shocked at the awful service considering the Algonquin staff in the lobby and restaurant are so exceptional. Have a drink in the lobby and enjoy the same great drink but with professional and friendly service.

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    2 years ago

    a holes starved us and brought out one single tray for roughly 200 people. rude as all hell.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Blue Bar

    If you're 19, can you still buy a drink at the bar?

    Nah

    Would they allow someone who's under 21 to come hangout with company so long as they don't drink? Planning to go here for my 21st as a bar hopping stop! We'll be here in a large group.

    Yes

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - Blue Bar

    The Algonquin Hotel (attached) has a fascinating history, which I would love to explore in greater detail.

    Mentioned in 16 reviews

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    The Flatiron Room Murray Hill - The Flatiron Room Sphere

    The Flatiron Room Murray Hill

    4.3(607 reviews)
    0.4 miMidtown East
    $$$

    The Flatiron Room is a great spot if you're looking for live music without sacrificing…read moreconversation. We had seats right next to the stage, and the music was high quality - present enough to enjoy, but never overpowering. It struck a really nice balance and added to the overall atmosphere rather than distracting from it. The food and drinks were just as impressive. The Seafood Box was fresh across the board, with a great mix of king prawns, oysters, lobster salad, hiramasa, and mussels. The Peekytoe Crab Cake had a perfect crisp on the outside, tons of flavor, and an excellent nori aioli. The standout for me was the Eggplant Zen, which was incredibly flavorful and well put together. To drink, the Toki Highball was light, refreshing, and really well balanced. Overall, a great experience with strong food, drinks, and ambiance.

    Wanted to LOVE this place... Came to NYC with the Hubby for a work event and weeks before had us…read moredouble booked every night in town for dinner and this was the dinner I was most looking forrward to... Sad!!! From the moment we walked in I was hopeful, the girls at the window were great checking us in, but there was a slight issue and I felt that shifted our entire night. We sit down and the tables are TIGHT - we were sat right next to the stage and the woman that was on was GREAT... digging the vibe, super excited - my arm would constantly touch the girl next to us and we then started all talking to that table as well so it became less awkward but still... Drinks come, Ok - My drink I had to assemble myself which was cute I could make it too my liking, I just might have liked if there was actual alcohol with it... Then food, apps were Ok... The mains, NO... The steak had NO FLAVOR, not even bad flavor, NONE... Then the music changed, and the band that went on after was just NOT a vibe - what we had hoped would be a cute, cuddle in a little booth, get some music, good food, turned into a "are we done, lets hurry and go drink at the hotel bar" experience! Sad because I wanted to love this place, and maybe another booth where my ass wasnt on my neighbors chair, and the music was a different band might change this whole experience!

    Photos
    The Flatiron Room Murray Hill
    The Flatiron Room Murray Hill - The Sphere after the melt...

    The Sphere after the melt...

    The Flatiron Room Murray Hill

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    The Parlour Room - Faroe Island Salmon

    The Parlour Room

    4.4(297 reviews)
    0.4 miMidtown West
    $$

    The Parlour Room is one of my favorite places to sit, sip fine wine, and enjoy the company of…read morefriends. Last night I got the chance to stop by and enjoy the ambiance of this lovely place. The service is fabulous, the wine list has been changed. Very appreciative of our server allowing us to sample the wine before deciding. Definitely recommend the Parlour Room.

    There's a song by Sade called "Never as Good as the First Time." Although the song is about love,…read moreand not dining, I've found that when I have an impeccably perfect time at a restaurant, the subsequent visits just don't measure up to that first time. And this isn't entirely the restaurant's fault: when, as a customer, you've already tasted a good part of the menu, seen the decor, experienced the good service and ambience, it's really hard for future visits to be "as good as the first time." But then there's Parlour Room that dazzles me every time I visit New York. Last Saturday we sat at the same booth as our first visit and were lucky enough to have Jesus as a server again. I was so excited to see him. We had so much food that we had to take a good amount to go, but let me give you the rundown. New things we tried this time: Octopus: I've never had octopus in my life. And I've never wanted to try it. No interest at all. But a Parlour Room suggestion? Okay, sure. I trust it. And guess what? 10/10 Ribs: The presentation was pretentious in the best way, but still, my expectations weren't too high. BUT they rivaled the best soul food restaurant. Fall off the bone and full of flavor. I couldn't believe it. Another 10/10 Mac and cheese: I wasn't enthusiastic about ordering this because I didn't want all the carbs and cheese. Then I couldn't stop eating it. 10/10 The usuals: burger and fries, meatballs, and deviled eggs. Always 10/10, or 5 stars, in Yelp standards. :) The drinks and dessert were unbelievably decadent as well. As usual. What an evening. One more thing...They changed the menu recently, and in my experience, that usually means some sort of disappointment as you discover they've gotten rid of your favorite dish, added uninteresting things, and/or consolidated the offerings in general. But Parlour Room was thoughtful in this regard--unlike anything I've seen before. And what a relief. When I didn't think the menu could get any more perfect, they went and concocted another level of perfection. Oh, I love this place.

