This is an institution. Go to place in WV. Sheer amount of combinations and amazing vibe whether you are at the bar or seated. Small cozy place but libations are another level. Recently had the Yankee notions and Hi Octane - both spectacular.

+6

Best cocktails and best service all around. The server made us feel at home. A beautiful experience in the Big Apple.

This bar has a lot of Speakeasy vibes. Its visual identity and atmosphere are very appealing, with sleek lines and metallic finishes. The music they play is mostly jazz. Without a reservation I was only able to get into the standing room section. The drinks were fabulous, well balanced, and not overly complicated. I didn't try the food but it was highly recommended to me.

This is my favorite NY bar. I met some of the team when they had a guest bartending in Mexico and wanted to come since then. Cocktails are really good, shout out to the EO Espresso Martini and the Naked City that were my favorites. Food is also nice, you can sit at the bar or have a table for something more quiet. Service is top, great hospitality from everyone and amazing atmosphere. It gets really crowded late night.

+6

Had amazing drinks and a great time during our pre-dinner stop with my husband. Always a solid spot to kick off the night.

Cool bar with unique cocktails and reasonable prices. Reservations are necessary, even at 10 p.m. on Thursday nights; otherwise, you’ll face a long wait. Definitely recommend it.

It’s probably been 10 years since my last visit here and it’s still going strong. Came on a Wednesday night for drinks after a show and it was pretty packed with about. 15 minute wait to get in. Drinks were nice - they do lean heavily towards shaken cocktails and while not my preference, they’re nice on occasion during warmer months. I had the after midnight which was just a perfectly balanced raspberry and coffee combo. I’ll be back!

Probably the classiest bar I went to in New York, there is a dress code so plan accordingly. I went for the drinks as that’s their specialty. No Politics was great, a malt whiskey drink with dessert vibes of a creamy cookie. Cherry on Top was Mezcal with Cherry sweetness, good stuff. Mana was a “tiki” drink with tequila blanco, pineapple and tropical hints with a tasty rhubarb foam. I like the classy vibe, the bartenders are fast and cool, and the drinks alll excellent.It’s quite packed and loud, go early or get a reservation if you want a proper table.

Went here for cocktails and was blown away. They are more than we expected, top notch drinks. The fuss is real 🥰 their old fashioned and leaf (both on sweeter scale) were our favorites between the four that we tried.

doesn’t get better than employees only. If you want to go for dinner you’ll have a lovely meal in a chic room. If you want to go for drinks literally anything you order will be tasty & balanced…and of course if you want to go for fun, they can do that too

This bar is absolutely stunning! Love the atmosphere, the service, the design of the place omg… and the cocktails are unbelievable! High quality, fine taste. It is an old speakeasy with the symbol of a key that opens a door as a logo.. so beautiful also the menu the graphic.. the lights! Perfect. A must see in NYC. I tried the cocktail called Amelia, my friends tried Gaia and another friend tried Powerhouse (if I remember well the name).. all very special

+3

Amazing cocktails and the place lives up to its place on the worlds best bars!. The place is not so big, on arrival there was a waiting line to get access to the place, we were immediately asked if we had reservation, as we didn't have, we were quickly asked to go on the longer waiting line on the side, we waited around 15 .minutes until a table became available only if we were planning on dining, we quickly grasp that opportunity and got access. The food was good but the cocktails were fantastic, flavors and the balance of the ingredients were perfect, if you make it to the place make sure to try the lazy lover!

+6

A great bar, but I would recommend sit outside with two people only. Cocktails here are rather sweet, but the ones that are fruity are pretty good. As a classic cocktail lover, I would recommend their Manhattan. It’s strong with Bourbon’s fragrance. However, if you come with more than two people, you might need to wait in a long line for entering, and it is also pretty crowded for the bar. For parties under 2, there would be an outdoor seats with heaters, but you might need to wait for ordering and water. Still, a recommended bar here.

Easily one of my favorite cocktail bars in Manhattan. It’s probably smart to look for a reservation ahead of time as this place is a hot spot for locals. If there are none available, go early and you might have a chance at the bar. It pops off on Wednesday nights and can be a blast late night. One of the best Espresso Martinis I’ve had to date. Great staff.

Thank you so much for the amazing night. We were celebrating my sister’s birthday, and the servers were amazing, very attentive, especially Kimmy! We had dined here before, but this time, it was way beyond. Also, thank you to the manager who bothered to send us a cake to celebrate!

I have been going to employees only for quite a long time. Every time I go me and my friends have the best times. Their late-night food selection is just awesome. Here is a Few pics from my last visit. We stayed until the end.

+1

The food is excellent and the service is very good and friendly. The space is very compact, so expect to have your conversations overheard from both tables next to you (inches next). The music from the bar can be loud. If you're looking for a place to have an intimate dinner and conversation, look somewhere else.

+1

Fantastic spot with great cocktails and amazing service! The cocktails were delicious - we got the espresso martini, the ginger smash, the Mata Hari, and the yankee notions - all of them were fantastic! Olivia was our server and she was absolutely amazing - very knowledgeable about all the drinks, had amazing recommendations, and constantly checked in on us to make sure we were doing alright! Highly recommend stopping by this joint (make reservations)!!

+6

When you have a speakeasy designed for bartenders getting off late shifts, prohibition style cocktails measured by sight, and flawless staff, you’re set for nothing short of a spectacular experience. Employees Only did not disappoint. Cocktails were excellent, atmosphere was stunning, and the bartenders were fantastic. One thing to note, it is usually packed so be ready to stand for a while around the bar in a large crowd while you wait for a seat to open up at the bar. If a table is more your style there are reservations possible and the room in the back is a lot more calm (though you are still able to see the magic happening at the bar).

