Bar Centrale

Love the place
Hidden Gem — Tucked away
Great Bar food !!!
Easy menu — Fantastic culinary mash up .
All items — medium sized portions !!
Thumbs up

Walked past this place a dozen times & never knew it was even here! Drinks were fantastic, thanks Jeremy! The samosas were a yummy snack! Not sure about some of the other reviews??? We’ll definitely be back!

Very rude staff. I am here on vacation and this establishment was recommended. We had a group of three couples. Come to find out they will not accept more than 2 credit cards for payment. The manager spoke with us and was extremely rude and condescending to our group. I spent over $ 600 here and and the whole experience was ruined by the staff’s treatment of our group at the end. Terrible.

charming oasis in the midst of chaotic theater district. great for drinks and a snack before or after shows. the gimlets pack a punch and the chickpea fries are legendary.

If I could give 0 stars I would. Whenever we travel we try and find a great speakeasy to recreate the taboo nature of enjoying classic drinks in a hidden or clandestine atmosphere. We have found some gems. In a great speakeasy the bartender will engage the customer. In this establishment, when the bartender was asked what his favorite drink was to make, he responded with HEINEKEN, and walked away. He was happy to pick his nose while tending bar. His conversation was non existent. I ordered a beer and my wife ordered a wine. Hopefully we made his night and prevented him from working too hard.

This place is very cool IF you can find it. It’s definitely a local and underground establishment, mainly for the actor’s and people in the theater business. The drinks are impeccable and the food is also pretty up there. I would recommend this place for sure.

A hidden gem among the grimy restaurants next to the theaters, bar centrale is a great place for a cozy evening. Their menu fairs well as tapas style if you’re looking to share with your group. You can get everything from buffalo cauliflower and zucchini fries to oysters. Be sure to have one of their cocktails, just so you can see the nice way they serve it!

A great place for a quick appetizer and cocktail before a show. Yes, it can be hard to fund since there is no neon sign directing you up the stairs, but go up the stairs nonetheless.

Not a fan at all. The location is cool, up in a brownstone. The interior is ok, no frills. This is why I rate it one star, for your completely rude hostess, I live in the neighborhood and every time we go she pretends that she never met us even though we have had many conversations over the years. I’m sorry but I just can’t help but warn out of town folks to not even bother. There are many other options where they actually understand the word «hospitality»

I’d heard about this little spot and was intrigued. I found myself in an indecisive mood, so the bartender suggested The Presbyterian, which was a bit tangy but quite delicious. The décor was simple, an old movie was playing near the bar and there is a large, old-​fashioned register that they actually use! The atmosphere was intimate and quiet, a perfect treat before a night out on the town. We didn’t know they had food ahead of time or we would have allowed more time for noshing before dinner. Looking forward to a return trip!

I love a good speakeasy and this place is great. The bartender, Gip, is friendly and charming and makes a mean sazerac. One great experience I had there was when he was patient with my sister, who I brought there for her birthday, but who is NOT an avid drinker. Naturally, she had a few questions about the cocktails and Gip answered them all with an easy smile and without judgment. I’ve been here twice already and will definitely go back.

Met up with some friends here before a show. No, there is no sign on the door, but let the address be your guide and just walk on up. We arrived before everyone else to share some eats while they were off at a fancy dinner elsewhere. Some decent snacking, and decent drinking, in a nice, cozy, dimly lit little spot. It was pretty quiet when we were there, so it felt a bit like a secret, and was the perfect sexy little way to prepare for an Angry Inch.
Antipasto was okay (a little uninspired — seemed like what I pull together for a picnic — some mozzarella, prosciutto and jarred roasted peppers and a few fresh tomatoes) and for $ 19 that hurt a little bit. Drinks were good, but at $ 14.50 a piece, that hurt a lot. I know you’re paying for location and all, so be prepared for that. I’d come back if I was feeling fancy, or someone else was footing the bill.

This is a very cute little speakeasy in the heart of the theater district. I went with my family for a cocktail before going to a show. It is dimly lit, offers great seating, and serves some great drinks.

Loved this place. Hidden gem that is not so secretive anymore.
Great drinks, delicious but a bit pricey food for the portion. Will def go back again and again.
You have to make a reservation to be seated at a table.

