Attaboy

I’ve had this spot bookmarked for the longest time but I never got around to checking it out. When the opportunity arose to come check it out, I most definitely decided to come with a few buddies of mine. Once you find where the entrance is, a gentleman will greet you, figure out how many people will be with your party and either ask you to wait or let you in. This place is VERY tiny so I don’t recommend coming here with more than 4, 5 people tops.
On to the main part of the review– the drinks! This place has no menu, the bartenders will ask you what kind of drinks/​flavors you like to get a good feel, and then stir up some magic to hit the spot. My buddies and I had roughly ²⁄₃ drinks each, and all of them were home runs! Very well made drinks here is an understatement. You’d be doing yourself an injustice if you don’t come here at least once.

This place has been on the list for a while and after visiting them, I’m disappointed that I haven’t gone sooner! First and foremost, this place is TINY. I’m talking 8 bar stools and three tables that could accommodate four people each… Six is possible if you’re all under 120lbs.
First thing we noticed is that menus don’t exist here. Tell the server what you like and he will bring you a well thought out cocktail based on the information he hears. Everything we had was spectacular! I highly recommend this place, I have to re-​arrange my top 5 list now to include this one.

Such an awesome, stress-​free speakeasy experience. We came up to the door, left our party size and number, and proceeded to go get boba while we waited to be called. Thankfully, we were called about an hour later and made our way in!
It is so cozy inside and the bartenders are super friendly and willing to talk for days (ok, long, long minutes) about what you like and don’t like. And how your trip is going! Our drinks came out prepared with care and thought and if I lived in NYC, I would definitely be back!

One of the best cocktail bars on the planet Earth. (I’ve been to every single one so I can declare that definitively) Sammy and crew are the best at what they do. Get a Penicillin to start, ‘cuz it’s where the drink was born, then put yourself into the barkeep’s very capable hands.
Don’t forget: drink like a pro– consume at least one full glass of water between each cocktail. Two is even better.

Best cocktails, ever.
If you get in (and that is a BIG ‘if’ depending on your level of patience as you wait hours for the fateful phone call that your table is finally ready), you will find yourself in what will easily become your favorite speakeasy in the city.
And that is for many reasons. First and most obvious, the incredible cocktails. Rather than giving a set menu, the waiter asks around for the type of liquor people prefer and also tells you the selection of daily fresh ingredients available that night. (For example, on our night, the fresh ingredients were ginger, blackberries, grapes, mandarin oranges, and pineapple.) He also asked us for our drink preferences (spicy, sweet, zesty, etc.). I asked for a whiskey drink with ginger, that was zesty but not sweet. In about 10 – 15 minutes, our cocktails arrived, and our waiter described exactly what went into our drink and the cute name of each drink. After my first sip, I was AMAZED.
Plus, the ambiance is way more laid back than Death & Co /​PDT /​Angel’s Share /​[insert list of more pretentious speakeasies]. Just take one look at the handsomely bearded bartenders in their lumberjack plaid shirts, and you’ll feel as comfortable as you would in your neighborhood bar, but with the most perfect drink imaginable right in your hand.

I didn’t expect to get in in less than an hour. I came here on a Friday night around 8.15pm and we got in around 9pm. WIN!!!
They do not have a menu here. You just go ahead and tell the mixology what you are feeling that day and any liquor preference or allergies. The mixology will work his «magic» and create a perfect drink for you.
I wanted some drinks with egg whites and something light. He created something call «summer time» for me. It tasted like gin fizzed but something different. Refreshing with pineapple and the egg whites created a perfect foam on top, just like tiramisu merengue. MMMmm. He made a pineapple daiquiri for my friend but it was slightly with a twist. I do not know what he put it in but it wasn’t a regular pineapple daiquiri.
We had total of 5 drinks in total. He made a drink named «army navy» for me. There’s some orange in it. Their drinks are so strong but it was delicious to enjoy. He remembers my friend loves orange and he made most of the drinks with some orange decoration.
I love Attaboy because it is really a «speakeasy» with no loud music played. You can easily enjoy a conversation with your friend.

We ordered two drinks, one scotch-​based (described as ~like a Manhattan) and one gin-​based (specification: spicy). Note: you just have to specify a base and some sort of description (it can be an emotion, feeling, or exact ingredients, up to you).
Atmosphere: Intimate, dark, not packed (although we weren’t immediately seated when we arrived, they offered to make us our drinks and seated us as soon as there was space at the bar), so you are certainly able to chat with the guy/​gal next to you.
Price $ 16 per drink.

Wrote a review once and gonna write an update.
Don’t make a mistake and pass this place up! It’s amazing. Best classic bartenders around.

