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    The Independent

    4.2 (317 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    THE INDEPENDENT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Reviews With Photos

    Rest week menu
    Robert S.

    I learned about this restaurant after getting into the NY Restaurant week website and looking for a good option near the theater district. We met Stephanie T and David S for dinner and we loved the food there. I picked the restaurant week menu option of Meatballs app, Salmon entree and poached pear dessert. ($45)...everything was just delicious and nicely prepared and seasoned. My husband got the burger with fries and it was juicy and great tasting. Great service by our server and the manager. Overall a great choice if you are in the area.

    Meatballs
    Giselle G.

    I came here for the restaurant week lunch and it was great. I had low expectations because of the location of this restaurant and thought it was a tourist trap but I had a great experience. First for appetizers I had the meatballs with polenta this was quite delicious. The met was soft and flavorful and the polenta was the perfect accompaniment it was smooth and silky; a really great dish. I had the burger and it was good. The fries were fresh and the burger was juicy and good. The service was really good, the waiter was friendly and attentive. The place was nice and the bathroom was clean and organized. I really liked this place and would come back.

    Mortadella Sliders
    Anatoli L.

    I choose to go with the five star rating, despite some small glitches. We visited restaurant on Sunday night for dinner before the concert. Great ambiance, I kept looking at all the New York historical pictures from the early days. Restaurant offers good selection of draft beers, mostly local - however my first choice, Five Boroughs Pilsner was not available. We shared a few appetizers first. Fried Calamari was okay, not the best rendition. Crispy Chicken Bao buns were delicious though, great flavor, also Mortadella sliders were very tasty. I had Crispy Chicken sandwich as my main dish and it was excellent, very tasty, served with perfectly crispy French fries. The restaurant didn't have any espresso on the offering which I found a bit strange. Good service, prompt, attentive, friendly. Recommended.

    Apple cider mule
    Caroline W.

    I stopped here just for drinks, so we didn't have a chance to try any food. The location was great, definitely near a ton of other things. The drinks were just okay, but definitely not bad. I had an apple cider mule which seemed like a regular Moscow mule with apple cider in it. The holiday decorations were a fun touch!

    Menu
    Tanya N.

    The ambiance, the decor, the service, the food and the drinks make this place worth it to give it a try! Since we were there to make time to attend a show in broadway, we tried their espresso martini and truffle fries. Both were such a great choice to munch on while we headed over to the show. I would put this place in my list if I ever visit NY again.

    Anh N.

    Great spot to grab food and drinks! Came with a huge party and they were able to seat us. Great service and a variety of food options! Cocktails on point!

    Bavarian Pretzel Sticks
    Patrick G.

    Stumbled across this place while walking in Times Square area. Great spot with live music, awesome drinks & food. The staff are great and very engaged. I actually forgot my phone at the bar and I was down the block and the bartender caught up to me to give it back. So cool, that never happens. Thanks Jojo. You rock!

    Virginia T.

    Popped in for happy hour after work with a friend and the drinks were great, space was fab and so was the service. The calamari was a bit tough but the tuna tar tar was pretty good.

    Giacomo C.

    It's been a while since I've been here and I'm happy I finally returned. During my previous visit I didn't have any food, so this evening I ordered a few dusted with my buddy. Crispy cauliflower: very yummy. It didn't come out hot, though, and don't order it if you don't like cumin. Margherita pinsa: it came burned on the bottom and lacked salt. Wings: again, they were barely warm. Nothing to write home about. Burger: it was pretty good, but again it didn't impress me as anything out of the ordinary. Overall, the food deserved 3 stars, but the service was outstanding, especially Zana, who made us feel welcomed and comfortable. The bar is beautiful and warm. I think next time I'll stick to just having a drink, since they have a rich selection.

    Dessa S.

    I was in charge of booking a team dinner for 17 people around our office and stumbled across the Independent. They helped create a prix fixe menu with appetizers, entrees, and sides. The entire planning process was easy and the communication. Was wonderful. When the time came to head to the Independent, I was very happy with the ambiance! The staff set us up in the back of the restaurant along two long tables on the wall. Even though it wasn't a private room, it still felt like we had our own little area. That being said, it was quite loud in the restaurant and sometimes you had to shout to be heard, but that isn't the fault of the restaurant. We just came in at a busy time and the place was buzzing! My appetizer was the burrata with basalmic strawberries which was quite good. The other option was a tuna tartar that, though I didn't eat it myself, got rave reviews from the team. Our three entree options were a harvest chicken salad, lemon herb pasta, and a grilled salmon. I had the pasta and it was airy and delicious. The sides were homemade super crispy delicious fries, a green salad, and veggie stir fry. All were fabulous. I 100% will be back. Everything from the planning to the service to the food was top notch!​

    Our table in the bar area.

