Cienfuegos

We were on our way to another bar another the area but the sign outside caught my eyes. I quickly looked up this place on Unilocal and saw that it’s a Cuban bar & restaurant. I have never been to one! I was very curious to try the house zombie but I’m not a fan of coconut rum/​liquor. So I opted for another drink on the menu, I forgot the name! But it was served in a tiki glass. How adorable is thattt? Drinks are decently strong and ranges from $ 16-​up.
I really liked the décor and vibe of this place! I will definitely come back with some friends to try the food here too!

Cienfuegos– 100 fires.
This dimly lit, golden-​gilded, sexy cocktail bar is the perfect place for drinks and a date.
Originally, Cienfuegos was French settlement in Cuba, which was dubbed the Paris of Cuba.
The city was said to be a fusion of Caribbean and French spirit.
So I could see the Cuban/​Caribbean influence in the lounge area (Bright pastel leather lounge chairs and couches with emerald painted walls).
However, there was nothing French inspired in this environment.
Regardless, the drinks were delicious and we had a great time.
Pro tip:
–Walk to the right of the restaurant and saunter upstairs to the bar.
–Dress your best because everyone else will. You don’t want to be the slob in jeans when the man next to you is in a suit or that college girl next to you is in a flapper sequined dress on a random Tuesday night.
–Ladies, If you come alone, most likely you will get hit on. I watched a group of girls on a bachelorette party get hit on by two different groups of guys.
Drinks
–All rum based hand crafted cocktails, which is true to the Cuban-​themed-​scene.
–Pricey at $ 14 – 16 each
–Strong. Take it slow because the fruity pineapple and molasses will mask the alcohol content. You don’t want to be like that beautiful girl next to me that face planted into her table.

Cute cozy spot… great décor… but way overpriced .food was ok but for the amount they charged you, you should be getting a lot more… I ordered the empanadas and yuca fries which one person could eat for themselves because the portions were very small… was there with 2 other friends the place where they sat us was very small and uncomfortable… the food and drinks barely fit on the table… waitress didn’t really check in on us

I’ve never had a bad time here. Punch bowls are the way to go. Grab a few friends, get a couple flavors of punch bowls and split the bill.

cienfuegos — 5 fires! want to know what that means in relation to this joint? google it or some stooge of a reviewer will write it up in some pointless review that includes the lineage of Cienfuegos. go here, be present, and enjoy the moment not the history. book reports are so 1980s.
was invited here. totally forgot that this place exists bc you can walk by its entrance and narrow staircase to its nook bar that is on the second floor (no ground floor just the entrance).
went here during primetime Saturday night hours. line galore. cut the line: it helps to be in the tow of a pretty lady/​or/​ladies. i’m lucky. sorry basic b’z. they handle groups of 4 – 5 as we got seated immediately well beyond that headcount might be a challenged.
cool warm ambience. very dark. Cuban. eclectic n distressed. fun. cozy. intimate. loud. a nice variety of calming Latin colors. conversations will be a lil bit of a yell over the music and other groups. i’d say this is a good starting point or last stop for date/​friend/​biz drinks on a Thurs/Fri/Sat…this is not a place to take your mom/​dad/​uncle/​outOFtowners/​etc. don’t do it – you were warned. simply said the space has a great exciting vibe that’s a bit different than other spots in NYC. just sayin’
the draaaaaanks? pricey. didn’t pay bc i’m a jerk, nah more like the kind kind kindne$$ of others. there are a bunch of signature cocktails including the zombie (which a customer can only order once)…the zombie’s infamous warning/​limit seems cool, but every surrounding person drinking one was acting like a buffoon or was a buffoon. don’t be a buffoon. it’s gauche and confirms you’re a tool… well mostly bc you are. ha. outside of the signature cocktails, Cienfuegos is (outside of the Zombie drank) known for its punches – no not jabs, right crosses, hooks, uppercuts, and haymakers – punch as in a alcoholic beverage served in an ornate silver/​metal bowl with small punch/​teacups. there are a variety of punch bowls here. i’d recommend the Honey Badger and Gun Club. The Badger is spicy and tasty (jalapenos!) and Gun Club is clean, sweet, and refreshing. the punch bowls typically have Titanic-​sinking ice chunks in them to keep them super cold. the punch bowls come in 3 sizes (small for about 2 peeps: $ 40ish bucks; medium for 4 peeps: close to $ 80; and large for 5 peeps: $ 120+). the drinks and punches are pricey but strong. again that’s why i rec this joint as an opener or closer to a night of boozin’ – get caught in the middle (time) and your credit card is going to get shot up.
food? small plates mostly. the guac is chunky and different (chunks of pineapple and something else mixed with the green gold of avocado) served with plantain chips, but tasty. the beef empanada looked tasty i did not eat one though. yuca fries were the bomb, so good! Patatas Bravas were almost awesome except they were seriously missing some aioli sauce YO! the Churros were amazing so sweet, cinnamon-​y with chocolate dip sauce as well as a more sweet white frosting dip. YES sugar rush on top of alcoholic sugar high! DIE-​abetes indeed. 8) The veggie tapas as well as the desserts ranged between $ 8-​$ 12. the meaty tapas were in the $ 12-​$ 14 range. all in all pretty much the norm at trendy places.
looking forward to trying the Ropa Tostones, the Media Noche sliders, the chorizo Scotch Egg, and Croquettas… the next time i visit. had i not stuffed my face with pizza before Cienfuegos, i may have devoured more of the menu. consequences of gluttony: loss of other gluttonous endeavors.
the service is cool, fine. the staff are young-​ish friendly enough. the service will be a little slow when Cienfuegos is slammed. i assume on off nights the service is speedy when the bar and kitchen aren’t stacked with orders. the staff is hipster-​y without ‘ttude which is a relief. is it wrong that all pale-​ish peepz who dress retro get lumped into the hipster bin of douchiness? it is.
the bill is served in a cigar box which makes me laugh in that «awww kitschy cute» way. nonetheless it bows and knots the Cuban experience in a playful way.
so yeah: cool vibe, tapas, craft cocktails and punches. trendy. speakeasy light. date or friend shenanigan ambiance. Cuban esque. the aforementioned is all there and more.
drops mic bc ladling boozy punch into a small teacup is a two-​handed affair when you’ve been drinking all night.
i out.
zzz

