Delivery
Yes
UES. in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
In-store shopping
Yes
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Highlights
Great dessert
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
No
Payments
Credit cards
Yes
Phone: +1 646-559-5889
Site: http://www.theuesnyc.com/
Site: http://www.theuesnyc.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:12–10PM
- Tuesday:12–10PM
- Wednesday:12PM–1AM
- Thursday:12PM–1AM
- Friday:12PM–1AM
- Saturday:12PM–1AM
- Sunday:11AM–12AM
Comments (199)
An Ice-cream speakeasy?! Yes please! The Ice-cream is delicious with few but fun and unique flavors. The speakeasy in the back takes reservations and is worth it. MANY cocktails from which to choose with fun descriptions and obscure flavor profiles. This is a fun place.
Hidden gem, so don’t go there! Drinks are exactly described as on the menu according to strength, taste and complexity. They are all delicious and the prices are justified due to the presentation. The icecream is savory. The music is a blast from the past and was my favorite element of the whole evening. This place is very instagrammable, staff is knowledgeable, and the food is good- mostly snacks and finger foods, but it helps keep the total of your bill at a fair price. Had 6 cocktails with a friend and two small sides and paid $150. Make sure to book a reservation and remember that your allotted time is 1.5 hours due to covid restrictions.
This place was amazing! Such a fun entrance, the staff were incredible and the drinks were flawless! Would definitely recommend. We got the 2nd Ave Subway and the Girls Gossip on the East.
Drinks were very strong and very unique. Cool speak easy vibes and a great date spot. Biggest downside is they have a limit for how long you can sit at your table for. We were given the check at the same time we received our second cocktails.
We came here as the speakeasy is in our neighborhood.The drinks are overpriced and the ice cream that comes with the drinks dont always work well with the flavors of the alcohol. Youre definitely paying more for the experience than the actual taste.We didnt get to try the food here as we had gone after dinner. Not sure if that would have been better.The service also always felt a little rushed. It wasnt relaxing at all as youre cramped so close to the people next to you that there isnt even elbow space.I feel there are many more speakeasies that have better drinks, maybe less gimmicks - they may not have a door with a switch that needs to be pushed to open - but the overall drink experience will be better somewhere else.
The hidden speakeasy is cool... And they have some of the best music and drinks Ive had in a while. Be prepared for a good night. The room is tight, so the tables are extremely close to each other.
Had a wonderful time lounging in the storage room behind this ice cream parlor. Festive atmosphere. Elevated ambiance yet remains cozy. Appreciated the Oldies soundtrack that stayed consistent. Perfect place to forget about your worries and focus on the presentation of the drinks. We did not have a reservation on a Thursday night but my husband was able to snag one online while we were waiting (~25mn). They let us in about 10mn before our table was ready.Mixed crowd here, couples on dates, group of friends hanging out, girls catching up etc. Everyone seemed dressed up, no hats allowed on entry though my husband did have on sneakers. The ideal seats would be the ones by the booth corners. The small tables in the middle were super close together. You might as well be in other peoples conversation.Drink menu felt like a wonderland. Majority of the drinks included some kind of treat and ice cream as a side. The name behind all the drinks was very creative. I liked how they showcased by a number how strong a drink was. List of what we ordered:-The only other place Alice likes to sit (my starting drink, an egg white cocktail drink made with gin. I expected to love it but I didnt. A little too bitter/citrusy. Hard to finish.-The East is Bananas (the one with monkeys hanging on it; strong & sweet) : Koval Millet Bourbon, Fresh Bananas, Angostura Bitters, Aztec Chocolate Bitters, Brown Sugar-I left my heart in Yorkville (my fav of the night! Wish i was given more) : Purple Empress Gin, Fresh Blueberries, Kewra Essence, Lemon, Poppy Seed, SoCo Creamery Blueberry Honey Lavender Ice Cream-Serendipity IV (for those who really like desert in a drink) : Legent Waffle Cone Bourbon, Grand Brulot Café Liqueur, Chopin Dorda Sea Salt Caramel Liqueur, SoCo Creamery Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Cream Ale, Bourbon Cookie4 for atmosphere4 for service3.5 for drinks.To me it was worth the trek to UES. Definitely great for special occasions.
Came with my partner and a few friends. Super overpriced for the environment and service. Cocktails were okay, food was a joke…4 people, a round of cocktails and appetizers came to around $280. Nothing about the experience was memorable. Don’t plan to go back and we live across the street.
Pro tip: come with a reservation. Waitlist can be over an hour long for standing room only.Our reservation was at 9pm so I opted in for ice cream before entering. This speakeasy has an ice cream shop storefront! I got a single scoop of Cookie Monster with a cookie cone for a little over $7 and it was satisfying after dinner while waiting to go in.Be sure to know where there secret door handle is so you can go in. It’s pretty obvious so don’t overthink it. It is dark inside and fairly small. It’s also very chilly since they have the AC running in there. The drinks are beautiful and what everyone really comes here for but I was very disappointed in the aesthetics of my drink. It began with the letter B. Bal.. something something haha. I’d recommend ordering anything but that one because it came out as a glass of bubbly vs the floral glass in the photos. Strong drinks too so that’s good for y’all drinkers. Cool spot to check out but not somewhere I would constantly return to when I visit NYC again.
I learned of this place when a friend insisted we go for ice cream after our meal.Upon entering this place you get what you expect, an ice cream shop. However shortly after I found myself being escorted with my friend to a room behind the ice cream shop (secret door is where all ice cream containers are).I was very shocked to discover there was a bar behind the little ice cream shop. This speakeasy is very cute, they offer such creative cocktails.Now their ice cream is also tasty, they offer unique flavors which consist of unique ingredients. Love the outside seating, love that it matches the vibe of the cute ice cream shop, but the behind those doors there’s a complete ambiance.
So we had a reservation and we were seated at the worst possible table next to the bathrooms🥺. We asked to move and 20 minutes later after getting only water we were moved -it took another 10Minutes to get a drink. Finished the first drink and ordered a second and before we were able to drink the 2nd drink we were advised our 90 minute reservation was up & we were asked to leave! Other people who arrived before us were NOT asked to leave and when we mentioned this to the doorman/manager? We received an apology and an assurance that although we received poor service he was sorry but someone was waiting for the table we were sitting at! When we mentioned that no one else was asked to leave we were offered the same weak “sorry” . Although we like the spot, there are plenty of places to get a $20.00 drink on the UES.Min
I went yesterday, 4/8/22. My friend and I got 3 drinks each. They were out of many things, yet still charged us full price. Also, some of the drinks look nothing like the pictures online. They just looked sad in person
Awesome drinks! The mixologist definitely works OT here! They had combos you neva would imagine go together n yet they were delicious! Definitely coming back with our friends!
Very very rude people work in this place.First things first its my second time coming here the first time was amazing but it was so long ago.This time.my friend booked a table for 10 pm ( it cost 50 dollars just to book a table for 2!!)We were 15 min late due to the subway delay tried calling in advanced 10 times no answer.When we arrived they said there is no space for us because we were 15 min late and they can let us sit on the bar inside.Going in there is no bar seating just standing and literally no space to even put ur drink. After 10 min we decided to leave due to this ridiculous situation. The hostess saw us leaving and said qoute you will be charged a 50 dollar no show feeVery very rude people no customer service the people working there really dont care how this business looks wont last long like thisWont recommend to no one
Such a great experience! The drinks were so bomb and so well made. They are not your basic drinks they are hand crafted drinks. Covid friendly and great experience all around. Would recommend reservations!
One of my favorite speakeasies!! The ice cream shop itself is so cute and has very good ice cream. Once u step into the back bar, it’s a decently large space, with warm decor and the smell of incense. All their drinks are super unique and delicious. They do have a dress code—no hats, and no sneakers. However, there are shoes to borrow if you’ve come unprepared!
