Cancel

Open app

Search

The Wayland

4.4 (563 reviews)
Open • 2:00 pm - 4:00 am (Next day)
Updated 2 months ago

The Wayland Photos

Business Info

THE WAYLAND ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Live music
Casual
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials

You might also consider

More like The Wayland

Recommended Reviews - The Wayland

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Outside
Jess L.

My friends and I were able to walk in and score an outside seat on a brisk Saturday night. (Granted, inside was quite full!) It was nice being on the sidewalk. The cocktail menu is incredibly innovative. I'm still thinking of the Moxie cocktail, which was perfect on this fall night. We ordered two rounds. The second one came out a lot faster than the first, but both were within acceptable range. Chill vibe. I'd want this type of spot to be my local spot if I was here more often.

Waheda I.

I didn't eat here but I came here to drink with a friend. Make sure to make a reservation. It gets packed late into the night. The drinks were great. The open windows were great. Perfect for a warm summer night. Prices aren't too bad. It can be a bit hard to flag staff down but understandable due to the crowd. Neat spot, I'll return and try the food next time.

a piano in a dimly lit room
Gene L.

I'm surprised I haven't reviewed this place earlier. So much of my favorite NYC memories have had beginnings or ends at The Wayland. This is perhaps one of the most versatile bars in the city. It's perfect for group hangs, happy hour, bringing a date, solo visits, events/celebrations, or live music. Depending on the time you come, this place does it all. Perennially this place has one the most solid oyster happy hours in town, with great drink specials. Always has a super/casual vibe, but still intimate/classy/cozy. Staff over the years has never failed to be attentive and friendly. Vibes here are always perfect. I hope this place never closes! This bar will always have a special place in my heart, and no time in EV is complete without a visit to The Wayland.

Angie B.

Everything. All of it. The dark wood and glow of the lights, the long, sectioned bar, the nice guy who greeted us at the door, the kind server who brought our delicious food and the all -around -chill -vibe of the place made me love it. We arrived for our 5:00 reservation and there were just a few of us sitting at tables. By 5:30, things were poppin' and by 630 the place was full. And so were we. Let me tell you about our order. The menu is filled with good sandwiches and creative grilled -bread -type dishes. This was actually just perfect. And refreshing. We had a late breakfast because we were visiting New York for the day to see the Simone Leigh exhibit. It was awesome but we didn't know that it was one room with several pieces which took about 30 minutes to view so we had the day to eat, drink and wander around. The Wayland had an open table at 5 on Resy and I booked not really knowing what I was getting into. Oh wait! Speaking of wandering around, I just did that in this review. Back to the order. My friend ordered the pulled chicken sandwich and I ordered the sausage toast. We shared an anchovy plate. The sausage toast consisted of four hardy slices of grilled bread with sausage baked in! I can't tell you how good this was! It came with a generous order of burrata cheese in which one spreads upon the toast before taking a delicious bite! The anchovies were huge, also served with grilled bread and my friend said her sandwich was delicious. We kept ordering the ginger gimlet that was featured on the happy hour menu. It was made so well! We left very happy, very full and more than satisfied that we landed here. It's a special place.

Me with a S&R. Together we cry...
Johnny N.

The Wayland is the best bar in New York City. "Yeah okay Johnny you talk in hyperbole all the time..." A fair criticism indeed. Normally I'd agree, but I feel as strongly about this as I do that Blood Sugar Sex Magik is RHCP's best album. Or that Norman F***ing Rockwell is Lana Del Rey's magnum opus. Anyways, I came to the Wayland for my first drink post moving to nyc as it is relatively close by. I got to talking to Dale (he manages the place) as he was working behind the bar this night. He told me his favorite drink is the Smoked & Roasted (S&R), so I had to pull the trigger. The S&R is still my favorite drink I have had in the city. It is a Mezcal and Pineapple infused drink that Alphabet City locals refer to as "The Nectar of the Gods." Since that night I've probably been here 30+ times and whatever you want, the Wayland has. An open air seat on a hot summer day? CHECK! An intimate, but not over the top date spot? EASY CALL! A night out to get active? NEXT QUESTION! A live music venue? YURRPP! Never forget when the Wayland literally caught on fire and was open 3 days later. A Phoenix rising from the ashes. I love the Wayland so much that I wrote an original poem, taking nothing from any other poem. "Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner, sometimes I feel like my only friend, Is the bar that I frequent,The Wayland on Ave C, 2 Smoked & Roasted's, Together we cry..." Could be a good song intro I think too. The staff here is second to none, need to highlight Dale and Josh as they have become friends as opposed to just the local bartender doubling as a therapist. I have loved in the Wayland. I have lost in the Wayland. I have knelt in the Wayland. I have felt in the Wayland. But most importantly, I have formed in the Wayland.