Cinefugeos– you broke my heart. I loved you so much.
I made reservations here (about 5 – 6 weeks in advance) on a Sat. night to celebrate my birthday and I had a party of 10. My BIG mistake was assuming I would get placed in the main dining room at the long table… I should have confirmed that part. Instead, when I arrived, all my guest were seated very cramped by the back area next to the bathrooms with 3 tiny round tables that could only accommodate our drinks, forget about the food. This is a tapas place and everyone ordered 2 each… meaning 20 SMALL PLATES… When the food arrived, 5 of us literally had NO PLACE to put our food down and we had to eat on our laps??? ON-​OUR-​LAPS. 100% UNACCEPTABLE! I felt horrible! I raved about this place to all my guest and for them to be extremely cramped and uncomfortable was not the experience I had in mind for them.
Also, our waiter seemed extremely overwhelmed and was a bit snappy when we asked if certain plates were coming out soon, over 30mins had passed and most ppl had their orders already… not a crazy question to inquire.
I get it was the holiday season and they wanted to squeeze in as much business as possible but I honestly will not come here again due to how disregarded we all felt. I truly do regret booking a milestone birthday here.
Food was still very good.
All in all, save yourself the headache and embarrassment and DO NOT come here if you are a party over 4.

I came here for some drinks last Saturday around 8:30 PM. We were told there would be a 40 min wait (there were three of us) even though there appeared to be a bunch of open tables, but said fine, and the hostess said she would text us when the table was ready. So we went to a bar across the street in the meantime, and when we hadn’t heard anything an hour later, we called the restaurant to see what was going on. They were super rude to my friend on the phone and even hung up on her. So she ran back across the street and they told her it would be another 40 minutes. Eventually we did make it inside and we got two of the small sizes of different punches to share. They were good, and decently strong. The place has a cute vibe and if it weren’t for the horrible start, probably would have given this place 4 stars.

Great happy hour deals on Sundays too! Cute, unique and interesting ambience and service was good too.
Funky old man punch bowl — refreshing and had good amount of alcohol in it. Would definitely get this again.
Fried avocado — just ok. Didn’t like the sauce
Beef empanadas — just ok.
Yucca frites — loved this! Especially the jalapeño aioli dipping sauce. We asked for extra and dipped everything in there. Ordered another order of this it was so good!
Ham croquettes — just ok.
Patatas bravas — above average — it was different than your regular potatoes bravas because they smothered it in a red sauce that reminded me of spicy red bean paste

Cienfugos has a dreamy and mysterious (slightly creepy) vibe that makes you feel like you aren’t in NYC. The punch to share (we ordered the one for 2) is enough for 3 people, especially if your friends are cheap drunks! The Honey Badger was strong and spicy, definitely had a kick to it, I liked that it wasn’t overly sweet!
The only thing that bugged us was that we had to sit on these tiny little stools on a table that looked very out of place. I would have preferred the cozy looking armchairs and couches next to us instead!

