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The Ready Cantina

3.5 (189 reviews)
Open • 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago

The Ready Cantina Photos

THE READY CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Good for groups
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

Recommended Reviews - The Ready Cantina

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Reviews With Photos

Frozen Margarita
Jando S.

One of the brighter spots to come out during the pandemic, The Ready Cantina (aka "The Ready Rooftop") became an instant hit in the East Village with cocktails galore, stellar views of Lower Manhattan, and a solid selection of Mexican fare. (#1) A product of the Tao Group, the rooftop was supposed to be a casual place for gatherings, backyard vibes, complete with garden-like aesthetics to keep the floral spirit alive in the EV, typically known for its grit and artistic scene. The retractable roof means this is a year round venue and a space that is ideal for group and date action. The most popular time is the happy hour, which is daily from 4pm-7pm and 12-3pm on weekends. Drink deals include $6 beers, $9 micheladas, $11 margaritas and frozen margaritas for $14. (#2). The Mexican fare isn't mind blowing by any standard, especially given the price. Tacos go for a cool $7 each and the "baja snacks" are bar food appropriate with nachos ($16/$36, quesadillas ($14), chips and salsa ($14), and chicharron ($14). When in doubt, shoot for the chicken tinga, which is really just rotisserie chicken, tomato drenched in a chipotle adobo salsa. Service varies big time. While walk-ins are doable, reservations are the way to go. The larger the group, the more likely one is needed even during their slower days of the week. There is a slight pretension with some of the bartenders, which is why I tend to prefer being served via a cocktail waitress, even if the wait is a tinge longer. Ultimately, the sell is being able to drink, mingle, and eat with a view of the city. It's not the most incredible scene by any means, but for EV standards, this is a reliable and solid option. __________ (#1) For Mexican starved New Yorkers, this is always a pseudo-win. (#2) Only in a place like Manhattan is this considered a good deal. My photos: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-ready-cantina-new-york?userid=ysCBsXWPB-LAiewVS3jZfQ

Drinks
Antonia D.

I really liked this place because they had good happy hour deals but when we got there it was very crowded and it took them a while to take our order. The DJ was playing great music if you like a little bit of everything. I did not taste the food so I cannot talk about that. The drinks were good but we missed happy hour and they were average NYC prices. The views are pretty for a rooftop and it's a nice place to meet people and mingle.

Chips
Nikita K.

This is a great indoor-ish rooftop so it's not too cold. The view is really pretty and there's lots of tables/seating. The music is nice too. The drinks were yummy! The complimentary chips and salsa they gave us were so good and probably my favorite food item. I also got the burrito and nachos and they were okay. The drinks are the main event here. Service was also good

Hibiscus Margherita
Carina H.

My friend and I visited because of the tacos special during Happy Hour, but it looked like that day was when they stopped serving the tacos special. (They had included the $1 tacos in their Instagram biography just the day before.) I ordered a second Hibiscus Margherita during the Happy Hour because the first was so good. It wasn't too strong. The staff was friendly, and the service was prompt. On a Thursday night, there was plenty of seating. It wasn't too loud, which made it a perfect place to catch up.

Jessica Z.

$1 tacos and $9 Margaritas The ready rooftop bar is open at 12 on the weekends. It is conveniently located close to the Union square station. I ordered both the chicken Tinga and the mushroom corn. The chicken tinga was by far my favorite. I recommend going early for the seats and the amazing view, otherwise you'd have to stand. Reservations are also preferred. Overall, the experience was great! The tacos were very filling and at the price, it really can't be beat! Inflation, who?

Chips
Taylor K.

This is a fun place but expensive if you don't go during happy hour. Happy hour is an awesome deal here - $9 margs and $1 tacos. The chicken tacos are delicious but I'd skip the other tacos. I also loved the chips here and the churros. The margaritas aren't anything special but they get the job done. This place is fun, they play good music and the service is very friendly!

Corn and Mushroom Tacos
Marina B.

