Outdoor seating
Yes
Hi Life Bar & Grill in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
No-contact delivery
Yes
Delivery
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Fast service
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Alcohol
Yes
Beer
Yes
Cocktails
Yes
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Food at bar
Yes
Happy-hour drinks
Yes
Happy-hour food
Yes
Kids' menu
Yes
Late-night food
Yes
Quick bite
Yes
Small plates
Yes
Spirits
Yes
Wine
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Seating
Yes
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
High chairs
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Crowd
Family friendly
Yes
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Planning
Accepts reservations
Yes
Phone: +1 212-787-7199
Site: http://www.hi-life.com/
Site: http://www.hi-life.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:4PM–12AM
- Tuesday:4PM–12AM
- Wednesday:4PM–12AM
- Thursday:4PM–12AM
- Friday:4PM–12AM
- Saturday:10:30AM–12AM
- Sunday:10:30AM–12AM
Hi Life Bar & Grill in other cities:
Comments (199)
Good food! Great service! This is a great spot to get a bite to eat before heading to one of the museums close by! Casual dining. They have outdoor heated seats. I recommend this place for people watching or meeting a friend in the area for a meal!
Ive been going here since it first opened. Great bar. Interesting menu with solid food and lots of choices. Love the cocktails and atmosphere! So glad Hi Life is still here!
Great throwback spot, cool leather booths and vibe from the 90s.Brownie sundae seemed a bit of a whimper tho, easily couldve done better..they could cut down their menu and do a lot better.
The wife and I was doing to typical tourist thing in NYC when she pointed this restaurant out. Excellent find, food was great, service great and some very interesting but delicious cocktails. We will be back!
Diner style bar with a mix of everything (literally everything). Expect a middle of the road quality of food and drinks. Would definitely recommend to upgrade their frozen drinks if they continue to offer them.
Good Service, Nice selection of craft beers. Even though bustling, place was quiet enough for a conversation. Food was passable and the wine list was a bit weak. But the desserts (sour cream apple pie) were delicious!
The pad-thai was ok at best certainly not worth the price but the real reason for the poor score is the gross hygiene of this place. Once I saw that my friend had roach in his water there was no redemption. Won’t be coming back that’s for sure .
I had a good time here. The food was good. I really enjoyed the crispy thai chicken and the ambience was nice as well. I will return
This is a perfect place to bring a friend to chat over delicious food and drinks. The service is quick but I never feel rushed. It is easy to sit back and really relax. There seems to be a lot of history to this place which is nice. The portions are definitely enough to get you full. I recommend the blue point oysters served on half shells. Just a little lemon and it is perfect! This spot is very popular during the weekends but if you go in on a week day (especially Monday night) you might see an empty table. Love to come here for a relaxed but positively energized atmosphere. 😊
The atmosphere here is excellent. The food is pretty okay, though nothing amazing. The service was pretty inattentive, but friendly enough. Overall, not a bad choice but it wouldnt be my first.
Américan grill bar pub food. Regular menu is quite nice but brunch is pretty limited. The pasta was good with the sauce on the side. Excellent service.
My buddy and I popped into Hi-life on a recent Sunday for some football and food. We started outside for awesome people watching while I sampled some frosty cold tap beers and my pal sipped an impressive looking cocktail. He had a good looking burger and I downed grilled salmon that got the job done. We moved inside to watch the Jets, but well, at least the food and drinks were winners! Friendly staff makes you feel like Hi-Life is your own personal neighborhood hang.
Awesome neighborhood staple. The restaurant has been around for 30+ years serving eclectic fare. From burgers to sushi, this place rocks! Theres daily specials for the day of the week from Monday to Friday, an opportunity to try different dishes every time you go there. Staff are always friendly and attentive and the menu variety always has us coming back.