    This was a wonderful, casual restaurant. Our server, Sierra, was excellent & very attentive to our needs. The other staff worked well as a team by getting us another drink when glass was empty, delivering our food, & clearing our dishes when empty. It's a small, cozy place to go for a drink, dinner or appetizer. Our food was delicious. We will be back on our next trip to NYC!

    Longacre
    She A.

    Came here on a Wednesday evening (545 pm) during restaurant week. I couldnt get any reservations online so I called two days prior to ensure walk ins were welcomed. They said walk-ins were welcomed. I got there and it was full with people at the bar (front area) and back area. However, I was taken to a high table in the back almost immediately. When we were seated, our waitress approached and asked if we were in a hurry. I told her we had a show at 7:30. She told us the kitchen was backed up as a warning. Well...... she wasnt lying. We ordered drinks, appetizer (chicken bao buns and meatballs),entree (roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and salmon with squid ink risotto) and dessert (butter toffee cake). They brought out our drinks and appetizers in a timely manner. We enjoyed both. However, we had to ask (7:10 pm) for our entrees and dessert together. When we realized how behind they were, we just asked for boxes for our entrees and our dessert to be boxed in advance. We literally took two bites of our food (still delicious) and pack it up. When I got home and tasted the toffee cake....YUM!!!!!!! Our waitress was apologetic for the delay and provided a discount for our food due to the delay which was much appreciated. The ambiance was very nice. Dark walls, intimate lighting Would definitely try this spot again...with more time to enjoy my food.

    Interior, decorated for the holidays
    Katie S.

    We visited NYC a couple days after New Years and were looking around Times Square for a place to eat dinner; we found The Independent on Yelp. We were immediately seated at a hightop table. The hostess, Zanna ('like Donna with a Z') was very kind and accommodating to our 6 year old daughter, printing out coloring pages of her requested characters and providing a large box of crayons as well. Thank you! We ended up doing a bunch of small plates for a tapas style meal. This worked well for us, though we barely made it by with a child because I don't feel like most of the offerings are kid-friendly, even with our fairly adventurous eater. Too spicy, complex flavors, etc...might be good for adults but hard to feed kids like this. STILL, she was happy with the crayons and we made it work. Beautifully decorated for the holidays. Restaurant was clean, as well as the bathrooms (one on the same floor, but others down the stairs). I would eat here again and would recommend to others, especially if eating only with other adults.

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    A good vibe, drinks were good, food wasn't the best... quality of meat in the steak frites was lower than expected.

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    4 months ago

    Food, service, & ambience all three were fantastic. Drinks were tasty too! I'd come back!

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    Page 1 of 8

    The Independent Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Independent

    How long does the pre theater prixe fixe generally take?

    If you tell the staff that you have theater tickets for a particular hour, they will get you out on time. I would allow at least an hour, but the staff can advise you about whether something you are considering ordering will take a long time to… Read more

    Do they have gluten free options?

    Yes. They have gluten free buns as option for sandwiches. And other GF options on menu.

    Do they have happy hour?

    Yes! 7 days a week from 3pm-5pm and from 9pm till late. All house cocktails $10, house wine $6 and $5 Independent Lager.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Thyme Bar - Happy hour cocktails and drinks at Thyme Bar NYC in New York

    Thyme Bar

    4.1(349 reviews)
    0.9 miFlatiron
    $$

    Thyme used to be a fun, charming spot that I genuinely enjoyed visiting and bringing out-of-town…read morefriends to. I was warmly greeted by the gentleman at the door (5 service there), which set a great first impression. However, as soon as I walked downstairs, it felt like the space had lost its speakeasy vibe. I was seated right near the stairs and could feel cold air from outside every time the door opened, which made the experience uncomfortable. I was also surprised to see how much the cocktail menu had been reduced. When I asked about it, the response was that "the place changed a lot." That's fair -- places evolve -- but instead of highlighting the improvements or new strengths, the explanation focused negatively on what the bar used to be. As someone who really enjoyed the former version, that wasn't reassuring. Unfortunately, the drinks themselves didn't make up for it. One of the two cocktails was simply not good. No one came back to check on the drinks, and when I asked for the check after about 20 minutes, there was no acknowledgment that I had barely touched mine or any inquiry about my experience. Overall, a place I once enjoyed and recommended now feels more like a standard dive bar where " Mixologist " were replaced by bartender and were fun cool looking and tasty drinks were replaced by " less complex cocktail ", lacking the warmth and attention to detail that once made it special.

