Studio 151 is one of those rare places that feels like a true discovery. Tucked just up a single staircase, it's easy to miss, and that's part of what makes it so special. The unassuming entrance gives way to a warm, intimate space with dim lighting, a record player spinning in the background, and a fully stocked bar turning out genuinely excellent cocktails. It strikes that perfect balance between cozy and quietly stylish, making it an ideal date night spot. We went at 6:45 on a Thursday, and the atmosphere was exactly what we were hoping for: relaxed, uncrowded, and perfect for conversation. It felt like we had stumbled onto a secret. The staff only added to that feeling, welcoming, attentive, and genuinely kind. A special shoutout to our favorite waitress, Dusty, who was warm, lovely, and made the whole experience feel personal without ever being overbearing. The omakase was the highlight of the night. Every piece was incredibly fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and honestly more delicious than I had imagined going in. You can tell there's real care behind each course, and it elevates the entire experience beyond just a meal. Studio 151 is the kind of place you almost don't want to tell people about, but it's too good not to share. A perfect spot to sneak away for an intimate dinner, enjoy amazing food and drinks, and actually hear each other talk. We're already looking forward to going back again soon. read more

Food and service was not the best. Not two tables were occupied and service took forever. Ambiance was ok but they could work on hospitality and food quality. I was so eager to go and so disappointed. read more

Had a great time at this venue. Coming from Los Angeles land of great sushi. This was just as impressive and much more laid back, almost dare i say a izakaya vibe with the jazz and table setup. AJ our serve even poured me a great beer no head. Bathroom were nothing special but clean. So my take on it is if you want to impress a date and seem really smooth and cool and laid back with a little bit of grown and sexy this is the place for that. From being buzzed up and being great with the different options and being an hidden gem. read more

Studio 151 offers a chilled, laid-back jazz-fused environment for enjoying food and good conversation. The bites of sushi are delicious and beautifully presented. Their non alcoholic beverages are fizzy and tasty. The staff explains each bite of sushi and are very attentive throughout the dining experience. Be warned... the food is pricey for the portion, but it's of great quality. read more

This was a cool place. I'd never heard of it but my friend wanted to check it out. It's a narrow place. You show ID, then walk up some stairs, then have to ring the buzzer. Then the gate opens and you walk up like 5 stairs. Then there's a curtain and you enter. We got here around 8 pm on a Tuesday night and they said they were full so come back at 10:30 pm. We came back around 10:30 pm and they said they were full!!! But the woman asked if it was just us two and then she said to wait 3 minutes. We were seated at the bar. Last call for food was 11 pm. My friend got a handroll. We each got a cocktail: moonlight mile and the general falcon. I really enjoyed my drink (general falcon) because of the gin. The bartender wasn't that nice. I asked her between those two drinks which she recommends and she was just like "idk they're both good" and that was that. Most bartenders like to chat (for the most part) and offer some kind of opinion... There's 2 single stall bathrooms in the back. This place got soooo crowded with a bunch of 21 year olds (one was celebrating her 21st birthday). It was a vibe and I'd maybe come back again. read more

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I really wanted to love this place as it came on a recommendation. We reserved the chef's counter omakase for $80pp. The omakase was a solid 3.5 stars! We also got extra handrolls as that were delicious. Nothing against both chefs as they were good at their craft I'm sure, though some nigiris had more wasabi than others. However, while I was washing my hands in the bathroom, I almost stepped on a mouse/rat. That was shocking to me and tells me how this business is kept. We also were not drinking but were asked 4x if we wanted to order drinks by different servers. That was a bit annoying. Bar chairs didn't have backs and were quite uncomfortable. I also noticed that they hand wash dishes and I'm unsure if this is the most sanitary option for dishes serving raw fish. Fun retro vibes atmosphere with the deco and furniture. read more

