Little Branch

No matter what your choice of spirit is, the bartenders here do not disappoint. Their cocktail menu is wonderful, but I suggest going with «bartender’s choice». Just tell them what spirit you want and what taste you’re in the mood for and they will whip something up that will knock your socks off. My boyfriend and I brought my brother here, when he came to visit, and the two of them really put the bartenders to the test and they really delivered.

Perfect date spot with a speakeasy feel. Amazing drinks! Go before 9 to beat the crowd on a Friday.

I went there with my IDNYC. The doorman didn’t accept it, which is the first time that I confronted in bars in NYC. Then the doorman started to say that the government issue this ID for illegal immigrants, insisting that I must not have any valid documentation etc if I am carrying this ID. When I questioned him, he went on a rant about the mayor being a communist and undocumented immigrants. He never did tell me any reason other than this. Regardless of the validity of this ID at a bar, nobody should be subject to this sort of discrimination and told that they are illegal, lest of all when they have a real ID. I wish that nobody else must face this treatment and if so, make it know publicly as racists must be called out.

Great speakeasy. Cocktails are expertly made and the bar keep can surprise you well if you say your liquor of choice.
Seating is limited but once you get a table it’s definitely a great spot to chat — not too loud but not quiet either.
Only knock is that it is cash only.

A classy place for cocktails.
It’s been a number of years since I have been here but it left its mark on my heart. I love this Speakeasy.
Great cocktails to be enjoyed by adults in an awesome atmosphere. Perfect corner location with a nondescript entrance. Little Branch to me is what New York City is all about.

***Custom made drinks, date night ambience, speakeasy***
Came here on a Friday night for some drinks. It’s very dark once you enter the basement floor. I ordered a custom made drink where the bartender made a drink based off of what I like. I was impressed and enjoyed the drink.

Wow, an authentic and beautiful little speakeasy in the west village. This speakeasy called Little Branch is very obscure due to its history. But the door was quite cute and subtle though. We arrived five minutes before opening and we were seated promptly when the doors opened. There is a bouncer who checks IDs at the top of the staircase before you head downstairs to the bar and seating area.
Now this is an expensive place. $ 16 for one drink and we ordered 6 drinks, 2 for each of us. They do give us free snacks like nuts or pretzels. But here are the six drinks that were ordered that night:
Dark and stormy
Business up front
Oliver Twist
Aberlour scotch
Tom Collins
The Bennet
The ones I personally ordered were the Business up front and the aberlour scotch. Because I wasn’t sure what I wanted, the bartender decided for me by giving me the Business up front during our first round of drinks: The business up front had honey, vodka, and something else. Nonetheless, it was sweet which is what I wanted and it had plenty of alcohol. The honey flavour came out strong, very soothing for a sore throat. I had sips of our drinks and while I can’t remember what they taste like, they all were good. None was watered down. Because it’s a speakeasy and not a bar, the drinks are more of a work of art and thereby calling for the high price.
The second drink was some aberlour scotch, made neat. It was warming, deep, and perfect on a cold night. Service was superb as the waiter came often enough to make sure we were comfortable and had enough to eat and drink. Little Branch was an intimate and quiet experience, and I can’t wait to go back.

I liked it. I just didn’t love it.
Well made cocktails. Price tag of $ 16 cash only is a bit steep but one can rationalize that this is NYC and they are carefully crafted cocktails.
They also have the prohibition theme down as it’s in a dimly lit basement with period relevant music playing in the background.
I told the bartender what I wanted. He said it wouldn’t taste good and suggested something else. My drink was OK, but it was rum based and I usually don’t drink rum which wasn’t part of our conversation. His attitude was on the colder side and he seemed to just want to bang out a drink.
We were able to get a seat in one of the booths. Service was overly attentive where we felt like we weren’t drinking fast enough. There were two girls and one came over to ask us if we wanted more drinks every 3 minutes. Service is important but not to the point that you feel rushed to keep ordering rounds or leave.
Like I said before — I liked it, just didn’t love it. Maybe next time I will try with a smaller group and not on a Saturday for a more intimate vibe.

Cool place with well-​crafted drinks and stiff price at $ 16.00 a piece. We arrived early and were led down to a dark basement to our booth. There was complete darkness but for the flickering light of a single candle on each table. The ambience is perfect for this type of establishment.
The drinks were excellent and the waitstaff was attentive but not overbearing. Ask for roasted nuts if you want to munch on something in between your drinks.
So many good choices and if you can’t decide, ask the bartender to whip up something.
I give five star rating to places that not only impress me with their arts (paintings, sculptures, food, drinks, you name it) but also make me desperately want to come back. I want to be in a dark corner in the basement of little branch hugging one of their drinks right now.

