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.

My wife and I came here on a Sunday late afternoon and had an awesome time. The drinks were exceptional, and had lots of really unique cocktails on the menu. Cool ambiance as well.

I don't even like cocktail bars, and I had a great time here and would totally go back!

First time here we loved it. Nice cozy, atmosphere, friendly staff with great drinks.

Had a great experience here! I appreciate any cocktail bar that allows reservations so you can plan ahead and not have to wait in line. Very cool atmosphere and the service was incredible. They kicked us out at the end of our reservation, but they were extremely considerate in letting us know they would be doing so and giving us heads up ahead of time (and I think they let us stay longer than normal anyway). The cocktail menu is the most diverse and adventurous I think I have ever seen in New York, and we enjoyed all three drinks we tried. The charcuterie board was nothing extraordinary but it was nice to have something to snack on and it wasn't too expensive. Olives are an additional $5 and they were a nice addition but not necessary. 10/10 recommend and will be returning!

Nice ambiance but this place stinks. My friend thought it smelled like dead rats. We were all itchy after we left. Nobody in my party thought their drinks were particularly good but the service was alright. I had the Cosmotropolis and thought it was a good tasting drink. One of my friends doesn't drink so she had the non-alcoholic cocktail Thirsty Ghost. She said it was sweet lemonade (this one was $19). It was too sweet to be in the mocktail category.

I really enjoyed it here! We put our name down for a spot at 7 pm and was told it would be 3.5 hour wait.... But ended up getting a text at 8:30 pm that said our spot was ready. We were seated at the bar.

Inside, there isn't a lot of seating. It's dimly lit and dark - my ideal date vibe.

I got 2 cocktails: Disco Volante and Insanely Good Midori Sour. I enjoyed both! The bartender was also so nice and recommended me those drinks based on what I told him I liked and didn't like.

I would definitely come back!

In an underground bar on MacDougal street, the up & up has a dark, swanky vibe. It is a historic establish (originally the Gaslight as seen in the Marvelous Mrs Maisel!), and the bar lives up to the hype!

They only book out reservations 2 weeks in advance, and they are consistently booked, so you need to be a little diligent about getting a reservation, but it is worth it.

The cocktail menu is pretty large with about 30 unique cocktails to choose from! With ingredients like balsamic vinegar, cayenne pepper, and black pepper, you're sure to get something interesting and delicious! We tried the "As Much as a Duck", the "Modern Lover", the "Promise of Adulthood", and an old fashioned. All of them were amazing. In particular, if you like a martini, then I highly recommend the Promise of Adulthood!

We sat at the bar, and the bartender was super helpful! He helped us decipher the menu and recommended some of his favorites. It was also fun to see how the cocktails were made. This definitely added to the experience!

My husband and I took a trip to New York last month and we stayed in the Greenwich Village area. One of the nights we were there, we had a really late dinner reservation, so we needed somewhere to go beforehand.

I spent a LOT of time looking at reviews for all of the bars in the area. I ended up picking The Up & Up, and I definitely made the right decision!

The entrance to The Up & Up is pretty unassuming. Then you step inside and it is the loveliest, coziest cocktail bar. It is dimly lit with great lighting and pretty wallpaper.

The menu is extensive, filled with cocktails that all sound amazing! The prices are average for the area.

We ordered two rounds of drinks and they were delicious. Our waiter was kind and knowledgeable. He helped us choose drinks that we loved!

I absolutely recommend The Up & Up, and I can't wait to visit next time we are in town!

Place has a cooler more classic vibe. They use resy for reservations when you go up to wait. You can optionally just use resy beforehand. I didn't get a cocktail but tried the:

CHEESE & CHARCUTERIE PLATE (4.25/5): This plate was delicious and we cleaned it out. The Manchego (cheese), Jamon (proscuitto), and the dried fruits and fancy nuts were very delicious. I'd get it again. The dried fruit and fancy nuts were surprisingly flavorful and tasty.

I visited around 5pm on a Sunday before dinner and was impressed with the vibe. Up & Up has everything to do with ambiance, low lighting, and an exclusive feeling being there. The service was outstanding, especially because of Leah and Chris. Cocktails are thoughtful and atypical. Totally worthwhile experience