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Unfortunately was a while back so can't remember what we ordered. We got some handrolls, the chef's special, and 2 cocktails. We came on a Tuesday night and it was not busy at all, a bit of a crowd but nothing crazy and a great time to go to catch up with friends or a first date! Everything we ordered was delicious and that toro with caviar????? So good read more

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My man surprised me here for a dinner late. Unfortunately the Omakase table was booked but we still managed to have a good time. One point off due to their management of delivering our sushi. We both ordered the chef's selection but my boyfriend got his first and mine came 30 minutes later. Also the rolls all came at the same time that my bf's chef selection came. The rice cooled by then and wasn't the optimal experience. However the vibes are great and drinks are delicious. Great decor and comfy couches. read more

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I really loved the divey ambiance here, but unfortunately the sushi was hit or miss. I'll start with the positives - I really like how many options they have, daily specials, and the ability to order a full set of omakase or individual dishes. The best thing we had was their uni, toro, caviar handroll. This was really fresh and the flavors were great. The drinks were really refreshing as well. The rest of the fish was pretty disappointing and didn't taste too fresh. The fish - rice ratio was also off with a lot of the rolls, we barely got a full bite of eel in our hand rolls. read more

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The vibe of this place is so good! Good place to chat casually and sip on some tasty beers and cocktails. I recommend this place for large parties because there is plenty of seating! Also recommend for music heads because the playlist was bumping :) read more

Studio 151 - Seating area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Let me start by saying I wish I had more time at this place, but it's probably better for my wallet that I didn't! They open at a slightly weird time... 6:45 PM. We had the first reservation, and I ordered the Toro Uni caviar hand roll and a couple other hand rolls. Everything tasted amazing, and the rice was perfect. I had to order a second Toro Uni caviar roll. If I didn't have somewhere to be afterwards, I probably would have ordered a third. I absolutely recommend getting it when you're there. The cocktails and service were also good. A reservation is highly recommended. read more

I love this place!!! The vibes are great, the place is super pretty and cozy. The servers are very sweet. The food is just not to my liking, there is not many options for vegetarians which was annoying. And the food is overly priced for someone who is a vegetarian. Make sure to get reservations in advance, super tiny place !! read more

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Delicious!! Got the chef's specials and some handrolls- the toro was the best. All yummy. Great spot for a group of friends or date night. Good vinyl dj and vibes! read more

Studio 151 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Unbelievable otoro, hamachi, yuzu salmon. Not cheap but worth it. Get a highball and some otoro. read more

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SUCH AMAZING SUSHI. OH MY GAWWWDDDD. The tuna nigiri just melted in my mouth. Highly recommended. The service is good and the ambiance is great. Very good vibes overall. It is quite expensive, but I would say the price is worth it. read more

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I wanted to like this place because WOW the DJ spinning jazz records + beautiful space + sushi + drinks are all so good. But unfortunately, the menu was deceptive. When you make a reservation, you are only shown the seats that are available. So I had no idea there was a chef's counter which is where you MUST sit if you want to order omakase. What made it even more confusing was that the menu at the bar (where we sat) had omakase *on the menu,* no disclaimer, so you'd think you could order what's on the menu, right, I mean that's what a menu is for? Nope, sorry. Not at the bar. Instead, you only have the option of a "special 8 pieces," which costs more per piece than the omakase, and which, by the way wasn't even on the menu! This was misleading, confusing, and led to a disappointing experience. Side note: you will spend more than you expect to. Sushi adds up. So was it worth it??? It was a unique dining experience, to say the least. read more