My wife and I walked in on a blustery December evening and found the cozy, old-school atmosphere perfect. Great initial impression enhanced by perfectly prepared classic Manhattans (not just the Millennials recipe of chilled bourbon in a cocktail glass). Note this was the first non-Asian restaurant in NYC to have a separate, dedicated sushi bar. So, no slouches when it comes to general attention and care. With a truly eclectic menu available (Thai, Sushi, Burgers, etc) I ordered a very unfortunate steak. While closing in on $30 and described as a “14 oz. grilled NY shell steak” and ordered medium-rare, it was similar to a thin (1/4”+/-) slice of over-cooked eye-round (e.g. tough) about ¾ the size of a slice of Pepperidge Farm White Bread. Sides were fine, but I should have sent the piece of meat back (which I’m not in the habit of). Didn’t try other items on the menu but I assume they’re likely fine judging from the fact that the cocktails were handled with care and meat is one area where restaurants can cut corners.
Nice place to have a dinner. The staff is lovely and friendly. Special thanks to Luis who help me to translate and order the menu.
Hi Life has been a go to spot for drinks and inexpensive eats for decades. They have special deals on items such as sushi (50% off Mon & Tues), appetizers (3 for the price of 2 on Wed & Sun) and more (check their website for deets). They also offer a daily happy hour from 4-7pm and boiler makers have their own menu (!). The food varies from okay to very good although the funky, dimly lit atmosphere does a lot to make up for the minor culinary imperfections. The authentically flavored Caribbean rum punch is top notch.
Disappointed in the food, tasted like microwaved frozen food. The burger was dry and tasteless, and the calamari wasnt crispy at all. Drinks were pretty good.
The food is great, the sushi bar is popular, the employees and service is great everytime!
A really delicious meals, great customer service and a nice and comfortable place. Love it. I recommend to everyone. The have a good variety menu.
A dive bar in the very best sense, in the heart of UWS. Sushi, steak, a salad, a sandwich, a stiff drink....it doesnt matter what you want Hi Life has you covered. Their weekend brunch is beyond good as well. They do it all good and even after 16 months off staff recognized us as people that used to be regulars. They have our business and our hearts. They fix bad days with friendly service and the drink that makes you forget the bad day.
I discovered this place shortly after moving back to NY in 2020. The food is diverse and really good. The staff are very friendly. There’s a wonderful outdoor seating area. It’s a great experience and the friends I’ve brought here feel the same way.,give it a try!
Be aware that if its a hot day and you are sitting indoors on the patio with nice cool air conditioning, they might come in open the door we are telling you and letting all the hot air in and thats it. We walked out after ordering.So I spoke to the owner a week later on the phone, he said he would have asked me first if I minded the doors being opened. that was only agreeing with me and protecting his manager managermanagermhimmgrmgrmanager
Good vibe, good food, small portion though. We went there on St. Patrick’s Day during COVID-19 pandemic. They had outdoor heaters but could feel the wind from different sides. But that’s fine. We ordered the skirt steak, salmon, and the day-special corned beef. All were delicious and well prepared. But the portion of the sides (carbs and veggies) was not particularly generous. Drinks were great. Service was pretty good too. So overall we had a good time.
Nice Place, I personally have been frequenting this location since the 90s . The staff are rather friendly, and they do get your order correct. The Hi Life offers an array of good tasty dishes. - Hearty drinks and a pleasant assortment of beers That will satisfy the most picky Clientele. Stop in and enjoy all of the wonderful things that this place has to offer. Youll have the time of your Life.
Great classic New York bar with great drinks and food and friendly service.
Walked into 5 places in the hood that were either too loud, couldnt seat 3 people or just not the experience we were looking for. Hi Life was amazing. The staff was welcoming, food was amazing and it really made our night.
Hi-Life is our favorite NYC restaurant! ... It has great food - we love the broiled salmon, and everything from their grill, and the drink list is creative ... and just as important to us was a Staff that was very friendly and attentive!
Pub style bar with a mix bag of different food choices from American to Japanese. Te wait staff was friendly.
Solid menu and good drinks. Friendly and unpretentious. Never disappoints. Hits it out of the park every time.
Great atmosphere and our waitress was on top of everything. We didnt have to wait for anything. The food is delicious.
