My girlfriend and I have decided to review bar/lounges/speakeasies based on five criteria: Alcohol, Cleanliness & Ambiance, Service, Value/Price and to a lesser extent food. Last night we went to YNK for the third time this week and at least 20 times total. YNK is a speakeasy in the Irvine Marriott and if you haven't been before it is behind the main bar when you walk in to your right. If you walk far enough towards the outside patio you will find it on your left. YNK is getting much more popular which is a problem because it's getting super crowded. Last night they had to close the door so that Ravin could get caught up. Let us just say we really don't want to have to wait when we come in. However, we have to give YNK its due and for a Speakeasy it is one of the best. ALCOHOL The alcohol is why you come here. This speakeasy has international themes and will rotate their focus from time to time. The current focus is Italia. We have had many drinks here, my favorite by far is the Old Fashioned. Ravin uses a smoker to fill a decanter with smoke and then pours the old fashioned into the decanter and shakes it up prior to pouring it over ice. It is absolutely amazing but you do have to enjoy that smokey flavor to enjoy this drink. My girlfriend used to say her favorite was the Same-Same which is really more like an alcohol version of miso soup and it tastes like dinner. The alcohol base for the Same-Same is tequila which is surprising because you cannot taste the tequila. Her new favorite as of yesterday is the Batavia Punch which is a rum based drink that is perfectly flavored and not too sweet. Be careful with this one because it can sneak up on you there is a lot of really strong alcohol in this one. The truth though is all the drinks we have had here are amazing and you really can't go wrong. Overall the drinks are one star no question. CLEANLINESS & AMBIANCE The speakeasy is very clean even when they are busy and there is a lot of foot traffic. Since this spot is inside the Irvine Marriott the restrooms are of course very clean. The ambiance is perfect for a speakeasy. The space isn't really not large at all. There are maybe a total of 17 seats in the whole speakeasy. Lighting is perfect and when the Italia menu isn't on the screen Ravin plays videos of Italia which adds a nice feeling. Overall the cleanliness & ambiance gets one star. SERVICE The service might be the best part of YNK even more than the Alcohol. Ravin is really a one man shop he takes orders, prepares drinks, serves the drinks and cleans up after the guests. The hotel staff helps from time to time when things get a little too crazy but at obvious that Ravin makes it run. Ravin is also always in a good mood and smiling it is truly amazing. A lot of customer relations lessons to be learned here. Overall the service deserves more than one star but that is all we have for this category. FOOD The food here is obviously not the focus and until very recently there weren't really any options. There are four choices now and we have tried the popcorn chicken and the prosciutto and olives. Both were absolutely amazing. I can't wait to try the potato wedges maybe next time. Overall the food great for what it is supposed to be which is a small addition to the experience. One star easy. VALUE/PRICE YNK is a fair value. Anywhere you go where you are getting mixed drinks like this you are going to pay about $15 a drink. I don't remember any drinks above that number which to me shows that it is fairly priced. Although some would argue it is too expensive I say it is fair. One star for value and price. In conclusion you are coming here for one main reason and that is the drinks. The service is an added bonus and makes the experience that much better. Please keep in mind drinks take time to make because everything is handcrafted. We had three drinks each and were at YNK for two and a half hours. There is one drink that takes an actual 15 minutes of prep time. If you are in a rush this probably shouldn't be your first stop. YNK is easily a 5 star speakeasy which isn't easy to get from us because we have a passion for speakeasy specifically. read more

See all

Okay, so I live in LA and one of my best friends lives in the area and brought me here. I haven't been this impressed with anyone behind a bar in years, and I've been a bartender/ mixologist for years. Jonathon made ya feel so welcome at this bar, made the most amazing drinks I've had my whole life, and was so genuinely nice and amazing about everything. This guy deserves a raise or a promotion for his amazing work ethic, knowledge of alcohol and over all care and hospitality he shows everyone of his customers. Jon makes this spot what it is, and is the main reason I'll be coming back and back for the same amazing quality of service and hospitality fit for a King! read more

