More of a low-key cocktail spot with affordable drinks. I'm a cocktail nerd that has (sadly) normalized paying at least $16 for a drink. Then came along Bubo. My friend and I were in the area and searching for a low key spot for us to catch up that still served up quality cocktails. And it totally hit the mark. Here's what you need to know: 1. $12 for a cocktail in New York? Ya, sign me up every time. 2. Well-lit (but still dim enough to have a mood) library vibe that can be a great spot to chill or take a date. There is also a lot of space in the back so it doesn't feel overly crowded, which is exceedingly rare in NYC. 3. Food options so you won't go hungry. They have standard bar fare with quality ingredients. 4. Slower service, but it's totally fine since it's a cocktail bar. Bubo is worth a visit if you want to travel more off the beaten path for a good and affordable drink. read more

I'm going to be real honest here. This place would've gotten less stars if it wasn't for our waiter, Eddie. (To Eddie: you have made our experience extremely fun and memorable. You did your best to accommodate us with limited resources and managed to make our time as worthwhile and comfortable despite the unexpected circumstances that occurred during that evening. If it wasn't for you, we would've left.) The place is definitely spacious yet cozy. Large groups can get cozy in back since they had ample, comfy booth seating. Decor reminded me of a ol'school den. In the middle of the restaurant, there was semi-large wrap-around bar to cater to large parties and happy hour. Very attractive-looking place. Now let's get to the negative experience. When we got in, we were seated in the back lounge and provided menus. Like I said, our waiter Eddie was really cool. He took our drink orders and came back with them. I had ordered a Bobby Burns and one of my friends ordered a martini. The Bobby Burns is drink that will make you grow hair on your chest. Definitely a manly-man drink that I wasn't prepared for. Lol. For food, we ordered zucchini fritters, lamb and veal meatballs and sweetbread frito to share. Eddie came back and told us the chef didn't want to make the brunch items because he was off the clock. So we were flabbergasted since we came in before brunch time ended. And the place wasn't that busy! So Eddie told us that he will work his magic. After five minutes, he came back and said the brunch chef was leaving but the next chef was running late. So at this point, we were contemplating leaving. But Eddie said he got us and was trying to work something out. He got me and my friend two martini drinks on the house while we waited and my other friend a virgin drink since she was preggo. We also reminded Eddie since our third friend was preggo, that he needed to figure something out quick, lol. In the next fifteen minutes, Eddie came back and said the next chef was here but the chef refused to cook brunch items because he wasn't the brunch chef. So we explained that we came during the brunch hour and we really wanted to try the brunch food items. At this point, we really were going back and forth and was just planning to leave again but Eddie said to stay and in the next ten minutes, he brought us our food! Eddie saved the day. Unfortunately, the food could've been a bit better. The zucchini fritters were good but more doughy and didn't appear to have that much zucchini. My preggo friend enjoyed the meatballs but the sweetbread frito was not a favorite. It didn't look like a bread but it looked like a mash that was cooked together. I tasted a bit and didn't like it. Our experience was just not the best here but I do want to give them another try some day. I really enjoyed the ambiance, spacious setting and the buzz-worthy drinks menu so I think I may plan a revisit and give them a second chance. read more

Bubo - Bobby Burns. You will grow hair on your chest, lol. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Very classy and beautiful restaurant. They have outdoor seating and a ton of space inside for whichever you prefer. They have a good happy hour menu including $1 oysters all the time at the bar. I've also been here for brunch where I had one of the best bloody mary's of the city! Highly recommend if you're looking for a nice establishment with good food options and nice staff. read more

Bubo - Oysters, shishito peppers, pinor grigio! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Love the decor. Very classy place in the sea of bro bars in Murray hill. Instagram worthy. I would go just to take pictures. Food was pretty good too. Quite under the radar now. The owner walked around and made sure that we loved our food. If they keep the great service and maintain food quality without raising this price too drastically, Bubo could very well survive the competitive restaurant scene. read more