Cocktails - amazing.Vibe - amazing.Music - amazing.Service - terrible.The servers in the bar were great, but the men at the entrance were incredibly rude.
This place surprised me because i went for ice cream and found out they have a secret bar behind the pints of ice cream door, amazing experience. The service was great, the bartender was very nice, the drinks were on point with the theme of the place. Went for a desert and ended up getting tipsy.
Really loved this place. If youre just here for the ice-cream, its really good. Their shakes are amazing!Speaking of their storage room, you wont be disappointed. However, make sure youre dressed appropriately and not wearing sneakers/sandals. The ambience is really good and feels cozy. The cocktails are good. I wished they had food as well but you can order the ice-cream or cookies. Its a great place for cocktails especially if you live in UES!
The cocktails are very well crafted and I love the decor and ambiance! Its a bit pricey but 100% worth it. The place also recommends other local UES spots which I think is cute, and alludes to the fact that no one feels like coming to the UES for a night out. And not to mention that the ice cream in the front is also amazing! Went there a few times for the ice cream before realizing there was something more going on.
Soooooo cool !!! This place is amazing !!! Your gonna have a wonderful experience, drinks are really really good !! I will definitely go back soon
And here I was thinking this would just be small, cozy ice cream shop and nothing else... UES is a speakeasy with themes of celebrities, UES culture, and of course ice cream themed cocktails (several of which have ice cream or sorbet on them!)... the inside has seating at the bar, doubles, and for groups with a minimal dress code of dress shoes, pants/jeans, and a decent shirt (i.e. don’t bum out or else they won’t let you in)... the end of their menu has reviews of lots of UES restaurants as their goal is to change the perception of how people view the UES! Definitely worth a visit!!
Really cool speakeasy with a hidden entrance behind an icecream stand. The name is based off Biggies going back to cali, one of the best songs of all time, huge win for that. Funny menus, nice atmosphere and staff.Drinks are overpriced but generally elaborately presented, and its a speakeasy so thats par for the course.
We took our friend here for her birthday and she absolutely loved it! The speakeasy concept was super cool. They brought out some type of peanut drink shots on the house and even brought out a different one for me due to my peanut allergy. The drinks were a bit overpriced and I guess its expected considering where we are but they didnt taste all that great. They had many really interesting drink options though so its worth checking out even just for the vibes.
Host was extremely standoffish and it was unclear who he was helping and where to stand and wait when we arrived for our reservation. When we got in, no one sat us at a table and we were asked to move several times. Manager was incredibly rude. Did not listen when we said we had our own reservation outside of another group which lead to a heated conversation. He said people who made their reservations weeks in advance had to sit at the better tables vs. people who made their reservations that night. Poor experience. Music was great!
Great ice cream, fun atmosphere in the back. Troy the door attendent was hands down so nice. Being from Texas manners mean alot. Not sure the bad reviews on him being mean but we both thought he was super nice. Will Def be back when we come next month
I dont know the name of my drinks but I asked for a French 75 that they had their own take which is the one seen here in the cup with the flower peddles and something spicy. The presentation of the drinks here are fabulous. There was a long wait for drinks because they are pretty complicated but to me it was worth it and understandable. Cant wait to try some others on the menu next time.
Very cool vibe and atmosphere. Loved the music as well. Didn’t think the drinks were anything too great though. So much effort goes into making them seem cool/trendy, but they aren’t anything too special. Would still be open to going again for the atmosphere though.
A hidden gem on the Upper East Side.Great selection of ice cream, i mean drinks :pAlthough can be a bit pricey, they are very unique and different.Everyone should go here at least once, it’s really unique and creative place.
This speakeasy makes me feel like Im in candy land haha I love how every drink gives you a different vibe, they werent the best drinks but the presentation was super cool.
***Their website does not disclose cocktail attire, which is required, however, they still let us in and told us to know this for next time.I tried to use the bathroom and due to the very low lighting, I could not find the light switch. I was only told where it was and I even told them I couldn’t find it because my eyes had not adjusted yet. I found that slightly rude that I was still not helped even after stating so, and was only repeated, “to the side, on the wall.” It was uncomfortable to be honest 😞Drinks were unique and strong. Our waitress was superb and pleasant.Had my initial impression not been like a deer in headlights, this place would be he bees knees.I think I’d come again and give it a second try, in hopes for a five star feeling.The entrance was unique and cute, through the ice cream shop. The entrance attendant was fun and nice.
This is a “hidden” gem of the Upper East Side. A small Ice cream shop that serves some of the best frozen delicacies in the area. With a very modern and lit-up decor, the place will definitely stick in your mind. Try the dirty chocolate, a dark cocoa blend, and the expresso mix. Probably the best you ever had. And for a little surprise, if you ate not in short pants and tank tops, ask if you could visit the storage room. With a little charm and if you could find the secret key you will be drawn to the prohibition era and will never forget hour evening. Be bold. Be safe. Be wise.
It is a bit pretentious and there is a vibe of were cooler than you but it is still a unique experience and can be a good time
Cool spot for a drink but the service is HORRIFIC. I had to chase the waitress down multiple times to get a drink and for the check.For the prices they charge ($16++ per drink) I shouldn’t have to flag people down. Drinks take forever as it is since they’re craft cocktails (which is fine), so service should be on point. I’d only go for a drink and make sure to ask for the check with the drinks!
Pretty cool speakeasy. Surprisingly not pretentious. Wear professional shoes (no tennis shoes) and a collared shirt to get in.
Went here a little before 9 on a Friday night. A line was already forming and they were definitely doing a thorough check that you met the dress code (saw others get turned away). Our group of 4 was given a table that was shared with another group of 3. Atmosphere wise, it was very loud and hard to hear the others in our group — especially since we were awkwardly wrapped around half a booth. There was only one guy waiting on the entire room, so we ended up waiting a lot. We also had some confusion at the end with the check, since the server thought we were one large group. After another wait, we got a check per group and were out. I personally regret my drink choice — was hoping the stout flavor would be secondary in my drink but it was definitely the main feature. Might go back to try another drink (if I’m feeling like paying $17), but would definitely choose a night earlier in the week to avoid the crowds.
Cute, fun, picture worthy. If you like the speakeasy-culture (and are a fan of bathtub gin) you will like this UES, ice-cream focuses stooped. Some Alice in Wonderland vibes and great staff.
Awesome speakeasy inside an ice cream shop. The ice cream is great, and some people come here just for that. Fantastic cocktails.Would have been five stars, but the music was SO LOUD that we had to shout to be heard at our own table. We asked them to lower it, and they were very apologetic and said that they werent allowed to (!¡!). Great drinks, great staff, beautiful place - too bad about the sound environment.Maybe go there if youre on your own? Go somewhere else with friends.
Great ice cream, very cute and intimate inside, drinks were good, but HORRIBLE seating, very small and uncomfortable. We wanted to stay longer to have more drinks but the seating was too uncomfortable. It was half a table, very small and short seating. I did make a reservation but that did not matter. I would suggested requesting a big table when making a reservation. I also hope they fix the two seater tables, because it made our experience there horrible.
Its fun thing to do, different but, the manager (tall, light brow and bald) I don’t know, always he came in our table and said something, the last one was the story that we were posting and had some song and nobody was hearing and the song and he bothered us. And after that (like 5 minutes) the waiter told us that our time expire. We from Florida and we were just visiting the place. But the drinks were awesome. The day was 06/19/2021 around 5pm.
In the storage room you will find the Best. Icescreams. Ever. Bring your ID and wear some good shoes (they have a strict dress code). It gets busy on the weekends but you can make a reservation for large groups.