Update your Yelp hours. Pathetic. We came here on a weekend expecting the bar to be open and nobody running their page had the forethought to update their pandemic hours. read more

This is probably one of the best craft cocktail lounges I've been to. Tucked in a business district in the Irvine Marriott, YNK is hidden gem that oozes pure class. There's only one bartender there, so it can take a bit of time, but the wait is WORTH IT. There is so much attention and care going into these cocktails and you can surely taste the craft. So far, we've tried the Old Fashioned, Same Same, Slingapore, Thai Tea and the Pimm's Cup, and none have disappointed. Can't wait to keep coming back! read more

What a great place to stop and unwind after work. I'm sure that this place is jumpin' late at night but it was a slice of heaven for me this afternoon. Ravin lavished me with kindness and is a true gentleman! He has created a lovely atmosphere that exudes warmth and hospitality! I look forward to coming back again soon! read more

Came here and I was impressed with the music, food, drink and ambiance. I picked a cocktail from a review that was a year old(Ramos Gin ) and the bartender Jonathan was nice enough to make it for me . It's located inside Marriott, and I will be back for more. read more

YNK - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Awesome little place in Marriott. Love that they change the theme and Drinks every few months. Loved my Banana Daiquiri in the Hawaii theme. read more

YNK - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Went here last night with 7 friends & had a great time! Mossimo over at FLOE said next time we could order off of their Social & Share-ables menu right from YNK. We did not know this so we ate at FLOE first & then went over to YNK. Mossimo DID help us walk our remaining flatbread pieces etc. over there though which was extremely thoughtful. YNK is so small so we were trying to get over there ASAP. Their website says they open at 5pm Tue-Sat. When we got there at 6pm on Tuesday, there was another large group in there. Between the 2 groups we took up the entire place. If you eat at FLOE you can get a 3 hour parking validation. We all work close enough to walk over there & didn't need that though. Menu at both places was great. YNK was cute & fun! Didn't LOVE the music though. It sounded like spa music, but that's ok, everything else more than made up for it. We will go again for sure. read more

Great "hidden" bar. Cool vibe. Get there early. Only room for about 15 customers comfortably. Drinks are amazing but you need to be patient as the bartenders create the drink as if it is a work of art. Good music but volume is low enough to allow for conversation. Will return. read more

This bar is slick and stylish. But, it's small and you may not get a seat once the night owls arrive. The bartender service is above par. You will impress your date at this spot. Excellent place to talk. read more

YNK. What an amazing hot spot for drinks. Matt is a cocktail artist creating drinks that are opulent; visually stunning and even better to drink. It's like having a private bartender in your living room. read more

When the bartender is out sick... the only logical thing to do is... drink from the bottle the rating is because my bartender is out sick and the place literally has to close down! read more

YNK - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Just went there my husband and I loved the atmosphere and the drinks! Special thanks to Nicholas that was great and engaged us on a nice talk!! Brazilian Jazz Bossa Nova playing made the place a gem ! read more

YNK closed for renovations. Went to "The Butcher Block." If you've been to NYC and other places, you'll NOT be wowed by this wanna-bee "speak easy." -- Good try for the OC folks, though. -- OC couple was making out the whole time a few feet away from us (it's a small place), yuck. It's NOT that amazing, guys.... get a room. -- Music way too loud, and coming out of a little bluetooth speaker = annoying. -- Drinks were good. BUT FOR $18.50 each! Given the entire experience (over priced drinks, good "effort" on trying to make a cool place), I'd say it wouldn't hurt to go here, but we personally won't be back. read more

Good chilling lounge with exceptionally beautiful and creative cocktails! This small bar is really great. Bring people here for a small celebration or get together. read more

Fantastic chilling lounge with exceptionally flavorful and creative cocktails! Such great staff with great atmosphere!) read more