Bubo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Have been to bubo in 2018 and it was an amazing experience, a quite and clean ambience. The service was amazing then and this time took my fronds here. John was warm and welcoming. The service was amazing again and the oysters were great as always. Cant have enough of this place. They have great outdoor seating area and if you want to go on a date and you want nice sunny area you can sit outside or inside. Thank you John and will be back again. read more

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Bubo recently opened up, so when I heard of it and looked at the menu, I knew I had to give it a try. I wasn't disappointed. It's a small plates and tapas style restaurant, so it's best for going with other people and splitting a lot of little plates. I tried the razor clams, the tuna tartare, the grilled octopus, and the pork belly. All were wonderful; I didn't have a single bad dish! The grilled octopus was definitely my favorite though and a must order. The atmosphere is great. It's the kind of place that you can either go to casually or get a little more dressed up. The wine list was decent enough for a restaurant (as opposed to a wine bar) and I was able to find some good options by the glass. Bubo would be a solid 5 star restaurant for me minus the service. The waitress we had was inattentive and unwelcoming. We had to ask another waiter to bring us things in the end, which made her even more irritated. The other waiter was great though and I wish we were sat in his section. Still, Bubo was fantastic and I will make it a priority to come back! read more

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Very nice place! Great food, great wine. So Charming! Everything from the kitchen was amazing, from shishito peppers to bone marrow to the short ribs! Murray Hill needs a place like this.. finally !!! read more

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This place has great art and a pleasant atmosphere, I came here with a date on a friday night and it was quite busy, we sat at the back and I notice they could just do a little more effort with dimming the lights to make it look like a lounge. I ordered a whiskey and the zucchini fritters, the food was ok but maybe they should have more vegan options. They have a good variety of cocktails as well. read more

Bubo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Bubo is one of my favorite places to come alone or with a group. The ambiance is amazing with great music, but what makes it is the people. The bartender, Lexi is always so attentive and sweet. Jeff and Andreas always cares about your experience here and will make you feel at home! Could not recommend enough!! read more

Bubo - fried Calamari - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I love coming to this place! Not only is the food is amazing, but the staff (especially John) is so attentive and kind. The brunch special is legit and I would highly suggest coming on a Saturday or Sunday! read more

Came here after watching a movie with a friend. We loved the ambiance, and the many different high tables and bar areas we could sit at. Super spacious. Soundtrack playing sounded like today's hits, and was fun and kept me grooving haha. This is great place to bring a date, or to bring a friend to catch up over drinks. I wouldn't come back for the chocolate lava cake with ice cream - the cake didn't taste the fresh, and the portion was small, but I'll definitely be back for the drinks and ambiance. read more

Bubo - Chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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We came here on a Friday evening as it was close, looked nice and had good reviews. As you walk in there is a bar area at the front before you're greeted by someone who can seat you. They have high tops and more of a lounge area at the back. We were at a high top, which I somewhat regret as I found myself falling off the stool as I navigated the food during the meal. The decor is really nice - it has a nice open feel and the tables aren't too close together. The drinks menu has a good range of beers, wine and cocktails, as you would expect. For food they have lighter bites, meze and main dishes. We just went for a selection of main dishes plus the bone marrow (which I think was one of the smaller plates). The bone marrow was the real disappointment for me - I think it must have been over cooked as I could hardly get anything off it. The prawns with chorizo and chicken with orzo were the highlights and were really very good. Service was excellent. Had it not been for the bone marrow and the slightly unstable stool, I would have probably given it 5 stars. read more

Bubo - Short rib, shrimp with chorizo, chicken and orzo, with the bone marrow in the back - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Athnosphere was great, decoration specially in the back area is outstanding and very authentic Food was great, great cocktails and drinks, the server was amazing, great costumer service read more