Garden Margarita
Pamela P.

Great vibes, service, drinks, food and music. We had the cocktail of the month with gin and strawberry, was delicious and part of the money of the sells will be donated for the fight against cancer. We also tried the purple nurple, good flavor but a bit watered down, and the green margarita which had a great and very unique flavor. We requested mezcal instead of tequila and they made the substitution without charging us extra, very nice touch. All drinks were good but the drink of the month was the star in my opinion. For food we had two burgers and fries, very tasty, the bread was soft, the beef was tender and the cheese was melted, bacon was crispy and not overcooked, the fries super crunchy and not oily at all. Everything was delicious. Amazing music selection and beautiful decor. They take reservations for the tables but most people stands around the bar which is huge and have plenty of seating. Would definitely come again and would recommend to anyone looking for great cocktails in the east village.

Pearls of the East
Aleah H.

Such an amazing happy hour!! We came to The Waveland for happy hour on a Friday without a reservation, and were seated at a high top table wrapped around a beam. It was a bit awkward for conversation, but we were happy with it given we didn't make a reservation. Would suggest one if you can afford to plan ahead, though! We got the Pearls of the East cocktail for $10 on the happy hour menu, and it was great! Great flavors and presentation, and I loved the setting and craftsmanship of the bartenders! We also got the 6 oysters for $10. They were petite east coast oysters but were a good deal and came with solid cocktail sauce. I would return and would highly recommend this spot - It has a solid menu and very gun ambiance with lots of wood beams and open air!

Interior

Amazing burger, one of my favorite in the city. Such a lovely interior as well! Always great bartenders here too.

Heather W.

Came here Sunday. This place has a great cocktail menu but the service is so so so so completely dismal I cannot stand it. She basically talked to her friends outside 70% of the time, and was not visible the rest of the time, in a practically empty restaurant. Had to wait AGES for the drinks and everything else, after asking multiple OTHER people. (What do they pay her for!!). I would've been fine if this place were a get -your-own-everything bar.

Caribbean hi tea
Christina M.

Grabbed a drink with a friend after work and was lucky to snatch a table near the window non a Friday afternoon. They have a nice happy hour deal of $10 drinks and discounted oysters however I was interested in trying the Caribbean hi tea which was on the regular menu $15. It is a rum punch based drink that was super tasty. I my friend got the tequilla Time Machine I believe and she also liked it. Overall ambiance was relaxing and this is a spot for for a few drinks with friendly service. We would definitely come back to try dinner here!

Drinks
Maggie T.

The vibes are right at The Wayland! I haven't eaten here, but I've come for drinks a couple times now and the drinks are always delicious (and somewhat fairly priced for Manhattan). This is a good spot for a first round before a night out -- it gets crowded on weekend nights, but it's usually not too loud to carry on a conversation. I definitely need to come back to try their oyster happy hour!!

Bar area
il'ya S.

Honestly, I came here to use the bathroom, but then I felt guilty and decided to order a cider. Wowzers in my trousers, was I impressed with the hospitality of the staff who were quick to serve me and check in on my +1's order. They had a delicious "Hudson North" cider and despite it coming from a can, they served in a glass with the feeling it came from a draft. Our stay was paired with the jolly music of someone playing live piano. It definitely set a cool cozy vibe and there's a cute patio/ balcony area for outdoor seating. Definitely recommend coming here to try their expansive drink and food menu.

Fried Oysters
Ann N.

Love the happy hour deal - $12 burger and beer. The burger was really juicy and flavor with all the right toppings. I was expecting getting chips as the side as the deal only stated burger and beer. I was extremely satisfied with this happy hour deal. The fried oysters we got was just to try - wouldn't be the end of the world if you didn't try it. The service was not as great because we were sitting outside, while it was packed inside. It was harder to order more things or ask for more water / napkins. I wouldn't necessarily fault them for this though.

