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    The River

    4.4 (13 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

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    a hot dog and a cocktail on a tray
    Julian M.

    DARK and lovely. I got the Carrot Top, Pickled Pineapple Martini, a Stella, the Schaller & Webber hot dog and the bowl of nuts. Please try the Pickled Pineapple Martini and the dog Such a moody cocktail bar. I didn't expect this place here and I'm glad they're here! Service is wonderful! Very dark and tight/narrow/cozy. Also big selection of wine, bubbly and whisky. Some bar snacks, charcuterie and sandwiches, too!

    Violetta!
    Charlie N.

    The Violeta was an interesting drink. It was sour but with a hint is sweet. This place is pretty cool, I never thought I'd find a place where there would be no music blasting. It has a speak easy vibe to it and to be frank it wasn't as packed. I would recommend this bar if you're planning to take someone out on a date. It's quiet and has a speak easy vibe.

    Carrot juice and spicy tequila cocktail ( forgot the name )
    Minu A.

    I love bars where you can go and just chill and you can hear yourself talk without talking over music so this is one of those. My drink tasted interesting - it reminded me of India I'm not sure if it's the chili. The drink had a spicy aftertaste to it and had a carrot juice base. I also tried the cherry Garcia cocktail which was on the board . I forgot to get a picture of it but it was really sweet, fruity, and yummy.

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Helpful 5
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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    Typa spot with hella the hellp lookalikes and a very bespoke cocktail menu, i thot the drinks were okay

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    4 months ago

    Really cool spot. Perfect for a chill spot with friends after getting dim sum or Italian

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Immaculate ambiance and smells great. Bob Dylan & Bob Marley playing while I sip my Mezcal Negroni.

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    Review Highlights - The River

    The cocktail menu is a masterpiece, featuring innovative drinks crafted with precision and flair.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Paradise Lost - Beautiful interior

    Paradise Lost

    4.5(166 reviews)
    1.0 miEast 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)
    0.9 miGreenwich 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.

    Photos
    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)
    2.2 miKoreatown, 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.

    Photos
    Osamil Upstairs - Inside coach seat area

    Inside coach seat area

    Osamil Upstairs - Vibe

    Vibe

    Osamil Upstairs - Martini like

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    Martini like

    The River - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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