The rude boy-child at the front desk could use a quick lesson on manners. Was just trying to ask questions and got a bunch of attitude & no answers instead. :( read more

Soju and cocktails? Sign me up! I'm so glad I finally was able to check out Reception Bar! I've heard their cocktails can be hit or miss, but the two I tried were solid!! The cereal milk had strong makgeolli and jujube flavors. With the jolly pong on top, it really felt like cereal milk! It was on the sweeter side with all the honey, but at least it was expected. The orchard st had very fragrant osmanthus flavors, along with nice pear aftertaste. Sweetness level was appropriate. Both drinks were light and refreshing! The dim lights and tight seating gave it an intimate vibe. There are some bar seats, standing options, and indoor vs outdoor tables. Staff seemed a little stress because it was definitely busy on a Friday night, but drinks still came out at a reasonable time and people were moving. I'd come back to check out their other drinks! read more

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

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I was in New York for work and stopped by Reception Bar after a long day. It is a really comfortable spot. A quiet Akita came through briefly, which was a nice moment, remind me my puppies whom passed away 2024/2025. Tried several of their soju-based cocktails. These were the ones I noted: Ginger Goblin - strong ginger profile Incheon - smooth and aromatic Yuja 88 - bright, citrus-forward Cereal Milk - creamy with a subtle sweetness Orchard St - citrus at the start, softer at the finish Good place to sit for a bit and unwind. I'd come back for sure. read more

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

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Perfect quiet place with an incredible drink menu. I mean every single drink on the menu is 5 stars. It can be crowded and busy but it's worth the wait and it usually cycles quickly. Service is fast! I love the vibe and the cocktails I cannot praise enough. This is my favorite spot in town. read more

Reception Bar - Lotus breeze x2 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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drinks were solid. not super expensive either but were also not v strong. vibe is really cool and in a great spot. servers are nice nothing over the top. good spot but not raving ab it read more

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This is a super cool vibey soju bar in the Lower East Side. It might be one of my new favorite bars! It was pretty busy but we were able to snag a table. They specialize in soju cocktails and infused soju. I got the lotus breeze which was phenomenal. It just tasted like tea! Honestly, every single cocktail on the menu looked delicious and I had a hard time deciding. My friend' drinks were also great. I would definitely come back here to try more cocktails. read more

Reception Bar - Lotus breeze cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My friends an I came on a weekend night and was able to get a seat for 3 within 20 minutes wait. We were able to try 9 drinks and every drink was mixed so well. The matcha. Wow , it's a must try. How can soju taste like a brewed tea. If you love soju, you'll love this place. Also love all the plants read more

I've finally gotten to the point where I know what type of drinks I prefer, and can pick one out on the menu based on the ingredients listed. I chose the Lotus Breeze and it was nice, light (not too strong), floral notes, and a touch of sweet. A friend ordered the "Smokes" - not my style, but the flavors were quite interesting! The staff was okay, not super friendly. We got there early evening, so maybe the mood lighting and ambiance hadn't set in yet so I can't quite judge the ambiance.. but it was pretty warm indoors, not great AC or at least ventilation there. read more

Reception Bar - Lotus breeze - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Stunning creative and delicious cocktails keep me coming back to Reception Bar on a night out! There has not been a miss on their menu for us! Their menu of soju cocktails have creative fun ingredients that really resonate with my palate, there is sure to be something that speaks to you too! 5/5 Cereal Milk 5/5 Matcha Meadow 5/5 Lotus Breeze 4.5/5 Yuja 88 There may be a bit of a wait on a weekend, but I personally do not mind the standing tables while waiting for seating inside. Love the lively ambiance here, great for a night out with friends or a date! read more

Reception Bar - Matcha Meadow, Cereal Milk - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Love their ginger goblin cocktail - it's really gingery so only get it if you really like ginger! They have a pretty big menu of all soju based drinks. The inside can get crowded sometimes but it's not too hard to get a seat. And they're open late. read more

Reception Bar - Ginger goblin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The bar was very laid-back, similar to a cafe, as my friend and I went earlier in the evening. The service was quick, and I really liked the Matcha Meadow. It had a subtle matcha flavor as it did a fruity or floral flavor. The drink was similar to a matcha latte in the way it was frothy on top, and the taste was smooth. I didn't really taste the soju at all, but the alcohol kicks in for sure if you don't eat before drinking. read more

Reception Bar - Matcha Meadow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Cute little spot with great ambiance and great drinks - definitely come here if you want specialty soju cocktails. I will be coming back for the infused soju flights. Must get: Yuja 88 read more

