Evelyn

I was surprised to see so many so-​so reviews of this bar, and so I wanted to balance the scales a bit in Evelyn’s favor because I’ve had so many great experiences there. I have a hunch it’s all about expectations… The name may make this place sound a bit frilly, but this is no late-​night «woo! girl» paradise. This is a place where chill people drink serious cocktails.
It’s also a great place to dip your toe in the water if you’re trying to transition from vodka cranberries to, well, drinks. If you order off the menu, you’ll be in good hands – Evelyn’s concoctions tend to be creative, experimental even, but never to the detriment of flavor. And if you’re going off menu, the menu provides a tongue-​in-​cheek (but totally legit) guide to asking your bartender for a real-​ass cocktail that will suit your tastes.
Also, they make a mean Sazerac, my preferred poison:) I haven’t tested the Corpse Reviver #2 theory on these guys yet, so if I get a chance to I’ll report back. (According to my totally unofficial, only-​ever-​tested-​by-​me, cockamamie theory, a Corpse Reviver #2 is the true test of a great bartender and/​or a great cocktail bar. If they can whip one up without blinking, I’ll be back for more)
The last time I was there, Evelyn had a DJ spinning vinyls – a lot of great, retro swing tunes. It was a tad loud perhaps, but not in an electronica kind of way. I was 99% happy about it.

I had to come here for a birthday party but will not return. Was not pleased with the cocktails. And bartender upcharges — menu says $ 12 and you get ‘charged’ over $ 16 (includes gratuity but still — they don’t even tell you this, and even then the math did not work with what bartender claimed was ‘tax plus only 18%). Someone else mentioned stale popcorn. Overall poor experience. Do not recommend given plenty of better neighborhood options.
Edited to add: DJ plays worst tracks. Tries to be hipster ironic chic with the ‘prohibition era’ brass band but it was too much and this was not an episode of Boardwalk Empire. And my rude, overcharging bartender was dressed like a Williamsburg flunkie, so the theme did not carry through at all…

Pop in for a quiet drink. For a Saturday this wasn’t a very poppin’ place when we were in, I think if you farted in the bathroom the whole place would hear it. Maybe it was an off day? BUT def has character and I like the venue itself. This couple to the right of me had it right: grab a booth in the side room and have intimate convo here. I imagine hosting a small private party here would be perfect too. DJ booth set up in corner so obviously they do turn it up !!! Rustic, colonial feel to the space. Very dark, dimlit. Interesting décor… Walls peppered with promiscuous artwork (ass and titttiiesssssss I love ittttt). House whiskey impressed me. Good bartender when we went
My one qualm: tips are included in price of drinks??? Where they do that at?!? Gratuity on a single drink??? Anywho, Pics below.

Are we drinking a little more? I could hardly decide.
Stepped into Evelyn on a Saturday night to escape the rowdy east village scene. It was empty and quiet.
Ordered the first drink on the menu (I forgot the name) but I’m not even sure if it even had alcohol in it.
Tasted like the most delicious passionfruit juice, which I dont mind. But if ya girl is paying $ 14 for a drink, I hope there better be liquor in it.
Disappointed in the cocktail after the high reviews on Unilocal.Perhaps Evelyn and I were just never meant to be friends.

This spot is amazing for cocktails specifically! They have an extensive drinks menu and spacious seating. Twice I’ve come past 10pm and there was no line and empty seats available.
The only one con I can think of is that they tack on 20% gratuity which can come as a surprise to many who aren’t expecting this.
Otherwise, this place is great as a low key hang out spot!