Very hard place to find. I’m not sure if there is usually a sign here normally but when we went there was no sign and it looked like we were going up to someone’s townhouse.
I expected a speakeasy-​ish type bar because of the entrance. The menu had no description of the drinks. When we asked the waitress what was in each drink, we thought she would be happy to teach us about the drinks as they usually are in other speakeasies. However, she impatiently said well cosmo is _​_​_​_​, manhattan is _​_​_​and acted like we should know what they were. My friend and I proceeded to tell her we know what those are since they are common but other non-​common drinks we didn’t know. In the end, we had to google the ingredients in the rest of the drinks. It wasn’t like she was busy either as we were the only ones there.
I ordered potato skins as an appetizer and I would not recommend that as it was a dollar a potato skin and it was nothing that a regular sports bar could serve for half the price.

Popped by here pre-​show, and despite the extra time it took for me to find it, I was thrilled! They seated me at a booth despite my friends not arriving on time. Ordered a nice cheese plate, a great martini, and a little cheese plate. A very cool experience, and a nice space. I look forward to exploring it a bit more.

I had just me some friends and we decided to get something to eat-​they went elsewhere and I went to Bar Centrale. There is no sign in the front-​it is in a townhouse on W.46^th Street. I was hungry but not overwhelmingly so-​i got a glass of montepulciano and had the fish tacos. It is a very pleasant setting. I would recoomend and return.

A really nice place for a pre-​dinner cocktail or an after dinner drink. Classic speakeasy type atmosphere, and a nondescript entrance add to the intrigue of coming to Bar Centrale. The bar is small but accommodating, and it appealed to me as I was able to get a spot with a view of the street — and being restaurant row, the people watching was phenomenal… worthwhile just for that! We did not order food but it did look interesting and I will definitely go back to try that also.
Great bar spot.

Swanky but casual hidden cocktail lounge in an old townhouse. No seriously, you might walk right past this place if you really don’t know to climb the front steps of what looks like someone’s home and push in the front door, part the velvet curtain, and peek inside. Amal D and I felt like Scooby Doo and the gang investigating some haunted house that we were not supposed to be entering. So glad we did though as we enjoyed an outstanding evening here!
Sure, it’s a bit pretentious as we were greeted by a lady who asked if we had reservations. Even though the place was empty I decided to play along with the game. In a polite manner and charming smile I explained that we didn’t have any but if there was a way to squeeze us in we would be grateful. She offered us a spot at the bar and we happily took a few seats. Personally, I enjoy being at the bar anyway. You get to watch the mixology, and chat with the bartender who was a really cool dude. You get to take it all in at the bar. As old standards from the 40’s played overhead, and the small flat screen above the bar had on a vintage b/​w Spencer Tracy/​Katherine Hepburn movie it really set the tone and ambiance for enjoying the two Old Fashioneds we ordered to drink.
As the night progressed we became a bit hungry. I had noticed some tasty plates of food coming out to those around us. They offer a small menu of eclectic bar bites and some entrees. We ordered a few. Curried Deviled Eggs were delicious, and the Maine Lobster & Jumbo Lump Crab Meat Sliders were awesome! I really wanted to take pictures but put away the camera phone as I did not want to look like a tourist. We just kicked back and enjoyed the moment. Plus, the service was great. Our food came out lightning fast, and the bartender took care of us all evening. We never felt rushed or pressured to finish up.
Bar Centrale is one of those speakeasies that is cozy and comfortable. Above a place called Joe Allen. It’s a sexy little enclave. A mix of booths and small tables to sit at. Kind of a retro 40’s appeal and look. Reservations are suggested. Expect speakeasy prices here but pretty much the norm for this type of NYC establishment. If you can’t handle the prices, or pretension, better off hitting one of the cheaper dive bars in Hells Kitchen a few feet away. It’s a terrific spot for a pre or post theater cocktail and bite to eat, and a hidden gem among the Theater District restaurant row establishments. I’m all about these kinds of bars, just as much as I love a good dive or pub. Just deal with the pretentious air of getting a seat and you are in for a nice time.
Definitely a place to escape the Times Square madness, for a date, or fun night out with a friend or two. Plus, you just might catch a few celebrities or Broadway elite in here. Just this evening it seemed half the cast of Mad Men were in here enjoying some cocktails. Boom!

This is where I go to escape from the hustle and bustle of Times Square.
How to find this place? Hidden above Joe Allen, open the brown unmarked doors.
Reservations: Highly recommended, even for a weekday.
This place is so cozy and cute. You can sit at the bar, the tables, or for larger groups, at the booths. I would not recommend coming in groups larger than 4.
They don’t have a cocktail menu but they have the standard drinks. I had a cosmo and it came in a glass and a small pitcher with extra cosmo, submerged in ice. That way, the extra cosmo would remain cold. Love it.
Drinks were $ 16 a piece which is quite standard for Speakeasies. At least it was strong so one strong drink + empty stomach = tipsy.