3.5 Stars for me. I've been curious about their $1 Tacos during happy hour and finally got a chance to try them today. Here's the run down: Pros: - We we're able to walk in around 5:40pm and get a table for three without a reservation or wait - You can easily place an order from your phone and have as many tacos and drinks as you like - I was able to get my tacos without cilantro even during happy hour - At $1 a pop the tacos are a great deal! Cons: - The rooftop is rather small and doesn't really have much of a view - It's pretty crowded and noisy so the atmosphere is a bit of a mixed bag - The $9 happy hour margaritas are only okay (I'm pretty sure the make them using marg mix) - They only serve the chicken tinga as well as corn mushrooms during happy hour All in all, I think you can have a fun time here if you know what you're getting into!

Desiree F.

I was excited to give this rooftop bar and grill a try! When I arrived I parked on the street nearby. I was greeted when I walked over by a very nice young lady, Jasmine. I took the elevator up, and the place was gorgeous! I loved the decor! Carlos was my bartender, and he was great! I started with the frozen apple cider, which was ok. I then had the frozen espresso martini, and that was delicious! For my meal, I got the elotes, chips and guacamole, black truffle quesadilla, and the mushroom and corn tacos followed by the chicken tinga tacos The menu is limited fyi. My favorite was the chicken tinga tacos. The experience I had was pretty good, and I would definitely return!

Ruby N.

I visited the Ready Rooftop Bar for the first time and was amazed by how beautifully decorated it was. It was crowded because I went during Happy Hour and a lot of seats were taken. I didn't make a reservation but was glad I still got to stand by the bar. The employees are scattered around and constantly moving and we did have to wait a bit for our order since it was busy. I ordered the chips and guac and it was super delicious and crunchy. We ordered chicken tacos for $1 each during the deal and were blown away by how flavorful they were. Definitely worth the visit!

Small hot cheese nachos with guac, crema, al.pastor, and jalapenos
Anita W.

I came here for their Happy Hour deal, which i s $1 tacos and $9 margaritas. This Happy Hour deal runs Tuesday - Friday, 4pm-6pm and Saturday - Sunday, 12pm-3pm. It's great that the offer exists on the weekend so you're competing with people after work. Logistics: I made a reservation about a week in advance for a 12pm on a sunday and had no problems doing so. They have someone check your ID downstairs and then they direct you down a hallway toward the back where there is an elevator to take to the rooftop. I rode the elevator a few times and no one has ever gotten off on a floor other than lobby and elevator so I'm not sure if this is actually connected to the Moxy. After getting upstairs, we were seated right away. You order and pay from a QR code so there wasn't much interaction with the waitstaff, which is great for people who just want to eat in peace without getting interrupted. It makes leaving easy as well so you don't have to ask for the check and wait for everything to come back as the place does get very busy. Be sure to read the description when ordering. The pictures may show 3 tacos (and it lists it as $7) so it makes sense to assume it's 3 tacos, but the description says " single taco." Decor: The interior looks exactly like the pictures and instagram posts I've seen that charmed me into coming here (along with the great deal on tacos). It's very aesthetic and the couches and pillows lined up against the windows were comfy. The abundant sunshine from the windows was really warm and nice on a cold winter day. It did feel a bit warm after awhile like we were sitting in a greenhouse. Food: The tacos being $1 were very good. It was a bit disappointing that the $1 menu only had the chicken tinga option and the mushroom & corn option to choose from as this was not stated on the website. The regular menu has al pastor and beef brisket barbacoa at the same price. I'm just a bit confused how the regular menus price each single taco at $7. that's a very stark difference than the happy hour prices. I'd come back only at the happy hour price point. Bathroom: They have gender neutral bathrooms one floor down the stairs. I'm sure you can get to it via elevator as well.

Danny B.

Food was amazing, they have these $1 taco specials. The margaritas was very good as well too

Ready Rooftop Bar
Leena S.

This place is all about the Vibe. A rooftop bar with nice views, great personality and hip crowds. There is not really much as far as food offerings and they have one desert on the menu. But, we were here for after dinner drinks and it served our goal. They offer a happy hour from 4-6 which includes $1 Tacos and Margarita specials.

Baja blast

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1 month ago

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16 days ago

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20 days ago

Went on a Sunday night and it was so much fun! Great DJ and drinks! Highly recommend!!

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20 days ago

this place was amazing! amazing vibes and such nice people! waiters are very attentive as well

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1 year ago

Great rooftop for happy hour and it seems like it was great for big groups too! They have $1 tacos and $9 margaritas!

