LOVED SUGAR MONK! Recommended by a friend who lived in the area and she was spot on! They coin it…read moreas a speak easy but it's basically a blank door attached to the patio and frankly unnecessary because a random door doesn't qualify lol The drinks were AMAZING. The music (80s to 2000's R&B ) on. Thursday night was VIBING. The design and ambiance was right up our alley! The drinks were so good I walked out with 3 bottles of their signature liquors! Jordi, their head bartender, also gave me his personal number so would could discuss the amazing cocktail recipes I can make at home. I highly recommend this as a low key spot on your next visit to Harlem!

Another great night at Sugar Monk…read more Ambiance? Dim and Sexy Drinks? Creative, craft cocktails (and mocktails as well. Snacks? Went for the lava cake and it was good. There are always beautiful people and chill vibes here. Service is attentive and kind. Yeah, if you're in Harlem looking for smoky, chill vibes, come here!

This establishment slaps. You want Mexican fast food and tequila drinks served quick and delicious?…read moreThis is the place. The service was excellent at the bar, which if you're looking for more this is not the establishment for you. For sports, delicious grub, and quick drinks, which is all this establishment is trying to sell, this is the spot. Good vibes, excellent drinks, excellent grub. 10/10

4/14/2026 1:34pm…read more This doesn't override my previous reviews however I do not like when places round up the price (see receipt for $16.82). The amount doesn't show on a front facing screen when paying with cash so when I asked how much and the cashier said $17. It isn't until I'm settled in that I see the receipt. I find this to be in poor taste. And please do not trouble yourself to think I care what anyone thinks about it being only $.18. This is about principle.

This place has changed so much over the last four years--and while a lot can change in that time,…read moreit was still disappointing to see. I stopped by on a weekday around 3:00-4:00 p.m., right as happy hour was starting. According to their website, happy hour runs from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The main reason I came was for their frozen rosé, which I remembered being one of the best. It's definitely more of a sweet, refreshing drink than a strong one, but it still gives you a nice buzz. I was even willing to pay full price for it. I literally paid for an Uber just because I was craving that frozen drink. The first thing I noticed was that, despite it being broad daylight, there was a security guard at the door checking IDs and searching bags. That's their policy, and that's fine, but what really stood out was the condition of the entrance. The front door was cracked and held together with duct tape. It seemed odd to be so focused on security while basic maintenance appeared to be neglected. When I walked in, I was only the second customer in the entire bar besides the bartender. Unfortunately, I found out the frozen drink machines have been broken for months, so there were no frozen drinks available at all. The bartender mentioned that she has repeatedly told management the machines need to be repaired, but nothing has been done. Since that was the only reason I came, and nothing else on the menu really caught my interest, I decided not to stay. This place has changed dramatically since the COVID era. The atmosphere feels completely different. One of the things I used to enjoy was their hookah happy hour, which was around $25 with refills for about $10-$15, and they had a great selection of flavors. From what I've heard, they no longer offer hookah, and it sounds like they may not have had the proper license back then, which is concerning if true. Another thing I miss is the outdoor seating area they had during COVID. The indoor space is pretty small, but the outdoor setup made the bar feel much larger and created a much better atmosphere. It's disappointing that they didn't keep it because I think it really added to the experience and probably helped attract more customers. Sorry I didn't take any photos, but honestly, there wasn't much worth photographing. The interior hasn't really changed, so the existing photos online are still an accurate representation of what it looks like still.

I came here for a game night with a Meet Up group. The spot is cute, a bit divey, but they have a…read moregood assortment of alcohol and enough space to host group events. They have a happy hour until 9pm. Dwanna (bartender) makes a great rum punch (I had two) and was able to recommend a vegan/vegetarian friendly meal. The service was great from start to finish.

I came to the Shrine World Music Venue with a few friends after a Friday evening at a cigar lounge…read more I had no expectations and had walked by the Shrine several times not knowing what was there along Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. Unless you know about it, you can easily walk by, given it blends into the general Harlem cityscape, especially during the day. Then at night, especially during the afterhours when I was there, the scene flips and this place becomes turnt up! People were lined up trying to get inside at 0130. The bouncers were searching and patting people down, nothing absurd or overly intrusive. There is a cover charge and they take credit cards for the cover. As you walk inside, the bar in on your right. Keep going and the dancefloor awaits you. It's not that large, but people are generally very courteous. There are a few places to sit, especially in the back in the left corner. That is also where the steps lead you downstairs, presumably to the restroom, which I did not have to use. The vibe is poppin' inside and it is fed by the DJ on a stage in the back, playing Worldbeats, Afropop, Afrobeats, Reggae, Dance Hall, and Soca. They are setup for live bands here. The volume is high, but not uncomfortably or earsplittingly high. The people here are drawn to this vibe and energy. You can dance here all night and the air conditioning and ventilation are of the capacity to keep you and everyone else comfortable. Stick around until closing time at 0400 when everyone starts walking out and the AC nearly turns the Shrine into a refrigerator. For an unassuming place on the outside, it is clear this is a place you can come to with friends or a date if this is your vibe and it's hard to imagine anyone not enjoying this. Prices are reasonable too at the bar. They have a good selection of draught and bottled beer. Guinness on tap was $9 for a pint. They serve up the cocktails too. Four fun and returnworthy stars!