Speakeasy behind an ice cream shop (actually sells ice cream). Ask for the Storagw Room for entry. Cocktails all have a Upper East Side connection. Must try Conmunity Board 8, peaty whisky-based with smoky pineapple juice, with a mango sorbet go together brilliantly
A cool nicely decored speakeasy inside an icecream shop. The Hunter College drink (chocolate milkshake with rum & stout) was delicious, the Tea of Carlyle mocktail was only okay & a bit sweet. The staff was attentive, chill & quick.The big turn off for me was the movie night situation on Sunday (showing Jaws) instead of just playing nice music. It just doesn’t work with the concept, kills the ambience & makes the whole experience kinda “ergh”. The random 2018 pop playlist after the movie feels like a “time’s up, go home guys” suggestion. The menu is a unreasonably long & some recommended sign on some of the bar’s bestsellers would really help. One-time visit is okay, but won’t likely to come back.Really wish you guys could improve, there’s so much potential here.
Drinks were alright but terrible service. Our waiter was so rude and unhelpful. The space is smaller and more cramped than it looks in pictures. We were separated from another table by a dirty hanging cloth. There’s so many better speakeasies downtown. This place should just stay an ice cream shop. Ice cream is the best part of the experience.
Ice cream shop with a twist! They serve ice cream from SoCo in Massachusetts and it’s delicious and unique, though not the best ice cream you can find in New York. Tiny front area with only a few stools for seating. Stick around for a few minutes and you’ll notice it’s more than just an ice cream spot :)
Huge delicious selection of flavors. I got a banana one and a coffee one. My mom loved too!
The coolest speakeasy! The drinks were delicious and the whole setup is super cute! The staff was so friendly! Totally has that xoxo gossip girl vibe!
Had an amazing time here.Tried to taste as many drinks as possible with my friend.Service was excellent. Our waitress (Emma) went above and beyond with her service which made the experience that much better.Ice cream was really good too!
They made us wait outside even though the bar wasn’t full, I guess to make the place look packed.The cocktails are cheesy and clearly geared toward tourists. They didnt tell us before sitting down that there’s a $50 table minimum… but when we asked for the bill that’s when we were told. The manager said it was on our reservation but we were walk ins. This fake speakeasy has to force people to spend $50 because no one wants to be there for more than one drink.
Terrible service, cramped seating arrangements. On top of that, they said there is a $50 minimum spend for 2 people ($25 each) which was not stated anywhere before we asked for our check. We were told we have to order 1 more of their mediocre drink. I wouldnt recommend this place. They act like they are the only bar around.
Delicious and delightful. Love the variety of flavors. Thank you
Beautiful back room, with strong drinks. The ice cream is very good as well.
Not recommended! If you’re a party of two, you literally get seated about 12 inches from the next party on very uncomfortable stools. Cocktails sound fancy, but they’re very, very average. I wish that they were a victim of the pandemic rather than other bars. VERY disappointing,
Love the creative cocktails and the sexy vibe. Its the perfect date night spot.
DO NOT GO HERE!!! If you made a reservation I HIGHLY RECOMMEND CANCELLING IT. I wish I could give this place no stars. My friends and I went here for one of their birthdays not too long ago and not only was it full to capacity (during this pandemic) but the service (with the exception of one waiter who was really nice) was AWFUL.The first thing I noticed was the fact that though they have a dress code (no jeans, t-shirts or sneakers they said), there were definitely people in there, of the fairer complexion with Jeans and sneakers on....Im not saying that theyd kick out anyone of a darker complexion for not following their dress code, but I wouldnt be surprised if they did 🙄. There was a female server that kept coming by LITERALLY every 2 minutes to ask if youre ready to order. Drinks are overpriced, the drink they suggested to me was horrible and had a lemon seed in it... The food they had to offer was like finger food for children. (dinosaur shaped nuggets, really?)They told us maybe an hr after our reservation that we had 10 mins left till we have to leave, meanwhile the birthday girl didnt get their main order.... Then on top of all of that, we accidently ended up tipping them twice by accident because they didnt bring it to our attention that their gratuity fee was actually the tip that they already worked out for us, and we ended up basically tipping double, when they barely deserved 1 tip....We learned our lesson, and we will never be going back here. There are many other great places where you can get unique ice cream flavors and concoctions without the cramped space, rushed service and overpriced drinks. Avoid this place, Im begging you.
Started off with a waitress, ended up with a waiter.... the waitress was totally more concerned with getting us drunk rather than making sure we have napkins lol. Legit got one napkin from our waitress who only checked up to see if wanted “another round” of drinks that we were just served, when I asked for napkins she looked dumbfounded and never even brought them. Luckily there was a kind waiter who kept checking up on us and actually brought the napkins, tip went to him. If possible avoid the waitress with short curly hair she only seemed to care about the larger parties, but surely enough she came to remind us our reservation was coming to an end... highly unprofessional. Aside from the service the decor was cute and the drinks were tasty but way too much ice and don’t even bother visiting if you’re a party of less than 4, they give you a stool and a table the size of a laptop.
The service was pretty terrible. The hostess and getting to our table was ok. However, once we sat down we couldn’t get anyone to serve us. It was unclear if a wait staff was assigned a table or not. The manager was having to serve us most of the time. And to top it off, they took over 30 minutes to get us a check. Cool ambiance, but would avoid if you want to be served after you get in the door.
The wait time after making a 9:45 reservation was quite excessive we had to wait an additional 35 minutes which defeated the purpose of having a reservation to begin with. The drinks weren’t great at all, poor mixology and combinations. The food wasn’t fulfilling, the place is quite overhyped and apparently trendy for the presentation of the drinks but other than that not worth it. The cheese served with the pretzel tasted gross and processed. My friend who we were celebrating sent back her drunk and was recommended another favorite which was even worse because it tasted like medicine. The seating was horrid, they had parties of 3 or 4 people sharing one booth split by a cloth divider which didn’t seem safe given COVID restrictions. For the time, the cramped-ness and untimely fashion of the place it definitely isn’t worth it. Wouldn’t recommend or return again for that matter.
Cute place nice decor, waitress was horrible ( curly middle lenght hair) she is only concern about big parties, we asked for napkins never got them, we even had to ask for the check to another waiter smh. When making reservations make sure you ask for a normal size table, ours was the size of a Cutting Board it was umcomfortable. Drinks were good.
I was so excited to visit this place and celebrate my birthday. Wow was I let down. My friend and I both are tall and were given the seating of a child. I was on stool built for a 10 year old I was uncomfortable the whole time. When I made the server aware she just offered me another short stool despite the availability of booths. The finger food offered was a joke. Tater tots and pretzels bites with cold congealed cheese. Stayed to finish our drinks and left to get some food and comfort
This is the most fun and adventurous place to have drinks in terms of trying different things. I havent yet tried all thats on the bar menu so this gives incentive for returning.
Cool spot and a nice upscale cocktail bar addition to the neighborhood (its name sake).
I walked in a a few friends on a Thursday night and it did not seem that busy. We were shown to our tables quickly. The place itself is cozy and nice. They had soft background music playing throughout. The entrance of this place is interesting as we were suppose to find the light switch to enter! We ordered a couple of cocktails and they were good. The ice cream however did not impress me much. The waiter told us that we could order food and get it delivered if we wanted. We got ourselves pizza and it was really nice of them to serve it to us with cutlery! I would highly recommend this place if you are looking for a nice evening on the Upper East Side.
Went in with three other friends. We were told that we had to make reservations, we did not know because it is our first time. He was nice and told us to come back when they open the storage at 5pm and since there was no line, they have space so they can accommodate us. Awesome!We went back the 2nd around 6pm. No line and no waiting. Went to ask the same person who spoke to us the first time if everything was okay with us entering the place. Instead someone else approached us and said yeah all is good but we need to dress differently, the attire is more dressy and no sports wear nor hats and such. If we could go home real quick and change and go back she would be able to get us in.None of this was explained the first time we had visited, refused us the 2nd time and expected us to go home and change when we live far awag from this place. Very bad staff, my first and final visit. Understandable for the dress code and a but should of been clear from the first visit we made all the requirements of this. Plus there was no line and no one in the ice cream shop. They turned business away because of a dress code, they had no business and on top of that we were willing to return the 2nd time but then they wanted us to return a 3rd time. To top it all off, the two workers were not dressed as thet wanted us to dress up as. Not worth it for ice cream.