Bubo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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In what I hope doesn't become a prophecy, my boyfriend said, 'This restaurant is so nice it's not going to last in this neighborhood. The bros want their TVs!' But in all seriousness, this restaurant is quite a welcome breath of fresh air. The decor sets it apart already - midnight blue walls with brass light fixtures and Edison bulbs, marble countertops... it's a sexy mid century bachelor's pad. And before you think they're all looks and no substance, the food is actually pretty good! It's tapas format - and we tried a couple of things: the grilled octopus, pork belly, and razor clams. The octopus was cooked very well, and I thought the razor clams was outstanding. The pork belly wasn't tender and gelatinous like I was expecting, but it was still a well seasoned piece of meat. 6 drinks and those dishes set us back about $100 before tax and tip, which I think is just about right. read more

Bubo - Octopus, pork belly, razor clams - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here last week for dinner and drinks with a girlfriend - we were both so impressed! Bubo is definitely one of the better bars in this neighborhood. They have a good happy hour and the oysters were delicious! We especially loved the grapefruit and jalapeño accompaniments. Pork belly flatbread, the octopus, and the zucchini fritters were our favorite items we tried. We will definitely be back! read more

Bubo - Oysters and happy hour red - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Dropped by here since it is really close to the Kips Bay movie theater. I may come back since I go to that theater often enough. I didn't go for dinner, but went for brunch since it was on a weekend and during the afternoon. It was a nicely renovated place that looks more like a happy hour spot or an after work drink spot. But surprisingly enough they serve food. I had a honey crepe which wasn't quite filling. So, I decided to get a nutella crepe which was amazing and filling. It definitely hit the spot!! The waitstaff and someone who looked like the manager suggested eating the nutella one. The price for both wasn't too bad since it was in the city. I looked at their dinner menu and it sounded appetizing. There was an array of dishes such as tapas, sandwiches and main entrees. The pricing for all didn't look bad either. Perhaps I will go by again... read more

Great little spot for tapas. Got seated immediately on a Saturday night. Had 4 small plates for $24-broccolini with red pepper flakes, orzo with tomato and feta, spicy blue and yellow patatas, and Brussels sprouts with applewood bacon and pecans, and an order of zucchini fritters with yogurt dill sauce. All were excellent except for the orzo, which was a little overcooked. read more

Bubo - Zucchini fritters, broccolini, patatas, Brussels sprouts with pecans and bacon, orzo with tomato and feta - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Absolutely love coming to Bubo. The food is delicious, presentation and service is fabulous. We love ordering appetisers...delish. Great place to spend an evening out with friends. read more

Bubo is perfect for tapas and drinks. The decor is a throwback to the prohibition era with a speakeasy vibe. The kitchen serves up modern cuisine with Mediterranean flare. The razor clams, grilled cauliflower and short rib plates were rich in flavor and well plated. Save yourself a subway ride downtown and head to Bubo instead. Bubo is a #promove and great addition to Murray Hill. read more

Bubo - Short Rib - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Have been here 3 or 4 times and finally writing a review after my most recent visit yesterday. This place is great-- the food has always been fresh-- burgers, salad, soups, shrimp tacos, oysters, eggs are some of the things we've ordered and everything has been so good. Nice ambiance at the bar or at a table and the servers are so nice and professional. We will be back again soon for sure! read more

This was a very lovely space and atmosphere, surprisingly refreshing for Murray Hill, but similiar to what one may find in the West Village, NoMad or SoHo. The name means The Owl, inspired from Greek mythology, hence their logo. The interior design was sleek, modern, trendy comfortabley spaced, in fact, no table was too close to another, and catered to both a feminine and masculine aesthetic. Perhaps like a shared apartment between two classy individuals. The cocktails are robust and delicate. The two we tried were delicious. While I only tried their cheese and charcuterie board, it was good, but I expect the actual cooked food will be amazing! Portions looked generous and well plated. Will be back for dinner! I was able to engage with the kind owner during my time there and he generously bestowed an impressionable bottle of wine for my date. So that was very much appreciated! Ive already begun telling people about this hidden gem. Hope I dont regret it! Would love for it to be busy but never too too crowded. Just note it seems like Thursdays Fridays are more lively than the weekend crowd. It all depends on what you're looking for! read more

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Very great brunch! So cost effective, the food is amazing especially the chicken and waffles. Wait staff is also phenomenal, ask for John.

