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    Hard to Explain

    4.5 (51 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 week ago

    Hard to Explain Photos

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    HARD TO EXPLAIN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Hard to Explain

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    Caroline W.

    Got the yuzu sour and sweet teddy when we went Thought the concept of the bar was super cool and that it all had similar base flavorings. Thought the yuzu flavor came out really well in this cocktail and also really enjoyed the small details of the candy on the cocktail too. Thought the bar tender was super sweet and friendly. She was great with helping us pick drinks we thought would be best. Decor in there is also super cute as well and has a nice cozy vibe to it

    Cocktail
    Rachel G.

    We happened to be walking down the street and decided to pop in for a drink. It's a small space with a long bar and cute decor. They serve a variety of sake cocktails, natural wine, sake and Japanese beers. We ordered the sake flight and natural wine flight, which included three tastings for each. Both flights were good and quite different. We also tried a sake cocktail that was similar to a Negroni. The bar serves some snacks and light bites to accompany the drinks. They also have matcha on weekend mornings. Great spot to grab drinks before or after dinner.

    Hojicha Mirin, Cameron Obscura, and Ma-Chet Baker.
    Cindy Z.

    Just like their sister bar, Steight providing various sake and shoju based cocktails in a cozy Japanese speakeasy. We came between 6-7pm, which was happy hour so we got 10% off all drinks too --win! All of the drinks are Asian-inspired with tasty and refreshing notes. I had the Bitchy Mangoes ($21) and Hojicha Mirin ($18). I enjoyed the mango one more, but highly recommend the Ma-Chet Baker ($21) and Falling for U-Bae ($21) if you want something super tasty. These two come in a bowl and tastes exactly like a latte. You can hardly taste the alcohol (which is dangerous) and it's so fun to drink. Great vibes for a date night or small hang with friends since it's a small space.

    Ariadna S.

    My best friend introduced me to this spot in January. Very small (in the best way) and intimate bar with amazing selection of Japan inspired cocktails. We loved every single one. The bartender was fun to chat with and answered all the questions I had about the cocktails. One of the places I will be returning to once I'm in NYC again.

    Haidar H.

    This is a must every single time we come back to New York. We absolutely LOVE Hard To Explain. The staff is awesome, the drinks are awesome and the place is an absolute vibe. Just be sure to get there early and don't be rude when ordering or waiting for a drink. There's one bartender and they're working as fast as they can.

    Jennifer N.

    The drinks were so easy to drink and I like the asian inspired menu. It was like a dessert and after meal drink in one. My favorite was the ube cocktail. I liked my friends drinks too which were matcha and something tall i forget the name. This would actually be such a cute date spot, very intimate. Wasn't a fan of the bathroom though, could barely sit down on the toilet because my knees were touching the wall

    kurobata sausages (get it with the mustard)
    Ceci C.

    Unlike its name, it's really easy for me to explain why I will be coming back to this bar! They have a happy hour special that runs from 5-7PM, and lets you have 10% off any drink! Hard to explain is an intimate speakeasy type bar that seats about 10 people, and allows for people to stand as well. It offers a wide array of unique asian cocktails, a lot of them sake base, and served in a variety of cute glasses! I got the fall special, falling for u-bae, and it came in the cutest teacup. It tasted dangerously good, like an actual milk tea, and was a favorite among me and my friends. The cafe purr-isa was also really tasty, which was their take on an espresso martini with sake. We also got some kurobata sausages to share, and they were super tasty! The bartender recommended we order it with the mustard because it was a special kind, and it definitely did not disappoint! All in all, definitely check this place out if you're in the area! The happy hour deal is worth it, and their cocktails are unique and tasty!

    Cafe Purr-risa   Would you Mirin-me?
    Kati B.

    My favorite way to discover new bars and restaurants in NYC is to utilize the Seated app. This time, it really did not disappoint! After choosing the walk-in option, we made our way to Hard to Explain bar in the east Village. This place is so non-descriptive that we accidentally walked by first, giving it a subtle speakeasy vibe. It's a very tiny bar with limited space but we were able to snag two folding chairs just sit in the back of the room. Their cocktail and liquor options are super unique and all delicious. They use a guest bartender system, with each of the drinks being developed by somebody new. Many of the drinks, many items, and decor are Japanese themed and I particularly love trying the Nisshin-Shurui Sudachi. This is definitely a bar that I want to return to and I've already noted their sister bar/speakeasy to try as well!