Drinks were okay with definitely a ton of emphasis on the “wow” factor for Instagram, but, out of the 3 I had, only 1 was actually quite good (el lado este superior). Don’t get the Carnegie Steele unless you love chewing on multiple pieces of ginger after your sip. Overall, there was more emphasis on presentation than substance.In addition to that, the service was not the best. They were always checking in, but not in a “can I get you another drink” way but more “are you done with that” way, even went so far as to just grab my drink without asking despite not being finished. Just felt like they were rushing you to drink up and get out versus enjoying the nice ambiance so to keep the churn of people going. Good place to check out once, maybe twice, to say that you did, but I feel there are better bars or speakeasies to go to if you enjoy a great cocktail without the fuss.
I really want to like this place, but it just isnt good. The service is so painfully slow getting above the $50 minimum is difficult because you cant get a drink. The music is so loud you cant hear the person at your table. The tables are so tiny stuff barely fits, and I watched two of them nearly get knocked over. Its a great idea but the execution is just so utterly lacking.
Amazing creative drinks. One of the best speakeasies Ive ever been to. Look for Alice
I honestly wanted to give this place zero stars. I will give 2 as it is a great idea just poorly executed.Was having dinner in the area with friends and we decided to stop by to see what is all the hype about it. At first we got a bit side tracked by the ice cream counter and decided to get a scoop before going in. It was probably the best idea, we have some solid people watching.The ice cream attendant/ “bouncer” (??) has a huge attitude as he was at some high end lounge in Meat Packing. Dude, sorry to disappoint but you are not…you need to scale down your attitude by a lot. We get it the “storage” has a dress code but there are ways and ways of enforcing and in the end of the day is not some A listers spot.Anyway, back to my ICE CREAM review – I tried the Blueberry Honey Lavender and Salted Caramel. It was good, just good maybe average for the $5 price tag it comes with.After our ice cream we went down to the “storage room” hidden behind a door covered by 180 empty ice cream cartons is “Storage,” a secret bar inspired by ones found during the Prohibition era. The atmosphere of the shop quickly changes as you leave the cheerful scoop shop and enter the dimly lit Storage Room (AKA hidden bar)Now the update everyone is waiting for!!!Ladies and Gentleman’s, who have been turned down from this place, save your tears as you didn’t miss much. It is just a dark, lacking in ventilation, overly hyped bar. Go to Auction house and you will have just as much fun, if not more and skip all the door BS
Great atmosphere, really creative cocktails!
The ice cream was good. We were hoping to take advantage of the eat and drink on Friday, but apparently that wasnt an option. Perhaps call before to confirm if you want to take advantage of the speakeasy part of this place. Overall a cute place to at least get some ice cream.
Amazing gem! My boyfriend and I stopped in after dinner for some ice cream and had the best time! 1) The ice cream is fantastic. Definitely recommend the peanut butter mudslide and chocolate cone 2) We discovered there is a storage room worth checking out! The staff was awesome - so friendly and welcoming! The menu is unique, I wanted to try everything. I saw some people complaining about their tennis shoes. Dont let the dress code scare you away. Walking through the door, we were transported into this very sexy space that is worth dressing up for! I cant wait to go back again!!
I loved the idea of this place and the decor was beautiful but anything else was terrible. The drinks were not tasty and they came dripping out of the glasses everywhere, my ice cream was already melted and there was nobody to guard the coats and purses. The hostess got her purse stolen while we were inside from the coats room.Not a good experience unfortunately!
The Concept was cute! But they missed the execution. I recommend this place as chill spot for some drinks after work, or if you want to grab some drinks after dinner. Not for a bday party! (Which is why we were there) Nothing had a wow factor! The wow factor ended at the secret door. Minus some cute puns on the menu. My drink was so strong, and not in a good way! The theme of the ice cream shop; shouldve played throughout in the speak easy!
I loved these place, but the waiter is not good.
Omg. Must go here. Drinks were incredible. Friendly people. Most unique drink menu Ive seen in a long time.
Fancy and lovely cocktails
This is an amazing place. Saw the ice cream cone sign from a block away. When you see the sign you just know you need some ice cream. The banana brownie is amazing. Saw a few people dressed up for a night on the town disappear behind a secret wall. Apparently they have a “storage room” in the back. So since I was dressed up for a night out myself decided to see what was going on back there. To my surprise, there is an amazing place in the back to get a craft cocktail. Asked the bartenders and wait staff for some recommendations, they were knowledgeable and friendly. They suggested several different drinks for me and checked to make sure I liked them. Tried 3 different ones and they were all great. Will definitely stop back when I get back to New York. I missed out out on the drink with flames. That will be my first one when I go back.
I really love this place! We were visiting the area from the west coast and found this little ice cream shop to be charming, and super friendly. We were informed that if we dressed to impress that evening we could visit the storage room, which turned out to be this amazing cocktail room in the back. After reading other reviews here, Im trying to understand how people think that a dress code is an over the top request. Its a classy place with great cocktails and decor, and the staff was extremely polite and professional. Well definitely be back next time were in town!
Terrible drinks and service - Ive been to many speakeasies and this one was one of the worst. Will NOT be going back
Super cool vibes and drinks!
I was turned off by all the bad reviews but my experience here was actually great! As for dress code, the website clearly states “refrain from wearing t-shirts, collarless shirts, torn or baggy jeans, flip flops, sneakers, tennis shoes or athletic wear of any kind.” Extremely pretentious? Yes! but not that hard to follow. Drinks were good. most involve either ice cream or fire and range around $15-$17. Decor and vibe were overall very cool. Definitely recommend this place.
Didnt go to the secret bar but loved the madagascar vanilla ice cream! Cool ambiance.
My husband and i tried to get into the storage room to try out the craft cocktail experience... sadly we were stopped because I was wearing a pair of vans, as they have a no sneaker policy. I could understand if we both came from the gym in workout clothes, but we were both dressed nice for the night and i opted for a comfortable, but nice looking shoe. You will continue to lose great clientele with your dumb rules - needless to say, we will not be returning. Your low ratings make complete sense now.
Good ice cream. But they were out of the flavor I wanted! Also, the individual ice creams aren’t labeled in the case, which makes browsing for flavors unnecessarily difficult.
Ordered delivery cocktails, a make your own sundae kit and a balloon for a friends 30th birthday in quarantine. They went above and beyond and decked out the order with 30th birthday decorations - super impressed with the small touches and great service!
Pure joy. Superior ice cream. Charming hideaway with a speakeasy/bar in back thats closed due to COVID. Long wait in the heat, socially distanced, every bite worth at least 20 minutes of wait time.
Came here after having dinner next door. We tried the banana brownie ice cream and it was surprisingly good. We saw people come out of a door behind the wall so we asked what was back there. Turns out to be a hidden cocktail bar. We went in for a drink and wound up staying there all night. Very sleek place. The drinks were fun and the bartenders do some interesting things. We had a great night. Something different for sure.
Absolutely love this place.. I’ve been back over and over. Thought it was just an ice cream shop and then realized that there is a hidden spot in the back and IT IS AMAZING!! There is a beautifully crafted bar back there and the decor is indescribable. The attention to detail is awesome.. The staff is great and have been wonderful to me and my very pregnant wife. Whenever we come in there, they make sure she has a spot to sit and get her ice cream.. (And by the way - the ice cream rocks!!). This has been a great addition to the upper east side. People are complaining about the dress code, but they need to check themselves. Someone took the time to build a beautiful spot on the upper east, so take a few mins to dress accordingly.. We will be back!!