+2

Fantastic cocktail bar in the West Village with a wide variety of creative and well-balanced drinks. Highly recommend making a reservation or arriving early to avoid long waits. My favorite drink was Almost Normal - smooth, complex, and incredibly well-executed. Great atmosphere and skilled bartenders—definitely a spot worth revisiting!

This place blew expectations out the water. We were able to make it before kitchen closed and got a table. Security was fashionable, professional, and friendly. The server was fantastic and was very attentive. Drinks and food were better than I would imagined. Music was great and ambience was amazing. It does get pretty busy late at night so be ready to wait to go inside.

+6

One of the world top bar (rank 49 - 2023), we make a reservation though Resy for dinner. The dishes size is large for 2 girls, we had 4 drinks and 1 appetizer, 1 entree. Overall, the food is good, it definitely better than a lots of restaurants. Highly recommend the bone marrow pastry shell. It was very impressive. Also have the burger with truffle fries, we choice medium rare for beef but I believe it was medium. However, it still taste good. The only downside for me is the noise level really high, nice to hang out with small group friends.

+1

Can't rate their food as I was just here for drinks. Visiting from Toronto, Employees Only was on my bucket list for some time ever since seeing the documentary Hey Bartender. I went on a solo date early evening. At first it was a little intimidating as I was alone and all seats were taken. Luckily a seat became available at the bar and I swiped it. Service was amazing, cockails were spot on. I had the Smoke on the Water, After Midnight and the Yankee Notions. Bartender explained the prep process of all drinks. As a fan of the bar, I ended up buying some merch and he stuffed it with some branded pens and postcards. Definitely gonna make my way back the next time I am in NYC.

+2

the drinks were great, the vibe was fun & retro, the staff was friendly and the guy at the door was great.

Speakeasy vibes and atmosphere. The food was delicious. The drinks were topnotch. Our new waitress did great. Tarot reading was intense. The 1 restroom was small but clean. It was loud and crowded but expected for a popular place.

+5

I have been coming to Employees Only for years and will continue coming. It’s one of those places where the food, the drinks and the service is all top notch and worth every penny. This time I brought friends from UK here for dinner. We had some amazing drinks from the menu, and even one that I asked for that wasn’t on the menu, but bartender made it for me and it was delicious (Brandy Alexander) We had the bone marrow appetizer which was heavenly and I had the pork chop for main course and man that was one of the most tender and flavorful porchops ever. For dessert we had cheese cake and poached apple thing and both were absolutely melt in your mouth good. The place is always loud and you’re dining very close to the next table, but even that doesn’t diminish the experience.

Mark Langerman

Such a cozy location with super friendly staff. We arrived with a reservation, and our host, Kristina was very accommodating and kind to us. We have food allergies, and Kristina made sure we were taken care of. We ordered the steak and a side of truffle fries and it was all delectable!! The steak is perfect for two, or even three people and priced very fairly for such a large portion. YUM! The cocktails are fairly priced... Did I mentioned the place is so COZY =) Will return!

Deanna Chernovetsky

We had a great experience! We came for dinner on a Thursday night. When we first arrived, we were greeted by amazing staff and made sure we were set up at the bar (we had a drink before our dinner reservation). The staff made us comfortable, took our bags and coats so we didn’t have to worry about them, and offered wonderful drink suggestions. The bartenders were super knowledgeable and very friendly and made delicious cocktails. When we sat for dinner, our waitress was attentive and friendly, creating a very personalized experience. All the food we had was delicious. Between the wonderful staff and the amazing and lovely atmosphere, it’s definitely a place I’ll keep coming to when I can and I definitely recommend it to people for a classic NYC night out!

Jared Miller

Employees Only is a solid West Village cocktail bar. The speakeasy-style entrance is more of a nod to tradition than anything dramatic, and once you’re inside it’s just a busy, comfortable space with good lighting and a steady flow of people.The cocktails are well executed. The Elderflower Gimlet is bright and straightforward, and the Manhattan is exactly what it should be — cold, strong, and balanced. Nothing groundbreaking, but no misses either. The Steak Tartare is a great move if you want food — fresh, properly seasoned, and an easy match for most drinks. The rest of the small plates are decent and do what they’re supposed to. Service is efficient and unfussy. Even when the bar fills up, the staff keeps things moving. It can get loud, but not to the point where you regret walking in. In short: good drinks, good atmosphere, no nonsense. A dependable spot when you want a proper cocktail without the attitude or theatrics.

OG Speakeasy resurgence in NYC between EO, Angel Share and Milk & Honey, great institution, especially their last call chicken soup offering ! Classic ! Also, key spot for late night menu.

A hidden away gem, easy to walk past. But once you go inside, wooooow. What a bar, reminds me of Harry’s New York bar in Paris. Not only from its simplistic beauty, but also because whilst being several deep from the bar, the bartender is still passing you menus as soon as you come in and taking your orders. Cocktails are expertly served, with flare and precision. I can see why this is voted in the top 100 bars in the world!

+4

Always a great time at Employees Only! Top level service. Amazing cocktails! Food delicious! Highly recommend!

Franklin trujillo

An unforgettable experience at Employees Only thanks to Kevin 🙌. The cocktails were simply out of this world: each drink was crafted with such creativity and balance of flavors that felt unimaginable. No exaggeration—it was truly some of the best cocktails I’ve ever had in my life 🍸✨. The service was impeccable, the attention top-notch, and the atmosphere spectacular. Kevin has an incredible talent behind the bar, turning every drink into a true masterpiece. I 100% recommend this place. If you want to experience world-class cocktails and a truly unique vibe, Employees Only with Kevin is the perfect spot.

