absolutely love this speakeasy! I will say it was quite hard to find. Look for a hair salon that has stairs you need to walk up! It's all the way in the back of the hair salon. A bit creepy because the hair salon is completely vacant so the walk to the back feels a bit like a horror movie hahah. Once inside it's dim lighting & quite small. Only bar seating and a couple standing desks. I would say no more than 12-15 people fits in there The drinks were AMAZING! I love the strawberry matcha drink. It genuinely tasted better than some of the matcha I've had cafes! can't wait to come back to try the other spots read more

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This speakeasy is hidden behind a hair salon and can be easy to miss. It's Japanese-inspired vibe with live record playing makes for a great intimate, friendly, and casual ambiance. Service here is so friendly and I had an amazing time. My friend and I tried a couple of their cocktails, and while everything was phenomenal, I absolutely LOVED their met-cha baker. I definitely have to come back here sometime to try more of their menu! read more

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Cute speakeasy serving shochu and sake cocktails with some wine and beer available. Walk up the stairs to Kuinya Hair, walk into the salon and go straight back to find the bar. Walked in around 7:15pm on a Wednesday night and it got super packed around 7:40-8pm. The whole place has around 12-15(?) bar style seating in total. There was a group of 6 girls taking up half the space but I would personally recommend a smaller group or to come earlier so you're not here during peak hours and can grab a seat. My friend and I ordered several cocktails which were all pretty good but my favorite was a seasonal special, the Fuyu Juice (Kome Shochu, Orange, Vanilla, Winter Spices). Definitely recommend stopping by and grabbing a cocktail. read more

Steight - Fuyu Juice (L), Zach San 75 (R) - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Love this spot!! The ambiance is great. It's a cozy spot with limited seating which gives an intimate feel. Drinks are so creative and yummy too!! read more

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Love hidden speakeasy's and this one was a surprise! It actually took me a while to find this place - accidentally went to the hair dresser next door and also a restaurant But it's up a flight of stairs fyi and when you enter, you'll see a hair cutting area but it looks like it doesn't get used and is just a front! Once you enter in the back you'll see a small bar area, there's probably a total of 12 seats inside! I'm glad I went a bit early because in an hour (around 9) it got really crowded! I wish I took a photo of the menu, they have a QR code to scan and you can't find the menu online either but they have a unique menu! I ordered the strawberry matcha drink (first one on the top) and it was so so delicious! It was pretty strong but the matcha helped with the alcohol taste and I loved the freeze dried strawberries on top! My friend got the whiskey and it was presented with smoke - tasted pretty good as well! Definitely a cool spot for drinks and nice vibes! read more

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I'm so glad we found this place. We couldn't get into a packed bar down the street that was recommended by a friend so happened upon this place. We looked up bars on Google and started walking in search for this one. We went into three other places before finally finding this speakeasy, thanks to the chalkboard sign outside. It was such a fun experience. The bartender was very friendly and helpful, explained every drink and even recommended some nearby places to checkout (we were visiting NYC at the time). We arrived at 5:45 PM and found the bar to be full, only two seats left so yay for us! Per their upfront posting in their online menu, "We take time to make cocktail. We put heart into it. ​If you don't want to wait for cocktails, I recommend ordering sake or wine or beer first and waiting for cocktail. We do not serve whiskey, tequila, gin or vodka, we use japanese shochu and Sake for our cocktails." So we ordered two cocktails and prepared to wait. We loved watching our bartender (Nate) prepare our cocktails, won't spoil the fun for you so come and see it for yourself! I recommend the Yuzu Contact and Sakura smoke old fashioned. After a few people left, we decided to order the sake flight, love them all but especially the nigori one! I love the intimate vibe here, with one bartender, the space is just right to give everyone a chance to enjoy your drink and time spent. We were lucky to meet the owner on our way out. He recommended a few other nearby bars and offered to hang out with us the next time we're in town! read more

Back to one of my new favorite bars in NYC. I already liked this spot, but it's a new go-to spot now. First of all, I love the speakeasy vibes being hidden behind a barbershop. Once inside, it's got such a cozy and intimate vibe. The bar is small, so best to come here with a party of 2 or 3. Everytime a larger group walked in, they left because it just wasn't enough room. I've had more than half the cocktails on the menu now and have to say that my top 3 are Mat-Chet Baker, Oolong Punch, and Ichigo Ichie. I could easily drink rounds of these cocktails --they made so well and delicious. I also tried their Sake Flight ($32), which was such a great experience! The bartender is super knowledgeable and really treated us with the best time trying the different flavor profiles and notes of the different sake bottles. Even my fiance who doesn't usually drink sake loved this! Truly a one of a kind speakeasy bar. Love the Asian-inspired cocktails that are absolutely delicious and best vibes all around. Menu: https://www.steightnyc.com/menu read more