They turned away my friend for wearing a hat. She offered to take it off but then he pointed to the shirt as the issue. The reservation and deposit was made. They refused to return it and the manager came out to yell at us and dismiss us. This place is a SCAM!
Pretty nice concept of speakeasy and their ice cream is actually really good. The people here are extremely nice and super friendly. Only thing, the place doesn’t live up to the hype for dressing up like they mention on their website.
I made a group reservation here for my birthday this past weekend, at least several days ahead. A few days before, I requested a change to the time if possible, which they graciously allowed, no problems at all.The night of, my group and I showed up and it was magic from start to finish!The “bouncer” was such a friendly sweetheart. He knew it was my birthday, and gave me a hug! We had taken care to make sure we were dressed appropriately and no one in my party had a problem getting in. Inside, it was magical. What a classy, fascinating and cool speakeasy! The booth was super comfortable for us and the decor is unique and enticing. The music was at just the right volume-tunes allowed us to enjoy the music and at the same time hear each other and enjoy our conversations. The icecream was delicious. I had one scoop in a cup which was enough for me, banana brownie with peanut butter sauce and Reese’s. The cocktail menu was very extensive and highly creative with both ingredients and drink names, in a Zagat style book. Our server was so friendly and incredibly helpful, knowledgeable and patient, guiding each of us to great choices depending on individual tastes.(I also have to note how flexible and accommodating they were: my reservation had been for 10, but only 8 were able to make it; 2 of them came late but they seated them no problem, and we walked through the door almost 15 minutes late because waiting on one more person)Then, I was not expecting this, but they brought out an icecream scoop with a candle in it, which started off a round of “happy birthday” singing at my table. That was very special and helped make my night.My only regret about my time there is not getting the names of the host and servers, so I could have more properly thanked them by name!It was a truly wonderful experience. Thank you UES! I highly recommend going, will absolutely be back and am bringing family or friends next time. This is one of my new favorite spots in the neighborhood. 🙂
We went on a Sunday and on each Sunday towards the end of the day they have a featured movie. Now to get in you will have to find the secret password and location of a button to press to get in. Loved that whole part felt like a little kid again. On top of that it is a little ice cream shop in the front. When you enter into the secret bar the theme continues with Ice cream and the drinks are no different. We had a great time including the awesome drinks they have. We had one that tastes like a sweet cigar another dribk that tasted like a float and a godfather with some whip cream and other mixture that was phenomenal. I will definetly come back. You do have to be of age to go into the seceret bar and they do have a wonderful bathroom. The waiter was on point and the drinks were awesome. I will recommed this place to everyone. Me and my wife loves it. Prices are between $12 and $20 per drink. Snacks are provided with some drinks. Forgot to mention have to dress up a little to enter.
The ice cream was good but the service was very poor.When I mentioned that I did not like the few ice cream flavors that I tested, the staff member took it personally.He was extremely rude thereafter. I went for two scoops with cone and he did not bother to tell me that it is better to go with one scoop only when you order with cone.He clumsily put them on top of each other and offered a box when the ice cream has already started dripping from the cone. The tone was really bad.
My wife took me for “Ice Cream”. I wondered why we were in line and no one was ordering from the clerk. Eventually the back door opened, they offered one of our party dress shoes to swop for his sneakers and we entered the storage room. Interesting Speakeasy experience, very dark so you couldn’t see anyone’s footwear. I enjoyed the theater of the evening. Cocktails were good and we had the really good ice cream too.
Walked in at 1:30 AM on a night when it was 90 degrees out. Place wasnt busy. Ice cream scooper boy in front refused us entry on the ostensible basis of wearing black leather sneakers. I thought this place was all right when I went a different day, but I see no reason to go back. There are 30 nicer speakeasies in town.
Our waiter was super nice and the drinks were not as expensive as you think they would be especially given the quality and showmanship of the place.
So cool! Lil speakeasy right in UES hidden in an ice cream parlor. The cocktails are promising. I chose one that didnt taste good to me, but my friends was amazing! Would come back for the decor, atmosphere, and different choice in cocktail.
Really loved the ice cream, especially the flavors in the back. The vibe is unreal with the lighting and menu available. Apparently you cannot wear sneakers on the weekends which was slightly annoying because my friend had to go change.
My only real appreciation of this place was the decor. Both ice cream front and the bar at the back.The drinks (we tried 3) were horrendous, made further so by the price tag (~$17 each). They put squid ink, activated charcoal, shea butter melted over an ice cube (that eventually started to melt into the black solution in the glass) - I stopped at that point. It was atrocious. I have NEVER said boo to a bartender, but I couldnt stomach this. There were other ingredients, but honest at that point who cares if theres mango chutney? (Im not joking) I was slurping charcoal.The two other cocktails were basically a too sweet Irish Coffee (funny espeically because the mug they served it in read that), and a spicy cocktail that tasted like watered down hot sauce.
Cute space. Friendly staff. Sweet drinks. Fun for a girls night or maybe if my parents are in town.
Love, love, LOVE! I loved everything about my experience at the UES. While the ice cream is beyond delicious (try the salted caramel), the “storage room” really put my love for this place over the top! They have so many unique and creative drinks that are unlike anything I’ve tried before. What really topped it off was how friendly all of the staff was. It truely helped make my experience something to remember! I cannot wait to go back and continue to work my way through the drink menu.
Cozy, perfect speakeasy. Amazing cocktails! Sit with your date or your girlfriends and just have fun!
What. A. Place!!! My husband and I went to try out this new ice cream spot after having dinner nearby on a Friday night. I tried the salted caramel in a pretzel cone and my husband had the banana brownie in a cookie cone. DELICIOUS!!!! We each ordered one scoop, which was more like 2 scoops each! Loved that!!As we were enjoying our ice cream, I noticed some very nicely dressed people come in, as if they were going to an elegant bar/lounge. At first I thought, uh kind of overdressed for an ice cream shop, and then I noticed something super cool happen... a secret door opened up and away they went! There is a secret lounge back there!!!! OMG!!! I turned to my husband and told him we were going back to explore the lounge the next day. After all, its NYC and I wasnt about to enter a lounge wearing sneakers.So, the next night we dressed ourselves up and had a night out at UES. We arrived back and they remembered us from the night before. We received a very warm welcome from a tall gentleman and a young woman with blonde hair. We still had to figure out how to get in the back but once we did, WOW! What a space! Its beautiful!! Its honestly amazing that this place could be behind an ice cream shop. So now to the drinks... amazingly crafted cocktails, some containing ice cream! What?!? Insanely good. And the menu they come on is so creative. Great music, attentive servers and bartenders (our servers were Alice and Rich-love them!) and such a fun vibe. This is exactly what the Upper East Side needed! Im thoroughly impressed....Well be back for sure!
Space was small, but the cocktails were great.
Place is awesome. Just what UES needed. Staff is super friendly. For those complaining about being turned away for dress code. Calm down that’s the way every other upscale bar does things. Don’t wear sneakers (no matter how much they cost) and get dressed up a little and you won’t have a problem. Seems like the upper east side elitists are the ones complaining about dress code and alleged staff attitudes. That’s pretty funny. Place is great you should definitely check it out!!!
Great signature drinks. True mixology. I ordered the Absolute Bradshaw.
Great concept and really well designed bar. Great freindly bartenders and attentive wait staff. My one comment is that the drinks are good but a bit too kitschy. Ill be back but more for their selection of Booze.
Ice cream was delicious but SERVICE on the ice cream shop was terrible, the guy was busy on Saturday and shout to us, was very rude and aggressive ... and in the bar we couldnt pay separately, we werent a big group , just 2 people, the nicer waiter was the latin one, he was really kind and supportive
Great decor and fun atmosphere. I ordered a drink off-menu and it was delicious. Recommended.
This is one of our favorite spots on a night out. The staff is so nice and will really take you through the drink list to find the one that suits you. There is a dress code but we kind of love it I mean when do you get to dress up anymore to go out?