Very unassuming speakeasy. The front door has just AB (though it is much larger now) and Tailors and Alterations in the window. There’s a doorbell you ring and someone will let you in.
The inside is very narrow and extends pretty far back with a few booth seats. There are no menus so you just tell them your likes and dislikes and the bartenders work their magic to create a drink.
I love how they never need to take down any notes and what they create is usually on point. It has the flavors I want in a drink.
The only downside is that a drink is $ 17, so be prepared.

First round of drinks were really on point with our palates. Very diverse flavors and really lovely care and attention by your mixologist. It’s really lovely for someone to shape your experience like that, I can’t imagine it’s easy at such a busy place.
Second round was a little less exciting though still delicious. The cocktails didn’t have quite the same complexity and interest outside of one which was a huge hit with our friend. Regardless, well worth a visit and the $ 17 price point. Atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. We also liked their music choices!

SUCH AN AWESOME SPEAKEASY!
1.) Find this unassuming entrance. The window says «Tailors M&H Alterations».
2.) Ring the doorbell.
3.) A man will open the door. He will let you in if there is space or he will take down your name and number – he’ll give you a call when there’s space for you.
4.) Once you are let in, they will ask you for what you like/don’t like. And they will make you a drink from there. There are no menus.
5.) Enjoy your night in this super small and extremely dark speakeasy. It’s nice that they don’t rush you out (which makes you realize why the wait to get in can take so long…).
I told the guy I like whiskey or dark spirits. Hate gin and light spirits. Love ginger. They made me the «penicillin» which is the house favorite. Really strong and I loved it.
Drinks came out to be $ 17 each.
I recommend coming early. I put my name down for a party of four around 10:30pm and didn’t get in until midnight (we were given a wait estimate of 45 min). You can kill time in other nearby bars.
And just a random tidbit. This is one of the few, if only, bars in NY that carded me.

AB 134 marks the door to another speakeasy on the Lower East Side. Attaboy has a bouncer/​host who does his job really well. The bar is full but because of the traffic control– never crowded, which is one of my requirements for a good speakeasy experience that is sometimes hard to fulfill when an establishment gets too popular. Cocktails are also deliciously crafted by an expert who asks for your preferred spirit and taste (no menu).

Excellent cocktails, granted I was here on a Sunday at around 2 but no wait got a cool spot in the back. I like the vibe and the fact that there are no menus, all cocktail bars should do this. Will be coming back for sure.

It was a Sunday night when I found Attaboy on Unilocal.There was still a pretty good turnout, while NYC continues our struggle with alcoholism :) The waiter was cool and took our drink order immediately. There’s no menu so you just tell him what you like and he comes up with a concoction. Everything was going great except when we waited 45 minutes for our drinks to show. The waiter was very apologetic and the drinks were pretty good, but shouldn’t take that long to pour some alcohol… So if you have some time to kill (like waiting for your res at 99 Favor Taste), come check it out!
PS don’t sit in the back booth, it smelled strangely like cat pee at random points in the night, yikes

Attaboy is yet another specialty cocktail bar that attracts the cocktail-​crazed masses foaming at the mouth for more creative concoctions but their attention is well deserved because their drinks, service, and ambiance are stellar. Discreetly marked with «AB», or not-​so-​discreetly if you’re among the informed, Attaboy is similarly unassuming as many speakeasy types. If there’s no bouncer standing outside the door, your presence is noted by the camera above the door so be patient and don’t start banging on the door, pressing on what may or may not be their doorbell, and acting like a confused child like I did.
Coming on a Wednesday evening maybe 45 mins or so after they opened, we managed to get in with no problems and stood around the only open space at the bar for a little while before 2 seats opened up. A nice touch that the bar’s intimate space allows for is the lack of a menu, or at the very least, a menu we can see. You have no choice but to talk to your very friendly bartender about what drinks you like, what you don’t like, what you’re in the mood for, etc. I’ve always wanted to do this at other cocktails bar I’ve been to and now that I’ve done it, there may be no going back, though I suppose the success of this move depends a lot on the bartender.
My boyfriend and I each ordered 2 drinks and while we clearly had favorites, they were all hits. My first was the Paper Plane. I’m not going to even pretend like I remember everything that was in it but it was a citrusy bourbon cocktail. It was definitely the lighter of my 2 and easy to drink, which wasn’t a bad way to start the evening now that I think about it. I enjoyed the refreshing touch of lemon and the lack of overpowering sweetness. My second was the Old Barrel (I think) and thaaat hit the spot. I told the bartender I was looking for something a touch stronger and based on that and my previous comments, he delivered a great drink. I remember its components even less so than the first drink but I think there was some sort of whiskey, vermouth, aperol, and other shiz. Perfect 10.
I definitely recommend stopping by Attaboy. Be prepared to wait or not get in at all if you come in the late evening and/​or weekends. In fact, come on a weekday. That’s really the best option with most, if not all, happenin’ cocktail bars in the city.

