Bar 12:31

A cool lunch option that won’t break the bank. The setup is tiny and it can be a bit uncomfortble, but the food is good and with free wine refills, it’s worth it.
You have a few options from the menu which are $ 10 each. Again, not a bad lunch option many peeps do not know about.
I left feeling nice and they have a new fan.

Bar 12:31 gets 4 stars, one for each of the following reasons:
1. INCREDIBLY CENTRAL LOCATION (31^st & Fifth) for meeting friends for an an after-​work drink or two — blocks away from Grand Central, Penn Station, Port Authority and 34^th St. PATH
2. GOOD HAPPY HOUR! LOW-​PRICED ($ 20) FULL WINE BOTTLES AT HAPPY HOUR! (and a reasonably decent wine selection for the price). Martinis (generous and good) are $ 8 and brand beers are $ 3 – 4
3.ATMOSPHERE that is relatively quiet, safe, well-​behaved and ADULT (no frat boy and drunk débutante vibe). Remember, this is a hotel lobby bar
4. CHEAP, DECENT BAR BITES!!! Chicken fingers, garlic shrimp, steak fries, mozzarella sticks, etc… all $ 4 to $ 8
5. GORGEOUS, SPARKLING RESTROOMS (OK…I cheated, that’s 5)
6. FRIENDLY SERVICE — ask for «Sammy» ;) (I already cheated — why stop now??)
Otherwise, the comments about the décor in other reviews definitely applies: semi-​strange massive booths in a pocket-​sized space, and Starbucks-​style lighting fixtures (altho’ mercifully dimmed) and a TV on low over the cute, also 1990s style semi-​circular bar.

Small, brightly lit, uncomfortable seating… Eh I don’t know. I met up with some friends here and had a good time but the place itself isn’t anything great. There were good drink specials but I’m not exactly thinking «Wow I must come back here.»

I will admit that I only came here for Simon/​Alex stalking. The décor of the bar is strangely reminiscent of their home in the worst possible way. It looked like the light fixtures had been ripped out of the local Starbucks and the booths belonged to the diner down the street. There were even printed out signs of the beer they were serving tapped up to the window. Gross. In addition to not seeing the Bravo famouses the bar was quite dreadful.
I ordered a Libra Love Potion which was a good drink: rum and a bunch of other stuff. Huge fan of rum. But then next cocktail was a margarita that came out neon green and had to have HFCS in it. For real? This is supposed to be a nice bar not a frat house.
So after having a bad drink it took us 20 MINUTES before the bartender got us our check. I was this close to leaving without paying.
Sorry Van Kampens. You ain’t the shit.

$ 3 bottled beer happy hour and change of scenery from the usual KTown atmosphere/​price is the only reason to stop by this cozy joint after work.
If you’re staying at Hotel Chandler, then you should probably check out some other scenes.

Nestled into the ground floor of Hotel Chandler, Bar 12:31 (get it– it’s at 12 East 31^st St! I love these easy-​to-​remember names!) is a rather small, dimly lit lounge that manages to feel almost-​but-​not-​quite cozy. The spot on the sofa where I found myself felt like it had been previously occupied by a 200 pound man, followed by a 300 pound man, followed by a 400 pound man, creating a sinking feeling.
The happy hour is descent: three dollar beers (sorry, nothing’s on tap here) are good, but six dollar cocktails or mixed drinks doesn’t seem like a deal. The room got mildly loud and full during happy hour, but certainly not cramped.
Is there any reason to pick this place over another? I’d say it’s a good choice if you’re staying at Hotel Chandler, and want to get a quick drink before dinner, but after popping back to your room to drop off the day’s work or get freshened up. Otherwise, perhaps it’s just not my scene.