Okay so by far one of the coolest little gems in NYC a private speakeasy where you need to know the password to get in. If your nice to me maybe Ill tell you, the drinks are incredible and the showmanship is by far the best. I never seen such a cool place.
Went here with some friends to catch up. There is a speakeasy in the back of this shop that turned down my pregnant friend at 7:30 on a Saturday because she was wearing black sneakers. The bouncers name was Troy. We explained to him (pretty obvious) that our friend was pregnant so this was sensible footwear. He suggested she wear a pair of strappy sandals if she wants to get in. She is 7 months pregnant and it is 40 degrees outside. I wonder how the female business owner would feel about her pregnant patrons being treated like this??? I live downtown and have NEVER seen a place turn away a pregnant woman for taking care of her feet. Absolutely ridiculous.
What a pleasant evening! The staff treated my crew like celebrities! We enjoyed Hallmark movies in our Christmas Pjs!!. The drinks were amazing. Just an overall fun night!!
This is definitely my new favorite bar. Why wait the LES lines and fight the NYU crowds? Trying to gradually make my way through the whole drink menu. Also, the ice cream is good too. Thank you for opening a cool spot in UES!
This place sucks! If I could give less than a star I would. Why? - Rude staff. Ice cream sucks - probably the worst ice cream I ever tried. Drinks are inventive, but not tasty at all. Like made by a kid to look fun and not a real mixologist to actually taste decent.
Would have loved to get a chance to write a full review, but unfortunately they refused my valid ID from out of state. Felt very embarrassed as an almost 28 year old who has been using this ID for the past seven years without issue.
Greatest “ice cream” you will find on a Monday night!!
Fun place, delicious cocktails!
It was fun discovering a new ice cream store in UES. The kid in me likes the decorations. The ice cream is delicious. I like the idea of being able to taste every flavor. This particular ice cream is only available in this store. No one else in NYC has it. My favorite is the Banana Fudge Brownie. But the best part was discovering The Storage Space in the back. Some of the painting and artwork are breathtaking. Be sure and look up at the ceiling. I like the vibe of an art deco 30s type place. Ive had libations in every major city in the U.S. but have never come across a Libation Guide like this one, The Guide. Each and every drink is a tribute to New York. The libations are crazy good. My friend had a drink called The Second Avenue Subway. It comes with an actual Metro card and the value is anywhere from $25 to $100. I had the Absolutely Bradshaw just because I like SJP. The table across had a drink where they lit a corn husk on fire. This place needs to sell this menu, seriously! We had so much fun. Usually I like the same kind of beverage but this menu will have us coming back for me to try others.
We personally found the drinks unpalatable, over-fluffed and over-priced. Should the music be at yolo dance club volume in an intimate cocktail lounge? We thought the doormans song and dance was tired, and I got lectured even though I was in a button up shirt and sport coat. New York has tons of great cocktail bars, where people are doing really inventive things with flavors, instead of just trying to impress with eclectic ingredients. The menu seems to indicate that UES is proud of its location, then so why so secretive? Ironically we left to This is how we do it where The party is here on the West side.
Girl, let me tell you about the UES. I stopped in because the GAWGEOUS bright and sparkly ice cream cone sign outside just SCREAMED for my fat drag queen ass to go in for a scoop...ok, 2 scoops...ok, maybe a triple scoop. But, I digress. I had never heard of the brand of ice cream before, but it didnt stop me from sampling every single one (Ok fine, so I essentially had 4 scoops!). I eventually chose the strawberry. It was truly like eating a fresh, ripened strawberry right off the vine, dipped in a delectable sweet cream. The cheery, and adorable young girls behind the counter were very helpful and super polite. I got to talking to the handsome and well dressed manager. (He complimented my lady legs) and as I was about to leave (I was the last guest in the shop, or so I thought), I heard him wishing a good night. I turned around and there were people coming out of a door that I didnt see at first. I turned right back around and asked him what was happening. He said he had to check my ID in order for me to find out (I was again, a flattered lady). I went through, and was greeted by a beautiful hostess. She took me into this storage room, where people were dressed to the 9s, having a great time and sipping cocktails in this intricately stocked storage space!! Amazing staff, well crafted cocktails and an atmosphere that paid great homage to what the UES used to be (and needs to come back to). You millennials complaining about your sneakers...I say TRY HARDER! This is a fancy place! Would you go to The 21 Club in a pair of New Balance? A dress code is not to exclude, its to uphold integrity. There are many places with lenient dress codes, but if you want to go out for a nice night on the town, put on a nice pair of shoes and enjoy an elegant evening at The UES.
The UES. was my faviorte thing about visiting NYC this past weekend! We had origionally stopped in to get some ice cream, but ended up spending the entire night there! After learning that there was more to the place than just ice cream, I proceeded to have one of the best nights I have had in a long time. The bartenders and staff were super knowedgable of the menu, and helped guide me through their incredible drink selection. As a bartender, myself, I am very impressed. I will be sure to tell everyone I know that they need to make a stop there!
GET OVER YOURSELVES. Came here on a Friday after work at 6:45 for a cocktail and couldnt get in because I had converse on. Button up shirt, jeans and black converse wasnt meeting their dress code!? OK. Make sure you are super dressed up for this super exclusive novelty place while its still light out, and catch it before its something else in a few months.
UES. is a very fun and interesting spot when hanging out in the storage room. Ive only been once so far but that night, the drinks were coming out too slow. Looking at the drink menu, its not surprising as many are quite complex to make. If youre not in a rush though, it can be a good time to get some drinks with your ice cream.
You can only serve pretentious overpriced mediocre cocktails for so long until people realize there are a million better options in the area. Hard to take their judgment of fashion seriously when the guy manning the secret door is a pudgy bearded loser wearing a $50 outfit from TJ Maxx. The people who work here should realize theyll be looking for a new gig when the gimmick gets old in a year. The ice cream is mediocre as well.
They have a really rude staff. I live in the neighborhood and I like to promote new businesses in the area. I went to see “the secret room” the bouncer immediately corrected me saying “do you mean the storage room?” I felt humiliated and discriminated. Then he said: “do you live in the neighborhood? Go home and change clothes. We don’t allow hats and sneakers.” They think they are to cool for school. They should have opened that place in a different neighborhood. Maybe SoHo if they think they are so cool. This is Yorkville, most people are working middle class. When we want to have a drink we go to the bar in the corner and we don’t need to “impress “ anyone. Specially a rude bouncer with a bad suit and horrible shoes.
Waited in line for an hour only to be told that I wasn’t allowed in because I was wearing sneakers. $200 sneakers. I can buy an overpriced cocktail at one of the other hundreds of bars in manhattan. One of the worst business models I’ve ever come accords.
Wow, I really wish I could give ZERO stars. An ice cream shop in the 80s on the east side with an attitude. Someone should remind them its not meatpacking circa 10 years ago. Came here with 2 other couples last night at around 10pm. We all have kids and babysitters to watch them so we could go out. We are in our 30s and live in the area and were dressed nicely and ONE person had sneakers...one person. They werent beat up runners but actually nice sneakers. We were told we couldnt go in because of said sneaker. When I asked why I was told it was a health hazard. Im not sure what kind of bar this is but I can walk into any bar with flip flops on and it wouldnt be a problem. They then said oh you can come back another time...ha, comical. Sure, we will definitely be coming back! The people who own the place must be morons...that or they just hire morons to run it.This place wont make it when they treat residents of the neighborhood like this, guaranteed. Dont take yourself to seriously...you are an ice cream shop with a bar in the back, not the taj mahal. Last time I check the only people who went into an ice cream shop in dress shoes were people in the Hamptons. Maybe this place needs to relocate!
Be careful if you want to go into the bar in the back. We took an Uber all the way up only to get turned away for wearing Nike’s. Make sure you are dressed to the nines to go to this ice cream shop.