    Bar
    Marianne F.

    Cute dimly lit speakeasy, interesting cocktails, very limited space, quite pricey but great for one drink

    Ma-Chet Baker Latte
    Jacqueline Z.

    A hidden gem! This bar has happy hour from 5-7 PM. Cocktails are $2 off (there's also discounts on other drinks but I don't remember what they were). It's a very small place with one person bartending (the bathroom is also very small). How were, the dark ambiance paired with the industrial lighting and blues/jazz music makes it nice and cozy. Despite being the only person working, the bartender was very friendly and accommodating to everyone who was there. This place specializes in drinks using Japanese spirits. I ordered the Empress X, which was a lychee and floral drink (really good and light). I also ordered the Ma-Chet Baker Latte, which looks like a matcha latte. It is creamy and delicious. If you told me these drinks had alcohol, I wouldn't believe you! I really recommend both of these. I felt like this place was special because of the drink and cocktail selection. These aren't your typical classic cocktails and each one is unique.

    Su C.

    What a hidden little spot! I've been here twice and both times were great. 1st time - we found this place after dinner, and did not have a resy. There were 4 spots reserved at the bar for a resy coming in later, but the bartender was kind enough to let our party of 4 sit there for a drink before they came. She was attentive and provided some great recs based on our usual cocktail/liquor preferences. She was the only bartender for a Saturday night, but she was killing it! 2nd time - also walked in without a resy. We sat by the entrance (there are a few seats away from the bar), and made it in time for happy hour which is 5-7pm! Drinks: cafe purr-isa, b*tchy mangoes, Bojo Do Luar "Doralice" (orange wine). Ambiance sort of resembles a speakeasy with the dim lighting, cozy feels. Not a full bar- they serve sake, wine (and natural wines!), craft beers, seltzers, and mock-tails. They also have bar bites/snacks. Highly recommend for a date night or catching up with a smaller group of friends!

    Bar interior
    Anjolika B.

    Really cozy, intimate bar with great vibes and a Japanese influence. There aren't too many seats but the space is so cute. The drinks were all really well crafted. I especially loved the matcha cocktail (I forget the name). It's like a matcha latte in cocktail form, what more could you ask for?

    Anastasiia D.

    It was my first time there, but I loved it! This's so small, but really cozy place for meeting with friends or dating

    Cafe Purr-risa

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    7 months ago

    Great vibe, and the cocktails looked amazing. I prefer my spirits straight, but their cocktails were very tempting.

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    3 years ago

    Great ambience, wonderful music, and delicious drinks. Records playing creates a warm sound!

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    Ask the Community - Hard to Explain

    Are there any non-alcoholic cocktails here for a friend who is 3 years sober?

    Hi, we have direct-source tea and Kyoto ice coffee.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Rake Wine Bar

    Rake Wine Bar

    4.8
    (29 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Wow East Village! You have yourself a gem with Rake Wine Bar! We were waiting for our dinner…read morereservations and decided to stop in here for a pre-dinner drink and bite. I am SO glad we did. The vibe drew us in, they had great music bumpin from the outside, it looked lively and welcoming. Let me tell you- I would have skipped dinner and just stayed here all evening if it was my choice! But alas, my husband wanted a bit more to eat. But let me tell you- their knowledge of wine is PRISTINE! I can't tell you what white wine we had but they captured our tastes perfectly. We also shared a bruschetta and it was deliciouso! I love how friendly the staff was here and how unpretentious it all was. Next time we are in NYC- we will definitely make a point to come visit Rake!