A neighborhood staple. Eclectic (bizarre according to my friend) menu. Several different cuisines, but all done well! Used to be cheap / affordable for happy hour, no w no one is, but they still have competitive prices. Make a rez during this wacky time (3/21).
A friendly, low key place with excellent service both at the bar and tables. The “porch” area has large glass doors that open in nice weather. Pleasant to sit there. Good moderately priced food. Excellent Happy Hour.
My food was excellent, I had the Argentinian flank steak. Flank steak is a fairly low grade cut, but it was flavored and prepared very well, making it very enjoyable. The creamed spinach was very good, the mashed potatoes were average, but good. I will say the the frozen daiquiri was weak and lacked flavor. A friend had a lemon chicken dish that was really good and well. The service was above average and service times where good. Fairly good menu variety also.
Enjoyed a few drinks on our way out of town. Cool bar with an old school vibe. Friendly staff. Helpful and pleasant. Will visit again on our next visit to town...
It was a good place to find a bagel and lox AND mimosa, tho it was a plain bagel and I prefer everything bagels. The vibe is weird, like a 50’s diner that’s trying to be hip, but not sure what it is. The food was relatively good, and the service was good, but the fact it couldn’t figure out a vibe kind of made it a weird experience. Overall I probably won go back... not a place I’d recommend, but I wouldn’t say it was bad either... solidly middle of the road
I adore this place, which appears to have come straight out of the movie Swingers. Food is excellent with unusual variety as you can get classic pub fare as well as oysters and sushi, but all good. Bar has a bit of a dive bar feel, yet the place is clean and the service at the tables is excellent. They even have a full menu of just boilermakers. I highly recommend for a birthday party for an adult.
Wonderful food. I had brunch. The coffee was excellent and so was the eggs Benedict. And they give you their homemade cinnamon toast and blueberry muffins for starters. The wait staff was lovely. Im adding this place to my list of favorites on the UWS.
Great food. Excellent service. Comfortable al fresco dining. Generous mimosas.Perfect brunch all around.
Really nice place. Food is good, drinks are better. Customer service is excellent.
This place looked hip and I was excited about eating here. We had brunch which includes a basket of blueberry muffins and cinnamon toast but that didnt arrive until we were almost done our meals. (They werent fresh, if youre thinking they were back there making them!) I got a cheese burger that was just ok. My friend got the citrus salad which was a very generous portion but she wasnt thrilled about it either. My husband got an omelette and his feelings about it were mediocre at best.
Probably the worst turkey club I’ve had the misfortune of eating. Classic case of doing everything, but doing nothing well. The wait staff was the only positive.
Second review: Im writing this as I went for dinner with my family, as opposite as quick bites/drinks with friends. The food this time was mediocre. Some plates were good but others no edible. Also, the waitress forgot to bring my drink (I should add that a previous visit another waitress brought me the wrong drink). The manager was friendly and staff too. We didnt pay for the food that we didnt like/didnt eat. We made a reservation to be seated outside and we had seats inside when arrived (a big deal for me as I dont like to dine in dark spaces).Therefore, I will keep going for a drink with friend/s but I know it is not for when I want to have a special dinner. It is a pity. Their menu is too big and perhaps thats why food is not good. Places should learn from other restaurants such as Balthazar that has a very short menu but everything so delicious!First review: Great bar to meet up with friends.
I love this place!one of my fave places of all time.have been coming here for about fifteen years. My friends and I used to come every Sunday night. The drinks are awesome. Big pasta bowls amazing!burgers fries,and the sushi is outstanding. Love the feel of the place and love the neighborhood. Always a welcome ,great experience.
My favorite restaurant in the neighborhood. Burgers, sushi, apps, cocktails are all delicious. Great service. Go!!
Been coming here 15 years. Never changes never stops being awsome. Good food great variety and service that makes you feel welcome.
Love hi life! The food is not amazing but it’s good. The weekly dinner specials are totally worth it. Staff is friendly and the space is cozy and dim. Great place for a date or a night out. It’s also family friendly for brunches. Great to visit on a warm night and sit out side
Good food,but unattentive service.Had to ask 3 times for water. Service never came to the table to see if we needed anything.We were missing salt & pepper. Customer had to go into restaurant to get what we needed.