Very cool and hip place. Super dark and lots of drink specialties and selections. I love how they set the menu to help you decide what you are in the mood for. Awesome place but it is small
After reading the other reviews of this place, I thought I’d chime right in as well. I live up here and run a social media company dedicated to promoting new businesses. My boyfriend and I stopped in to simply get ice cream (having no idea about the secrets this place held) and quickly realized this place was more than meets the eye. We got excited, and were told to come back looking a bit nicer if we wanted to see what was up. We figured yeah, of course, we had just come from the gym (duh if we were going out, we wouldn’t be dressed like this). So we went home, and later decided “hey, let’s go check that place out,” put on the same clothes I would have for any nice bar in the les or soho (which I’m sure is their goal) and proceeded on to party. It wasn’t until my boyfriend got turned away at the door that our party ended. For they don’t allow sneakers to be worn inside, even if they are $650 John Varvatos sneakers being worn by a successful Broadway Actor- apparently neither of those things matter. The funniest part though, was as the bouncer was saying this to my boyfriend, a young man far less “dressed to impress” walked right out wearing, wait for it, sneakers. We then asked again nicely, just trying to figure out what was really up, and after being turned away essentially twice, decided to give up.I’m super sad to write this because I live in the neighborhood and had been so excited for this place to open, even when I thought it was just ice cream! HahaI’d love to go back in a couple weeks after they’ve (hopefully) calmed down because it is definitely a cool place and a great idea, sucks the people running it feel like they have to act like this to make it “successful.”
Hello late 2000s pseudo-sophistication.Was turned away at the door of this ice-cream-shop-part-time-bar along with my two friends because I was wearing athletic wear shoes. Having just left a black tie only theater just hour prior Im no stranger to dress codes. Now back in my street wear this matradee referred me to an indirect part of their website dropdown for the dress code. Telling us we could come back tomorrow for movie night an no one will care. Having frequented the shop but never having been to the bar it is my privalage to say I will be returning as patron to neither. Best of luck serving young professionals in 2018.
Had a very rude and disrespectful experience with the man working the icecream front. Was told in front of other clients (including little girls getting icecream) to next time, quote dress to impress, as I was leaving! I did not come here to impress the guy scooping icecream for kids, just wanted to see what this place was about, and was absolutely NOT impressed by the customer service.
Great cocktails, fantastic staff made great recommendations
I love this spot! The way it lights up all of 2nd Ave. is so beautiful! Its so great to find a hidden Gem where you can get dressed up to go. I met the owner and she is a doll. Its so nice to see such a young woman be an amazing small business owner.
Horrible service and overall experience. They enforce their dress policy and ID rules at random - especially when it comes to larger parties. Will not be coming back here.
Phenomenal. What more can I say? Loved it. I’ll come back every time I find myself in the city. Thanks for the laughs, Jake 😂🙌🏽
Don’t waste your time. It’s a cool place but to strict with the dress code. I’ve been before and wanted to show my family and friends in town so we took at taxi 85 blocks to go just for them to turn us away because my mom had sneakers on because it was storming and she didn’t want to ruin her suede shoes. I won’t be going back.
ToGo cocktails amid COVID-19! Now we uuuup in the big league, gettin our turn at bat!
We attempted to visit UES and were turned away with an utterly obnoxious attitude from the staff because one of our party was wearing all black Allbirds, which they somehow suggested were sneakers? With the sneering attitude and pretentious dress code commented on by many others in the reviews do not bother with UES.. There are a plethora of better cocktail options on the UES including 2nd Floor, Bondurants, and The Penrose to name a few. None of which feature the terrible attitude on display at UES, none of which have this weird throwback obsession with footwear. Its 2019 and UES is living in the past.
Cool spot, fun drinks. However somehow even on a Wednesday night that wasn’t particularly busy, service was frustratingly slow with two bartenders. I’ll definitely still go back, but I’ll be on the lookout for another slow service night.
Cant get in with white shoes? Do I need a bow tie? Trying to be something its not. Went to a cooler speakeasy elsewhere. Suggest you do the same.
Pretty interesting cocktails, tiny bar. Overall a pretty good place, but I dont get why theyre so stuck up about footwear (dress shoes only).
Great experience! Cool drinks, great vibe
Its OK if you know the rules and respect the dress code. Unfortunately, theres an unbearable constant scent of incense, that mixes with the smoke from the local hit cocktail thats served on fire, which makes the tiny environment unbreathtable
I didnt go in because I didnt have proper shoes. This would be understandable if only the door guy handled it properly. Instead of being direct, he tries to pretend theres a dress code for people who work in the back from Tuesday to Friday. Im supposed to understand his cryptic explanation? He lets all my friends in and then he stops me. I didnt even get to say goodbye. The place sucks and tries too hard. It doesnt belong in the ues yet anyway. DTUT is so much better and just across the street.
Was turned away at the door for wearing sneakers by a man in an ill fitting suit. I own some very nice loafers and oxfords, none of which I would ever wear on the salted sidewalks with a wintry mix coming down. One would think that someone with such an elitist attitude about shoes would understand this.
Pretty good ice cream, Im not 21 so idk what the speakeasy looks like.
A very unique experience, the staff was really nice and there was alot of options. Not the cheapest place but definitely something everyone should checkout at least once.
So I just left this place about 2 minutes ago & everything was OK but when I asked to record myself entering the door some lady came out of the blue and said I can’t ( with a nasty attitude ) Mind you the waiter inside said that we could record ourselves..... The rude woman also was rushing us out of the door! NEVER coming back again !!! So disappointed
Keep a note on the dress code. Seems like the only place in UeS with the dress code. Not sure coming back to try cocktails - would rather stick to downtown places.
I wanted to live this place. But it just didnt do it for me. The drinks were good, but not great. The concept is cool but it fell short somewhere for us. Not sure if maybe going on a Sunday makes a difference.
This place is terrible. Pretentious, rude. I will never come back. They gave us a table and kicked us out of it 30mins later as they needed to turn it over. They also tried to charge us $10 for a rose at our table? We definitely did not request that. Do not come here. Go anywhere else.
Sadly, we had a very bad experience on the bar. After waiting at the front shop they called us in and they made us wait near the bar, they didnt explain the situation, so we had to ask to get a table, and they were pushing us and being rude in a non very busy night. The man at the bar has very impolite and rude, terrible customer service, finally they gave us a share table in a very cold place. We stayed only 10 min and left because the AC was extremely low. The cocktails are tasty we tried 2 17$ ice cream ones, but very small and not up to the expensive cost. Vert unfortunate, I really hope they improve so we can go back as the place is gorgeous and it has a lot of potential
If you’re going here for the ice cream— Don’t. It’s pretty good but extremely overpriced. Walk 4 blocks to van leeuwens for better ice cream for your dollar
Staff is rude and think they are above everyone, turning people away who they think arent fancy enough. Sorry, but this is 2nd Ave on the upper east side, not some swanky area of SoHo. The bar is extremely loud, despite being hidden, and has been an unfortunate addition to the building for those living above and beside it.
Excellent food, great service, reasonable prices
I didnt know there was a speakeasy I just went in for ice cream. Ice cream was like fine I guess, didnt want to go into the speakeasy after they turned a bunch of people away for not complying with the dress code. The other bars in the area are pretty good so idk why anyone would go through the rigmarole of getting in to this speakeasy.
Great place! People who are complaining should grab their drinks at Applebees. Im glad they have a dress code. People dressed like slobs will take away from the chic atmosphere and should be turned away!
Solid speakeasy. A bit cheesy but fun. I would go back to try more of their drinks. Expensive but worth it.
This bar has a dress code, and the bouncer was extremely rude about it. He let us in but couldn’t help himself but to first critique the details of our outfits. If you’re looking for a lecture on fashion with a side of $20 cocktail, this is your place.
I don’t now, but this place is awesome the ice cream and the surprise behind the door is incredible waooooo.