See all

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Jess L.
3519
5586
5960

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 5
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of Gene L.
700
646
2276

4 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kim X.
321
830
1421

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 6
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 7
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Great drinks, better service. On my "I'm going out of my way to go here" list. I've never enjoyed myself more than I did when I went here

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Emily N.
107
61
1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Nicole G.
484
247
179

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

The food, service and drinks are a triple threat! Friendly staff, wonderfully balanced cocktails and the food is amazing.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Roman S.
37
40
13

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 15

Ask the Community - The Wayland

Is happy hour every day or just weekdays?

Tues-Fri

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - The Wayland

“Tried several drinks on the menu and kept coming back to the Garden Variety Margarita, it is to die for.”

Mentioned in 39 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Cocktail Bars 20,830 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Valerie

Valerie

4.3(1.4k reviews)
2.2 mi•Midtown West
•$$

As a tourist from the Midwest, I want to first start with the decor. The absolute homage to the…read more1920s is beautifully reflected in the decor. The tile on the floor to the sconces hanging from the walls. The bar is a beautiful scene for a backdrop for photos, but more importantly than any of that is the service provided. We specifically want to mention included Daniel. Daniel was the most hospitable, the most gracious and absolutely the most accommodating staff we have encountered in our trip to New York so far. Daniel made excellent choices and actually helped to custom craft drinks to our particular taste. In addition Daniel provided excellent recommendations for heavy snacking plate sharing and enjoying the overall experience.

I'm from New York and let me tell you something. I have eaten at thousands of restaurants in this…read morecountry. There's no comparison to my favorite restaurant Jerk and Jambalaya in Rehoboth Beach . The restaurant and Sintelle Taylor are excellent, excellent, excellent and did I say excellent. The food speaks for itself. The oxtails, the Mac and cheese, the greens the corn bread. Yes honey I will travel for great food. Listen up y'all restaurants, I will no longer be mistreated by bad and then asked for a tip. Jerk Jambalaya I support you and thank you for all you do. The standard has been raised . God bless you and your restaurant and team. Beautiful restaurant. Tell them Ms. Monique sent you.

Photos
Valerie
Valerie
Valerie

See all

Dear Irving on Broadway - Josephine Room

Dear Irving on Broadway

4.5(42 reviews)
2.7 mi•Midtown West

From the front desk in the lobby to getting our seats, it was a great experience here. My friend…read morefrom out of the country was in town and I wanted to show her a nice rooftop bar in NYC. It did not disappoint as it was high up on the 40th floor. We arrived later and the kitchen was closed, but the drinks were well served and the server was kind to check in with us the right amount of times within a time period. I also love that it's right next to Port Authority, so if you're from Jersey, it's so easy to catch the bus right after!

Had an awesome time at Dear Irving. We recently celebrated a friend's birthday here. We were…read morekindly greeted when we entered and directed to the elevator leading to the event space. DI reserved an area between the bar and patio for the event. Enough room for our party to gather and not impede on other patrons. I found all of the staff to be very professional and attentive while very busy. The menu has a variety of small bite options, which was shared amongst the group. Everyone seemed to enjoy them, suggesting one another to try this or that. The bartenders/ mixologists were on their A game. The drink menu is pretty extensive and from what I could see, our party choices ranged from wines to whisky's and several options between. The rooftop/patio was an extension of the comfortable but trendy decor. Great space for an evening, date or friend gathering. Dear Irving... well done. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

Photos
Dear Irving on Broadway - Cocktails

Cocktails

Dear Irving on Broadway - Smoky & spicy cocktail it was ;-)

Smoky & spicy cocktail it was ;-)

Dear Irving on Broadway - Cocktail

See all

Cocktail

Attaboy - Tiny bar which is why the long waits to get in but cozy and cool vibe

Attaboy

4.1(886 reviews)
0.8 mi•Bowery, Lower East Side
•$$

Attaboy is hands down the BEST speakeasy I've been to--not just in NYC, but in the entire US! If…read moreyou love cocktails, do NOT miss this place. There's no traditional menu here. Tell the bartender what flavors and spirits you're in the mood for, and let them work their magic. I gravitated toward whisky-based, chocolate, and fruit-forward cocktails, and every single one was phenomenal. My husband stuck to Old Fashioned- and Manhattan-style drinks, and those delivered too. The bartender absolutely nailed our preferences, crafting delicious cocktails tailored to our individual tastes. Getting in is part of the experience: knock on the door, and they'll let you know if there's a spot available or add you to the waitlist. We visited on a weeknight around 8:30 PM and waited barely five minutes. I'll be coming back every single time I'm in NYC. Exceptional bartending, personalized cocktails, and an experience that genuinely lives up to the hype. Do not miss Attaboy!