Great vibe, cool concept, disappointing and borderline offensive service. They were out of most of their appetizers and some of their menu items. Table and seats were wobbly and we immediately spilled our water when trying to sit down because of the unstable seating. Bartender was amazing, very attentive and made the best drink I've ever received. The wait staff is the main reason for the 1 star. After finishing our 5 pieces of over priced sashimi, my friend went to the bathroom and I closed the check. I left a cash tip. As I waited for my friend to come back, the host told me they needed the table for the next reservation and to go sit on the couch. It was a little abrupt since we hadn't been there that long and we weren't aware of a time limit for dining. After I moved to the couch, another host came over with my bill and asked me if I was dissatisfied with my service. I said the bartender was great and I left a cash tip as a thanks. She then told me I needed to revise my bill and add a tip on my card. She handed me back the bill and waited for me to write in an additional tip (on top of the cash I already left)... I thought she was kidding at first but she was not and kept insisting. I was so offended but felt cornered and pressured with the staff member hovering over me while I waited for my friend. Really disappointing way to end what we thought was going to be a great experience. read more

Studio 151 - Sashimi and edamame - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Not to be overly dramatic, but I love this place. No clue How anyone doesn't give them 5 stars. Don't brand it "speak easy,' sushi restaurant, or fun DJ music club, as it ticks a ton of boxes and I can't compare it to anything. The high top near the bar seating is fun and unique, the staff is warm, welcoming, informative and fun. The food is completely shareable, delicious and again, unique. Loved the nigiri, hand rolls, specialty rolls and apps. And while the server was great, don't sleep on the bartenders. Their signature cocktails or anything you want made-to-order will be a top notch drink. I wish I knew the name of our bartender as he made my wife's b-day, helping with an off-menu Sake bomb, including some fist pounding to expedite the plunge. We'll definitely return. read more

First Omakase experience and I was beyond satisfied with it! My partner surprised me with this for my birthday since I am a huuuge sushi person. Getting to the actual restaurant was interesting since it's kinda hidden and lowkey. The vibes inside were great and the staff was friendly. Our chef was nice, funny, and made sure to ask if we had any allergies before starting. He also explained what each piece was while placing it on our plate. I absolutely loved each and every piece I ate that night. Full of flavor, amazing textures, and the wasabi in each piece was delish. I believe it was 12 pieces total, and they were *chef's kiss*. Only "negative" thing was that we did have to wait about 20 mins after our reservation to get seated, but this did not affect the night at all!!! read more

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good music but loud and got over crowded towards the end. also long line to get in and $20 cover

Omakase was fantastic. Friendly chef/all staff. Very high quality fish. Creative yet well executed. Highly recommended. Usually don't deal with the speakeasy "hidden" nonsense, but this place is worth it. read more

Top notch omakase, crisp sake, and Tarantino-esque design--this unassuming east village speakeasy is a whole vibe. Our sushi senseis were super dope. They hooked us up with some of the most delectable treats from the sea. The restaurant itself is a 2nd floor loft. We had an early dinner reservation (6:30pm), so it felt like the staff was still getting ready and playing catch-up. You know when you show up to a house party at 10 before the party really gets going? It was kinda awkward but a little sake smoothed that over nicely! Def worth coming back. They also have a sake jazz club in the basement. read more

Studio 151 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Cool music and ambiance but the food and service is terrible. Staff was extremely rude. The sushi was gross and put my stomach into turmoil for 48 hours. Fine to go for a drink, if you don't mind overpriced drinks and rude bartenders/servers. do NOT eat. read more

This spot really hits a unique profile for sushi in NYC. I love omakases, but NYC has really succesfully executed on two types of omakases prior to this: the really fancy sushi zo/sushi nakazawa/Masa type experience that brings you great fish at a really high price point in a slightly formal environment, and the irreverent but overly formulated version of omakase in 30 minutes that is provided by sushi by bou or sushi on jones. Both of these options are great, however Studio 151 really brings you something entirely unique. First off, it's a sushi speakeasy, which is always a great place to start. Second the vibe is that of a chill lounge on the LES with so much more space than anyone would ever expect, large couches, cool lights, truly nothing like you would see at a sushi nakazawa. The service is also chill, not uptight, not forced, not trying to prove to you that they're the most authentic japanese service in the world. The sushi is splendid, with omakase options and hand roll options that are priced affordably enough for the quality you recieve. This experience really makes the sushi experience feel so special and different from the typical experience that you can't help but either love it, or hate it. Everyone I was with absolutely loved it and cannot wait to go back. T read more