It is very rare for me to rate a place without ever having stepped inside, so I want to make it clear that this review is related to the door person only and not the cocktails or inside service.
I was eager to try this bar after it was recommended to me by a great mixologist in town. I brought a friend with. We got to the door, knocked and the man who came out was nice and said he was not the door person, but that they would arrive shortly. He also asked if we had already put names in and if any more people were coming to meet us, to which I said no. While he was talking with us another group came of 6 people. He asked them the same to which they also said no.
When the doorman returned, he spoke with the group of 6 first. He asked if any more people were coming, they said no and he let them in. He then told me and my friend that they are booked up and won’t have room for us that night. He also blatantly lied saying that the group that just went in was on the wait list. I knew this not to be true because the other guy asked them and they clearly said they were not on the list. The doorman was condescending and rude period. Maybe this bar serves good cocktails, but if they are ok having this guy represent them as the first person you encounter, it gives me doubts as to their character and what they’re about. I was happy to leave and have zero plans of trying them again. Chloe J’s review echoed a similar experience and he is/​was a regular.
I don’t know what the door person’s deal was. What I do know is I won’t return.

Now that milk & honey is on a hiatus, this is my go-​to spot for a similar speakeasy experience!
Like a true speakeasy, the entrance is a little hard to find… just a regular metal door with no sign. They have a buzzer that you can press, but if no one responds, just go ahead and knock a few times. The bouncer will come out to get you and usher you in if there are available spots! Inside, the feel is pretty similar to milk&honey, apotheke, etc, aka great date spot that is dimly lit and has a cool chill vibe.
The bartenders are of course super knowledgeable about cocktails, and therefore make it easy for us with no menus :) just describe the flavors, alcohols and tastes that you like and they whip up something for you. I love how they give each cocktail they make a name and describe everything for you in detail. The last time I went, the bartender was a super good looking guy with a british accent…*swoon*. Although it’s a little pricey at $ 17 a drink, I’ve never been disappointed in anything I’ve been served there :)!
There are 2 booths in the back that can fit up to 6 people each, and the rest is all bar seats/​stools at the bar. Come early as it is first come first serve!

Why can’t I give Attaboy six stars? It’s one of my favorite haunts; I’m sad I didn’t discover them sooner. Years ago sooner.
It’s an intimate venue, not pretentious. It’s like drinking in your best friend’s apartment. An expensive, dimly-​lit apartment, yes, but it’s comfortable.
State what you fancy, or share your mood with the bartender. Want something spicy? Smokey? There’s something behind the bar to suit. My recommendations are the Troublemaker or Too Soon.
Credit accepted.

Literally the best cocktail bar I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a lot of cocktail bars.
Arrived at 6pm (opening time) on a Friday to a small queue. They let people in gradually because the system relies on the bartender being able to speak to you immediately so they have to control the flow in, which I think worked really well actually, better to have people wait outside a little longer than sit at the bar getting impatient and agitated.
It’s a small cosy atmosphere, we sat up at the bar but there were 4 or 5 booth/​tables as well.
There’s no menu so the bartender talks to you about what you like then makes you something. This can be hit and miss in other places but every drink here was a big hit. We stayed for 3, all mine were variants on a sour tequila based drink (because I love grapefruit margaritas). They were all different but all incredible. I was so impressed with the wide range within the tight brief.
For $ 17 a drink it’s not cheap but it’s absolutely worth the price. I’ll be back again and again.

BEST COCKTAIL BAR IVE EVER BEEN TO
Exclusive– Which I usually hate, but they make it work. You may miss the entrance, which says AB 134 on the outside with an inconspicuous doorbell. It’s pretty exclusive to get in with limited seating (and they don’t overcrowd it) so be prepared to wait or not get in at all. Definitely don’t bring a large group, the largest table is for 4 (5 – 6 can fit if you squeeze.
Innovative– The cocktails are like nothing I’ve tried, and they are personally made by your waiter (who is also likely to be one of the owners). You tell them what you want, whether it be a flavor or liquor (NO VODKA!) and they come back with a different, unique, and delicious drink every single time.
Price– I cannot comment on this– I was with friends who paid for everything (oops).
again, BEST COCKTAIL BAR IVE EVER BEEN TO