    My partner and I were looking for a great double date spot, so we decided to give Rake a try due to…read moreits relaxing vibe and multitude of bites we could share. First I'll start with the wine - we ended up trying all three happy hour wines (HH until 7), which the tables favorites were the white and we ended up getting a bottle to split once HH ended (but I really enjoyed the other vino verde option). It was incredibly refreshing and paired well with the many tinned fish options. As you'd expect - it's a pretty massive selection and there is bound to be a varietal and glass for any palate. It's also attached to a wine store - so it's fine to see all the bottles when peaking over. Food-wise - this is where it was hit or miss, they have a pretty extensive menu (with a whole tinned fish section!) and we ended up ordering the buratta on focaccia (buratta was excellent, focaccia was too dense for my tastes), mushroom truffle crostini (way too salty), the flatbread with sliced kielbasa (was fine), halloume (table favorite ), tinned sardines in lemon oil (delicious), tinned smoked trout (my favorite). Overall the four of us were very full at the end of the meal! The space itself felt very relaxing and rustic, and definitely got busier as the night went on (we got there at 6:50 and left around 9). The service was also fast and attentive - even for the amount of tables they were serving. Overall - I'd definitely go back again, and maybe just focus on the wine and another tinned fish selection!

    Photos
    Rake Wine Bar
    Rake Wine Bar
    Menu

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    Menu
    Sunn’s

    Sunn’s

    4.1
    (47 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    yeah boiiii…read more phenomenal. perfection. snagged a res for the ladys birthday and was so so so excited to finally be at Sunn's. went into thinking it was traditional korean, but was actually really fusioned with french/new american flavors, but never forgot its korean roots. everything was divine, and the service was exceptional. sat at chefs table; man that tiny ass kitchen is a miracle. was really suprised with the soondabo. feel like i've ever only had one flavor profile, but chef sunn was telling me how she was inspired by pozole as a rift on the dish. i have had a lot better banchan before thoooo thanks for having us and making the night so special! excited to come back

    Sunn's is a really nice elevated Korean spot tucked into a tiny space right off the F train in…read moreChinatown. The room is intimate, the wine was excellent, and service was warm and on point. The hwe crudo was refreshing and delicious, and the salad was also a standout -- bright, crisp, and really well-balanced. But the best thing we had by far was the dak mandu, the crab/chicken dumplings. Those alone are worth coming back for. The ssam lettuce wraps were good, though they read a little more like Jewish brisket with a spicy bean sauce than what I expected from a Korean lettuce wrap. Still tasty, just a different vibe. Honestly, this would've been a 5-star meal if I didn't leave with three mosquito bites. Great food, great service, great wine -- just maybe bring bug spray.

    Photos
    Vibes + wine bottle + cute water dispenser
    Vibes + wine bottle + cute water dispenser
    Cozy sitting corner by the window
    Cozy sitting corner by the window
    The counter by the kitchen

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    The counter by the kitchen
    Cork

    Cork

    4.3
    (42 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    They have quite a robust wine list! Nice atmosphere. I didn't love the patio seating options (very…read moremuch on the sidewalk), but it was much more comfortable sitting inside at the bar. The wine was great and we had an attentive server who was able to help guide us through the wine choices. Would return!

    Olivia H. is clearly a paid reviewer because my experience here a few days ago felt like a literal…read moresitcom. First off, the front door is mounted on flimsy plastic hinges, so every time someone opens it, it swings open violently and knocks the vase off the nearby table. The service was somehow even worse. When I was there on Tuesday, May 19th from 8-10 PM, there was exactly ONE bartender working the entire place -- both inside and outside -- and she was unbelievably inattentive. My date and I sat at the bar for TWENTY MINUTES before she even acknowledged us or asked if we wanted drinks. I literally had to call out "Excuse me" just to order a $25 quarter-filled glass of wine. Embarrassing all around. And when we were ready to leave and wanted the check, the female bartender working on Tuesday May 19th from 8-10 PM was busy standing in the corner chatting with someone instead of helping customers. I haven't seen someone move this slowly or care this little since the DMV. TO MANAGEMENT - this was absolutely horrible, embarrassing, and unprofessional service. Clean up your act, and hire a second or even a third bartender.

    Photos
    Perfect match!
    Perfect match!
    Cork
    Cork

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    Hard to Explain - wine_bars - Updated July 2026

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