Reception Bar - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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This bar had some of the most creative and unique asian-inspired drinks I've ever had! My friend and I had the matcha meadow, orchid street, yuja, cereal milk, and melon dew for drinks. The first three were fruity and tart, and the last two were more on the milky and creamy side (but not heavy at all). For snacks, we had the pork mandu and pizza garlic knots which were delicious. The ambiance felt cozy, chill, and intimate and we had fantastic service from Lydia. Highly recommend this spot if you enjoy asian flavors or just want to try something new! read more

Reception Bar - Cereal Milk - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Drinks here are really good and unique! Came at a recommendation from a friend and didn't realize it was a soju bar, which was a nice surprise. Service was really nice. We were seated outside initially, but we asked to be let known if any tables opened inside. The wait staff was kind to let us come back around twice to offer us room inside (first was standing room at the bar which we declined, second was for bar seating). It was a lot more noisier than expected inside though. I ordered the matcha meadow and a melon dew. Both were really good, but I preferred the matcha better. It was a good combo and the soju didn't overpower the matcha. The melon dew was a bit stronger and bitter for my taste. All of the cocktails combinations are so unique, and I definitely want to try more of the menu! read more

Reception Bar - Matcha Meadow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Friendly hosts/hostesses right at the door even though we were not able to be seated inside on a chilly Friday evening. They do have an outdoor area with heat lamps so that helped a little because my friend really wanted to try this soju bar after dinner for her 30th. It was super busy but exceptional service and we never felt rushed even though we were there for almost 3 hours. All the drinks were pretty yummy and not too strong and they even offer some mocktails if you don't want alcohol. Love the fusion flavors of the cocktails and would love to come back again to try more. read more

Reception Bar - starting at 12 and clockwise: matcha meadow, lotus breeze, yuja 88 (mocktail), yuja 88, cereal milk - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This is the best bar I've been to in NYC for their unique cocktail selection hands down. I came here on a Friday night with some friends who were bar hopping in lower east side. When I arrived they had a table outside in the patio area which was pretty nice with the heaters on. The waitresses came by often enough to refill waters and take our order. This has got to have the most unique cocktail choices that I've seen so far in NYC. It almost reminds me of the bars they have in Asia - they use a lot more unique flavors and pairings that are just not common in the US. Our party of 4 each ordered 1 drink at a time and would pass it around so we each tried most of the drinks on the menu. Some of my favorite drinks was the melon dew and orchard st. The cereal milk option was also really delicious but was a bit too strong for my preference. The matcha meadow was my 2nd drink but I regret ordering it since it was just too sour for my liking. Overall this bar has a great selection of cocktails with reasonable pricing for Manhattan - I would recommend for anyone who is out for a good time. read more

Reception Bar - Matcha meadow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Space: 7.5/ 10 I liked the light, white decor because it was very reminiscent of trendy modern bars and cafes I saw in Korea. However, the space was a little smaller than I expected and I felt like at times it was hard to get the server's attention Drinks: 9/10 I thought each drink was SO creative and each one that we had tasted different! I wish they were a tad bit stronger tho, but overall still so good! Food: 6/10 honestly it's a bar, so their food is not their main attraction. Their pork dumplings were okay. Mostly tasted like something from Costco. The garlic knots were yum but took forever to come Overall: 8/10 I think it's a very cute date spot, and if you get the booth it's actually very nice! My friend and I were able to chat fairly uninterrupted and the drinks were good! My only issue is that at times it was hard to tell who was the server or who was not because there was no name tag or uniform. :/ but very small detail! I'd definitely come again to try more drinks! read more

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Soju based cocktail bar. Cereal milk is one of the best value cocktails (under $20 in nyc is craziness). read more

Reception Bar - Cereal milk - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The drinks here are amazing! A bit on the pricey side but worth it. I especially love the lotus drink and the cereal milk. Some of them taste pretty strong (like the melon one). It's great for a small group of people. read more

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

Stumbled into this bar while exploring Chinatown and our cocktails were the perfect mid-afternoon treat after walking all day! Minimalist yet cozy interior vibes - would love to come again and try their dishes and other drinks! read more

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

I might be the odd one out with this one but I wasn't too sure of what the hype was for this place.. It was pretty crowded and hot when I went last minute on a Friday night around 10:30pm. We were giving standing seats at first with cups of water, but were seated at the bar soon after. There are hooks at each seat so you can hang your bags/coats which was convenient and nice. I liked the Korean touch on the cocktails whether that was with soju or ice creams like melona, but the cocktails didn't really seem to taste like the descriptions. I didn't really like any of the drinks that I ordered (2) and ended up calling it a night. There are both indoor and outdoor seatings so when the weather is nicer/warmer, outdoor seating could have been nice as well. read more

