The Up & Up

Fiancé and I were in NYC for a 4-night vacation and we ended up visiting Up & Up for 3 of the 4 nights we were there. My fiancé loves this place, he said it's his favorite bar ever. I love the vibes and ambience but do not like the drink options here as much as I wanted to. We've tried more than half the menu by the our last visit here. If you love really strong drinks that are spirit forward, this would be the place for you. I love strong drinks but I don't love spirit forward drinks. I've had drinks here that tasted like straight mezcal but also have had drinks that are refreshing but too weak for my liking.

The first 2 times we visited, we told the host we didn't have a reservation but they said they'd check to see if there's anything available at the moment. They were able to squeeze us in between reservations and we were able to have drinks for about 1.5-2 hours there each time which is great. The third time we made a reservation ahead of time and got seated right away.

I recommend sitting at the bar because it's fun to watch the bartenders make drinks and they're really nice and friendly if you want to chit chat. We talked to a really nice bartender the second night and he gave us little samples of a cocktail we were wanting to try.

What I love about this place is the ambience. It's dimly light, the music is not loud at all so it's perfect for a date so that you can talk. They refill your water very regularly so you stay hydrated and there's 2 bathrooms in the back that are very accessible. Overall I'd definitely go back even if the drinks are a hit or miss.

Ordered:
Thirsty Ghost (~$19): Seedlip Grove non-alcoholic spirit, rose water, jasmine tea, honey, and lemon juice

Aya's take:
This place is incredible. I would consider this the upper echelon of speakeasies. If you can get in, you better go. We decided to just walk in as a table of 3 around 6:45pm on a Saturday and luckily, there was a table finishing up and they were able to accommodate us. And did I really come here and order a non-alcoholic drink? Yes. The Thirsty Ghost has so many ingredients that I like and I was right. It was truly the best mocktail I've ever had - from the floral essence to the lightly sweet flavor to the ice cube with the Up & Up logo on it! It was a perfect drink. The Up & Up is definitely in my top 10 list for speakeasies & cocktail bars in NYC.

One of my fave little cocktail bars.

Walk down the stairs from a busy WV block and enter the dark, cozy, bar. Bar seats available, but little tables available as well.

Delicioussss drinks - probable one of my favorite I've ever had. Haven't tried the food - they have some snacks available.

The service is always great. They are helpful in finding something for you and answering any questions about the drinks.

I typically make a reservation (and they usually have them available). I have put my name on the waitlist once and got in shortly after as well.

The drinks were very good! We sat at the bar so we were able to chat with the bartender directly and he gave us his suggestions. My favorite of the night was the midori sour! Loved the ambiance; lighting was dim and music was quiet enough where you could still make conversation.

Were waiting for a comedy show and had some time to kill so stopped by this bar! We were able to walk in and sit at the bar and grab a drink. There were 3 of us and also got a mock tail. All of the drinks were strong and good!! I'd definitely be back for a drink and snacks.

Came on a Saturday evening--around 8pm--and could get seated, but a reservation would probably be needed for later. our server was incredibly helpful, and the drink was amazing! will definitely be coming back

So fun to get buzzed in the door. I would have walked right by if someone had not recommended. They take reservations but we got lucky on a Monday night. Better to book in advance because it's pretty intimate. Fun cocktails and mocktails. Small bites are available for purchase like truffle popcorn and olives. There was also a cheese plate but we were on route to dinner.

The Up & Up is where speakeasy meets mixology. The menu consists of twists on classic drinks such as a midori sour or a Negroni but elevated in ways you would never expect. Their drinks take your taste buds on a wild ride and leave you wanting more. The bartenders are extremely kind and work with you to find the perfect drink which is different from other bars. The vibe here is chill and it makes it the perfect spot to grab drinks with friends/on a date and take a break from the busy city. Up & Up is for the adventurers or for the classics who are going to leave adventurers!

Second time here! I love the variety of drinks, and correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like it's a rotating menu with drinks their bartenders newly created. Service and hostess are amazing, ambiance is great, and I love the culture and vibes the bar has.
The menu even had a section of rule, including a rule for men to not approach women to not disturb their peace LOL

Nice quiet and intimate bar. Chill speakeasy bar where you can actually converse with good drinks. Came on a Thursday night and it wasn't busy.


Updated: after going to multiple bars including employees only and double chicken please, I can safely say this was my favorite bar.

Great cocktails. The service was very good. The server gave us good recommendations. A great bar for drinks with friends or for a date.