Madhumita Sawant

We didn’t have a reservation on a Saturday night. So had to wait in line for about 10 mins before they could accommodate us near the bar area. The bar was amazing and extremely crowded, but because we were at the bar, the service was quick. The drinks are extremely innovative and tasty! I would definitely be back for more.

Mathi

Such a cool cocktail bar🍸 The cocktails were amazing and you can sit at the table or stand at the bar. Around 10 there was a long queue bc the venue is not that big but super cozy with 60’s vibes

Eliana Glatt

Complete and delicious experience from start to finish. Delicate and gorgeous cocktails, we had the Amelia and Isabella. Oysters came with homemade sauces. Table-side steak tartar is one of the best Ive had. Portions are massive on the schnitzel. We enjoyed everything and service was impeccable.

+1

We had a date night at Employees Only, and it was absolutely phenomenal. The steak tartare and lamb chops were perfectly prepared, flavorful and balanced. But what truly made the night special was Jelena. Her warm smile, genuine hospitality, and attentiveness elevated the entire experience and made us feel truly taken care of. Thank you for such a memorable evening. We can’t wait to come back!!

Natalia Ilina

Great atmosphere & super cozy vibes, great music and good reasonably priced drinks. The team was caring and attentive, didn’t get the chance to eat but the menu looked amazing, will be back & recommend you to go 👏 sick design and a real wood fire as a plus

Zilola Shamsikulova

Amazing atmosphere with a vintage twist! Employees Only truly lives up to its reputation. The interior design feels like you’re stepping into a 1920s speakeasy — warm lighting, wood panels, and cozy booths give it an elegant but relaxed vibe. The service was attentive, and the cocktails were outstanding — creative, balanced, and beautifully presented. Perfect spot for a night out or date night. Highly recommended!

+3

Oleksandr Yaroshenko

The vibe in the place is great and cocktails were delicious if you are on the lookout for more classic taste with refined ingredients. The food was also of high quality and probably overcame bar food expectations!

We had the best night at Employees Only! 🍸 A complete and delicious experience from start to finish. All the food we had was amazing, but the table-side steak tartare was one of the best I’ve ever had. We enjoyed everything — our waitress and all the staff were absolutely fantastic, and the midnight burlesque was unforgettable, especially for me 😄. Thank you for an incredible experience! ❤️

+1

Samantha H

We were lucky enough to have this little gem recommended to us whilst visiting NYC. It was very crowded on a Sunday night and the music was amazing playing tunes from every decade. The cocktails and service were outstanding and we were lucky enough to have Francis as our bartender. She went above and beyond, made the dreamiest cocktails and made our experience the best! We cannot wait to return next year!

Hugh Williams

I cannot rate this play highly enough. Absolutely the best cocktails my friends and I have had in a night. - Yellowjacket - Ash on My Tomatoes - Ready Fire Aim - The Last Leaf Each drink was more impressive than the last. Huge shoutout to Tye (sp?) and Ana for creating both an exceptional experience and cocktails. Also Simon the bouncer is a great prankster.

Caspar Y

A super busy bar but had some of the best cocktails we had all trip. As I understand, it's a spot that many in the industry go to and I can see why!

Joanna Lin

Been going here for nearly 10 years… before I used to go late night and now I just love it at 6pm! Early to avoid the line & crowd, to catch the skylight and have a nice dinner with great cocktails. EO is one of the few bars in NY where people (even strangers) talk to each other and are not on their phones the entire time. Every drink is solid and there is a cocktail for every palate. The EO vibe is super special - you’ll have to experience it to know its magic.

Javier Santoro

Definitely one of my favorite spots in NYC, the people behind this place are amazing, phenomenal cocktail programs and the food it’s really outstanding, if you are the area its kinda mandatory to stop by and check this place out. The Ñoqui and caramel cheesecake are my favorite items.

+1

One of my favorite bar programs in the city (its LA outpost is equally good). I forget its name but had one of the most memorable cocktails I've tried in years, featuring raspberry and cream cheese. …

Had an interesting experience at employees only. The service seemed a bit strange. I am not sure since it is a busy spot maybe they rush a bit, but I don't know it felt off from the start.\n\nI got…

Great drinks - awesome bar, menu is outstanding- eat outside\n\nGreat drinks - awesome bar, menu is outstanding- eat outside

Came here with my boyfriend as we were visiting NYC. we came in with a reservation and had dinner and drinks. The food was good, and the drinks amazing. This is a great place for a date or to hang …

Came here with my boyfriend as we were visiting NYC. we came in with a reservation and had dinner and drinks. The food was good, and the drinks amazing. This is a great place for a date or to hang …

Absolutely loved this bar. The line to get in wasn't too long maybe it took 30 minutes to get in on a Friday night. It's lively inside but I loved the music and I can still have a conversation alth…

Nice bar and very friendly workers. We didn't have a reservation, but the bouncer still kindly let us in and the host was able to squeeze us at a table. Our server was super nice and gave really go…

Amazing vibes, so fun for a girls night or date night. The vibes are sexy, grown but still fun! There's always a line so come early and stay late ;)

Jan 3rd review... today they made wife and i feel like rockstars!! on her birthday! i am beyond grateful.. the drinks the food the service all impecable!! thank you i shall visit again soon..

During our years of travel, we’ve learned that it’s often the resort employees who make a vacation truly exceptional — and during our recent stay at The Royal Haciendas, we found that person: Jesús f…

I went thru drive up in bedford in. Miranda took my order was very helpful n friendly i had mushroom n swiss it was great service was too thanks miranda

I went thru drive up in bedford in. Miranda took my order was very helpful n friendly i had mushroom n swiss it was great service was too thanks miranda

There were 2 niece a friendly employees at the breakfast their name were Bruce and Miriam taken care from providing service keeping place on point to make us feel like at home

There were 2 niece a friendly employees at the breakfast their name were Bruce and Miriam taken care from providing service keeping place on point to make us feel like at home

Amazing little bar. Great drinks, friendly service and lovely ambience. The bartenders are simply amazing. Very creative and friendly. Highly recommended!