Reception Bar - a cocktail in a coupe glass - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

10/10 would go back again. Reception Bar serves soju with flavors they infuse on their own. The drinks are probably the best drinks I've ever had before. It's unique and it's very tasty. The white lotus flavor soju was definitely our favorite. They also service warmed chex mix, which is great when the munchies start kicking in. I wish California would have more Korean bars like the Reception Bar. read more

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

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I was recommended this bar per my friends during my trip to NYC. I was super excited all day to visit because of all the hype! My friend and I visited this bar on a Wednesday night around 10pm. It was much smaller than I expected but it was designed well. The lighting is very dim and moody too. It was pretty crowded and didn't take long to get seated. The waitress seemed to forget about us and took forever to take our orders/bring out the drinks. Not sure what was going on there. The drink I was recommended by my friends was the Cereal Milk drink and I was so happy to see that it was made with walnut milk and not actual dairy!!! The drink was overall a 7/10, I barely got the cereal milk taste until the very end. Overall, im willing to give this place another chance. I will probably order different drinks if I were to visit again. read more

Reception Bar - Yuja 88 (top), cereal milk (bottom) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Intimate cozy cocktail bar with delicious drinks. Came here on 2 occasions, once in the summer with outdoor seating and more recently on a Sunday afternoon with a few old friends for a catch up. This was a great spot for it! We had the melona drink, matcha cocktail, incheon, and yuja and all were so delicious! Each one is made with soju, makgeolli, or a mix along with other uniquely Korean flavorings. We really enjoyed our drinks which were at a fair price point, and loved being in the cozy ambiance. Overall would rec for a date night, girls night with close friends, or if you just want a delicious drink. Will be back to try more! read more

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

I was recommended this bar by a friend and really wanted to like it, but the staff made my experience very uncomfortable and unpleasant. Two staff members in particular were extremely rude policed only my friend and I. We had lit a cigarette outside and curtly been told that we weren't allowed to smoke at the outside tables because of the proximity to the window. Completely understandable! I apologized immediately and moved to the bench area where she told me it was allowed. After moving to the bench area, within a minute a male staff member (brown hair, piercing) came over and told me to put it out. Again, completely understandable! I apologized again, though I was confused because I had just been directed there. What made the situation very weird is that all tables on either side of me, were both filled with groups smoking without issue (including a table right next to the open window). It was clear my friend and I were the only ones being singled out. For the remainder of the night as I used the restroom I was glared at by the male staff member which felt hostile, and unnecessary. Reading other reviews, I'm glad I wasn't the only one who noticed that the staff is very rude and selective. Unfriendly behavior is a pattern here. So many great bars in the area, I'd strongly recommend going anywhere else. read more

We walked in on a Saturday night and got an outside table with a heating lamp. Inside was crowded. They have unique cocktails and soju flavors. We tried the matcha meadow with matcha soju and the ginger goblin (hot). The ginger goblin was very strong and warm in the chilly outdoors. Servers were nice. On the menu they have notes for additional charges, like gratuities for groups larger than 4 or fees for removing unruly people. read more

Reception Bar - Outside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Arrived at around 9:30 pm on a Thursday and there was already a waitlist. We waited for about 15 mins on their outside patio area that luckily had heaters! Inside was dim, cute decor, and friendly staff. The cocktails were tasty and not too strong since they were soju based. read more

Reception Bar - Cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Reception Bar is doing a thing and doing it well. Service is consistently friendly and welcoming. If things are slow-ish, the staff is always more than happy to talk you through the various Korean spirits and ingredients that meld happily into their phenomenal and thoughtful cocktails. As for drinks: The Salty Bracken is a perennial savory and delicious favorite. The Smokes is a very cool choice for those who are starting to wonder why some peated scotch sometimes feels boring and are in need of a little smokey tea and excitement. The Ginger Goblin lives up to its name and will definitely spice things up. The very approachable Martini 100 is a nice shallow end of the pool option. We recently tried the seasonal Martini offering that was also shallow end but with a little something extra, like just about everything on the menu. I've never had beer or wine here and I recommend you avoid them too. You can have those things somewhere else -- they're doing something special at Reception Bar. The space is cool too and the music always sets a nice atmosphere without overdoing it. But ultimately, come for a cocktail. You won't be disappointed. read more

Reception Bar - Seasonal Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Nice little soju bar. I had the cereal drink which my friends liked, but I felt tasted a bit strong. This place was a nice vibe to hand out and catchup, there's some outdoor seating as well. read more