My co workers and I stopped by this hidden gem to grab a drink....we ended up getting three drinks each. Drinks had a depth of flavor, fresh, and so unique! Though ordering off the menu can't go wrong, my favorite drinks were the ones off the menu.... Like the smoking old fashion. Delicious! Just let the bartender know what type of alcohol you typically like and let him work his magic... "Same same" on the menu comes in a bowl. It's alcoholic curry , sounded funny but also a must try! It has a slight spicy kick. Also, the theme of the room changes every 3-4 months so "you'll never know" what's next :) last month was New Orleans, this month was Asian themed read more

See all

Wow if your into wiskey go here. Not a big wiskey guy but a cool bar with great drinks read more

See all

Hidden gem tucked into the Marriott. Great craft cocktails here. Small and cozy with personalized bar service. We will go back. Tip: Self-park bc YNK will validate (valet won't be validated). read more

Ask if the butcher shop is opens when you go here. And do go here if you'd like to find the best cocktails in Orange County. These mixologists aren't playing around. Innovative spins on popular drinks and quite a few one off cocktails that they made up. The place is small and it is more of a sit down cocktail lounge. The butcher shop is inside of the meat locker and that bartender is awesome too. I like going back there because you get to walk through the kitchen. This will be your new favorite bar in oc. read more

When it's open, it's a 5 star speakeasy, however it is closed more than it is open. The management doesn't seem committed to running it in a reliable way so you can never "plan" to go there. I've stopped trying and I would never recommend it. read more

Great little "hidden gem" inside the Irvine Marriott. Decor was interesting- almost like you're sitting in an eclectic friends living room. Amazing craft cocktails. Had the smoked Old Fashion... definitely a must try. read more

I never had the best experience at any bar but I have a say that this is by far the best one I've ever been to! This is a place where you want to have cool conversation with the bartender while he let you explore different wonderful mixology creations. Almost everything I had was $16 per drink but every penny is worthy. It's open from Thursday to Saturday so come enjoy your personalized experience!!! read more

Great craft drinks, cool and mellow vibe. Very creative drink menu, exotic and nontraditional ingredients (cardamon, etc). Great hidden spot behind the normal hotel bar, just make sure to get your parking validated. read more

This is a speakeasy bar inside the Irvine Marriot. I have been wanting to try this place out from all the reviews so I decided for my birthday weekend I would try it out and I am sure glad I did. We came here on Friday and valet instead of self parked. The valet is waived up to 3 hours if you visit a restaurant or lounge in case you wanted to know. It isn't hard to find if you read the other reviews. When we went in we were immediately in love with the decor and the feeling of excitement. It is only a small room as it is supposed to be. It maybe can fit 15 people max. The two servers were amazing. We ended up ordering 3 drinks. I believe one of the drinks was the winter spice old fashioned and this might be one of the best old fashioned I ever had. It felt perfect and the ice melts really slow. Even when it did, it didn't dilute the flavor. My fiancee really loved her drink as well. She ordered an Dutch Apple Fizz. Be aware that this takes a long time to make (approximately 15 minutes) so only order this if you are patient. She said it was very refreshing and it doesn't hurt that the process to make it was very entertaining. My third drink was the paloma and it was a perfect way to end the trip. It made me feel like I was sitting on a beach chair out on a sunny day. Overall, this is a must if you want a fun hangout spot with amazing servers and amazing drinks. read more

See all

Great craft cocktails and intimate setting. You can get delicious food from the restaurant and sit outside if the weather is nice. The drinks here are just fabulous. You won't even believe that you're actually in Irvine! The only downside is the parking. I think it's only 2 or 3-hr free parking with validation and I ended up staying way past those hrs and was charged a whopping $25! What a way to kill my buzz that night. read more

This place is so good! Last week when I went, we made reservation for the feast. My very first time just eating with my bare hands. It was pretty exciting. The employees did a great job laying out all the food on the table on top of leaves, there were an assorted different meats and seafood too. Definitely would recommend eating this feast again with big group. read more

