Zachary Dore

Katana Kitten – Bold, Bright, and Totally Worth the Hype hands down one of the best cocktail bars in NYC. Katana Kitten delivers a perfect blend of Japanese creativity and downtown NYC edge, with drinks that are as exciting as the space itself. Mikan Swizzle – This was my first drink of the night, and it absolutely stole the show. Made with iichiko Saiten shochu, Calpico, mango, nigori sake, clementines, lime, bubbles, and topped with a red cherry, it’s tropical, citrusy, and beautifully layered. Lightly carbonated, frosty, and bursting with flavor—this drink is sunshine in a glass. Tia (shoutout!) made it perfectly. Amaretto Sour – Not your average sour. Crafted with Wild Turkey Rye, amaretto, umeboshi, honey, lemon, egg white, and yukari, it’s smooth, rich, and incredibly balanced. The umami notes from the umeboshi and the creamy foam elevate this into something special. A modern twist on a classic—and it works. Not picture but very much enjoyed was the Toki Highball – Super clean, super refreshing. Just Toki Japanese whisky and lemon oil, but that’s all it needs. Crisp, effervescent, and ideal for sipping slowly. Elegant in its simplicity and the perfect nightcap. Overall the atmosphere was funky, stylish, and full of character. Retro Japanese posters, great music, a fun crowd, and bartenders who really know their stuff. It’s intimate but energetic—an ideal spot for a night out with someone you want to impress (or just for treating yourself). 📍 Location: 531 Hudson Street, New York, NY ⏰ Tip: Go early or expect a wait—it gets packed for good reason

Ivanna Kaleniuk

I stumbled upon Katana Kitten on Google Maps without knowing much about it (didn’t even realize it was that popular until I looked at the reviews later lol), but honestly, we just went because the cocktails looked cute — and they delivered. We went on a Wednesday after work, no reservation, and got a seat without any issue. That said, the place filled up fast — by 7pm it was packed, so I’d say come early if you don’t want to wait. The vibe? Super cute, kinda cozy, very fun. No food/snacks available early in the evening — I think they start serving food later, maybe after 7, so just keep that in mind if you’re going straight from work and you’re hungry. Now the cocktails… SO GOOD. I got a matcha cocktail with alcohol (don’t remember the name but it was green and delicious lol) and we tried a few others — all tasted amazing and were really well balanced. Also, presentation was on point. Price-wise, it’s not cheap — expect to pay $20–$25 per drink, but honestly that’s pretty standard for a solid cocktail bar in Manhattan. Totally worth it in my opinion. Definitely coming back. 10/10 recommend if you’re into fun drinks, good vibes, and a chill spot to start your night.

+5

Caleb Kellicutt

Whatever drink was in that tiny glass with the littlest ice cubes was one of the best I’ve ever had. I opted for a beer to set the tone for the night and it was great. This was the best place I could imagine to begin your fancy night with a quick drink. Also can’t be understated the place was really fun on the inside!

Abby

Great place to catch up with friends, have a date night, or just enjoy good drinks with decent appetizers. The amaretto sour is definitely a highlight. I also love the interior design and quirky details.

+1

Blake Rasmussen

An excellent little bar with decently priced food that’s very delicious. Often bustling & boisterous, it’s a great place to make a friend at the bar and chill out for a few hours. The martini is superb and definitely a must-try, but grab a specialty cocktail, a mortadella katsu sando, and just enjoy the retro vibe!

+2

Jennifer Zimmerer

This bar has a great vibe, super friendly staff, and tasty drinks and bites. The tonic water on tap is super fizzy and we enjoyed a few drinks with that! Miso deviled eggs were great. A highlight was our bartender who recommended great drinks plus some of his other favorite spots around town.

