The Standing Room

Their main draw should be the artisan cocktails! The bar itself is super trendy, typical industrial LIC.
I had The Cucumber & loved it. It was spicy tequila, lime, cucumber & bell pepper, yum!
My gf had the Aged & wasn’t terribly impressed.
We both tried the ginger & it was very tasty.
I’m a sucker for artisan cocktails & this place catered to my bougie drink palette. Would def return for drinks!
Comedy was good too… the set-​up is rather tight & I’m 5’11″ so I wish I could’ve sat at an elevated table Bc the 2 top tables were smalllll.
It was a win though, perfect for a date. Perfect for a girls night.

Saw the great reviews on Unilocal and decided to give this place a try. Pros: intimate setting, great cocktail selection, reasonable prices on drinks, and no minimums. During the evening, we saw 5 – 6 comedians. 2 were good, 2 were okay, and one absolutely bombed (trust me no one laughed and it was terrible). Overall, a bit rough with several painful moments. This place is a good value but I would not visit again given the same line up.

Love the space over there, urban art everywhere so that’s always a thumbs up in my book. Very intimate setting and the waitress that served us drinks was super nice! Comedians are all really good definitely would recommend you bring a bit more money the drinks are a bit pricey but A1 worth it in my book. Date made it all the more amazing.

Very intimate bar! The comedians that night were funny! Waitresses were very attentive and friendly. The music they played during seating was super chill. I would totally come back again. Came here on a date. It went amazing! ;)
COCKTAILS WERE EFFIN’ BOMB!

Cute cocktails in a small intimate bar. I came by myself and tried a variety of drinks, each drink had it’s own character and I loved them all except maybe the «Beet» but that’s only because I’m not a fan of beets no fault on the bartender (Joji, which was great by the way). They also serve beers on tap and Japanese whiskey’s which was nice.
The comedy room behind the bar area is free on the weekdays and $ 10 cover on the weekends. Friendly staff and not crowded on a Tuesday evening. I’m extremely happy to have this new addition to LIC. I’m excited to see more cocktails on the menu in the near future.
Thanks Joji amazing drinks! and the manager I believe Sal? Thanks for the hospitality!
If you’re looking for a good artisanal cocktail in LIC, here it is look no further!

If you are looking for fun for your eyes and excitement for your lips this is the place to be. MUST TRY smoke for guys and flower for ladies and if you want some more fun try the cucumber. It will give you the kick you never had before also pineapple gives you the «burning» excitement

I came here with my friend to see a comedy show. The show had about 5 different comedians they were all pretty funny! Also the cocktails have a lovely presentation I ordered the cucumber and it came served in a bell pepper!

I usually meet up with friends in Manhattan for happy hour, but last night we decided to explore Long Island City and came here.
The Standing Room is a small bar and comedy club located conveniently on Vernon about 2 blocks from the 7 train. I honestly almost walked past this place, it’s very unassuming from the outside, though the inside has a cool modern theme to it. The place is small; you walk directly into the bar area, plus there’s a second room in the back with tables where they do the comedy shows. We got there around 5:30 so it’s wasn’t too crowded, though I heard it can get packed later on.
I was really interested in their cocktails because I heard they were intricately crafted, so I decided to go with the pistachio. The cocktail sat in a copper cup under a mountain of crushed ice and topped with some mint and a mini pine cone. The presentation was awesome and it tasted great. I really need to applaud the bartenders, the cocktails were a real work of art.
Definitely a great place to hang out, I look forward to coming back!

The drinks were super hip and cool, in both taste and presentation. I like the overall look and feel of the place, too. Finally, the drinks weren’t overly expensive and were quite reasonable considering the craftsmanship. Get the smoke, the flower and the truffle drinks. Best ones yet. I’ll definitely be back.

The Standing Room is awesome! First of all — you get amazingly creative and beautiful cocktails ranging from $ 10-​$ 14. These same drinks would cost at least $ 16-​$ 21 anywhere else in NYC. The space is designed really well and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. It’s my go-​to spot when I have guests in town. Great for a date night as well.

Expertly. Made. Drinks. The cocktail with beet juice and the cocktail with ginger were excellent.
Not wanting to party, we opted to ring in the new year with a comedy show at the Standing Room. As with most comedy, it’s a crapshoot. Despite the odds, two out of four comics were pretty funny. Not bad.
The somewhat small, narrow space with exposed-​brick walls was utilized to the fullest. There were no «bad» seats because the stage was elevated and centered against a wall in the middle of the room. Still, you should get there a bit early if a show is packed because they do pack people in and someone tall may sit in front of you at your table.
Parking really sucks around Vernon Boulevard, so plan accordingly if you drive.

Definitely one of LIC’s hidden gems. This place is a bar with a comedy club in the back (or a comedy club with a bar in the front?) Anyway you slice it, very cool place. We came here for the first time on NYE (for the bar, not the show) and the drinks were great, the atmosphere was awesome, and the service was friendly and top notch. We liked it so much that we came back a few nights later for the comedy show which we highly recommend. Funny comics, really good drinks, and a cool atmosphere. Be you a local or visitor, you will not go wrong by swinging by this place for laugh or a cocktail (hopefully both).

Amazing cocktails. I’ve tried literally 7 of the cocktails on their extensive list and all of them are unique and delicious. My favorite one is «Beets», it tastes so good and if you love beets like I do you’ll love this one. It also feels like you’re being healthy by drinking it? So that’s a plus ;) Also great service and very friendly and talented bartenders!