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Steight is a vibe! Tucked behind a hair salon and only has 15 seats or so. Try to get there early. The Oolong punch is my favorite drink. But I also tried a delightful plum wine. The vibe is moody/secret and the bartender was friendly. Also check out Yakuni and Hard to Explain - the owners other Japanese speakeasies in Manhattan. read more

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A speakeasy that actually feels and looks like one! Don't be fooled by the salon up front and make your way in to the cute little bar in the back. Seating is limited with not much standing room. Drinks here are really creative and good. It's a dark and moody bar - especially perfect for a date night atmosphere! read more

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This is my favorite bar. But don't go there because if it gets too popular then it will be impossible to get in. StEight is an adorable Japanese speakeasy tucked behind a hair salon. read more

In early May late at night it was like walking into a stuffy oven and I couldn't wait to get out of there... BUT my oolong punch was delicious, and who knows, maybe it was just a one-time fluke with the AC. The bartender was a little brusque. Definitely down to try it again. read more

very cute speakeasy tucked behind a hair salon. the drinks are alll sochu and sake drink, and the space is really small -- come early if you want to avoid the crowds and if you get lucky you'll get a seat. the oolong punch (4/5) was light and peach forward. however, I wish there was a bit fizz because it felt a bit stale. it tasted like an iced tea though. also tried my friends girimami, which I aactually liked a bit better. it was fizzy and more citrusy, so slightly more refreshing both were really good and light though!! read more

Steight - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Cute little spot tucked away behind an active hair salon. Interesting low abv drinks, but felt a little pricey to me. They open at 5 pm and on their instagram note that they take reservations from 5-5:30pm. Based on this, my friend and I arrived right at five, figuring that it would guarantee us a seat (and also, an early start means an early bed time!). We were the first to arrive, but by 5:30 pm the place was completely full. There's a single bartender working (makes sense given the small space), but we never waited for a drink. They have a list of Japanese beers, sakes, shochus, low abv cocktails (there's no hard liquor here), and wines. Between my friend and I, we tried four drinks which were: - Yuzu Contact: This was a riff on a more "stiff" drink, that was just ok to me. Definitely on the drier side with the vermouth and while I typically like things like that, I wouldn't order it again. - Ma-chet Baker: this tasted like a milkshake, which makes sense given all the ingredients were for a milkshake minus the sake. Delicious and I would order this again. - Secret Spicy cocktail: they use togarishi as a topping, which I thought surprisingly worked well. Had a similar flavor profile to a spicy marg. - Zach San 75: a play on a French 75, this was refreshing due to the sparkling sake. I wouldn't say it was particularly novel, but I enjoyed it Overall the ambiance and vibes were cute. While there was one group of 4, I don't think you should attempt with any group larger than 3. The only reason this isn't a 5 for me is because the cocktails, priced at $21 each, felt on the expensive side for what I was getting (but to each their own!). read more

Steight - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Another social media algorithm find. I love to check out speakeasies and this one was a fun one to find. It's located in the back of a hair salon place, and there was actually someone getting a hair cut as we walked by them. We made reservations via IG DM with the owner as I wasn't sure how popular this place would be. He was accommodating but we also chose a time that wasn't going to be super packed. It's a small and intimate space with about 10ish seatings. They have a huge selection of various sake and my that was really cool to see and try a variety. It is a bit on the pricey side but I don't know anywhere back home where I can try such a variety of sake. Overall, it was a great experience and fun bar to find. The selection of sake was huge, and it would be a fun place to grab a drink or two. read more

I came here the other night on a date and was pleasantly surprised. To access the bar you have to walk through the salon, and once you are in the bar, it is tiny with maybe 10 stools in the whole space. The bartender was excellent and the drink menu is concise with a focus on Japanese sake, wine and a few beers. The space is pretty quiet (great for having a conversation) with amazing music and a steady stream of vinyls being played which I appreciated. I would definitely come back here again as it is a unique and cozy spot for a drink. read more

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Glad we got to check out the OG of the sake bar speakeasies. Steight is tucked away behind a hair salon and it is so beautiful once you step in. Love the vibe, the ambience and the service is just as good. The cocktails we had were perfect for a night cap and we would keep coming back to this place for everything it has to offer. read more