Pretty nice spot for tapas. A bit of the more expensive side but nice overall. I went in on a quiet afternoon and sat at the bar. The place is actually way bigger than it looks for the inside. Very modern and upscale looking. The menu is pretty tiny, half a page front and back with some tapas, main dishes, sides and salads. They have a PDF with prices on their website Razor clams $16 - delicious, great presentation, cooked perfectly. The star of the show. Spicy Broccolini $7- pretty much just cooked broccoli, barely any flavor whatsoever. Hard pass Potatas Bravas $7- these are typically baked potatoes with a nice spicy sauce on them. They were cooked well but really lacked any sauce. I would have preferred them to be completely slathered and swimming in sauce like most other places do them. Overall cooked great but gimme that spicy sauce! Nice experience overall read more

Amazing local spot for happy hour! $12 for 12 oyster and $13 for quality salmon and veggies - what more could you ask for?! Also to mention the beautiful interior design and great service. read more

Bubo - Salmon entree - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This place is fantastic! The outside is a little small but perfect for tables of two that want to dine alfresco. Inside the decor is really modern and sophisticated with a blue and cigar colored leather color theme. It also is so much bigger on the inside than expected. For brunch we ordered the avocado poached eggs and burger and couldn't be happier. The ingredients were so fresh, refer to pic read more

Bubo - Avocado poached eggs - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Place never disappoints, great service and drinks and food are always on point!! Their apps are my favorite and they're delicious!! It's a great spot for date night read more

Bartender was the most unfriendly, sour faced, judgemental, resenting person ever. No one acting like this should be allowed in the service industry. She Resented me for not ordering a drink (I ordered food and I'm sober) and refused to drop the check for almost an hour after we had nothing on the bar but water and I caught her eye multiple times to ask for the check/a check in. She purposefully did not come over and was on a high horse about it. read more

I went there with a couple of friends from out of town. The bar was closing soon and we ordered a few beers. They have good selection of beers and the waiter was kins enough to give us a moment to see through the menu. Very chilled out ambience. I would love to drop by myself and relax here. They have a lounge area at the end of the place which is relaxed and open with lots of books on the shelf for decor. The whole place is tastefully done and is painted in my favorite color , blue. Be sure to check it out. It's right in the line of mercury bar, Joshua tree. read more

Bubo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Best brunch in NYC. Hidden gem in Murray Hill/Kips Bay -as many others have said. Generous pours, a trendy vibe / music, along with the most delicious meals! 2 mimosas, choice of tea or coffee, and a choice of either an omelette, chicken & waffles, or a burger for $19? no ones done it better! read more

What a fantastic spot! The drinks and food were incredible along with the kind and attentive staff who helped host our first event in the backroom. I would highly recommend this venue as the environment is both great for a big event or just grabbing a quick bite after work. I will definitely be coming back here!! read more

Just wow! This place is absolutely amazing. This was our first time here and the staff were very accommodating. Especially this one server, Marisa, totally finessed our cocktails. The vibes of this place are great, very spacious, excellent for hosting events and celebrations. We will certainly be coming back!!! read more