Jonathan and Wes are awesome!!! This speakeasy is an absolute gem! If you live in OC, you have to come here. YNK takes me back to Chicago days where craft mixology was essential. This is an experience and their music is just . Come here. Because You Never Know. read more

Typical OC restaurant - quality food, decent service & great ambiance. Can't go wrong with the setup here - attractive ladies sipping colorful drinks in a cozy, yet small bar. I sipped bottled sparkling water as I enjoyed my infatuation with this exotic looking Hispanic woman... read more

Fun spot with terrific seasonal drinks. We had several of their tiki drinks, including the excellent Three Dot's and a Dash, a Donn Beach classic. This bar within a bar is located in a chic, intimate space right behind the main bar in the lobby of the Irvine Marriott. When you enter the lobby from the Hotel entrance, turn right and walk past the right side of the lobby bar. You'll see it on your left. They validate self-parking, but not valet. And the valet parking is stratospheric for Irvine, so definitely park if you drive. Better yet, use Lyft or Uber so you can sample more than one drink. read more

I really like that they have a rotating theme. Problem is there was only the one bartender working there (at least when we went) so service is slow because he has to do everything which is kinda silly. Also if you don't already realize this is in a hotel and is a very small location, be aware of that. Other than that the bartender made us some well balanced cocktails off the menu which we enjoyed. read more

My wife's birthday is always special , and our evening at YNK paid off .. incredible mixologist , amazing stories Behind each cocktail , beautiful herbs and fruits and very classic liqueurs . Ask for the Bijou and try the Amaro drinks , but you must try the smoke induced old fashioned - truly one of the greatest cocktail events you'll ever witness . Best cocktail lounge in OC , enjoy my friends . read more

Came here last weekend with some friends and it's a super cute, quiet speakeasy type. The atmosphere is very quaint and the drinks are all made with a twist! I asked for a specific drink and the bartender said I'll bring you something better and he did not disappoint! It's all custom so I can't tell you what it was but it was amazing! Good drinks, good vibes, and a cool place to hang out! read more

love this bar! jonathan is the best bartender and always makes the best drinks! I love working near the marriott so I can come here after work read more

Best Whiskey bar of OC, the place is so elegant, people are so nice. Especially after the 3 drink, the appetizer are 9 out of 10 and I usually give no more then 7p Friend of my recommended about this place after hearing about it from another close friends Will try keep coming all week long read more

Fun but small and expensive. Worth a visit. Come with one friend only, bug groups will have a hard time. Well themed, drinks are good.

Amazingly tasty craft beverages. Enjoyed my old fashioned immensely. Smoky vibe with my fave missed libation.

I've been here twice and had wonderful experiences both times. Ravin is some sort of magician because every drink he makes is magical. I was truly amazed by his craftsmanship and the amount of effort and care that goes into every drink, which made each one feel special. Not only do the drinks look good but they taste great too. I haven't been disappointed with any of the drinks that I have tried here. I can't recommend this place enough! read more

I came here with a few friends after reading the good reviews, and was pleasantly surprised. The lounge atmosphere is truly unique w/ a changing theme every few months. When I visited it was an asian theme complete w/ asian inspired cocktails, assorted asian decorations (mostly japanese actually), cool videos of Beijing and other places in China on the big screens, very very relaxing almost hypnotizing music, and more. The place is tiny and seats about 15 people max, so you never know if there will be space for your party or not. We ordered an assorted number of theme inspired drinks as well as a few custom drinks. While all the drinks were good, I must say that the best drinks were the ones where you just tell Ravin what flavors you like and you let him surprise you and let loose w/ the drink craftsmanship. There is a pool table outside that you can play on in between drinks and watching cool videos to hypnotizing chill music. read more

Totally lived up to the expectation. Rabin is a great mixologist. Loved the Paloma and Red Armada... Great place to hang out with friends and start out the evening. Had to leave after a couple of hours since we were getting hungry and the small plates didn't quite cut it. I will totally go back again. Thanks for opening up such a great place in Irvine. read more