Cienfuegos blew my mind… sexy, alluring, great lighting, warm ambiance, nicely decorated, and great drinks! Perfect for a girls night out or a date night.
Food is really good too, the portions are a little small and overpriced but if you want to experience something a little different in NYC, Cienfuegos is your place

So apparently on Sundays they have ½ price punch bowls. I used to do the Sunday funday more often here but stopped going to venture out & see other spots.
I came back the other night with a friend. To my surprise, they only have select punch bowls for ½ off, not on all of the punch bowls like they used to.
That made me sad because the featured punches for ½ were not the good ones *teardrop*
So we opted for a more boozy punch and wow, the bowl was all alcohol, no punch, which was amazing. More like jungle punch…
Ambiance still the same. The amazingly crazy painkiller cocktail is still on the menu too.
The apps here are so good. You actually feel healthy eating them.
Service is a bit sluggish, but nonetheless, this place remains a staple for me.

Tried Cienfuegos for their happy hour half-​off select punch bowls, which goes until 7p.
In addition to the drinks, the first thing you notice is how tastefully decorated the space is. Cozy chairs, white Christmas lights wrapped around iron rails, and an intimate layout for either a group of friends or a date. We decided on the gin punch bowl, which wasn’t the strongest, but had a refreshingly light flavor complimented by cucumbers and fresh mint.
Aside from happy hour, the food and drink menu is certainly on the pricier side.
Overall nice atmosphere and pleasant experience — will return!

In honor of my 100^th Unilocal review, what better place to acknowledge than Cienfuegos. The hubs and I stumbled upon this hot spot when we lived in the East Village. Like many other reviewers, our faves like PDT were too long of a wait so we decided to go on one of our epic walks around alphabet city and found ourselves at Cienfuegos. The décor is really original and fun and the drink menu is diverse.
A disclaimer with my drink, yeah ok we’ll see about that I thought to myself until this drink totally knocked me off my feet. So good! Where many places in the city may water down your drinks, Cienfuegos keeps it real. We weren’t rushed and had an incredible time taking in the atmosphere.
Alphabet City is definitely growing with great eats and hitting up Cienfuegos is definitely worth the walk.

I saw someone fall flat on their face here. This was a surprise[1].
The next surprise? Me telling you it’s worth the schlep to Alphabet City to visit. They’ve got drinks. They’re sexy. The venue’s size and décor is perfect for that corner snog, a first/​second/​etc. date, or hosting a gathering of friends. Or, all that at the same time.
Did I mention service has got their shit together?
I’ve enjoyed liquor, cocktails, and their punch bowl. The punch can be pricey, but it’s a pleasantly potent potable. I’ve forgot how many times I’ve been here[2], but the punch is almost always part of the agenda.
[1] Paramedics came to the scene, and everything looked OK.
[2] I haven’t fallen on my face yet.

When you have a drink that comes with a disclaimer you already know you’re about to experience something amazing! Cienfuegos is a very unique Cuban restaurant and bar with a cozy and romantic atmosphere. It is located directly next door to Mother of Pearl and is on the second floor. The décor is beautiful and very reminiscent of the Latin American culture. I sat in a huge padded cream colored chair which immediately caught my eye! I also want to mention that the crowd was extremely diverse. Cienfuegos has a choice of various eats that come tapas style. We ordered the chilli wings which were so delicious! They weren’t overly spicy and were well cooked. I would highly recommend the chilli wings if you come to Cienfuegos.
Now on to the drinks! Cienfuegos has various punch bowls and the infamous Zombie drink. I saw a group of three men drinking the Zombie and within 5 minutes one guy was dancing around the restaurant lol. Mind you, there is no dance floor, but I am assuming that the drink had an affect on him! We decided to try a punch bowl that could serve 2 – 3 people. The cost ranges from $ 40.00-$ 120.00 depending on the size of your party. The punch bowls have huge blocks of ice to keep them nice and chilled which was nice. There were so many flavors of punch bowls to choose from and I guarantee you will find a flavor that you love!
Cienfuegos is great for a date or a night out with a few friends to indulge in great conversation. If your interested in trying a punch bowl with a twist, try Cienfuegos!

What a cute spot! I went for a bachelorette party and our table shared a delicious gigantic bowl of sangria and finger food. I am not sure which liquor we ordered but it was fresh, oh so strong and with grapefruit pieces. You have to wait a bit for the ice to melt if you want your drink to be an easier swallow ;)
In terms of food, we shared the spicy guacamole and the one mango one. Both great! I loved the plantain chips! Huge bonus! We also had the ceviche cups, fresh and onion-​y, I can see why some would not love it. They make a cup out of mashed plantain and serve the ceviche in there. I loved the pork sliders as well! We finished off with churros –yum! especially the sweet chocolate sauces to dip the fried sticks of goodness!
Would love to return and share another delicious fruit punch with friends!

