Slowly Shirley

Wow, this place is fantastic. Great ambiance and amazing drinks. Love the variety of items that they have to work with.

This place is very on pointe. Décor. Cocktails. Food.
Normally, id order something Banana-​ey because i love banana flavor (dunno why) but this place takes the cake for having a pandan flavored drink. It’s called cleopatra, and it looks like a vacation in a glass — and it will feel like a vacation in your mouth. A tropical vacation in your mouth.
The rest of the drinks i had here are really good, but really — hats off to Cleopatra. I love me some pandan flavor cocktail.

I LOVE going to speakeasy. Not sure if it’s because of the mysterious atmosphere and the exciting feeling of going to the unknown. Or, am I just an old soul that wants to drink in a quiet area.
It’s a confusing entrance because it’s connected to another bar? But once you finish roaming around and realize whereever you is not Slowly Shirley, eventually you’ll find a tiny corner with stairs to the basement.
They make you wait 10 – 20 minutes, even if there’s available tables.
Once you entered downstairs, they seat you and girll, this place will bring you back to the 1940s.
Drinks are good, they take their time making it. Service is attentive. Definitely would love to return back!

I followed my companions around the corner of a bustling west village hangout and approached a nondescript glass door. It was promptly opened for us by a short man inside wearing a fedora, a three piece suit, and an secret service earpiece. He smiled a great grin which revealed his teeth that he clearly treated like an Englishman. The hipster bodyguard led us downstairs, into the sleek and sexy bar room. I felt like James Bond. I wanted to order a martini, shoot a dirty stare towards the slender brunette in the corner flirting with the try-​hard bartender, and slip a dose of cyanide into the drink of the facially scarred Russian henchman next to me.
However, my espionage-​inspired dreams led not to intrigue and car chases, but instead, as they often do, to human love. The kind that can’t be broken by mortal forces. The kind that travels through time and space and stays welded together like a samurai’s armor. That is until an enemy’s blade pierces a sensitive subject with the poignancy of a Shakespeare monologue and the armor comes crashing down, resting at the feet of the vulnerable. Thus was what transpired that fateful evening over a tropically warm piña colada-​esque cocktail.
Emotions of the couple in question were thrown into a maelstrom of deceit. Alcoholics Anonymous took on a new meaning as the accused backed into a corner made of lies and the accuser power tripped over some straggling vines, left there mistakenly in a rush to cover up events of the past. They were not thorny or harmful. But that doesn’t matter when Mr. Bond lines up his barrel in between your wide eyes, shaking your head «no», but you know you’re wrong. And when that bullet comes screaming down at you, your lone recourse is to say «I’m sorry.»
The words are met only with disinterest as she delivers a scathing glance back towards the slender brunette. ⁵⁄₅ would spy on again.

I had a truly wonderful time at Slowly Shirley last night! I went with a cocktail passport, which has been hit or miss in terms of quality and service. Often we get a curt 2 oz pour, but at places that take what they do seriously, we’ve yet to be dissapointed.
The bartender at Shirley was a lovely guy. Friendly and knowledgeable, he mixed beautiful drinks and took good care of us even though we were clearly not going to order anything except our passport drink. He kept our cucumber water glasses topped up and made sure we could all enjoy ourselves.
The cocktail prices are too high to make this a regular ($ 15 – 20), but the friendly service, the delicious and well-​crafted drinks, and the comfortable vibe, are sure to bring me back for special occasions.

Slowly Shirley used to be my favorite cocktail spot but recently raised prices to as much as $ 24-​$ 30 per cocktail which is ridiculous. Service was poor and no vibe to speak of. Let’s send a message by boycotting this place.

Five stars simply because there isn’t a ridiculous line like the bar next door. Skip the line, come straight to this door, walk downstairs and have a imaginative cocktail in a more intimate setting!

What a find! Slowly Shirley is a beautiful downstairs bar with innovative and expertly crafted cocktails. The entrance is only accessible via the doorman, and once you get downstairs you feel like you’ve entered an elite but casual lounge. It’s dimly lit with a more adult crowd looking to sit down and enjoy quality drinks while catching up with friends or a date.
The cocktails selection was interesting with some drinks designed around a specific spirit. I had a few drinks:
In the Greenhouse — Bulleit rye infused with dill an celery bitters, which was like a light Manhattan that somehow tasted refreshing
Pavo Salvaje — rye with jalapeño tequila and mole bitters, which was almost a savory rye with a kick of heat in aftertaste
Village Bicycle– vodka, vermouth, kaffir lime, lychee, ginger, lemon – my favorite of the evening! Each sip was delightful and you can really taste the fresh ginger
Not to mention that each drink was gorgeously presented. It’s not cheap as our drinks ranged $ 16 to $ 21 each, but if you’re looking for a good cocktail with lovely service, Slowly Shirley will deliver.