    My expectations were high for my first NYC speakeasy. TLDR version - disappointing and not planning…read moreto return. Easy to find if you know what you're looking for, if you arrive right at 5pm on a cold weeknight in the winter, you'll easily find a table or seat at the bar. Very cute space, cozy like everyone says, but nothing mind blowing. Music is moderately loud. The menu in early February still included their winter holiday cocktails. I was more interested in the apple sage house-made fermented soda, and it was pretty good-large glass, flavorful and not too sweet. My friend enjoyed her pomegranate version. The space started to fill up at around 5:30. Service was polite when you could get it, but generally very inattentive, even before it got busy. It honestly didn't feel too different from anu other very nice NYC bar, in terms of menu selection, prices, ambiance and service. Maybe that's standard for NYC speakeasies, but the places I frequented in other cities were more fun and felt more worth the price. I'll still give another NYC spot a try, but not coming back to Thyme.

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    Thyme Bar - Squirrel on a beach (@joeynht)

    Squirrel on a beach (@joeynht)

    Thyme Bar - Roasted Garlic & Tarragon Ketchup

    Roasted Garlic & Tarragon Ketchup

    Thyme Bar - (@joeynht)

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    (@joeynht)

    Patent Pending - Bar area.

    Patent Pending

    4.2(432 reviews)
    0.7 miFlatiron
    $$$

    I'd give this place 6 stars if I could. It's my favorite speakeasy in the city by far…read more The drinks are absolutely phenomenal. They're experimental, whimsical, delicious, and worth every penny. My absolute favorite is Child of Light, and my BF's was High Frequency Device. The interior was dimly lit, with a couple of candles per table or counter. It's a perfect place for a date night. And while there may be a wait on busier nights, it's always worth the wait. We were sat at the bar once and were very well taken care of by our bartender, Nikola. It was a Sunday night, so it wasn't terribly busy. We chatted up a storm and he was able to create some drinks off the menu just for fun (on request). He also made my BF and me a couple of drinks to celebrate our anniversary too. Wonderful people and wonderful service. Needless to say, we will be back as frequently as we can!

    One of my friends and I were looking to grab a drink before calling it a night. She had been to…read morePatent Pending before and had good things to say, and since it wasn't too far from us we decided to head over. Patent Pending is a speakeasy, located behind Patent Coffee. It was dark when we entered the coffee shop but an ajar door gave way to the bar. The decor is a homage to the works of Nikola Tesla, which can be seen in the subtle electric theme throughout the space and the naming of the cocktails. The space isn't too large - the bar and stools take up most of the space but they also have some booths/tables. The place looks great. The cocktail menu is very creative - I got one of their seasonal mixes that was actually two drinks in one. The main cocktail was meant to be sipped first and they provided a small glass of beer to be sipped after. The name escapes me but it was very good. Since we had cocktails at dinner, we only stayed for one round. Service was good, and overall I enjoyed my time at Patent Pending. I would definitely return to explore more of their menu.

    Photos
    Patent Pending - Entry to Patent Pending

    Entry to Patent Pending

    Patent Pending - Strange Magic Cocktail (~$21)

    Strange Magic Cocktail (~$21)

    Patent Pending - Impossible Idea

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    Impossible Idea

    Little Ned - the lil' ned wagyu katsu sando

    Little Ned

    4.7(55 reviews)
    0.7 miFlatiron

    I was looking for a spot in the area to meet a friend, and after a quick search settled on Little…read moreNed. As I walked in and saw just how swanky this place is I panicked - there was no way we could just walk in here without a reservation, right? But the hostess was, thankfully, so down to earth. I was straight up like hey I totally messed up and thought we could just walk in here, she was like you know what, let me see what we have. Lo and behold, she did have a table for us - as long as we were out in an hour and a half, which was just the right amount of time. Stepping into this place feels like you're in some secret, super special cocktail club. Decor is super high end, vibes are upscale AF. The cocktail menu is incredible -- and incredibly pricey, but truly worth it. I ordered the Valentino which was strong and sweet, really well made. They gave out a complimentary nut mix that was also delicious. Service was swift and gracious. If you're looking for a spot to impress a date, this is it.