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Absolutely loved this bar. Yuzu contact and Sakura old fashioned were tasty. The old fashioned in particular was very unique. The hidden speakeasy in the back of a hair salon was a super cool idea. The music is perfect volume and the vibes are so awesome. Cant recommend enough. read more

Steight - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I am not discouraging you from visiting this quirky sake speakeasy, which is fashioned behind a barber/hair stylist suite. Heck, I might try to visit again and see if my experience is better. I was drawn here because of the mysterious "open" window, with no real signage. I walked up the steps, entered the salon, and ended up in the backroom. This is a small space, around 12 seats. Niche clientele. Low lighting. Amazing vinyl spinning on the record player. Initially the bartender was very attentive and made great recommendations and offered me a saki shot with a side of history and education. I sat alone and enjoyed my selection. At most, there were maybe 18 people in there at at time? This is truly a makeshift space. I finished my drink, a light peachy selection, and sat for a while as the bartender entertained other guests. When he made his way back around to me, he and I discussed my second and final drink, how to best close out the night . . . we landed on the simple samurai. And then . . . for some reason he went over to another group of patrons and regaled them with stories of Arizona and saki, and never made my drink and never again looked my way. I sat there for almost 30 minutes, waiting . . . at some point he finally caught the exasperated look on my face and my outstretched hand holding my credit card. He solemnly came over, helped me pay my bill, added no tip. I remarked about this and he said, "I get the impression you aren't happy." (I tipped him well and in cash anyway because even cruddy service deserves a living wage). I don't know if this was a miscommunication or what . . . but bartender and I discussed my second drink, he went on to entertain younger patrons he found more interesting, never brought me that second drink, all while making that group several drinks and giving them a history lesson . . . until he finally noticed my sour face and outstretched hand with the Amex. The beginning of the night . . . five stars. The end . . . one star. So here we are at three stars. Would try again, but this quickly turned from a "this is MY New York" night to a "sorry I'm 40 and clearly don't meet your demographic" night. read more

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This small Japanese speakeasy tucked behind a hair salon is well worth the hunt! They are absoutely deserving of their #1 spot on Beli for "Top New NYC Bars" in 2024! The bartenders are all extremely knowledgeable and attentive, offering their insights onto all their sake options if you need help choosing your flight. The cocktails were also incredible -- unique, delicious and well balanced! 5/5 Sake Flight - We asked for something adventurous and he delivered with a flight with a good variety! I've only tried 3 of their cocktails but I'm convinced you cant go wrong! 5/5 Matchet Baker -- smooth and earthy genmaicha 5/5 Oolong Punch -- light and fruity 5/5 Chaos Belly -- citrusy on first sip and ends with a sweet blueberry flavor After my first visit, this easily became my new favorite bar in the Lower East Side. read more

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Cute way to find the bar. A bit claustrophobic in there. I'm not, but anyone going to it would feel how cramp it is. I like how on the menu it does warn you that if you get a cocktail it'll take a while. If you don't want to wait. Get a wine or sake. Was excited for the drinks. But ended up disappointing us. Chugged it and left so other people can have the seats. The drinks tasted super water not much flavor. I know there's no hard liquor in it. But still the flavors can be better. Instead of watery flavor. We left and went somewhere else. Ambience will never make up for a good drink or not read more

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Had a wonderful time here on a cold winter evening. The ambiance was perfect; it felt cozy and intimate, and transported me back to a small bar I went to when I was in Japan. There was light jazz playing, and the details in the decor around the small space are really unique and charming. It does get crowded though, so be prepared to either have to wait for a seat and/or have people pushing past you in and out to get to and from their spots. It can get a little overstimulating, but ultimately it's the price you pay for time spent at a small intimate spot. All the drinks were super unique! They specialize in sake and shochu and don't carry any traditional spirits (e.g. vodka, tequila, whiskey) and instead use sake or shochu as the base in all their drinks. The plum wine flight, oolong punch, and yuzu contact were my personal favorites of what we ordered. read more