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Ask the Community - The Ready Cantina

Are you able to only order tacos (no marg/drinks) for the happy hour price?

Yes

Is there a full bar?

Yes

Are there a lot of standing areas at the rooftop?

You can stand at the bar or around the bar, but everything else is seating

View All 9 Questions

Paradise Lost - Beautiful interior

Paradise Lost

4.5(166 reviews)
0.3 mi•East Village

Paradise Lost is a speakeasy tiki bar located on 2nd Ave in the East Village. A friend & I went…read morethere after having dinner at Spicy Moon a few blocks away. We wanted to have after-dinner cocktails in a chill space, so we searched on our phones & saw Paradise Lost address via Google. We proceeded to walk down & was unable to find the establishment due to their being no front sign. After walking back & forth a few times, we saw another group walking towards the door & they confirmed the place. We walked inside the front door pressed a "doorbell" & lo & behold we gained entry after the previous group went inside. Definitely an incognito entrance. Once inside that door there is someone to greet you, & take your information. There is a forest/ grass/ jungle-looking foyer/ hallway we walked down to get to the next door. Before we knew it, we were near the "Paradise Lost No Vacancy" neon sign w/ an arrow pointing towards the snake-shaped knob door. It gets opened & a supercool speakeasy awaits.... Paradise Lost has mixed style table / seating arrangements throughout the place. A bar seating section, booth-style seating area, lounge- style seating area, etc. We got there a little after 7pm, so the afterwork crowd was in full swing. Paradise Lost has interesting atmosphere. At times a Gothic / Medieval Vibe, meets place w/ shipwreck decor, meets eleganct /club vibe w/ beautiful ceiling lighting, etc. Music played in the background. Staff are friendly, energetic, & attentive. We were pleasantly overwhelmed w/ the vast selection of tiki cocktails that were on the menu. Paradise Lost also have an intimate selection of snacks/ food menu items. This included Popcorn, Tater Tots, Devilled Eggs Rangoon Dip, etc. We ordered some cocktails served in unique tiki mugs & a bucket of popcorn to munch on w/ our drinks. The popcorn is flavored w/ Sea Buckthorn & Browm Butter, which gave it an special flavor profile. Our cocktails were well-prepared & nice & strong. Paradise Lost has individual unisex bathroom stalls & a communal vanity & sink area. The bathroom stalls have spooky voices coming from a speaker as you use the bathroom. I was so humorously taken aback, it had me laughing when I came out...Definitely a different thing to experience in the bathroom - lol. Before we left we watched one of the bartenders do a cocktail "fire" presentation for some patrons in a booth seated area. Wow.... Paradise Lost accepts walk-ins only, no reservations. Paradise Lost accepts groups of 8 or less, unless you are requesting to book the space for a private event. Ages 21+ paradiselost.nyc @paradiselostnyc Paradise Lost is open everyday - 5pm-2am.

Very cool cocktail bar with super interesting decor. It's more of a gothic tiki bar with ska music…read morethan a traditional tiki bar which was cool but I found the music to not really be my thing but thought the decor was just so cool. The drinks were very interesting and creative. The seawater martini I will say was a bit too strange for my taste but I still thought it was good. Service was very good as well. Would definitely recommend to visit if you like gothic stuff and tiki bars.

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Paradise Lost - Amazing atmosphere!

Amazing atmosphere!

Paradise Lost - Beware the shark!

Beware the shark!

Paradise Lost - Damned Dumplings ($10) and Kappa Krab Roll ($15)

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Damned Dumplings ($10) and Kappa Krab Roll ($15)

The Up & Up

The Up & Up

4.2(617 reviews)
0.6 mi•Greenwich Village
•$$

Cool vibe. Super nice people…read more Speak easy atmosphere Love the West Village neighborhood