    Come to Little Ned for fantastic cocktails in an intimate setting, you won't be disappointed…read more The space is gorgeous, with bar and table seating on the main floor, as well as some standing tables next to the bar if you can't find a seat right away. There's also seating on the second floor, perfect for couples or small groups. I tried two of their cocktails when I went. The first was the Eastern Julep, a delicious twist on a classic. The mint Moroccan tea gave the drink a cool, refreshing taste on every sip. I also tried the Silver Screen, the closest drink I could find to an old fashioned. It was interesting, there was definitely a hint of a buttery taste. Overall a really balanced bourbon drink. I walked in and found room at the standing tables. A bar seat eventually opened up but I was already on my second drink by then. Definitely make reservations if you're planning a visit!

    Photos
    Little Ned - Saturn

    Saturn

    Little Ned - Yankee Hanky Panky

    Yankee Hanky Panky

    Little Ned

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    The Tusk Bar

    The Tusk Bar

    4.4(39 reviews)
    0.7 miFlatiron
    Full bar
    Romantic vibe

    Met with some girlfriends for a night of drinks and bites. Atmosphere is high energy and large…read moreformat so if you have a big group this is a great spot. We enjoyed several types of drinks from the bar and they made the martinis and Last Word "skate" Service is quick and a pleasant experience. A great drink spot.

    Tusk Bar inside The Evelyn Hotel feels like stepping into a well-kept secret from another century…read more The space leans fully into that Prohibition-era Art Deco elegance, low lighting, polished brass, velvet everything. It somehow manages to feel both refined and relaxed at the same time. The kind of place where you half expect to spot Hemingway in the corner pretending not to eavesdrop. We started with half a dozen oysters, which were fresh, briny, and exactly what you want with serious cocktails. Crisp, clean, gone in about three minutes. For drinks, we ordered the Smoke Show and the King Tusk. The Smoke Show was beautifully balanced. The Grey Goose vodka and Dolin Dry gave it that classic martini backbone, but the fino sherry and brine added depth. The smoked olive oil and blue cheese olive brought just enough savory drama without overpowering the glass. It was complex but not fussy. The King Tusk leaned more aromatic and layered. The vermouths gave it richness, while the Buddha's Hand and osmanthus flower added subtle citrus and floral notes that lingered in a really elegant way. It felt like a cocktail designed to be savored slowly. The music fit the mood perfectly, not too loud, just enough to give the room energy without killing conversation. Overall, it's a great spot if you want elevated drinks in a space that feels transportive without being pretentious. Definitely a place I'd come back to when I'm in the mood for a refined, slightly cinematic night out in Flatiron.

    Photos
    The Tusk Bar
    The Tusk Bar
    The Tusk Bar

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    Clemente Bar - Clemente mushroom burger

    Clemente Bar

    4.3(48 reviews)
    0.9 miFlatiron

    This is a hidden bar upstairs of a restaurant. Small and intimate dimly lit space. Although small,…read moreyou still felt the energy of the room. Very full cocktail menu. Staff was accommodating and let us sit for an hour as we didn't have a reservation. Don't try any of the light bites. I'd come back

    Date: Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 Time: 7:15pm…read moreParty of: 6 Reservation Made Thru: Resy about two weeks prior Accolades: No.15 North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, No.11 North America's 50 Best Bars 2025 *Clemente Martini ($26) *Negroni Colada ($24) *Apples to Orange ($26) *Oyatsu Club ($25) *Parakeet ($24) *Glenfiddich Reserve ($25) *Against the Grain ($26) *Three Boxes ($25) Our reservation was originally for a party of five. We had an extra person when we checked in and they happily added her to the rez. We just had to wait about 15 mins which was fine. We were seated around 7:30pm. It was busy and bustling in the upstairs bar. We were seated at a spot resembling a coffee table(s) with chairs / ottomans surrounding it. I got the martini. It was a fun play with the green curry and saffron. This place is a little loud, so it is not easy to have a convo with your party. I am old so this probably wouldn't have been something I clocked in my younger years. They do have food which looks intriguing. Especially anything with truffles on it. If in the area, would definitely consider coming back for a quick drink and bite. REVIEW #4013

    Photos
    Clemente Bar - Interior

    Interior

    Clemente Bar - Truffle Tofu Dog

    Truffle Tofu Dog

    Clemente Bar - The Lounge

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    The Lounge

    The Independent - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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