Awesome awesome place!!! Kinda small but Joji kept us lit with good conversation, vast knowledge of mixology and strong, enjoyable drinks! We had the truffle, beets, aged and the smoke and the experience of him making those were as awesome as the drinks themselves. I’m about to have the pistachio and I’m sure it’s going to be the bomb. Definitely will be coming back. Ask for Joji he’ll take good care of you. Didn’t catch the comedy show but there’s always next time. Cheers!

What a place! Front area is a bar that seats 8 ppl max and the space behind is a comedy «club». Tonight was «lollipop and leather» and seven comedians, a mix of both female and male comedians that all presented diverse materials. Well worth the $ 10 spent. Get some laughs and enjoy delicious well crafted cocktails along with the show.
As for the cocktails, we came here early before the bar got crowded so we can watch the mixmaster do his work aka «cocktail show»! Love the smoke, tomato, and beets cocktail. I surely will be back for more laughs and drinks.

Loved it! We visited and had super drinks that night along with free entertainment. It was a great choice and I’m glad we ended up here. All of their drinks are quite unique and come with a twist.

Recently opened awesome cocktail and comedy bar. We went back twice in a 4 day span after we discovered it. Each cocktail is a creative masterpiece. They are all well balanced, perfectly combined, and delicious drinks. We tried the Smoke, Aged, Grapefruit, and Banana.
The bartenders are kind, and mixology savants. They are passionate about their craft, and it really shows when they start preparing your drink. Ask them for a reccomendation, and they will give you something just as good or better than what you thought you wanted. Each cocktail is prepared to order, and the preparation is a show that will blow you away in itself. I’ve never gone to a place and wanted to buy another drink just to watch them make it. We were lucky the first time we went. We happened to see some special off-​the-​menu drinks being made as well which were really interesting. I will be inquiring about that next time I go.
The space is a bit cramped, and can only fit seats at the bar. They have a separate section in the back for comedy shows. The owner explained they get comedians from Comedy Central to come in so the shows are probably legit; however, I have yet to see one. You can book the shows in advance on their web site:
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Amazing drinks, great comedy. A perfect after-​dinner place in Long Island City.
I went last night with a friend. First we sat in front for a cocktail. On the menu, each drink is named by its main ingredient: I had a grapefruit cocktail and a pineapple one; and my friend had the cucumber cocktail (which was served inside a red bell pepper — literally inside) and the ginger cocktail, which may have been my favorite of the four. I’m a huge fan of Angel’s Share, where some of the bartenders hail from, and it’s great to bring that focus on quality ingredients and garnishes to LIC.
(BTW, it is kind of funny that this place is called Standing Room given its Angel’s Share connections. Angel’s Share is the only bar I know that does not allow standing. You have to wait outside the bar until the hostess can seat you.)
Then we went to the back to enjoy some stand-​up. No cover, no drink minimum, just a bunch of quick comics in succession ending before 11. We came in the middle and had the last table close to the door; it was a full room but everyone was seated, so a perfect-​sized crowd. They do just one set so you’re free to linger after the show is over.
Great place, I’ll be back. Welcome to the neighborhood Standing Room!

Angel’s Share alums come to burgeoning LIC with a lower east side décor and a limited but solid cocktail menu that touches different types of liquor from gin to vodka to mescal to bourbon. Had the Green Apple which was subtle but has a distinct green apple taste. Not a bad start. Second was Smoke which is rum and whiskey base with burnt cinnamon. One sip and I was already feeling it. This is coming from someone who can have 4 martinis in one night.
Great addition to Vernon which should draw the local crowd and perhaps Manhattanites on the 7 train since it’s just a stop away.
Good to see this bar anchoring Dutch Kills from the other side.

I’m a little annoyed with Standing Room, but since it’s so new, I’m trying to be fair and give it some time to work out the kinks.
The first thing that bugs me about this place is that there’s no real indication that it’s there, even if you’re standing right outside. No sign, no chalkboard, nothing. Doors are closed (which I totally get, it’s a hot summer day), but it seems like they have no interest in inviting anyone in. Unless you know it’s there, I can’t imagine stumbling in, and it really makes me feel like they don’t want you to be there.
In a similar vein, trying to simply figure out when they’re open is another whole ordeal. Their website has no hours, and along with the no-​sign on the door, there are no hours posted on their storefront. Inconsistencies abound when you look at Unilocal/​Facebook/​Google (one says they open at 4pm, one says 6pm, one says they’re open on Sundays, another says closed). Obviously for the most part it’s not a big deal, but I tried to stop by this place twice before I actually found a time that they’re open. If it wasn’t for the Good Beer Passport, I would have given up on them entirely.
Finally, like any new bar, they seem to be a little uncertain on what their vibe is going to be. In the front, it feels like a Williamsburg cocktail bar, but the back is a stand-​up space with a stage and mic set up. Not terrible, just a little strange. The bartender wasn’t particularly friendly when I came by, but nothing wrong with that either — just not a chatty guy.
Not to be too negative — this bar could definitely fill a hole in the neighborhood if they get themselves up and running smoothly. Their cocktail menu is very fun, and they seem to have a wonderful selection of liquors. Décor was a little too-​clean, if you know what I mean, but I’m sure in a few months it’ll feel comfortably lived-​in. But to give advice to the owners: try to make it easier for people to visit! A sign, some posted hours, and consistent information across all internet platforms would do a TON to help.