The host did not let my friends into the bar because they were wearing sneakers, yet we saw that multiple guests were let in with flip flops, sandals, and sneakers. Their rules seem arbitrary. Possible profiling?
Great vibe. Awful drinks.
Amazing service! great drinks
Don’t go here! Stupid dress code. And they are rude. Trust me. Save your money and go somewhere else. They don’t even have on their website there is a dress code to their stupid secret bar that’s not even a secret. You’re featured all over Facebook. So dumb.
Fine, but definitely quite gimmicky. Got told my shoes werent suitable by a staff member who was wearing uggs. Hipster and pretentious.
Yasss delicious ice cream, yasss swanky speakeasy in the back. Make sure you wear nice shoes or they wont let you in! Dressy sneaks dont work.
Pretty sure this is the first negative review Ive ever left anywhere. Im not really sure where the pretentiousness comes from... but this place is not worth the trouble. There are a lot of other places you can go spend your money on excellent fancy craft cocktails, and you should go to one of them. It shouldnt take 30 minutes for your drink to arrive because some big wig was in the house and youre not as important. And when you naively return to give the place a second chance weeks later, you shouldnt be turned away for not meeting the dress code because you have a broken foot and are wearing the only sneakers that will fit over the bandages. Thats right. Turned away on a Tuesday night for trying to have a drink in the back of an ice cream shop with a broken foot. Unreal.
Awful experience. I walked over after an early dinner at 8, by no means prime time. Blazer, button down, pocket square, chinos, fashionable Adidas that matched the outfit. They told me I wasnt dressed appropriately bc foot wear. It was ridiculous. I was in dress clothes. I go out to bars/clubs/lounges all the time, Im on this block three times a week, but Ill never go back to try these guys again. They were really unreasonable and rude.
Great ambiance and very creative menu. Service was ok.
Ok didn’t know this was a “secret bar”. Went in for ice cream, got silently and awkwardly stared at by the clerk and about 6 people standing around on the side wall while I was making my selection. Decided to immediately leave instead. I have better things to do than have anxiety.
Very retro, very very good drinks, and music was good. Totally worth the trip for me.
What a really cool speakeasy! My friend and I went here for Galentines day weekend and it was fantastic. Cool ice-cream inspired cocktails with a full on rom-com movie theatre going on complete with popcorn. Great atmosphere and experience. Get ready to pay a pretty penny for the cocktails though its worth it! ($15-25 per drink!)
The place is absolutely fantastic! A truly unexpected and memorable night.
Good one
Speakeasy of epic proportions- a must see for NYC - super out of the way and 100% worth it
Pretty cute ice cream place with interesting decor. Tried the coconut flavor and strawberry flavor and both replicated the natural flavors pretty well.
Overpriced and underwhelming cocktails, and a pretentious dress code that’s at the discretion of the hostess — what’s not to love!Really, not worth your time.
Yeah its pricey, but its a cool place in NYC. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will be back!
STAY AWAY!!! Completely pretentious and discriminatory. The woman manning the door should know that her own presentation, speech and dress would make her quietly shunned by many establishments and should be ashamed for promoting that kind of discriminatory and derisive behavior. $7 for a sub par scoop of ice cream is also unwelcoming. Nothing about this place is kid or family friendly.
The ice cream was great - the drinks were very meh
Cute little place with good ice cream. no seating area so eat while walking.
Good cocktails worth visiting atleast once for the experience.
Expensive, limited menu, couldnt even cook pigs in a blanket right. Rude service, not organized professionally.
Fun, yet expensive. Beware of dress code. That can be off putting
Horrible management. Boss lady treats her workers like slaves. Avoid this place.
Chill vibes and great service!
Cool little semi-hidden bar with inventive cocktails, playing Sinatra and the Rat Pack scene on the soundtrack. Nice mood.
Total reviews rating 3.8
199 Reviews for UES. 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-17Love the concept. The hidden door is a lot of fun. But once inside it’s like you’re in a closet. We walked in without a reservation, it took around 45 minutes to get in. I kept seeing more people leave then enter so I figured the wait wouldn’t be bad. Noticed several girls use fake IDs to enter 😵. Easy to recognize fakes for anyone with minimal training. About half way through waiting I noticed there were plenty of reservations open on their website 🤦🏻♂️. It was a mess. When we got inside there were maybe 5-6 empty tables. Plenty of room for everyone waiting outside. It was badly mismanaged. It just wasn’t impressive inside or worth the wait. The bar was disgusting. I really want to like the place, it’s just mismanaged.
Review №2
2021-12-30Not bad. Ice cream shop attendant was friendly. Had the chocolate coffee Ice cream. Came too early for the bar; the bar opens at 5 most days, 4 PM on Saturdays. Special days (any Eve day) are usually much later - like 9PM. Definitely a fun spot with a large group I think - especially if you are looking to change it up and try something unique. It reminds me of another spot on 23rd street but this is better. Some of the drinks are surprising. Like toast with shaven flavored ice and a cherry with an old fashion. Curious.The El Lado however was made with too much Cointreau. You know that taste you get when too much Cointreau is used, this had that.Tea at Carlyle was good but it is on the sweet side and still strong. This drink reminds me Tea for Two from another famous bar but just not as good.Overall a nice visit.
Review №3
2022-04-10Very unique and cool experience! I definately recommend this ice cream shop;)Make sure to make a reservation, as the place is very small, and Im not sure they have walk in. No matter what cocktail you get, you will be amazed by its presentation, and they have a long list to choose from, so you will find something to your liking. My only but was that we were seated in the corridor that was frequently used, so it was very hard to talk and even sit without being touched by waiters every 3 minutes. Its probably because there were only 2 of us, yet I saw other couples being seated more comfortably. Just to be safe, I wont recommend it for a date. We were just fine, but it can be a really bad experience for the beginning couples.
Review №4
2022-04-25As a speakeasy its a fun quirk from the ice cream store, the drinks arent cheap however they are really well made given they are a sort of gimmick. We ended up staying for 3 rounds and some really great drinks, bar staff were great and well humored too!
Review №5
2022-03-13After reading the reviews my friends and I braced ourselves for what was to come. However from the second we arrived our experience was the complete opposite of all of the negative reviews!! We came early and made a reservation so tht probably influenced everything.Beautiful speakeasy fun exciting strong af drinks.
Review №6
2022-04-24Absolutely wonderful! We were a little hesitant given the reviews however can honestly say this place was a complete delight. It’s a speakeasy in an ice-cream shop so it is a little gimmicky however the drinks were fun and tasted great, the service was wonderful and the place had a great atmosphere. Highly highly recommend.
Review №7
2022-04-15Fantastic SpeakEasy in the Upper East Side. Very good vibes and the drinks are strong, delicious, and we’ll-designed. Highly recommend checking this place out! Oh, the ice cream is good too..
Review №8
2022-03-28The ice cream store is nothing to write home about but the speak easy space is very nicely done. Very good specialty cocktails with unique presentations. Definitely worth a visit.
Review №9
2021-07-27I know a lot of people like this place but to me it was overrated. The going into the speakeasy is really cheesy and it’s just a door with ice cream cartons glued on. They ask you to find the switch to go inside and it’s just a light switch and nothing too fancy. The drinks are pretty but over hyped. Perhaps it was the drinks we chose, but the taste was just okay. Points on presentation though. The menu is long and confusing but I liked the idea. The best thing we had were the little ice cream sandwiches
Review №10
2021-05-30Small cocktail speakeasy with an interesting selection of cocktails. Not all are ice cream influenced as you would expect for a place behind the ice cream shop. It’s a cute find with decent cocktails. A little crowded for my taste, covid restrictions not really enforced or followed. I’m not sure I would come again as there is no more to experience. Good for a party of 2. Make sure you reserve a time online.I did not get ice cream from the counter in the front, so I can’t speak to flavor quality.