Nice place for a group of around 4. Time to catch up and have some convo with friends. Old school vibe inside with good drinks. I asked for a mezcal penicillin which was not on the menu but they made me a really good one. Would def come back again.
Doctor P

Nice but far from special. Look for the street number above the door — sign is barely visible. Walk down one flight and turn left into the lounge. The ground floor space is a different bar. The lounge place is nice enough with a small bar on the left. Lots of tables. Cocktails menu is extensive but a bit too «complicated» for my taste. Even the classic drinks were tweaked, choosing between two versions of a Manhattan — one version had an habanero touch and the second was with ginger syrup. I could see offering one version with extra «heat» but not two.
Most cocktails were priced at $ 16 which is fair — they are using some top end spirits. Bartender was nice enough. I don’t recall the background music.
Quiet at 6:00 on a Friday. The upstairs bar was packed. I don’t plan on the second visit.

If someone told me that I could go to a New York speakeasy at 7pm on a Friday night with a party of 7 and without a reservation, I would probably respond with, «Um, are you already drunk?!»
And yet, there we were, doing what I thought was the impossible. After an initial scare from the line out The Happiest Hour’s door at street level, I realized that Slowly Shirley was actually wide open and there for the taking. My guy and I were the first to arrive so we were seated at the bar and were quickly served some delicious cocktails and a bowl of chips. When the third person in our party arrived, we were seated in one of the cushy banquet tables. As our party slowly filtered in, we enjoyed many servings of yummy burgers and fries (one order was good enough for me while my giant Dutchman needed two double cheeseburgers to sate his appetite). My first cocktail, the Five Finger Punch, was entertaining but a little to sweet for my taste. I perused their impressively selective menu, which had entire sections devoted to Manhattans and Old Fashioneds! My idea of cocktail heaven … I moved on to the Jerry Thomas (Reverse), which I really enjoyed.
So if I really loved everything, why just four stars? Well, once we were seated at the banquet, it was like an olympic sport to flag down a waiter and order. With such an extensive and inventive menu, I would have loved to try so many more cocktails but the waiters were so hard to catch that we just asked for another round just to be sure we got anything at all. We were there for quite some time and only had 3 rounds of drinks; we would have had 1 – 2 more rounds if the waiters were more attentive. The most attentive staff were the bussers, who diligently refilled our water glasses but could not take our orders. That was nice for us (though we would have rather had alcohol refills) but kept us sufficiently sober that we decided to just call it a night. Adding one more waiter for service on the weekends would bring this spot up to 5 stars. It’s such a waste that the only thing standing between eager imbibers and beautiful cocktails are the waiters themselves.

I’m a fan! Didn’t know what to expect when I walked down the flight of stairs but I was pleasantly surprised to suddenly be faced with an elegant yet homey lounge-​type area. There’s a bar all the way opposite the entrance and plenty of bench-​type seating with small chairs. Overall a very laid back, not in your face vibe. I can definitely see how this place is called «Slowly» Shirley.
The cocktails were very refreshing and had complicated mixologies. I liked all of the ones I tried. I started with the Plum Tucker, which was a delicious mix of plum sake and gin anchored with some Irish Whiskey. Then I tried the Village Bicycle, which was an excellent blend of ginger, gin and lychee. I also tried the two drinks my boyfriend ordered, which was one called the Ingrid-​something (forgot the last part of the name), a mix of gin and absinthe and other slightly bitter flavors and the Fu Tang Cobbler, which was a refreshing blend of gin, cucumber, peach-​among other ingredients. Although each drink was delicious, I thought the variety among them was a tad bit lacking.
Service was somewhat slow, but fit the theme I suppose. This is an excellent place to chill and drink some quality alcohol, especially because it’s low key enough that you don’t really have to wait in line!

To start this review, I must say the drinks here are amazing and the service is usually good. Then why only 2 stars? I have been here multiple times since it first opened last year. My husband and I enjoy going to the cocktail bars and have been to many in NYC. The drinks from Slowly Shirley are some of the best we’ve had. One of our favorites is «Quilty», an amazing well-​balanced drink of Islay Sctoch, Mezcal, and Bourbon. «Quilty» became our must-​have drink whenever we visited Slowly Shirley up until a recent visit when upon receiving the menu we noticed the drink inexplicably went from $ 16 to $ 21! That’s a 30% increase price for the exact same drink we had just weeks earlier for $ 16! We noticed they also raised the price for many of their other cocktails that were previously $ 16 — you’ll notice this when you pull up their menu on their website (I took a screenshot). They make wonderful drinks but with an inexplicable 30% increase on numerous drinks, no thanks!
As an alternative, Analouge, is a cocktail bar just a few blocks from Slowly Shirley and is one of my favorites. They have consistently made high quality drinks since it opened years ago. They’ve never raised the price (even lowered price for some drinks) in the two plus years I’ve gone there all while maintaining consistent, high quality cocktails and service. I was all too happy to make the short walk to Analogue after noticing the inexplicable price increase at Slowly Shirley as I’m sure plenty of others will too.