My review is based on rainy Monday night, when we had full attention of bartender :)
Would love to come back on a busy night to check out a dj and see how this place is when it’s really crowded

I came here for a birthday cocktail. Although my birthday date and I hadn’t planned on checking out this bar, it was there when we needed it (and when we needed an escape from the rain that decided to ruin my hair on my birthday!) I ordered a beautiful savage and the bartender (or mixologist?) made it with a smile though she did mention she was new on the job and it was only her second shift. Nonetheless The Beautiful Savage was just that: A wonderful cocktail, balanced, with a real kick as it is a jalapeño-​infused libation, served over a HUGE ice cube. How fancy. One was enough.
My date ordered one of the fancy beer+shot combinations they offer.
We really enjoyed the live DJ playing eclectic jazz, creating a very speakeasy, jazz club vibe in this bar.
So why not 5 stars?
The popcorn the bartender served us was super stale. Like why serve it at all? It really diminished the experience. But mostly the overbearing manager ruined our experience.
Once we entered the bar we settled at the corner in front of the window. The bar wasn’t crowded whatsoever so we placed our bags and coats on an adjacent stool. About 5 minutes after we arrived this guy approaches me and my date requesting we move over so there are two seats vacant, there’s only one. I refuse to be crowded against the wall so I decline his request and instead remove our bags and coats from the stool. He continues to ask us to move our seat, which becomes extremely annoying especially because the bar isn’t crowded nor did he approach us in a polite way. My date becomes super annoyed by this gentleman who eventually walks away with a quizzical look on his face, as if he’s surprised we’re annoyed. My date proceeds to ask the bartender about this joker as it becomes clear he isn’t a patron but works at the bar. She responds «my boss» in a really uncomfortable way. That’s how we learn that he was the manager.
Such obnoxious behavior coming from a person who’s suppose to be a «people person» especially when he stood at the opposite side of the bar and sort of gawked at us. Yikes.
It was extremely uncomfortable. So, due to the manager’s lack of social skills I shall not return to this bar. Though the cocktail I had, the Beautiful Savage ($ 13), was good it came with too much savage from the manager.

Evelyn is a prohibition themed bar. It was jam packed on a Saturday night, but we were able to snag seats by the door as soon as we entered. The speakers were blasting music that sounded like it came from an old school record player (static included). I thought it was a touch too loud especially during the staticky parts. The bar was located right in the center of the room and the layout allowed access from all sides. Even still, it took some time to flag down a bartender. I had the egg crème cocktail. I can’t remember what it was called but it had egg whites and espresso. It came in a tall glass with a metal straw. The metal straw was off-​putting and, I admit, I thought I’d get used to it, but I didn’t. Not sure what the purpose of that is, but I’m totally for reducing plastic and I guess it’s unique. The drink was pretty tasty, BUT (and this is a huge but) they included a 20% gratuity charge!!! Huh??? I’ve never known a bar to charge gratuity, let alone 20 freakin percent! I was morally outraged! That alone, is reason enough never to return. Throw in the vile bathroom, and you’ve got a definite no.

After much anticipation, I finally got a chance to try Evelyn, and my expectations were exceeded!
Tucked away on Avenue C, this quaint drinkery was perfect for a relaxed date night.
First off, the décor is really appealing — exposed brick, melting candle wax, dim lighting, classy atmosphere. This is not your typical rah-​rah Saturday night-​out type of bar. There’s actually two sides to the bar, both of which seem just as nice as the other.
The bartenders are some of the most attentive we’ve experienced, and even gave us a small bucket of complimentary spicy popcorn! As for the drinks, I tried the Sorrel punch (small) which was sweet and fruity. Aside from my girly taste, I recommend looking into all of the other high-​end concoctions they offer on their extensive drink menu. Drinks can run you up to $ 14.00 a pop, but they’re extremely well-​crafted.
Places like this are worth the trek all the way east. I wouldn’t mind going out of my way again to return.

kale margaritas totally are cool to drink during dry january, right? cool. gets kinda crowded on the wknds but what bar doesnt? communal tables are a nice touch and encourage u to make friends and stuff.

In the sea of overcrowded bars on a Saturday night in Alphabet City, Evelyn was a breath of fresh air. We were a group of 5 and were able to snag a table in the back room (though you still have to go to the bar to order your drinks). There’s a mandatory 20% tip added to the bill, but it’s clearly stated in the sassy menu, which has a section on what not to ask the bartender. I had the Beautiful Savage (mezcal) and Yardbird (whiskey). Both well mixed and not too sweet — just the way I like it.