Nice bar. I didnt order food but by the looks of it the food did not look bad at all. Definitely smelled really good. The day I went it was not packed but had enough people in it. Seems to be a popular spot for the area
Cozy Retro UWS gem for unfussy service and well executed bar food including some really solid steaks. Raw bar consistently excellent (the happy hour deal is killer)Hi-Life has a very solid Happy Hour 4-7 along with a great value Night Owl promo from 10 to close. Cheap domestics and well drinks along with some Appetizer deals. Kitchens open LATE on Fridays and Saturdays.
As always our favorite restaurant on the upper westside!!!! We spent St. Patrick day evening with friends and everyone had an amazing time!. We had the corn beef and cabbage special and was delicious!!!! Super friendly staffs We love Hi Life!
This place was really cool. The waiter was quick and attentive but on top of the cute service we received the food was top notch as well. Everything that went into my mouth was pleasing accept the drinks were meh but to be fair they had just enough kick to were after 2 I was feeling gooooooooooood. That atmosphere is chill with a dark romantic edge.
Very nice bar and restaurant, drinks was great. Will hit them up again
Something for everyone. I love the sushi. The nachos are amazing. Burgers are boss. Great for regular evenings or special too.
One of my favorite places to go with my husband, as he can get steak and I can get sushi. Very eclectic menu, including drinks, and everything is good. Check out the daily specials, its always worth it. The ambiance is kitchy old new york, but it works
My go-to neighborhood spot where I recognize regulars.. The food is good, the prices are right, the wait staff is efficient and friendly. You are never rushed and the music it never too loud so you can actually have conversations.The neighborhood has gentrified a lot but Hi-Life has stayed true to its roots. You feel that you have walked into an Upper West Side bar-restaurant pre-1970.
Went for Sunday Brunch around 2p. Got an omelette and fries. I could have easily made a better omelette at home. Eggs over cooked and the Omelette itself felt small for the price. Fries were decent but ultimately pedestrian. They didn’t have ranch dressing at all. Never been to any type of restaurant that doesn’t have the most popular salad dressing ever made. Water was served from a Grey Goose bottle which I thought was a questionable choice. My friend got a burger and fries. Bun was clearly from a bag. She got sick within the hour.Would implore my friends not to go there for food.
Quick and pleasant service at even crowded times. Indoor or outdoor seating is comfortable and not overly packed in. Ive never been disappointed in any of my meals here (whether brunch, dinner, or late night nachos and potato skins)!
We love this place. Super friendly staff. Great food/drink selection for the whole family. Great atmosphere. Don’t forget to pick up a hat or a t-shirt.
Fantastic food, great atmosphere, overall definitely recommend
Excellent customer service, excellent food , great table distance for covid protocols , food was amazing drinks was off the top owner was very friendly on top off hes guest way to go , if you looking for local bar and food this is the place amazing night at the high life
From the first moment you arrive in that place they give you a great feeling. Very warm team, it is a lovely restaurant to enjoy with buddies or with your date. delicious cuisine, professional chef, comfortable pay and courteous service. Warmly recommended.
I ordered 4 items: ribs, potato skins, turkey chili, shrimp spring rolls: $47 + tip. All were mediocre and disappointing. The ribs were meaty and tender but the marinade sauce sucked and nowhere being called bbq. The potato skins were okay with plenty of bacon but the cheese cooled fast and had to be scraped off the plate with a knife. The turkey chili was spicy and I didnt want to take a 2nd spoonful. The shrimp rolls were skimpy. All in all, disappointing overpriced food. I shall not order from them again.
We love this restaurant. Food is excellent, and healthier. The visit here is great as for the food,a large portion worth satisfaction.Will come again with an empty stomachs to enjoy our savings.
Very old school music nice spot for a couple to get cozy. Food was fresh and authentic. I would go back. The 1 drink I allowed myself was strong.