Bar with no menu. You have to tell the the staff what you like and they will make you something…read moreaccording to your taste. Everything we ordered was great and fit the profiles we asked for. I asked for something along the lines of a singapore sling and I was pleasantly surprised with what was given to me. My advice? Be as descriptive as possible and be open to their suggestions. Along with double chicken please this is a must try in NYC

Photos
Attaboy - Small space but good vibes

Small space but good vibes

Attaboy - Paper plane

Paper plane

Attaboy - Interior bar seat

See all

Interior bar seat

Steight - Ichigo Ichie

Steight

4.6(44 reviews)
0.9 mi•Bowery, Lower East Side

yuzu highball mt highball…read more- highball was nice, basic, and refreshing; nothing much to note about but ive definitely had better - i liked the yuzu a bit more because the mt highball was a bit too alcoholic hojicha colada - hojicha is their seasonal menu and it also is my favorite! The tea was strong and fragrant - it is on the sweeter side, a bit like dessert, so i had to pair it with water, but it was still yummy and would recommend yuzu contact - this was alright! Typical yuzu but ive had better ones - personally feel like the yuzu can be brighter and a bit sweeter rating: 4/5 - the drinks were all good but nothing particularly stood out except for the hojicha colada - the vibe and the music really brought up my rating though! It was such a cute, cozy, intimate spot for dates - small speakeasy with only a few seats, similar to bars in japan; it's one of those japanese listening bars and i love it - there was light jazz in the background, not too loud that i had to shout - the mood was perfect; I couldn't stop staring at the interior decor and immerse myself in this little cozy corner - service was super quick, nothing much to note IG: @nom.noms.only

Very cute speakeasy hidden behind an empty hair salon. The decor was very fun, and I couldn't quite…read moretell what the theme was. It's a very small space, so it may be a bit of a wait for a seat. We came around 8:45 PM, and got a spot at the bar after about 20 minutes. We tried the yuzu contact and the ma-chet baker, and the ma-chet baker was definitely our favorite. It tasted just like a matcha latte, and I liked the bits of gen maicha in it. It wasn't very strong however. The yuzu contact was also very light and citrusy.

Photos
Steight - Sake Flight.

Sake Flight.

Steight - Oolong Punch

Oolong Punch

Steight

See all

Apotheke - Apotheke Bar Chinatown

Apotheke

3.8(1.6k reviews)
1.3 mi•Chinatown, Civic Center
•$$$

Had a really good time at this bar. From the outside, it…read moredoesn't look much, but once you step in, you get to soak in the amazingly lit bar. The drinks were also pretty good and fairly priced! Really enjoyed my cucumber chili oil drink, it was savory and unique. Seating was limited though but our party managed to snag one once another party left. definitely a first come first serve concept.

Apotheke was one of my first experiences with a hidden speakeasy a number of years ago, and it…read morestill remains the OG in my vast encyclopedia of experiences. :) Strolling down Chinatown's busy and gritty Doyers Street, looking for any sign of Apotheke is a fond memory, then finally figuring out where it was, and entering through the mysterious and otherworldly threshold resulted a transformative experience that made me feel like I time traveled. Mood lighting, comfortable seating, great drinks in a cozy and Victorian-inspired space are the perfect blend of unique and. I always felt like I was part of something special the few times enjoyed creative, delicious, and strong libations from the pros at the bar. While it has always been pricey, I do feel like the excellent service ambiance, and drink quality warrant this, but may prevent more folks from becoming regulars so to speak. I love the clever and compact bathroom design, too. IYKYK Long live Apotheke!

Photos
Apotheke - The bar

The bar

Apotheke - Live Band

Live Band

Apotheke - Beautiful bar

See all

Beautiful bar

The Wayland - cocktailbars - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...