Amazing little bar. Great drinks, friendly service and lovely ambience. The bartenders are simply amazing. Very creative and friendly. Highly recommended!

Great vibe & drinks . Bartender & servers are very attentive & grilled cheese with truffle fries was bomb. Thank you for the great service!

Drinks are good, food is delicious. We ordered the grilled cheese and truffle fries. Great atmosphere and the employees are super friendly.

Drinks are good, food is delicious. We ordered the grilled cheese and truffle fries. Great atmosphere and the employees are super friendly.

Loved the drinks and ambiance of the place! We went on a Friday and the place was packed. They checked vaccination proof at the door but despite lots of covid cases in NYC at the time, it seemed like no one cared about covid anymore once we stepped inside.We did end up staying because it was very cold outside but there was absolutely no social distancing and people were breathing on each other. Seemed like a scene from 2019 (I hope we do go back to those times though.. would love to not be freaked out by crowds) Other than that the bartenders were very attentive and gave us great drinks at the bar. If there were some capacity restrictions, I wouldn't hesitate giving it a 5-star review.

Excellent cocktails, beautiful bar but very cramped, not possible to sit when we came around 6-7pm. They have some tables but you need to reserve them in advance.

Nice, cozy speakeasy bar on the west side. Went on a weekday night, waited 15 minutes for a bar spot. Drinks were good . Friendly staff and excellent service. Make reservation in advance if you plan for dinner. There s a REAL functioning fire place (wood fire) 👍

Atmosphere 6.5/10 Place is half restaurant, half bar. But Bar being main element. Very loud and overcrowded inside. Yelling and tackling people required to order a drink. But pretty stylish back bar. Felt to me like an upscale dive bar. Drinks 7/10 Nice menu design and a good cocktail selection. Ordered the recommended (50 Best Bars review) EO Espresso Martini and Mata Hari. Very average tasting and looking Espresso Martini. Mata Hari tasted really good though - fruity/refreshing. Also very average presentation - standard/same glasses for different drinks. No coasters. Service 4.5/10 As mentioned above, no service without yelling and aggressively trying to make eye contact for 5-10min to get an order. Everyone has to put glasses on the bar counter, “ruining” the ambience for people at the bar. Average prices for NYC. No reservations possible for cocktails - prepare to wait in line in front of the bar. This is officially #15 North America’s Best Bar 2024. To say it nicely - there are enough bars in NA, deserving the spot more, IMO.

It’s a charming bar, with some of the most arrogant patrons we’ve ever encountered. The staff was nice enough, although it took a while before we got their attention. The drinks were great! I would suggest going deeper in the bar if possible, that’s where it gets better. The bouncers are great!

🎊 We were a party of two and got there around 7 PM on a Thursday. It was PACKED! We were lucky enough to get two seats crammed to the right of the bar, but many people were standing around hoping for a spot. 🍸The bartenders seemed great because they were chatting up people who appeared to be regulars. Drinks were good. 🍔 Further in the back has a small dining area, which has better lighting and seating. However, would not recommend for a first date spot - it gets loud and again, very packed. Or maybe earlier in the day is better for dates. Perfect for grabbing drinks for maybe 30 mins or so.

+2

Loved my time here. Busy, expensive, and a bit of a queue to get in, but honestly worth the hype. The mixologist was v talented, spinning shakers around like it was the easiest thing, and wow, the cocktail was delicious. Just wish it was a little easier on the wallet!

We visited this place on a Saturday night. First of all, it’s definitely not a spot where you can have a proper conversation — we had a hard time hearing each other due to the loud music. The cocktails we ordered were tasty, and we also got a few small bites to go along with them. However, the server pointed out that what we ordered wasn’t enough to be considered a full meal and asked us to give up the table within an hour. It felt a bit odd honestly

You need a reservation or you'll be waiting in line for a while. I had an 11pm reservation and they told us we needed to order dinner (who has dinner at 11pm?) I would have preferred to just have cocktails! The atmosphere and music were great for a night out! The female servers (at dining area) were getting way too close while ordering (like invading our personal space) and were very pushy about ordering more cocktails. The cocktails were great though! The food was very basic, expensive and I didn't even like the burrata (which is hard to get wrong). The bouncer at the entry was very nice! Overall, I would come back knowing what to expect.

Drinks were great 10/10, food was decent 7/10. Apps: beet salad, bone marrow poppers, gnocchi Mains: pork chop, cavatelli, risotto I would go for the atmosphere and drinks! Bar gets crowded after 6:30pm with not that much seating.

Been wanting to visit this place for a while due to the backstory of how it was started. My friend and I stopped in on a Friday afternoon and holy! It was jammed packed. They had us wait outside for like 10minutes and so I didn’t imagine it would be that packed if I was waiting outside and this is advertised as a “speakeasy.” The music was so loud you can barely hear your own thoughts. This really killed the vibe of the place. However, we managed to get a seat and our server was AMAZING! I wish I caught her name but she knows exactly who she is because she was super caffeinated and handled the night with grace. She was hilarious and made us feel comfortable. Not to mention it felt like we were the only people of color in that night. The drinks were good, I had the after midnight and my friend had a dirty martini. Apparently my first drink was not made correctly but the server handled that amazingly, thank you again! As cocktail lovers, I enjoyed my drink and its uniqueness it tasted like a raspberry dessert with a finish of espresso. I had the gnocci which was amazing! That blew me away more than the drink. I had to remove a star simply for the environment. This place would thrive if they didn’t allow parties to be standing by the bar and would lower the music. The prices are expected for Manhattan, outrageous. The prices wouldn’t bother me if I had that chill vibe sitting, sipping and chatting. Other than that, I will be giving this place another chance simply because of how amazing the server was.