This place felt like a scene out of a movie. We came here at 9pm on a Saturday for an Omakase reservation. At $80/pp, this is my new favorite Omakase experience. Each piece of fish was extremely fresh and there were a few innovative pieces. I felt decently full after (we also ordered two more pieces each because they were so good). The cocktails were balanced but still strong. With all of these new Omakase options, I usually find that there may be a lack of ambiance/vibe in some of these restaurants but Studio 151 has the speakeasy, low key, pretty clientele, high quality music that people were dancing too. I would come here just for drinks even, I thoroughly enjoyed Studio 151 and am already planning my next trip! read more

Studio 151 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Not sure why this place has such low reviews, but it is a wicked space to hang out on Ave C / 9th (trust me, even I've never ventured this far east in east village before). You ring a doorbell to enter, which kind of confuses me but seems like they want to keep crazies from entering (although not sure if this is the legit reason). The omakase at the counter with the sweet sake pairing was a perfect dinner. The bathrooms are really janky so I'll knock one star off for that and the doorbell. Service was great as they always filled up our water. Can't speak to just going to the bar itself for cocktails. read more

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The Omakase counter is such a great experience. My favorite sushi chef in nyc, Austin, is the best. Super nice and very kind. The vibe is electric and cool. Funky art and dark lighting. It's a great date spot. Highly recommend. read more

There aren't words. This was my first experience with nigiri omakase and it couldn't have been a better introduction. The bar itself is settled in a small, quaint, and hip place with house music and jazz playing in the background. The omakase experience is timed at 1-hr, so make sure to arrive on time for your reservation. We chose to sit at the sushi counter to get an in-depth look at the chefs work and we were not disappointed! Every piece handed over to us was hand-crafted and well cared for. The mackerel, hotate, yellowtail, salmon, and otoro w/ caviar were so incredible- well worth every penny. Order a drink, enjoy the show, and just have a good low-key time. read more

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" You don't even need teeth to eat this sushi ..." I recently took my girlfriend here for the omakase at the Chef's counter and this was her takeaway. After I had recovered from laughing at this perfect description of how truly melt-in-your-mouth this delectable experience was, I shared her description with the Chef, Kamui Sumida. He said that in his entire career as a [maker of all things delicious] sushi chef he had never heard someone describe his creations that way. ODD! Hahahaaaa!!! If you need any further recommendation than the above, I don't know what to tell you. You need to experience this for yourself, it is truly an event. For anyone who isn't familiar with the omakase experience, it translates to "I'll leave it up to you," and you eat what the chef gives you. Honestly, I wish every cuisine did this because the chef is who knows how you should eat things, LISTEN TO THEM! OUI CHEF! The line-up might look different when you do go, bu some stand-outs for us were the BBQ (with a blow-torch!) eel, the uni (obviously), some Japanese cute that I forget the names of, and caviar on some fatty tuna. There is also a very extensive bar without a menu (my kinda place) where you can have a bespoke cocktail made per flavor profile request, or a saki suggested to go with your surf. Leave those dentures at home people, and tell Chef Amber sent ya (probably won't mean anything without the toothless quote though hahahaaa)!!! read more

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This is a good spot for sushi although it is fairly expensive if you just order a la carte. They have good cocktails and the bartender is really nice. He gave us some free shots of tequila. read more

Real New Yorkers don't use Yelp, but here you are. I'm from the west coast. Haven't had any sushi in New York that actually impressed me. I've had 500 dollar omakase in Los Angeles - this was better. For almost half. Chef Kamui had an impeccable, perfect suite of sushi that knocked me out of my Blundstone boots and pea coat. The vibes were immaculate. The service from Ilhan was on point. Come here, spend your money and have a great time. read more