Avijeet Sen

Visited in Feb 2025 Decided to pay a visit to this world famous bar during my recent visit to NYC. I went on a weekday but was able to get a bar counter seat in-spite of not having a reservation. The bar’s ambience is quite nice and so are the drinks. The interior decor is quite interesting and definitely unique versus other cocktail bars I’ve visited in NYC. I ended up trying 4 of their drinks and my favourites were the Meguroni and the Amaretto Sour. I also tried one of their highballs (Toki Highball) as that is what the bar is known for, but that was my least favourite. All in all, I liked my visit to Katana Kitten and would definitely recommend it to folks.

+9

John Palomares

Was referred to Katana Kitten by a local bartender and she said they have amazing cocktails. My wife and I decided to go right as they opened on a Saturday afternoon at 2pm to avoid the massive line. We ordered 2 drinks and decided to have a light lunch. For drinks, I had a Meguroni #3, and by far it was the best version of a Negroni I’ve had. My wife ordered their version of an Amaretto Sour and it was heavenly she said. For food we ordered their Deluxe Nori Fries that included bacon, cheese, fried egg and some sort of a light curry sauce and it was amazing. We also ordered their garlic wings and the seasoning was very flavorful and the chicken was moist inside. The environment was clean and the decor had vintage Japanese posters of old movies and tv shows, it was pretty cool. The staff were nice and attentive. The most interesting part were the ceiling and lamp fixtures. Looks like customers have been attaching dollar bills and have remained there as part of the decoration. It was unique to see.

+1

The drinks were very interesting, but honestly hit or miss. You order a drink and it just tastes like something is a little off with it. I think they are doing something expertly with Japanese ingredients, but I’ll say it doesn’t taste like it in some scenarios. My wife got a Paloma and it just tasted off like an old bar That hasn’t been cleaned in a while. My whiskey drink Had a pinch of some other flavor that I didn’t really enjoy. The style of drinks in this place isn’t for me, but the atmosphere is really cool and everyone is very nice there. I don’t love the seating getting seated on a 8 inch bar sandwich between other people is a little difficult but they work with what they have

Stephan Herard

Smaller than I thought. The amaretto sour was good. Only has one mocktail on menu so I got that and it was a bit too bitter for me. But I like that they make it taste like a mocktail and not juice.

Selina L

Visited this spot after seeing it on “Best Bar 50” – had high expectations! Came by right after they opened on a weekend, so it wasn’t crowded. Loved the vintage interior with a chandelier covered in tucked-in dollar bills – such a unique vibe. The Japanese posters and decor gave it an authentic feel that kept things interesting. We ordered the Matcha Grasshopper and Best Friends – both were tasty, but maybe we overhyped ourselves or picked the wrong drinks? Felt a bit underwhelmed. Next time, I’d try different menu items to give it another shot!

+13

Jo aisen

I’ve heard so much about Katana Kitten and finally got to visit! The atmosphere here is super lively and fun. We were not able to make a reservation, but we were lucky to get seats at the bar, where we could watch the bartenders work their magic and even chat with them a bit. We ordered some food and drinks — the nori fries were tasty and went perfectly with the drinks. As for the cocktails, I highly recommend the Highball, especially the Shiso Highball. It’s refreshing, delicious, and a must-try!

+5

Necole

My girlfriend had been dying to try this place because it’s on north americas 50 best bars list. Hostess and server were great. The service was great. We came around 10p and were immediately seated outside, which is what we requested. We tried the garlic soy glazed wings, burgers/nori fries were recommended and deviled eggs. The food was fresh hot ingredients and taste were interesting. The drinks we had were the best friends, panda fizz, Scotch ginger and apple & slow pitch Paloma. They were pretty balanced. I can see the hype but for me the drinks were very overpriced. Not hitting for me as a #12th best bar in America but I’d come back again to try those dashi braised ribs.

+3

Sara Sikorski

I have been to a bunch of the top 50 bars and there are all disappointing. The drinks are not unique, interesting, or tasty, like at all. They are usually tiny drinks, like almost a shot, and very expensive. The staff and patrons are usually not friendly. At least the 80s music was good here. I am not sure who runs the top 50 but it seems like it is mostly like something purchased to get in new business.