I came here with my friends on a Friday night around 8pm. We arrived at the perfect time because as our drinks started to come out the line for the bar got progressively longer. We had to sit outside which was fine since there were overhead heaters. I got the cereal milk, yuja honey, miguk, and the melon dew. Out of all the drinks, I think the cereal milk and melon dew were my favorites. The drinks weren't too strong, but I did think they were missing an overall balance to them. I expected the cereal milk to have some additional creaminess, and the cereal sprinkled on top got soggy quite quickly. Overall quite innovative drinks, with an extensive menu which prompts me to come back to sample some more! read more

The bar is the perfect place to catch up with a friend! We got the lotus breeze and yuja and both were so light and refreshing like an iced tea. The drinks were slightly less creative than I expected, but you pretty much get what you expect and it's still very tasty. read more

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

I came here on a Thursday night and it was pa Lee. I met up with my friend and our group ended up being bigger than the small booth they were originally at. The server moved us to a bigger booth that accommodated all of us which was very nice! This place is super cozy and intimate with dim lighting. There's one bathroom in the back. I got the melon drink and it was good - you couldn't taste the alcohol. read more

I'm not usually a soju cocktail lover but this place does it well. The drinks are all pretty sweet - so if you dislike sweet drinks, probably won't be a favorite. All drinks are pretty much soju based. The two that stick out to me was the melon drink (top favorite per the bartender) and the cereal drink. The cereal is a korean cereal, so it brought back memories - felt like I was drinking cereal milk. It gets crowded here - not an easy spot to get a table or seating via walk ins. Bartenders were all very friendly. Would go back! read more

This was my first time at Reception Bar and it was a good time! The staff was friendly and pretty efficient with cocktails as we were a bigger party. The establishment is small with outdoor seating. Based on the photos online, I would have expected the bar to be a little bigger. However, the cocktails are all soju based and were very delicious! Whichever cocktail you decide on be prepared for your cocktail to taste exactly how it was described. For example, the melon dew tasted as if I were literally eating melon dew! In general, I really enjoyed the experience and it's a chill, cool place to chill at before moving on elsewhere. There weren't many "small bites" to choose from -- I believe maybe 2 or 3? read more

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Service was horrible... asked a question and the girl working laughed at us and dismissed our question

Delicious soju cocktails with unique Asian flavors! This place is normally super busy, but we were able to get an outdoor table on a Sunday night without having to wait. There are many different cocktails, soju flights, and even makgeoli! The chrysanthemum cocktail is literally the best drink I've ever had. The cocktails are pretty sweet but in a balanced way. They aren't super strong since it's just soju. Overall a nice place to catch up with friends over delicious drinks! read more

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

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I stopped by here with my friend after his friend spoke highly of this place. I've never heard of it before but I was pleasantly surprised. Each drink is made with soju and other ingredients. It didn't taste strongly like soju, and it was actually a bit light in alcohol level in my opinion. However, it tasted great and I loved the flavors in each drink. They have house infused soju as well that I'll definitely try the next time I come. The interior is super cute as well. I love the colors and the layout of the whole place. It's definitely a cute little spot to catch up with a friend with over drinks. This place made it to one of my favorite bars in the city for sure! read more

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

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Came on a Saturday night and inside was pretty packed so we sat outdoors. Just our luck, we picked a table near the garbage can and every time the wind blew, we'd get a whiff of nyc. IYKYK. I was intrigued by the soju inspired cocktails. Some were delicious and some just didn't go well together. Lotus Breeze- would recommend if you're looking for something light & refreshing Cereal milk- not my favorite; the milky taste mixed with alcohol and the rice crunch on top wasn't a great combo My friend and I had about 3 drinks each and got the Scarr's garlic knots to hold us down which were really good gotta try their pizza down the block! Maybe I'll return to sit indoors next time and have a different experience. read more

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Cute, quaint spot! I can't wait to come back and try other drinks - their drink menu is so unique, and inspired by many Korean style alcohols. I got the Lotus drink and it tasted like tea. I'd love to bring other friends and introduce them to this spot. read more

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

Updating for drinks: The melon dew tasted exactly like a honeydew melon - refreshing, light, not too sweet; I liked it. I didn't like the matcha meadow that much - it had this really pungent sourness to it and I couldn't quite taste the matcha. The ginger goblin was very ginger but I surprisingly liked it. Drinks are very well priced at $15/cocktail....which now seems great in light of inflation. Mostly bar seating, booths are for larger parties. I could see canoodling potential here at the bar - it's dim. Overall a nice spot. Quite chilly inside. But if you're here to canoodle maybe that's a perfect opportunity ;) read more

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