Studio 151 - Omakase and a'la carte - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

A place to vibe out with friends. Make sure you get a reservation. Their hand rolls are good, but this is more of a Lounge than it is a place to get dinner. The DJs are awesome and vinyl is king here. read more

This was a pretty awesome find in terms of omakase. Tucked in the corner of a bar, this seems like a bit of a speakeasy. With only 4 seats at the counter, you can call it super intimate. You can eat sushi at the bar and couch as well. For that evening, we had the following - Japanese Stripe jack Golden eye snapper Sea bream Spanish mackerel Norweigan salmon Ikura Scallop Uni Japanese barracuda Blue fin tuna Chutoro Otoro with caviar Bbq eel Bonus pieces: Botan ebi Blue fin tuna Ikura My friend and I were thoroughly impressed by the sushi. The service was also on point, and I love how intimate the whole experience is. The vibe of the whole place is different from the common omakase joint, but I didn't mind the lounge ambiance. This is definitely one of my favorite under $100 omakases at the moment as well. Should you want a rather inexpensive omakase in a chill space, look no further. Just note they only have 4 seats at the counter so best to book sooner than later. read more

Food was phenomenal and service from the server was great. Loses 1 star bc Host was rude. I arrived a whopping 10 mins before my Rez & she told me I had to wait outside. Then a server told me to come up and wait in the lounge & the host berated my cousins when I let them in and kept saying "we are still setting up!" angrily, literally minutes before our reservation time. Not our fault they weren't ready until exactly 6:45 on the dot. Most people arrive a few mins early to get a cocktail and had she offered us drinks, they'd have made more $. We left quickly after eating due to host's attitude cuz we felt uncomfortable. read more

First of all, if I could rate this any lower--I would. My friends and I decided to book a reservation for a Saturday night and was looking forward to the sushi and a great experience. The place appeared to be an overall vibe, so we were excited, and then quickly it went downhill when no one decided to serve us. No menu, we had to ask for a server that came once and never came back. Also, watched another couple that came after us get their order. If you want to just go for music and to sit down, then okay cool. Don't go if you're hungry. read more

Hey guys this is the best restaurant I've been . Told my girlfriend we were going to have a special valentines at a special place but I didn't know that was gonna be so special . Food omg was on point , a very nice service , the waitress was so nice , she was so comfortable . She explained the menu for us , told us her favorites and everything came out perfect . The music was so cool , what a vibe , and the drinks was delicious . If you're thinking about go to this place just do me one favor and go ! I'll be back for sure , thanks studio 151 for an amazing night read more

Wow. My boyfriend and I went here a few weeks ago. We sat at the counter and did their Omakase. The ambiance was incredible. They even had the owner spinning vinyls! What kind of place has something like that?!? We talked to the chef who was making our sushi ALL night! The staff are so welcoming and nice, don't listen to the reviews who say otherwise... The food was insane. So fresh. And the flavors were impeccable. As for the drinks: I'm not a huge fan of cocktails but they were delicious!!! Quite possibly the best cocktails I ever had. You also can not beat the price. Although, I would gladly pay more if need be. The experience was so memorable and I will 100% be back again. I want to take everyone I know to this place! read more

One of my favorite joint in this neighborhood. The vibes are immaculate and the hand rolls hit different as a late night snack.

Completely inattentive service despite being the first ones there right when they opened. The barstools are not comfortable at all. They are way too tall for the tables that are used for dining (that's not the omakase counter). I put in an order for the chef's special, 5 pieces. Despite being the first ones there and the place being empty for a good 15 minutes, the food didn't arrive even after 40 minutes. Never coming back here again. read more

Love the ambiance and the sounds! Wish it's stereo though. Only one speaker at the time. Great to listen and talk low. Hope it will stay that way After posting this, they turned on the stereo! Sounds great! Thank goodness! read more