Very enjoyable cocktail and dining experience. 4 stars only because it is rated in the top 100 bars in the world so I had high expectations. I enjoyed the two whiskey cocktails, including the Yankee notions and billionaire cocktail, which were both quite good. Yankee notions in particular had a nice multiflavored experience. My dad enjoyed the espresso martini. The trout was cooked excellently and was nice and soft, but the flavor could have popped more. My friend had the half chicken, and she enjoyed it, but again it wasn’t quite up to the standard we were expecting. However, the dressing on the caprice salad was exceptional! The server was efficient and gave good recommendations. Overall a very enjoyable evening!

+6

we had a dinner reservation for 8 on a friday night. the back room with the reserved seating was pretty loud because of the walk in area. was still able to hear but prob not a great place for a first date or something (at least on a friday night) there’s also only like one bathroom so there was some waiting. we had many rounds of drinks LOL our favorites were the fever pitch and strangers punch because of the clarified milk. they do the clarified milk drinks really well. the food was decent — we had the poppers, gnocchi, and steak tartare.

+3

Luke Qian

Once considered a standout among New York’s speakeasies, this bar still delivers well-executed cocktails that meet expectations in terms of balance and technique. However, in the context of an increasingly competitive cocktail scene, it now feels somewhat overshadowed — particularly when it comes to creativity in presentation and the use of innovative ingredients. That said, the quality remains solid, and for those seeking a classic speakeasy experience with reliably crafted drinks, it still holds its place.

Employee Only is a classic NYC spot with great vibes and excellent cocktails. The atmosphere is fun and energetic, and the drinks are always on point. Perfect place to start or end the night.

+3

Chase Fritchle

Thought this bar vibe was amazing, but they need more gin and vodka drinks for those who don’t drink whiskey. It’s overpowered by whisky in my opinion, so not the most balanced offerings on the menu. Lovely staff and bar though. Worth the wait just for that.

Jennifer Zimmerer

From what we heard, this spot used to be a go-to, but is now a bit overcrowded and rowdy for the vibe intended. The bar is super classy, servers have great recommendations, and the drinks are top tier, but we could barely find a place to stand and enjoy our drinks. If I had a redo, I would've tried to go early on a weekday or skip this spot in favor of places where you can enjoy your drink and some conversation with friends!

The place looks very cool. \nDrinks were very tasty, I had the Amelia and the Isabella. Both were fresh/sweet. \nThe food definitely left more to be desired specially given how hyped this restauran…

Came here on a Friday evening to grab a drink with a friend. Did not expect this place to have crowd control as we ended up waiting about 15 minutes before the bouncer let us in. For a speakeasy ba…

Bartenders were friendly and quick even when crowded. Drinks were balanced and presentation was clean. Best for a lively night rather than a calm chat.

Bartenders were friendly and quick even when crowded. drinks were balanced and presentation was clean. Best for a lively night rather than a calm chat.

Small, crowded and on the overpriced side of things for minuscule cocktails. But I could have overlooked all of that, as the vibe was nice, if the service had been good. Uunfortunately that was not the case. We had a table booked which allowed us to skip the crazy Sunday queue. Once inside, seated and with a cocktail ordered, we are told that bookings are only for drinks + food. This is something that was not specified upon booking and we already had eaten elsewhere. A really nice waitress (short hair/asian) tells us is ok and that we can have the table for 45min only with drinks. Later she tells us we can order more and wait for the burlesque show as there's been cancellations. Up until here all ok, but enter her colleague... a really rude lady that essentially brings us the bill without us asking. And when we tell her we want an extra drink as her colleague has said it's ok for us to stay, she replies "That's not going to happen" and proceeds to kick us out. Embarrassing that they can't coordinate and they push you out after how expensive the place is. This second was rude, pushy and made us feel really unwelcome. Won't recommend.

Nice art deco speak easy bar in the West Village, near Perry Street. Situated in a quiet and safe neighborhood. There are 3 attentive bartenders serving tasty drinks. Dark inside, so viewing menu was challenging also has a dinner menu with dining room in the back. I cannot rate the food because I only went for the drinks. There is a fortune teller sitting by a red curtain before you enter the bar. The bar sitting area is small, so must stand around and wait for patrons to leave. Can order food at bar. Young crowd. Match books and napkins are sovereigns.

Drinks were good but seats at bar are limited and tables are for reservations so if you decide to come best to keep that in mind — we went around 7pm and it was already pretty crowded and hard to find space to sit. Service was friendly & space was nice but small.

Blake Rasmussen

A mixed experience. The food was good, but not spectacular - the burger was kind of a classic pub burger, lettuce, tomato, cheese. I wasn’t disappointed with it, but it wasn’t something I’d go out of my way to eat again. The schnitzel was a little below average - oddly bone-in, and the seasoning was very low. We also thought the bone marrow poppers were a pretty poor appetizer for the cost, and were very disappointed there. The cocktails were good and we were happy with all of them - the Isabella in particular was delicious and beautiful. The service from our waitress was amazing - she was incredibly kind and helpful, but the security and host started our reservation off wrong. We adhered to the dress code in the email, which they are strict about and I suggest you follow to the letter. No mention of shorts, however, and initially security denied us entry for the fact I was wearing shorts. As we were pulling up the reservation, they admitted other patrons in torn jean shorts, and it wasn’t until I protested that the dress code was inconsistently followed that they admitted us for our reservation. The dinner was to celebrate a promotion, and I really felt this out a damper on the evening - it’s a real shame, since our actual waitress was great!