A great restaurant, the staff were very helpful and attentive. The meals were lovely and my wife and I enjoyed them which is why we returned. I highly recommend this restaurant. We visited in February and rate the meals the best we had in Manhattan for the price.
Good eclectic menu variety, friendly accomodating staff, late night service and one of the few places that will make a mudslide, altho I prefer their jalapeno libation. Can get super noisy inside at times, ask for covered outdoor seating (heated in winter, great for people watching). Has been around forever for good reason.
My boyfriend and I finally ate here after walking by it so many times. They have a great menu and offer specials everyday of the week! For example, one day is 50% off sushi and another day is buy 2 appetizers get 1 free. We came on the day of buy 2 appetizers, get one free. We ordered the quesadillas, thai chicken wings, and sliders. Everything was delicious and very filling and kept the cost very low! The staff was also super friendly. I will certainly return and recommend this place.
Hi life is kind of an institution. Its been around forever and does the kind of hip dive with better than expected food thing very well. Service is usually pretty friendly. The vibe is relaxed. Its not going to blow you away, but its a good neighborhood bar and restaurant
Great food and drinks. Went with a party of four and had 4 different meals. The spaghetti primavera was delicious along with the chicken sandwich and the steak sandwich. The issue lies within the filet mignion which was a bit tough leading me to believe that it was an older piece of meat. Filets are supposed to be very tender and juicy and while this one was juicy it was just a bit tough. Anyway besides that the drinks were great! The Caribbean rum and the mai tai were a little sweet, but the amount of alcohol in there is well concealed and sneaks up on you in a good way. The oysters were awesome! And the popcorn shrimp were actually delicious. This is a place i would definitely recommend to try out.
Attentive staff but still gave us our space to enjoy our meal. Had the westside and eggs Benedict for brunch. Good portions, fair price. Their orange juice is delicious.
Everything was good, food, drinks service. We had the bratwurst, pasta bolognese, salmon, all good. Just dont get the chocolate mud pie, it was not good. They took it off the bill. Would definatly good back there if I was in the neighborhood.
A little slice of Octoberfest heaven today. Great bratwurst. Great Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier on tap. Great service. Wonderful people. Hi-Life never disappoints.
Were becoming regulars. The summer specials are great, so are the steaks and martinis. Extensive beer selection. Pretty much everything is great. Maybe the fish in the tank dont look too energetic, but thats probably because theyre well fed
Definitely worth it for the happy hour, but when we ordered our actual food, we were pretty underwhelmed. Wings were okay, burger was average, but they need to take sushi off the menu. Go for happy hour, then get dinner somewhere else.
Neighborhood staple with great food and drinks. Very family friendly. Perfect spot for a group that cant decide what type of cuisine they want. Warm and friendly atmosphere.
The relatively low brunch prices may have been indicative of the not-so-high standard there, but the steak was literally disgusting (and unfortunately we ordered three, so the sample size is not insignificant). Bloody Mary was also pretty bad :/
Ive come to this restaurant time and time again for ten years and Ive never had a bad experience. Whole Bronzino is crispy and flavorful, burgers and steaks are always perfectly cooked, the half herby chicken is delicious, my favorite sides are the cream spinach and mashed potatoes. The sushi is fresh and tasty. I love the little fish tank in the front, in general the atmosphere is always engaging and s ervice is the best.
The food was excellent.My Mom and I enjoyed the Lemon Chicken, Spinach and the Potato Fries tasted great. 😀
Cozy place to get some food and a drink. Been at this location for many years now and not much has changed including the menu. Sushi special on Mondays other days have specials to. Service and quality have gone done just a bit over the past year but Im sure they will rebound.
Cozy place to get some food and a drink. Been at this location for many years now and not much has changed including the menu. Sushi special on Mondays other days have specials to. Service and quality have gone done just a bit over the past year but Im sure they will rebound.
The price of happy hour appetizers was not worth it at all. I paid $8 for two pieces of sashimi and one small slider, which was just a small patty with mayo and two slices of bread.Not worth it.
Truly dreadful. The only plus of this place would be the outside seating, but certainly don’t come here for the food. Ordered nachos and battered shrimp, both difficult to mess up, both completely disgusting and bordering on inedible. The place is called Hi Life, but by the end of the meal I wanted to say bye life!