Serious attitude here. The cocktails were very tasty but the service and vibe were so off-putting,…read moreI will never go back. I made a reservation in person more than 24 hours in advance. I wanted to treat an old friend to a quick birthday toast before a show she was attending nearby. Later that night, another friend became available to join but, because they do not actually have a phone that takes calls (only offers an announcement to go to Resy or email) adding another person was not at all easy. I would have had to cancel and rebook and wasn't sure I'd be able to (reservation was for a Saturday night) In most places, a table for 3 easily accommodates 4. But not here. When two of us arrived, they made it clear this was a big problem. I would have walked out right then but I would have been charged $90! We decided to stay and make the best of it, which was a challenge. For a speakeasy, the vibe was aggressive, not relaxing. Very loud music and not great acoustics.) Too cramped to be comfortable, proving that small does not necessarily mean cozy! We asked if we could take a chair from the table next to us, which was empty (it was only 6 pm; I told our server we'd be gone by 7 because my friend, the birthday girl, had to catch a show.) We were told No! To say the waiter was cold, unfriendly, and indifferent is generous. He was totally rude. He literally told my friend she couldn't sit in a chair that was otherwise empty, knowing we'd be leaving momentarily. Then he had the gail to hand me the bill with a 22% tip pre-selected...and watched over me while I signed it! Definitely the least satisfying $100 I have ever spent. Disappointing. It was good to see my friends, but I so wish I hadn't picked this place. Never again.

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The Up & Up - Screen Door Slam

Screen Door Slam

The Up & Up
The Up & Up

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Osamil Upstairs - Ambiance / vibe

Osamil Upstairs

4.3(143 reviews)
1.1 mi•Koreatown, Midtown West

this bar has great vibes, and is speak easy esque, tucked behind a hidden door and upstairs of…read moreosamil. The ambiance is not too loud which is perfect for catching up with a friend. I got the omija, which seems to be one of their more popular drinks, which is yogurt clarified. It's definitely a bit on the sweeter side for me but nonetheless delicious. Super easy to get a last minute reservation here!

My friends and I popped into Osamil Upstairs (via the restaurant below) for cocktails -- and wow:…read moreit lived up to the hype. The moment you walk up those stairs, the whole mood changes. Dim lighting, plush seating, rich wood + wallpaper details, and that lounge-library vibe make the place feel like a secret hideout right in the middle of Midtown. It's moody, cozy, and effortlessly intimate -- perfect for a date night, a chill catch-up, or just a night out with good drinks. Nice service, too! However: be ready for the price tag. The cocktails are absolutely beautiful -- well crafted, creative, and flavorful -- but each one will remind you that you're not exactly paying dive-bar prices. It's worthwhile, but the "overpriced drinks" vibe absolutely hits. That said: the interior design and ambience are amazing. The mix of antique-meets-modern decor, low lighting, and comfy couches gives you that classic speakeasy romance. If you appreciate aesthetics and vibe over cheap drinks -- this is your spot. If you want a night out that feels deliberate and special rather than casual and cheap -- Osamil Upstairs delivers.

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Osamil Upstairs - Inside coach seat area

Inside coach seat area

Osamil Upstairs - Vibe

Vibe

Osamil Upstairs - Martini like

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Martini like

Dear Irving Gramercy - Bar

Dear Irving Gramercy

4.3(798 reviews)
0.3 mi•Gramercy, Union Square, Flatiron
•$$$

Dear Irving Gramercy is straight-up one of the coolest cocktail spots in NYC. The vibe feels like…read morestepping into another era -- moody lighting, vintage glam, velvet everywhere, and somehow every room feels like its own little hidden speakeasy. The drinks were incredible and looked just as good as they tasted. Staff was on point, music was perfect, and the whole place had that upscale NYC energy without feeling pretentious. Definitely the kind of bar that makes you want to stay way longer than planned. Perfect for date night, late-night cocktails, or just pretending you're in a movie for a couple hours.

Date: Monday, March 2nd, 2026 Time: around 8pm…read moreParty of: 1 Accolades: No.26 North America's 50 Best Bars 2022 *Whiskey Business ($21) *Tax ($1.86) I had a little bit of time to kill before heading to dinner. Since it was right next to where I was leaving my friends, I decided to see if I could get a seat at the bar without a reservation. I checked in with the host and she said they had room. So no rezzie needed that night when solo. The bar area is very dark and intimate. I only had time for one drink and decided on the one above. It was nicely balanced. I'm a whisky girl, especially rye, so I enjoyed sipping on this. A nice stop on the way to diner. I was here years ago, but that experience is a little hazy. Glad I was able to revisit. REVIEW #4002

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Dear Irving Gramercy - Outside

Outside

Dear Irving Gramercy
Dear Irving Gramercy

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The Ready Cantina - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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