I came here on a Friday around 5pm for Happy Hour (think this goes until 6:30pm) and had a really great experience. We sat at the bar and I got 6 oysters ($1 each) and a beer ($5). They have a few food options and around 2-3 beers and wines to choose from. The Happy Hour wines are $8 a glass. The oysters were all extremely fresh and displayed beautifully. They place it on ice and give you both a grapefruit and lime slice in addition to all of the other usual raw oyster condiments. The Bushwick Pilsner was also pretty refreshing and a great deal at only $5 for around a pint. The bartender was extremely friendly and was able to articulately speak to the menu. I actually didn't realize how large this place is (as the bar is in the front) until I walked to the back for the restroom. It has a really intimate / dimly lit vibe which would make it a great place to have a girl's night or date night. Overall would highly recommend their Happy Hour. read more

My boyfriend and I came here for dinner on Saturday and were seated immediately. The place is very clean and has a pretty low-key vibe - not crowded, spacious, and quiet. We were seated in the front by the bar, but behind the curtains were a lot more tables and couches for larger groups. Overall, the food was good but the portions were small. We ordered the bone marrow, mussels, and pork belly. My favorite was probably the mussels because the sauce was so buttery and flavorful, but we did get charged for extra bread (which the waitress didn't tell us. We only found out when we got the check at the end). The pork belly was good, but it was just one slab of meat with some onions. The meat was a little too chewy and not as flavorful as I would have liked. The bone marrow was where I had the real issue. The two pieces we got were drastically different. My piece literally only had a thin film of marrow on the bone - I couldn't even tell you what it tasted like. It wasn't even half a bite of food. The other piece of bone marrow had a good amount of marrow in it, but according to my boyfriend was subpar. I would come back again, but maybe not for dinner. read more

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Bubo is a little hidden gem in Kips Bay. Cozy, stylish interior, delicious cocktails and snacks, and a great brunch deal. The bartender is always fast and friendly, there's a great space in the back for large gatherings, and the music is on point. I for one am very glad to have a spot like this in the area. read more

Bubo - Chicken and waffles Mimosa Coffee Bartender - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Awesome service. we went with a group and had our own section in the back. we ordered appetizers and drinks and everything was delicious. definitely re this place! read more

Lexi and Cindy are phenomenal human beings. The bar experience transcends and their energy matters! I'll come back here for them anytime.

I came here on a quiet evening and sat at the bar. Luckily, they had happy hour on a Saturday. The wines offered for happy hour were very good and the drinks, while simple, were made well. I love the tasteful decor and ambiance. Located right by the door at the front, the large marble bar only hints at the sleek design of the restaurant. Walk past the front bar into a spacious room with high table tops and another large wrap-around bar smack in the center. Behind that, there is a larger room with classy booth seating and plush accent chairs. The books aligning the walls only add to the ambiance of a classy den or library. Bonus points for the bathroom- located downstairs, spacious, and clean. read more

My boyfriend and I stumbled across this restaurant when we were looking for a nice but casual weekday dinner. We were pleasantly surprised!! It's hard to miss this restaurant because it's so elegantly designed. They serve tapas so we ordered about 4-5 dishes (I personally thought we over-ordered for 2 people) and everything was delicious. Out of what we ordered, these are our favorites: spice roasted cauliflower, grilled halloumi and oregano crostini, crispy cod fish and herbed lemon aioli. The drinks were also great. This is a great place for a drink and the back area is so beautifully designed, it'd be a great place for a private party! read more

Enjoyed the food drinks and atmosphere. Was very upbeat and service staff was very nice.

Great food, but OK drinks. We came for happy hour and the drink specials are underwhelming; $8 wine and nothing off cocktails. The wine portion was extremely small as well. We watched the bartender pour them out into a small cup to measure it, and it was about half of what I expect for a glass of wine. The wine also tasted mediocre. However, the food was amazing. There are $1 oysters for happy hour, and we also got a pork belly flatbread which was huge and covered in tender pork! The charcuterie and cheese plate was also a large portion (definitely meant to be shared) and the selections were great. The venue is spacious and beautiful. Overall, I would definitely choose a different spot for happy hour drinks to get better deals and tastier drinks, but this may be a good place to grab a bite to eat! read more

Bubo - Pork belly flatbread - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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