Maybe it’s cool for big parties who wants to drink absinthe and get messed up. They have a huge variety of punch bowls.
We drank a night ripper (has absinthe) and a tamarind sour. They both tasted the same. Price wasn’t so bad at $ 14 a piece.
This is not a speakeasy so I wouldn’t classify it as one. It’s a Cuban place but it didn’t feel like one. The music was bad and the atmosphere weird.

Wow. What an experience. New York has this intense, somewhat frightening pull on the people who live there. I’m a New York transplant and the thought of leaving is laughable at this point in my life. But I relish the momentary escapes — even if they’re just psychological, feeling like you’ve entered another era/​country/​dimension while still in one of the most densely populated cities in the world is an incomparable experience. That’s what Cienfuegos does for me.
Now, I’ve never been to Cuba, but the interior here certainly has features reminiscent of some of the other Latin American countries I’ve visited. It’s gorgeous teal color with visible paint strokes on the walls that make it seem somehow more authentic. Luxurious padded armchairs, wooden shutters, painted gates replete with light and flower arrangements, this place goes above and beyond ambiance-​wise. Though this place is fairly well-​known, it’s unmarked, making it feel even more like a getaway. Now that I’ve romanticized the allure enough…
I came here on an off-​night with a friend so we had no problem getting in. Though the food menu is fairly limited, everything on it (at least what we ordered) is scrumptious. Libations come first though, and to go with the spirits of things, we ordered a punch bowl (depending on the size of your party, several sizes are offered). Our waiter adamantly recommended the «Honey Badger», and not knowing any better, we went with his advice. WOW (keep track of those in this review). It’s important to note that I do NOT like rum. I’ll drink it, but the taste doesn’t appeal to me. But it’s possible I’ve drinking the wrong kind of rum… because this was all kinds of amazing. Ingredients: Flor de Cana 4-​year Extra Dry, Laird’s Bonded Applejack, Passion Fruit, Honey, Lime Jalapeño. Spicy, sweet — STRONG. I have a weakness for spicy drinks, so this was a no-​brainer for me — once my friend agreed to try it, there was no going back. Of course, to go with the vibe, the punch comes with tiny glass teacup-​type deals. But just because these cups are tiny does not mean that endless refills are a good idea — PACE YOURSELVES. This ish is dangerously strong.
Onto the food. We ordered the Coconut Shrimp and Guac w/​Plantain Chips to split, I ordered the Kale Empanadas for myself and my friend ordered the Media Noche Sliders. First off: guac w/​plantain chips is a brilliant idea. Chips are great, but this is just a good party idea in general. The salty/​sweet blend of the plantains goes perfectly with guac (especially this guac — yum). Kale empanadas are pre-​made (my friend originally wanted them sans cheese which wasn’t doable) but that doesn’t translate to sub-​par quality.
I should mention that you should be wary of the prices. My one complaint here is that our bill was kind of outrageous for two people. We could have done with one less small plate. I’d say it’s definitely a better idea to go for drinks and maybe order a bite or two — don’t make a meal out of the menu — your wallet will be left feeling depressed and empty inside. Which is not a nice feeling at all. But live and learn — this place is CALIENTE.

Love this place! Such a Cuban ambiance and it makes me feel like I am in the Dominican Republic all over again (I know, I know we have the same culture).
Last year I came with a few friends because we had an hour wait at Yuca Bar, a friend suggested that we go over to Cienfuegos to have a rum punch bowl. I made it a point that I needed to come back.
I came back after many months last week for my double 3’s birthday. An intimate dinner with my boyfriend well intimate drink dinner since it’s tapas style food.
We had the following:
— Guac with pineapple chunks and platano chips on the side (nothing says caribbean than pineapples and platanos).
— Ropa Vieja Mofongo (slowly cooked steak with peppers shredded into deliciousness and inside of deep fried plantain)
— Coconut Shrimp — again Caribbean is known for their plantains, mango, coconut and pineapples. This coconut shrimp with dip was delicioso!
We got the «Con un Amigo» Top Gun punch bowl and it was more than enough for the 2 of us, and it was worth the price too.

This place oozes romance, Cuban charm, and libations that’ll make you sink in that chair. Dimly lit, cozy, living room meets restaurant. Just relax, sip, consume, and enjoy the music in the background.
The service is attentive and kind, the food in small plates and divine. There isn’t a misstep here at all.
Love the narrow staircase you have to ascend, one of those «only in New York» moments as you enter into the restaurant.
Perfect date spot or to go with a chill (small) group of friends.
Rating: 4 crisp hard nipples under that Cuban spell.