Such a great place for lunch, this place saved us from the downpour today. The food and staff were outstanding!! 👍🏼👍🏼 Thank you guys for everything
A funky throwback restaurant. Always very busy, but staff manage to still be attentive. Not a huge menu, but everything weve had has been good, and with specials its enough to let you come back often without repeating dishes.
I am a native New Yorker and will keep to the directness of how we are known to be :)Drinks: Great. They have a weekly happy hour $5 cosmos.Food: Good! Very eclectic menu: Italian, American, Japanese, Thai, and Mexican. All in one joint :)Space: The dining area is quaint very bistro-like not pub-like at all. Good for get-togethers and date night.Scene: Very casual. Pick-up scene. Date night.Crowd: Afterwork scene. Pick-up scene. Mostly a 30s-40s crowd.Service: Courteous, but gets packed!
Seriously the friendliest staff and best selection of food on the UWS. Great bartenders and good conversation. Also this person left a 1 Star review for a struggling small business that has complied with every aspect of rules regarding seating during phases 2-4 but left a 5 star review of the dmv. This is the future lunatics want.
Total reviews rating 4.4
199 Reviews for Hi Life Bar & Grill 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-24Last weekend, I visited here for having brunch. I got smoked salmon Benedict.Servers were so friendly. Regarding the service, nothing to complain. Just good!The fries were salty..and I dont know why it was almost black.......Also, one of my muffins was burnt.. it was bitter...I cannot say it was bad. But its a shame they didnt focus on the taste..😂
Review №2
2022-01-31We loved dining at this hidden gem. Amsterdam Ave is full of different restaurants and we chose to add HiLife to our restaurant week this year. Service was great, attentive and food came out so fast. The atmosphere is cozy and full of old school photos worthy of conversation. As for the food, the sushi was super fresh and delicious. My skirt steak was just a tad bit chewy but flavorful nonetheless. The pad thai was one of the better pad thais weve had in a long time. The chocolate brownie was warm and decadent. Overall this place has a variety of options on the menu, a little something for everyone.
Review №3
2022-02-04Perfect blend of divey yet tasteful. Where else can you get great sushi and steak/wings? Loved the garlic wok edamame and eel avocado roll, and blown away by brownie a la mode. Great energy all around
Review №4
2021-09-27Fantastic burgers (had the Cheddar cheese burger and tried the Cheddar cheese and bacon burger), perfect temperature, juicy, fresh and tasty with home cut fresh crispy fries. Loved the Idaho Potato Skins, absolutely delicious fresh and crispy... my only complaint is that it was too small. Last but not least, the service was A+++. Waitresses and management were very attentive and the bars own patrons were extremely friendly. Highly recommended, a must go for a laid back sports retro bar / restaurant atmosphere with great American fare 👍
Review №5
2021-08-21Everyone in my family was craving a different type of cuisine, so we were super lucky to stumble upon this place! I got sushi, my dad got chicken pad Thai, and my mom got mussels. Great service and great food.
Review №6
2021-12-15Great venue for food and drink before show at Beacon Theater. The service was excellent and they also had a nice selection of beer and shot combos. The skirt steak and pot pie entrees were delicious and fairly priced.
Review №7
2021-09-12The wait staff was so accommodating and we had last minute 2 more people. The food was fine for price and drinks yummy. We ordered alot of appetizers to pick and choose from.
Review №8
2022-04-20A very lovely place. We had a reservation, but we were 45mins early for the reservation, they still accommodated us. Food is awesome, service is great. Try this place and proof me right.
Review №9
2022-04-11The menu for brunch is great, very tasty options. The restaurant is dark and old, but it feels cozy. The French toast is good. The omelets are good as well. The homemade fries were so-so, I was expecting more flavor, somehow they are dry and and burned. The staff is friendly.
Review №10
2022-07-10One of my favorite places in nyc! so many options in terms of food, a pleasant atmosphere in or outside and the staff is the very best!