One line sums it up: Could be amazing, but isn't.
If you are a over privileged trust fund baby snot nosed hipster, you probably already frequent here, so this review is not applicable to you.
I have not been out to bars in New Haven for a long time, however I am in my mid 30's and have worked at several New Haven & Boston bars/clubs throughout my 20's. I understand how the markup on alcohol at bars and clubs works. The quality of the venue however should be the deciding factor in that markup, which is certainly not the case here at the Owl Shop.
Building layout wise, you are crammed into a long skinny hallway with the bar placed in the center facing the side of the building and the stage for the live band shoved way in the back facing forward. There is only room for a few people at the three tables over by the stage, leaving most of the bar cut off by itself. You would think that people who came on Jazz night that sat up by the band would appreciate the music, but most of the clapping when they introduced themselves mid set came from the bar and front of the building, far away from the stage. The regulars [aka hipsters] who and overtaken the area by the stage just sat there texting on their icrap devices. The bathrooms are downstairs in the basement and I couldn't even stand in one without my head more then touching the ceiling.
Prices are obscene. To put things in prospective, 116 Crown St actually has better prices on drinks and they are known for being stupid overpriced.
The Owl Shop apparently thinks a 1 shot Bombay Sapphire gin drink should cost about $10, which they serve in a tiny little dixie cup sized glass loaded to the brim with ice and a spritz of soda water. That's borderline rape for a place that's literally a "hole in the wall". The cigars were marked up about 30% over what you would pay in a normal tobacco shop. They had plenty of other top shelf alcohol, but after getting raped on a thimble of gin, I decided to switch to beer. Every beer they had came from a bottle or can, which I understand in a cigar bar, but what I can't understand is the prices they charged for those cans. Guinness cans were running around $8, and were piss warm to boot!
The bartenders were polite, but snooty and had no clue about the tobacco. I was recommended something that was completely opposite of what I asked for, come to find out she suggested it because it was the most popular selling item and not because its what I described. I felt like saying, "I don't give a crap about what the little ignorant prick hipsters enjoy, so lets try this again", but I refrained. I listened to the same thing happen to several other people over the course of the night and the suggestion was always the same and always because it was the best selling. Don't expect any brain cells to be firing when you ask for a suggestion, however I guess we now know why the best selling stuff is best selling. It's kind of an "these people bought it so you should too" [Apple] philosophy.
The crowd all seem to know each other in one way or another [like a night at goth club, filled with the same kind of high school drama] and run around like social butterfly's. They like to stand in your pocket, ash on your clothes, and interrupt your conversations trying to interject nonsensical rambling on subjects that they have zero knowledge of life experience. There are also the townies walking around smoking [crap] cigars trying to pick up Yale girls in hope for a little trust fund booty. Throw in some old depressed divorcee's and its party time at the Owl Shop. Seriously, I have a headache just thinking about it typing this review.
This place had all the makings of something great, but the layout sucks, the crowd that goes here has ruined it with their upper-class stink, while the owner slowly drains these ignorant sheep of their trust funds with obscenely overpriced drinks and cigars. If I wanted to watch animals throw their own feces at each other I would have gone to the zoo and paid far less. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else; better yet hit the local liqueur store, invite some friends over and stay in for the evening. At least at home you can actually hear the music, not have to piss while on your knees, and pay a fair price for your tobacco and alcohol. Oh, and if a hipster shows up at your home uninvited and starts ashing on your clothes, you can probably claim they are attempting arson and shoot 'em.
Edit:
I just wanted to validate this review. Don't take my word for it, just read most of the 4 to 5 star reviews here on yelp. In most of these people give the place a high rating and then complain about the smoking. That should give you a taste of the kind of people who go to this CIGAR bar. read more