+6

Anastasiya Martinez

The bone marrow was delicious! The drinks were mid. It’s way to loud and crowded there so not a good place if you’re trying to celebrate or have a date

+2

waited a while in line and warmly received by doorman. Great late night vibe, too bad about the server. Spent 5 night in Manhattan and tall girl with the long dark hair is the rudest person that we…

Bartender was rude (tall bald guy) me and my buddy came in along with another group of 3 guys that we didn’t know, bartender asked what we wanted, the he asked the other guys, the proceeded to ask my for a card and I gave him mine and told him that it was for me and my friend only, he said “we don’t split bills” I told him those guys were not with us, he said “I don’t know that” then the guys also told him that it was a separate group, he still didn’t believe us, so we just closed out, chug our drinks and left, never stepping foot in there again. What an absolute joke and unnecessary headache

This place is a joke Sunday night from Mexico I came here to eo told me is a great place. Yeah right waiting on line for 45 minutes and I so 4 guys skip the line and pay cash to the doorman. And went people was leaving the place there said to the doorman thanks Simon and the other guard came to the other door and the clients said thanks leemek. Went I abroah the doorman I told him I am waiting for 45 minutes he told me is no space right now. Never again. Don't come here only is you have money to pay the doorman.

Stood outside for ages while the bouncers let their friends skip line. Once inside it was absolutely packed and I had to ask 4 different people for a table which they were hesitant to offer. It was obvious they were pushing us to spend more and when it became clear we weren't the service all but disappeared. The atmosphere was bumping and the burlesque show was a fun surprise. I really wanted to leave a rave review but the service just left me unlikely to return.

I don’t typically leave reviews unless a place truly exceeds my expectations, but as someone who works in the industry, I have to admit this experience was disappointing. The highlight of my visit was the two cocktails I ordered — Ready Fire Aim and Mana — both were excellent. I also want to commend the busser (a Spanish-speaking gentleman whose name I didn’t catch) — he was absolutely phenomenal and the burlesque performance. Unfortunately, the service from our servers fell short; they were either forgetful or curt, bordering on rude. While it was understandably busy for a Sunday, the lack of attentive service would make me think twice about returning.

I don’t get it! We followed the best 50 list and unfortunately ended up at this bar. It started with an unwelcoming door man, who was unfriendly and blamed us for coming inside even though he had not been at the door. The ambiente is nice but very small! The tables are so close to each other that you shouldn’t have an intimate conversation. The host was rude and inpatient to a foreign couple right next to us and pushed them to choose a seat even though it wasn’t packed at the time. The food was good but unfortunately the cocktails didn’t reach our expectations. Would not come here again since there are many other great options in that area.

If you’re not the major demographic or a pretty girl don’t waste your time waiting in line. They’ll lie about the wait time and keep telling you 5 minutes. Then when it’ll be your turn they’ll throw you into a space that is packed like sardines and you’ll have to fight your way through to get the menu and order drinks. Only worth coming here if you have a reservation. All drinks are 20+

The bartenders insisted on doing shots with us and ended up charging us $100 extra for their drinks. Worst place ever.

The bartenders insisted on doing shots with us and ended up charging us $100 extra for their drinks. Worst place ever.

I came to this place and the first night I had a really good time, although at my own table I was singing and they told me to be quiet while I was there with my friends. I still managed to enjoy it. …

As a regular at Employees Only, I've always enjoyed the atmosphere and the drinks. However, my recent visit was disappointing. The security staff was quite rude at the entrance and didn't let me in…

As a regular at Employees Only, I've always enjoyed the atmosphere and the drinks. However, my recent visit was disappointing. The security staff was quite rude at the entrance and didn't let me in…

As a regular at Employees Only, I've always enjoyed the atmosphere and the drinks. However, my recent visit was disappointing. The security staff was quite rude at the entrance and didn't let me in…

I used to consider this one of the best spots in Manhattan and came here often when the founding team ran the place. Unfortunately, the service no longer reflects that reputation. The staff and d…

Employees Only just wasn't it for us. It was way too crowded, and the door staff felt a bit unnecessarily formal -- asking about a reservation even though it didn't seem to matter. They also wouldn…

Door guy was soooooo mean. I simply asked how long the wait was and told him it was my birthday and he told me to "save my tears" when I literally wasn't even crying and told him I was in line wait…

Door guy was soooooo mean. I simply asked how long the wait was and told him it was my birthday and he told me to "save my tears" when I literally wasn't even crying and told him I was in line wai…

Guy at door is horrible. waited over an hour and had so many people go ahead of us. He is so rude and this place sucks.

Our server Thai was incredibly rude to us upon sitting down. When i explained that it was my sisters birthday and we wanted to enjoy ourselves but her attitude ruined the vibes she immediately got …

Very rude staff, definitely not worth the hype! Coctails & music ok, but the waiters re extremely rude to the limits of aggression. There are far better options in NY

Very rude staff, definitely not worth the hype! Coctails & music ok, but the waiters re extremely rude to the limits of aggression. There are far better options in NY

Don't go here,,theses people will steal your food,and if you bring it back they wwwiiillll spit on your food.they do not care about their customers,,,its the money

Don't go here,,theses people will steal your food,and if you bring it back they wwwiiillll spit on your food.they do not care about their customers,,,its the money

INSULTING, HUMILIATING, OUTRAGEOUS! Zero customer service, zero manager action, zero stars (had to hit 1star in order to post).Went for drinks last Friday night to celebrate my friend’s birthday. …

Heard about this place through reviews but I had a really disappointing experience at this place. The Latina hostess was incredibly rude and dismissive she told us we couldn’t sit without a reservation, even though there were plenty of empty tables and apparently no reservations available. The staff overall were unfriendly and unaccommodating, and they seemed more interested in keeping people away than providing good service. The attitude made the entire visit unpleasant. Definitely not worth the hype — I wouldn’t go back.