Had a quiet drink here on Sat. Was sad to see we missed happy hour by one minute (didn’t know it was offered) and the bartender didn’t let it slide. I’d probably give 5 if he had. Altho this one guy seemed caught off guard when I asked if they could do a ginger smash and I got the impression if it wasn’t on their menu, this particular guy couldn’t adapt. In any case, they had some interesting drinks and I went with the Yardbird, my friend got something with jalapeño and we really enjoyed them. The music was excellent and the other bartender was a bit more personable, so we had a good time. You can do some fun barhopping between there and Summit.

Delightful! Great space, trendy but unpretentious décor and ambience, delicious cocktails and good spirits selection, reasonably priced. I had a very large group assemble here for my birthday, and the Evelyn team was extremely accommodating and kind. Everyone loved it. Can’t recommend enough!

How does this place have 4*?! SLOW service and they add 20% gratuity to your bill regardless, who does that?! Won’t be coming back in a rush

I don’t know. I thought this place was so cute when I first walked in. Then I had my phone stolen by a crackhead, which I found interesting since it was a pretty dead night and nobody seemed to notice. As I’m having a mild panic attack and needing to close my tab, the bartender tells me there is a $ 30 minimum on credit cards and that I’ll need to hang out and spend another $ 10. Which I found to be A. pretty uncompassionate and B. pretty shitty customer service. On the upside, the manager did go out of his way to interrogate some of the crackheads on the corner, so that sort of, but not really, made up for it.

Another gem in Alphabet City. What I love about bars in NYC or any big city is that there’s tremendous variety. And that includes bars that are serving great cocktails like Evelyn.
Some bars are small but some aren’t and Evelyn is one of those larger bars that I found and loved. There’s a nice large bar, a front room (by the entrance) a back room and there’s soft seating and booths. Great spot for a date or a group get together.
It’s a dimly lit bar so don’t bring grandpa unless you read his menu for him — but it makes for a fun place to hang out and relax a bit. Not too loud or rowdy but just the right amount.

Every time I come here I have a great time. I love the cocktail menu and the music. And the design of this place is right up there with the best on this street full of beautiful cocktail bars. Good place to start or end your night!

Was super into this place when I went, only downside was it was incredibly crowded and kind of hard to get a drink. The vibe is adorable though!

As far as drinks go, Evelyn is a solid four stars. Sipping the Le Bazaar, a refreshing and creative blend of saffron infused gin, suze, Moroccan bitters and bubbly, I didn’t have much to complain about. The suze imparts a bitter yet citrusy undertone that plays well with the dry gin. The saffron infusion is not very forward but is just enough to add another layer to the drink.
The ambiance inside is similar to many smaller cocktail bars: dark, candlelit, somewhat intimate but still good for small groups. The service was mediocre. I was there fairly early for a NY night and there were only a few parties in the bar. They didn’t come across as very attentive although they were not busy. It probably wouldn’t stop me from trying out one of their other libations in the future, but with so many great cocktail bars out there, I wouldn’t be back right away.

Alphabet City — walked into one of my cousin’s favorite bars on a Tuesday night with her and her boyfriend. I thought the double door entry was kind of strange, but maybe that’s how some of the businesses have it (I think I noticed some like that while walking around in other parts of the city).
The room is dimly lit with a very nice glow that sets around the bar and the rest of the space. I thought this bar would be a place for a hip and trendy younger crowd who are young professionals. We were one of the only groups inside, but I actually liked how quiet it was. There are two restrooms that are located right off the bar… to keep with the low lighting, there were candles as the light, but I thought it was weird how the lower portion of the door was open into the main room.
The menu was filled with creative names and combinations of specialty drinks. I forgot the name of my drink, but it had something to do with love potions… it was quite fancy… nothing I have had before. What looked to be foam and pepper with a shard of grass over the pink liquid. I also liked the seating — lots of room to stand/​mingle if this is a place where you could do just that. I’m sure its like that on crowded nights.