Likely the last review I write until after Christmas, so that honor surely should go to (Slowly) Shirley yeah?
«Surely you can’t be serious?»
«I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.» (because «Shirley» and «surely» sound the same… get it???)?!
While my drinking companion for the night probably wouldn’t know where the aforementioned banter comes from (by her own admission of not being particularly well-​versed in movie quotes), I have faith that a few of you readers of this review could tell me where these lines come from.
Either way, (Slowly) Shirley offers up a seriously splendid selection of cocktails for your enjoyment. A tightly bound menu has offerings that are split up very intuitively (Old Fashioned section, Manhattan section, Martini section, etc.). I’m quite a fan of the menu set up.
The other set up that I was pleased with was the interior. Having not been to a speakeasy for quite some time prior to this visit, maybe I was already predisposed to be being more impressed with this place than it rightfully deserves (only time will tell, but I am sure that I’ll be back here at some point). Prior to even getting in to the place, the door to the front was locked; the two of us were worried that maybe it just wasn’t our lucky day (it was a relatively young hour that Tuesday night). Thankfully, the doorman at The Happiest Hour informed us that «the dude will let you in, just give him a moment.» I guess doormen need to use the bathroom too…
Soon enough, we were greeted by the gate keeper, who told us that we would need to wait 10 minutes prior to being let inside. The first thoughts that came to mind were, «this place is probably packed right now.» Thankfully (but curiously at the same time) this wait was a ruse, for upon our entry, we noticed small groups and couples scattered about the space, with plenty of arm room/​breathing room between each camp. Why the wait? I’ve not the slightest idea… feelings of importance, airs of exclusivity perhaps? At any rate, we got in.
And back to the point I was trying to get to, two paragraphs ago… I really enjoyed the interior of the place. It was very space age classical (if that makes a modicum sense). A color palate that would fit in with an old-​timey den of a US President at the turn of the 20^th century (think wooden finishes with hints of burgundy…), some classic stools and round tables whose shapeliness would easily fit in a 20s diner, and angle-​less elongated circular layers of light fixtures that I believe to be the prototypical interpretation of what used to be thought of as «futuristic» (in a bygone era anyway) all contributed to the unique aesthetic of this place. Again, I was a fan.
I was also able to imbibe on two drinks, of which I quite enjoyed. Loose Lips Sink Ships was a fun gin based drink that went down smooth, while the Martinez (while gin based) had a more bitter finish, likely due to the combination with amaretto & absinthe. The drinks were opposite of one another (both in terms of taste and presentation… look at muh pics), but both quite tasty in their own right. The drinking partner got two drinks as well, one sweet with pear juice (???) and whiskey and the other with mezcal and spiciness; I had a taste of those as well, and I could certainly see myself drinking either one in the future.
A big thanks to my drinking companion for the night for finding this spot, prior to the night we visited I had never heard of the place. Rest assured, I know the name now, and a return trip is definitely warranted.

Slowly Shirley is a fancy little cocktail bar hidden way downstairs of another bar. When I went around 6pm on a Friday night it was quiet, we were one of a few people here. Cocktails are in the $ 16 range so we didn’t stay for too many drinks. The drink menu is extensive and the bartenders seem pretty laid back and cool. There are only a few seats at the bar but a lot of tables. The atmosphere is dark and classy, reminiscent of a speakeasy. The idea is that it is also supposed to feel hidden, which it does, although all you need to do is know to go down the stairwell, we were escorted there.

Surprised how much I liked it here!
Super elegant speakeasy vibe– entrance is to the right of The Happiest Hour and down the stairs. The hostess does her best to seat you as quickly as possible, frequently going up and down to see if there is any availability. I don’t remember waiting too long to be seated at the bar. On your way down, you’ll notice that The Happiest Hour patrons are roped off from the stairs that lead to Slowly Shirley, thereby dividing the two.
I had the Village Bicycle– strong but enjoyable. You can order some food at the bar too– the bartender informs the kitchen upstairs and tada!