Disappointing Experience - Not Ideal for Couples I recently visited this place with my partner, and I have to say, it was a regrettable choice. From the moment we arrived, it felt like the atmosphere was more about picking someone up than enjoying a night out. I was shocked when a woman actually grabbed my partner's hand and tried to seduce him right in front of me! To make matters worse, our experience with the staff was far from pleasant. The waitress, who I believe was Asian, was rude and seemed to have an attitude when we asked for assistance, even after spending over $350 on drinks in just one hour. I cannot recommend this place for couples or anyone who is married. It’s a scene that definitely prioritizes singles looking to mingle over a respectful environment. I will not be returning. Save yourself the trouble!

Been there once many years ago and didn’t find it particularly memorable, so I decided to give it another try this past Tues, 10/7. My friend and I arrived about 10 minutes early before they opened at 6PM and waited outside, hoping to grab an early and quick evening cocktail. To my surprise, the doorman/host at the podium told me I couldn’t bring my bag of food inside. I didn’t mind that rule, but what struck me as odd and frankly rude, was that he didn’t offer any alternative, such as checking the bag or simply asking that I not eat it inside. When I politely asked, “Okay… so can I do a coat check or something?” he responded curtly, avoided eye contact, and said “Nope.” At that point, I just laughed at the service, looked at my friend, and said, “Let’s go.” We ended up heading around the corner to a place called West10West, which actually turned out to be much better.

The worst experience ever. I love going out in New York, and never ever had problem getting into any place, bar, club. Even when someplace is packed people at entrance just kindly and politely tell that you need to wait couple minutes more. In employees only me and my friends were waiting outside freezing for 15 minutes as we’ve been told and then bouncer told aggressively Go back to the line and wait. Then he let in 3 guys and told us that we’re not gonna come in. After that we met our friends who already been inside and they invited us with them and the bouncer again very rudely told that we aren’t going inside. And told out friends if they want to be able to come back inside they have to stop trying get us in. It’s ridiculous. Extremely frustrating would never recommend going there. There are much more friendly and better services places. Not worth waiting there and being humiliated just for very regular bar.

We came to this bar with my girlfriends and had to wait in line for 15 minutes in the freezing cold. It was extremely cold outside, and the security at the entrance were very rude and disrespectful. When it was finally our turn to go in, they refused to let us in without giving any reason. They were rude, pushed us back out onto the street, and slammed the door right in our faces. I think this says a lot about the place and about the security staff — clearly bitter people who don’t want to let freezing girls inside and instead choose to be aggressive and disrespectful. I have never experienced anything like this in New York, and I did not expect such horrible treatment from this establishment. The security guards apparently thought they were the owners of the club and took on more authority than they could handle. I would recommend to management of this place think twice who they hire for work since they embarrass this spot and give awful attitude to their constant customers.

Christina the host gave us a table but then kept trying to kick our party out. As a loyal customer of employees only Los Angeles and an sssociate of Sips Barcelona and a partner of 7 hospitality institutions in India. Christina was probably the rudest person in hospitality we have encountered. When the tables were clear we were not allowed to stand up and get water in a party of 7 and because one person was using the phone she asked us to leave the premises which was inappropriate and unacceptable. Employees was our favorite until the host decided to be the absolute meanest and racist towards a large party or whatever the issue was

Unfortunately, our experience at Employees Only started and ended with a very unpleasant interaction at the entrance. We simply asked if there was any availability for a table and were met with extremely rude and dismissive behavior. It felt like we were being rushed away immediately, with no interest in helping at all. We then politely asked if it was possible to make a reservation for another day, and the reaction was even worse — eye rolling and a very condescending tone, as if we were being annoying just for asking. The explanation was given again in a bad manner, making us feel completely unwelcome. For a place with such a reputation, this level of unprofessionalism at the door is shocking. First impressions matter, and this one was terrible.

rude waitress. my friend ordered a cappuccino and she was clearly annoyed, saying that it “was going to take a long time”. take it off the menu if it’s such a problem to order one. rueben croquettes didn’t have any pastrami in them, just unidentified liquidy cheese inside. one bathroom for a packed place. finally, their drink “no politics” might be the worst drink i’ve ever tasted in my life. additionally, it’s garnished with what looks like a moldy petri dish. the below picture is what the drink looks like. and, it was $23. never returning.

If I could leave 0 stars, I would. They are so impolite, and the service is awful. The big guy inside (not the waiter) was extremely rude. Be aware — if you’re not a blonde white girl, you might be treated differently. Their behavior completely ruined our night, and the manager had to come and apologize for the staff’s behavior. Very disappointing.