    Photos
    The Parlour Room - Fireplace Seating

    Fireplace Seating

    The Parlour Room - Parlour Cheeseburger

    Parlour Cheeseburger

    The Parlour Room - Tropics in New York

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    Tropics in New York

    Local 42

    Local 42

    4.4(45 reviews)
    0.6 miMidtown West, Hell's Kitchen, Theater District

    Been doing "Dive Bars" in NYC for decades, so I thought I'd stop in based on the 4.5* ratings. I…read moreWAS BLOWN AWAY! There is nothing like this place! I had the good fortune of being taken care of by Adam, the owner, an extremely welcoming and knowledgeable host. The bourbon selection is absolutely 10/10. He has vintage and specialty bottles, all priced clearly by the oz., that are really beyond imagination. Trust me on this one.. you WILL NOT be disappointed. After savoring 4 vintage bourbons, I had their very delicious Reuben with onion rings. Cannot wait to return!

    Ok if you wanna ball on a budget and be in midtown come here! $9 for a freaking burger? Unheard of…read moreanywhere in the city unless you know a guy. The mozzarella sticks said 5 of them but we got four of them. They were good none the less. ::bathroom alert:: Very clean bathroom. I was very happy about this because I had just ate. There was tons of soap, it smelled nice in there. The beer and shot special under $10 in the city? Haven't seen that in awhile. The beers are super cheap here as well. They feel like old NY prices! Can't complain. They have four booths in the back maybe it was three. I did notice one of the hanging lights was from an 80s pizza hut joint. Letting you know now the paper towels for your face at the table felt like jail toliet paper, very rough. The bar doesn't have bar stools with backs! You either need to get one or two tables by their mini kitchen, very hot there not recommended for preimenopause or menopausal women or one of the booths. This is a great bar they played 60s music a lot. Heard some weird al too! Very random and fun place to be. The bartender was nice as well as security! Try the burger! Worth the $9!!

    Photos
    Local 42 - Every one was better than the next. Worth every penny.

    Every one was better than the next. Worth every penny.

    Local 42
    Local 42

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    Oscar Wilde

    Oscar Wilde

    3.8(1.7k reviews)
    0.8 miFlatiron
    $$$
    Private events
    Free WiFi

    Oscar Wilde Seen legendary Oscar Wilde treasures such as the…read moreIrish Writers Wall, a 1840s French fireplace, and New York City's longest bar ever seen before at 118.5 feet. Awesome selection of menu, and drink best with a group gathering. Absolutely great vibe and easy-going, fun atmosphere. An amazing, impressive, elaborately designed, Victorian-Style bistro with a long marble bar for cocktails and American bites. An option weekend tea times, 11.00 pm-3.00 pm. Attention: present services are acceptable.

    Oscar Wilde is a bit of a gimmick, I'd say, a hit among the themed-bars crowd and impressive to…read moreanyone not native to New York. I found the hodgepodge of old-timey decor to be a bit kitsch, but to each their own. I came with a group on a weeknight with no reservation. We were seated immediately on a high wood table. Although the bar wasn't busy (there were plenty of empty spaces, small groups scattered throughout the area), the service was quite slow. The server was inattentive and took a while to take our orders. We had to ask her for water three times, searching for her across the room in an attempt to catch her attention. She was a bit absent during the two-ish hours we were there. On the bright side, the drinks were fairly good. I ordered this strawberry vodka cocktail topped with whole mint. I'm wary of vodka for its harsh, unpleasant taste, but I found this drink to actually be very pleasant, tasing like a fruit smoothie you'd get from a local juicer. There was also a burgundy drink served on a wine glass that tasted like the holidays. I liked that one quite a bit. Overall, Oscar Wilde was an okay experience. It's certainly a bar for a certain type of crowd, and the service was lacking, but maybe we went on a bad night. Maybe if you're lucky, you'll be served better than we were.

    Photos
    Oscar Wilde
    Oscar Wilde
    Oscar Wilde

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    Tanner Smiths - Tuna Poke Tacos

    Tanner Smiths

    4.3(2.4k reviews)
    0.6 miMidtown West
    $$

    Prior to going to a Saturday afternoon matinee, a group of us were looking for a good brunch spot…read more I had Tanner Smiths bookmarked, so we stopped in. What a cool place! It definitely has the vibe of a speakeasy, especially with the jazz band playing. We went with the brunch special which is $35 for bottomless drinks with the purchase of an entree. It pays off if you're having more than 2 drinks and we made sure we did! Bloody Mary's were excellent! The food here was outstanding. I had the 3 Eggs Any Style and my wife had the Breakfast Flatbread. Those dishes as well as our friends were well made and delicious. If you're headed to a play or just in the area, I'd recommend stopping here to eat, drink or both!

    We came here based on a friend's recommendation and had high expectations, but the experience was…read morevery disappointing. We're three young women in the service industry and still felt completely unwelcome--the hostess told us to find our own seating even though the sign said see hostess. The bartender was rude and uninterested, standing 5 min+ at the bar without even being acknowledged. Another staff member was dismissive when closing us out and rolled her eyes when asked to take cash. The overall vibe felt like we weren't wanted, even though it was only around 11 PM. The DJ was underwhelming and the bathroom was vile. The most pleasant part was the below average $20 drinks. For an expensive, well-known spot, this was a very poor experience. Couldn't pay me to return.

    Photos
    Tanner Smiths - The setting from the entrance

    The setting from the entrance

    Tanner Smiths - Double Smoked Cheeseburger

    Double Smoked Cheeseburger

    Tanner Smiths - Gluten free bun

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    Gluten free bun

    Blue Bar - whiskeybars - Updated May 2026

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