I’m a speakeasy predator. That’s the bluntest way of putting it. So when I heard there was a brand new speakeasy in the West Village, I made plans to go almost immediately. Other than disappointingly slow service and questionably pricey drinks, this place was absolutely fantastic.
Came here on a Saturday night around 9. Because it’s fairly new, it was fairly empty when we arrived. It filled up more around 10, but not overwhelmingly so. Glad I got here before the expected craze starts. I like how Slowly Shirley is hiding in plain sight. Because it’s beneath The Happiest Hour (which is a very nice, consistently busy bar itself), the door just looks like part of the accompanying bar. I’m not sure if this will change as Slowly Shirley becomes more established, but after asking the bouncer for The Happiest Hour how to get into Slowly Shirley, you will receive a quick, hushed response about which door to enter. Anything that’s even superficially secret is enticing to me, so I was very very happy with this.
Slowly Shirley gives off a very retro vibe. Definitely one of those speakeasies that can transport you into another era. The bartenders are dressed in very classy maroon get ups, the waitresses are flapper-​esque — definitely a prohibition era-​vibe going on here. BIG fan.
So, I mentioned the bad service. Not much else to say about this. Everyone who works here is perfectly nice, but we had to wait an egregiously long time for everything. Even the check. Few things are more irritating than really wanting to leave a place but not knowing if you’ll ever receive your card back… le sigh.
So, the drinks are pricier than most speakeasies (only a dollar or so more, but cocktails are really damn expensive to begin with). That said, everything on the menu is creative and yummy. My first drink (pictured) was a sight to behold. I ordered the «Cleopatra», because it looked like a very interesting combination of ingredients (Avua Prata cachaça, bison grass vodka, pandan extract, banana cordial, lime). What I didn’t realize upon ordering it, however, was that I was about to receive a work of art. I can’t really describe what in the world this tasted like. It was tropical, sweet, tangy… the just a flavor explosion, for lack of a better phrase. If you’re looking to be adventurous, this should certainly be on your radar.
The second drink I ordered was the «Loose Lips Sink Ships» (Chief Gowanus New Netherland gin, cranberry liqueur, Amaretto, orgeat, Punt e Mes, absinthe). Though less appealing to the eye than my first drink, this baby was just as tasty. In a completely different way, though. It’s boozy and rich — something to sip slowly as opposed to down far too quickly because there’s a straw involved (i.e., my first drink). I wish these cocktails weren’t all $ 16, but this place is absolutely worth a visit.

During a recent visit to The Happiest Hour, I was told I needed to try the speakeasy-​ish place downstairs. Just a few days later, I came back to do just that. It was a pretty low-​key vibe and thankfully, fairly empty even at peak late Friday hours. In my opinion, the speakeasy concept can be a bit gimmicky and tired if executed improperly, but I really enjoyed my time here. The bartenders were all dressed for the occasion (kinda like old school Hollywood meets Prohibition-​Era) and were very nice and patient with the orders and all the questions we had.
I kinda went out of my comfort zone and tried the Quilty, which was a mix of mezcal, bourbon, scotch, espresso, and sherry. Hoo boy, it was weird and super strong, but it actually came together quite well. I can’t say I love the prices here ($ 16 per cocktail), because once you factor in tip, you’re almost paying $ 20 for one drink. Yes, they are pretty high quality drinks, but think of what you can buy with $ 20. In essence, you are paying for the privacy and the slightly elevated ingredients, but it’s up to you to determine whether it’s worth it or not. Just the cheapskate in me talking.
We didn’t order food, but they have a selection of snacks and sandwiches from Happiest Hour, including the burger. I can tell you for a fact that the salt and pepper broccoli (which I’ve had at Happiest Hour) is one of the better dishes in the menu, and is one of the few non-​meat items that actually can hit the spot when you’ve been drinking.
I realize the irony of my posting this review will likely only contribute to this place becoming more and more crowded, but I guess my parents did teach me to share with others (grumble). Come here for a delicious, expensive cocktail in a private, intimate space.

I tried this new speakeasy for the first time yesterday. I have to say i enjoyed the experience. The drinks are delicious. I had the Monkey Man and a stirred drink I forget the name of. Both were excellent. My friend had a drink that was made without ice. They have a while selection like that. It was very good. The atmosphere is amazing. Very 1940’s. I will definitely be back.

Summary:
This is the newest addition to New York City’s speakeasy repertoire and it has become one of my favorites right off the bat. Wonderful ambience, yummy cocktails, and excellent service are the triple threat.
The Drinks:
Though I forget the names of the drinks, I’ll do my best to describe them. For my first round I had a grapefruity/​spicy drink which was incredibly refreshing. Second I had the boozy blood orange drink which was very reminiscent of an Old Fashioned, an absolute staple. My friend had the blue curacao based drink which was very interesting and slightly bold. ⁴⁄₅
The Food:
Didn’t order anything, but will have to check back here to see it.
The Atmosphere:
Very 1940’s old Hollywood. Relaxing ambience, low warm lighting make this place very inviting and cozy. I came here with a friend early on a Tuesday night so it was fairly empty but I could see how this place can fill up. I want to check it out on a weekend night. Already one of my favorites. ⁵⁄₅
The Service:
The servers were quite knowledgeable and recommended some fantastic drinks. They were very inviting, welcoming, polite, and friendly. Fantastic! ⁵⁄₅