I used to frequent the Employees Only in Singapore a lot and constantly got asked if I ever tried the NYC location, so I decided to try it when I came home this time. My friend and I are also huge cocktail bar enthusiasts and like to knock off the top 50 list (even if they tend to be overrated like this one). We had SUCH a disappointing and rude experience. First off, the interior and drinks are both unimpressive and mediocre - our cocktails were overly sour. No issues with the bouncer (he was actually quite friendly) unlike what other reviewers said, but a hostess inside was a different story. My friend and I were standing awkwardly with our drinks in the narrow space between the bar and the seats as it’s a small, crowded space. This couple behind us seated at a four-person table kindly invited us to join them. We asked if they were sure and they said yes of course. Not even a minute after sitting down, the hostess RUSHES over telling us that it’s policy that we couldn’t join them even though she knows the couple said yes - and not in a polite tone at all. I asked her what’s the purpose of the policy and she answered “because it sets a precedent.” I still have no idea WHAT this means - sets a precedent for people meeting each other at bars and joining together? Would the staff have rather we awkwardly leered over the ppl at the bar, and in front of the couples table? I voiced her my concerns and asked what if we were old friends that ran into each other at a bar and etc (scenarios in which a bar has no right to decide on or prevent), and if in any of those scenarios would they still not let us sit? We are not taking someone else’s seats but two EMPTY seats that we were INVITED to take. She left to speak to someone at the till and then came back and told us super rudely that: one, we could stay if the couple approved, two, everything had to be on ONE bill together, three, anything we ordered now would have to strictly be through her, and four, as soon as the couple left, WE would also have to leave. Does that mean that parties that come in together also all have to leave if one or two people need to leave early? All of these conditions made no logical sense to me, but we agreed because we had already paid at the bar and were leaving soon for dinner. This scenario made us and the couple have a little laugh and bonding session. We chatted for awhile about the NYC bar scene and agreed that EO was definitely not impressive. Will definitely not return nor recommend to anyone else. It’s not a place where you can chat and watch the bartenders also. Plenty of other bars with more respectful service and better cocktails!

We went there for dinner, but the experience quickly turned into a nightmare. The waitress spilled a poorly capped bottle of vinegar into the tartare. She re-plated it. The second course arrived after the first, then it was time for drinks. After ordering a shot of vodka, the waitress automatically charged us for ALL the drinks at the premium vodka price, leaving us with a bill of over $400 for two people, for six drinks, including two shots. I returned to Paris shocked by the bill, which I did not approve, and for which I am still requesting proof of signature. For a bar run by employees, with no DJ and appalling service, it seems more like a blatant tourist trap. We are currently taking legal action to get to the bottom of this. Clumsiness can happen, but such blatant dishonesty is unacceptable.

This place so bad and nasty. Waiting only for 1 hour. No problem but Jesus there told me great bar in NYC not true people jumping the line and pay money to the doorman to go in I ask are we next and told my 3 friend is no space have to wait. I am. Not coming to this dumb place again.

As a regular at Employees Only, I’ve always enjoyed the atmosphere and the drinks. However, my recent visit was disappointing. The security staff was quite rude at the entrance and didn’t let me in, which led my friends inside to leave as well. It was a frustrating experience, and I hope the staff can improve their hospitality moving forward. There are so many bars in the area where guests are treated much better. I’m really disappointed.

You really need to work on your staff. When my friend and I were sitting at our table, we were rushed and told to leave because there were reservations, even though we had not finished eating yet. Our plates were taken away while we were still eating. After that, we went to the restroom and wanted to go in together. A male staff member ran after us, shouting very aggressively and banging on the door, demanding that we go in one by one. His behavior was completely unacceptable and intimidating — it genuinely felt threatening, even though we did nothing wrong and had no inappropriate intentions. This kind of aggressive and disrespectful behavior completely ruined our experience. The food was tasty, but unfortunately the service was terrible.

I really wish I never came here. I had never even heard of this place and wouldn’t have been interested if someone in our group hadn’t recommended it. 11/16/2025 (around 3 AM) I was humiliated and chastised by one of the bouncers near the bathroom. I am a 5’3”, petite female, and a tall male security guard decided it was okay to get extremely close to my face and demand that I apologize to him for knocking on the bathroom door — otherwise I wouldn’t be allowed to use it. I told him absolutely not. He then said, “Go back upstairs, you’re not using the bathroom.” I told him I was a paying customer and had every right to use the restroom in this establishment, and that he needed to step back because I did nothing wrong. He continued yelling and threatening to call the police on me. I told him to go ahead if he wanted to create a scene at his own workplace over an ego trip. Once he realized I wasn’t backing down, he said he wanted me to leave afterward. I told him that was fine — it was 3 AM, closing time, and we had already paid our check. I am utterly disgusted by this bouncer’s behavior. I know for a fact that if I were a man, he never would have spoken to me or intimidated me that way. I’m grateful I wasn’t hurt or frisked, especially because the patron behind me went back upstairs due to the bouncer’s power trip, leaving me alone with him in a small space. (For reference, he was a tan/brown-skinned Black man with some hair hanging out from under his hat. He refused to give me his name.) I had been standing there for 7–8 minutes. I knocked once. I even asked someone if there was another bathroom, and they said no. I didn’t hear any sounds from inside. After about 10 minutes, I knocked again and said, “Is everything okay?” It was 3 AM — someone could have passed out or hit their head. It was silent, and I genuinely thought no one was inside or that the door had been locked by mistake. The kitchen staff nearby did not speak English and couldn’t tell me whether they saw someone go in. (Yes — the staff directed me to a bathroom located inside the kitchen, which I already found extremely odd. But since I had never been there before, I assumed it was correct, especially because another patron was waiting behind me.) Never again will I visit this establishment, and I will make sure my job, friends, and family know not to go here. It’s already hard enough being a woman trying to enjoy a night out without being harassed — and to be harassed by the security staff of the very place I’m patronizing is beyond disappointing.

Unfortunately, although the drinks and food are delicious, this place is extremely small for the amount of people they allow inside. My boyfriend and I somehow got a table, but the tables are positioned between a wall and the bar so it's almost impossible for people inevitably walking by to not hit the things on the table. My boyfriend got his wine glass knocked over twice in the course of 15 minutes by different people walking passed the table (completely not at fault of the people passing by but the layout and amount of people allowed inside) and they were nice to comp the bill but my boyfriends clothes were completely ruined by the spill and they made so effort to resolve that issue.