This is a neighborhood spot. It's for music lovers. It doesn't have any ambience to speak of. I did…read morenot eat here so I can't talk about the food. We did have two drinks and the service was OK. You're here for the music. My understanding is after the bands leave at midnight you can dance until 4 AM. This is a good chill, relaxed spot. You don't need to get dressed up. It's very casual and you will have a good time.

Small but mighty. Came from brunch on a Sunday and def would come back for the cod fritters and…read moreshrimp and grits again. The grits were very smooth and creamy, with big prawns. The cod fritter you definitely taste the cod and the tartar sauce was divine. Oh and the plantain with lime salt was interesting, not your typical gooey sweet plantains, worth a try. Love the ambiance and vibe. Saturday nights they have a live DJ! Very friendly service. Great flavor profile, a great spot to try if you find yourself in Harlem.

Came for brunch as it was recommended by a friend. We were able to get the las reservation spot the…read morenight before for 10am. We were promptly seated up one arrival and brought water. To order we started with the Harlem biscuit basket which was accompanied with butter and jam. This was delicious and I would go back just for the biscuit basket and the jam. Next, I ordered the French toast which were topped with berries, rum spiced whipped cream and pure maple syrup. My husband had the shrimp and grits. I sampled the shrimp and it was really good, very seasoned. I also had a side of home fries and to drink orange juice.

Slow service . Decent drinks. Only chicken tenders were available even tho a full bar menu is…read morepresented online .

Illmatic Harlem sweetspot with some of the most talented karaoke singers you'll ever encounter…read more You'll feel like you just walked into a show at the Apollo Theater, seriously.

This was my first visit to Red Rooster. Our group had a reservation for a Friday night. We were…read moreseated immediately upon our arrival. Our waitress was pretty good. She attempted to take a drink order for a group of ten without writing it down. She had to ask people their drink order a couple of times. Other than than she did a good job. We ordered from the special Harlem Week menu, which was a three course meal. The Deviled Egg appetizer with cornbread was delicious. The Sweet Potato Coconut Soup was good (I'm not a coconut fan). I had the catfish over black eyed peas plate. The catfish was good but I was disappointed to learn they didn't have any tartar sauce. The live entertainment, Amaya Knoelle and the Residency Band were very entertaining and they put on a great show! I would return here whenever I'm visiting NYC.

We went to Red Rooster on a Saturday and had an absolutely amazing time! The live band was…read morefantastic, the music and atmosphere were on point, and the food was incredible. What really stood out was the customer service. Some of the best service we've ever experienced. Everyone made us feel welcome and made sure we had a great time from beginning to end. My wife and I had so much fun, and the entire experience exceeded our expectations. Great food, great music, great energy, and amazing people. We cannot wait to come back! Thank you, Red Rooster, for such a memorable experience. 10/10, highly recommend!

I'm a gay brother who doesn't go out to gay clubs, bars or lounges; but I found It was an actually…read morefun time especially on a Tuesday. Now I can't promise any I'll come any other night. But early Tuesday evenings I can do! I appreciate the fun

First and foremost, I have patronize this business for years and I'm a loyal patron of the Brooklyn…read morelocation. However, this past Saturday night on 4/20/2024 my friends and I visited the Harlem location and we experienced the worst bar service ever. We ordered three drinks and the bartender made them and there was a mystery fourth drink. When questioned about it, he stated "oh that's a drink somebody left behind." Ok no problem, but I'm not paying for this guys drink (an unknown individual standing next to me where the drink was in front of). I grabbed the drink and placed it to my right. The unidentified male questions this, and I tell him; it's not yours so it shouldn't matter. The bartender yells at me and says my bill is $74 (while trying to grab the fourth mysterious drink, he knocked over one of my ordered drinks). I repeated, I'm not paying for his drink. The bartender says, "you're not." Ok, so why is the bill $74? He just looks at me. So I ask, how much for one (because they were all the same with the exception of that mysterious drink)? Bartender says, $17. Now I'm pissed. $17x3 (anywhere is) $51! Where's the other $23 coming from? I asked for a manager! He stated he is the manager! REALLY! Your attitude, unprofessionalism, and inaccurate math is unacceptable and unbelievable. He claims he was attempting to explain. NEVER did he attempt any kind of explanation or correction. Instead, he kept repeating $74 each time he interacted with me. During all this time, it's literally closing time because the lights come on. After lying about trying to calm me down and explain, I called him a lair. Since you want to clearly over charge me and my friends for three basic drinks and then lie about it all and claim to be the "bar manager"; you really handled this situation like someone who lacks basic customer service skills and no management experience at all. Since the lights where all on now and the DJ was thanking us all from coming out, I told the 'Bartending Manager'; he can keep those drinks and that I will be posting about this experience because I don't like liars and he is a LAIR. That whole crazy ordeal did not need to play out like that. Ps... was gonna over charge us, serve us the drinks, then kick us out immediately afterwards. WOW. This place is a great spot to hangout at with friends or to meet good folks. However, be aware of everything and everyone around you ...especially when interacting with the bar staff. Pay close attention to what you are paying for and ask for a detailed receipt. Even if you're paying in cash, ask for a detailed receipt to ensure you were properly billed and rather or not a tip was automatically charged; so you don't over tip for basic services. Thank you for taking the time to read my review. I sincerely hope the owners of this establishment takes this review serious; as I was disappointed with the service received that evening. However, it will not affect my ability to revisit this establishment. Understandably, I will be more cautious and ask for upfront drink prices before placing an order and request a receipt for all orders at the bar. I will not seek any assistance from the staff member that attempted to extort us.