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New Sake bar just opened up and if you ever get to know me you'll know that I love an intimate, Japanese bar with real influences from real Japanese speakeasies from the east. Having just opened a few months ago, the menu is quite fleshed out, offering sake flights (seems to be the thing to get here) and a list of sake cocktails which were interesting and refreshing. I got the Ichigo Ichie and another one with yuzu that I forget the name of but was so refreshing and delicious. Vibes are immaculate. It's a true speakeasy - thought I was in the wrong place at least twice before realizing. The bartender was super knowledgeable and friendly. The owner of the bar has another bar, Hard to Explain, which I'm excited to try next. There's also a small food menu too! Will have to come back for their sake flight and food menu. A cute intimate space in Chinatown, in a place that can be as hectic as NYC. read more

Steight - Ichigo Ichie - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Coolest speakeasy with the most amazing drinks. I still think about the matcha cocktail I had. read more

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My favorite speakeasy in the city, I've introduced several people here and we love it! Recommend the sake flight and the matcha drink (tastes just like a matcha latte). Great bartenders! read more

Amazing drinks! The seasonal ones in particular are bomb and the bartender really knows his stuff. Would highly recommend

Wonderful space, great music on, good drinks. Recommend. Small, so might not get in/get a seat... but worth trying.

I am in love with this place !!! Only seats 12 people and it's behind a Barbar shop !! I was truly in love with this place!! The cutest speakeasy, such great vibes and the cocktails are amazing !!! Also the prices are also insane !!! Truly one of my favorite places ever!! It feels like you're at home getting a drink with your friends, you become so familiar with the people next to you as well as the bartender !!! I love it !!! A must go read more

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It was not great nor bad. Overpriced trying-too-hard mediocre cocktails. Sake is not strong flavored drink to start with. Not ideal for cocktails mixing with so much aromatic. If they are trying to be speakeasy selling $20 cocktails, they should try putting a "show" a bit more. The bartender was regular white dude with t-shirt and baseball cap. No class. Acted annoyed when I asked him a question while he was making drinks. It's a cute set-up. A good for a pre-dinner drinks. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit this place. If you want to show off on your tiktok, maybe you should give it a shot. read more

Got there early and were still setting up, but the bartender took great care of my friend and I. Will definitely be back.

Cool tiny speakeasy behind a hair salon. The drinks they serve are decent - I was a fan of the matcha high ball. Bartender was pretty cool too read more

I loved this speakeasy aside from the decor which was great and the jazz which I always love in a hidden gem. The bartender was amazing! Since this is called The Bar Exam the bartender is always key. He was nice to look at and very kind knowledgeable and super enthusiastic about his work. Vinyls jazz really warmed up the place and made me feel like this was a proper New York night. This bar I only had to go once for the review because well, you'll understand when you get here. I highly recommend. We will be stopping by again for a follow up and video will be posted via TikTok and insta. read more

Cutest secret pod. Try rare Japanese drinks and snack. You would get quick trip to JP. Very cozy sweet and intimate vibe. Highly recommend to have special cosmic moment read more

Steight - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I would highly recommend this speak easy if you're looking to grab a drink in a fun, cozy environment! The ambiance is awesome, eclectically decorated and clearly reminiscent of an old school Japanese coffeeshop or neighborhood bar. They've got a nice variety of sakes and the bartenders are happy to make suggestions if you're unsure what to order. I had the sake flight, which was great for getting an introduction to sake, and will have to come back to try some of their unique cocktails read more

Steight - Bars Near Me - New York, New York

The best speakeasy in nyc, if you are looking for a retro Japanese themed Japanese speakeasy this is the spot. read more

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The staff and owner are wonderful people. Amazing vibes at steight! It's hidden in the back of a salon and leads into a cool speakeasy . The drinks are fire. Bartenders are friendly. Nothing more I could ask for when I'm out w my friends read more

One of the BEST cocktail bars in NYC! The vibe is intimate, cozy, and relaxing with vinyl music in the background -- the vibe also makes the customers chat with each other so it's also a nice place to meet ppl. The drink menu is very unique, with a variety of flavors from refreshing ones to milky sweet matcha cocktails. I loved their matcha cocktail with a milky note. You will definitely enjoy both the tasty drinks and the convo with the bartender/other customers! read more

Treasured find on Eldridge Street... When you enter through the back door you feel as though you have discovered something unique and rare. We were immersed in the soft lights and jazz music for the night, sipping authentically Japanese cocktails and wines. Novel flavour experience for a Westerner who usually drinks European spirits. The aesthetics elevate the experience and bring everything into a beautiful harmony. read more

Me and my group drank delicious plum wine, sake and orange wine. The ambiance was beautiful and carefully curated. Masa, the owner, was so welcoming and funny. We are excited to go back to this unique hidden gem! read more