When we finally got in to the speakeasy after a 20 minute wait, we found that there was another waiting list for table service. Kind of a strange system if you ask me. The common bar area was also extremely tiny, which kind of forced us to put our name on the waiting list.
However, after the first round of drinks (old fashioned and whiskey sour), my wife and I decided to leave. Both of us didn’t enjoy our drinks… possibly because of the cheap whiskey used (I think it was four roses). Cash only and $ 16 per drink … ouch.

This spot is so well hidden, I walked right past. It all adds to the ambiance, which personally I wasn’t into. You are led down the stairs to a dark basement with an old school vibe. It even smelled like the dust had been settled there since 1920.
If you arrive early enough you can grab a booth and a waiter takes your drink order. Their machine was broken so I could not order mulled wine. Instead I chose the moscow mule. The ginger beer was crisp and it was strong — so brownie points there.
CASH ONLY. $ 16 per drink. Yowza.
Overall, not my thing. But better for diners into the experience.

Little Branch, I blame you for that hangover. I blame you in the best of ways.
Came to this popular and *trendy* West Village bar/​lounge with a couple friends on a Friday night and got elegantly drunk.
The cocktails were so well-​crafted. These bartenders clearly know what they’re doing. They certainly weren’t cheap, but for the inventiveness and quality, I’m down.
Tip: Come early. We waited on line for a while, though that’s par for the course.

This was place was a lot of fun. Maybe because its a speak easy? It would have been hard for me to find if not for my friends knowing the way. Its just a door on the corner. Apparently later it was pretty busy and there was a line outside which makes it fairly easy (and reportedly kills some of the magic). Its annoying that its cash only… and doesn’t have a ATM. I don’t care about cash only. I would at least like a place to get cash. Whatever, I used Venmo with my friends.
The only annoying part is my wife came late to join our group and they wouldn’t let her in. There were 4 people in front of her who didn’t care if she cut them but the bouncer said no. He also said it was «too crowded.» Granted, I don’t know their rules and regulations, but there was space. We were also a group of 10 so whats one more person. After texting (which was hard due to poor service since the bar is underground) I went upstairs and asked the bouncer to let me wife in. To his credit he said «I can’t separate love» and let her in, but only after she waited a few minutes in the cold by herself for no reason (what bar doesn’t let the lonely single blonde girl in?!?).
We had drinks. It was more fun to watch them make then to drink but they weren’t bad.
The end.

So I’ve had little branch bookmarked for quite sometime now, figure since mid summer? For whatever reason whenever my buddies and I would make an attempt to come here, it was either closed or reserved for a private party. Last night– we were finally able to come in on a random Tuesday night.
Once you’re in, you notice the dim lighting and small, intimate atmosphere. Definitely not the best places for large groups (no more than groups of 4, 5 maybe). Since it was myself and two others, we decided to just stand at the bar. First thing that hit us was CASH ONLY. Yup, one of the best cocktail lounges in NYC doesn’t accept cards. mind blown. But we were carrying some cash so we were able to squeeze away with one drink.
They do have live music here which is a nice touch, but I can’t really judge the drinks since we were only able to have one drink each. I had a pisco sour and quite frankly, i’ve had better. Nothing about this one amazed me the way it should’ve considering all the hype behind little branch. Maybe I came with a tad bit high expectations? Possibly. But I’m definitely going to have to come back here another time and re-​evaluate my feelings about this place. And yes, i’ll bring enough cash to order more than just one drink.

I came here on a Tuesday night and got seated right away, this little hidden gem had live music playing all night and the drinks were delicious! I started with a improvised mojito– delicious except there was way too much ice I felt like I got two sips out of it :(next I told the bar tender what I liked, minty and fruity and as long as I don’t taste the alcohol I don’t care what is in it. they gave me a old Cuban which was really good it was different from anything I ever had before last but not least I had the best drink of the night. Bees knees with honey SO GOOD! I would highly recommend this drink, they can probably add a twist to your liking. My friend started with an old fashioned then got a Absthine? and last but not least a don Lockwood. His favorite was the son Lockwood. This place is cozy and the tables are tiny and dimly lit with a candle. I liked that the bathrooms were clean and the waiters were friendly. I just wish they accepted card!
Service — 5 stars
Drinks– 5 stars
Décor– 5 stars

Little Branch holds a special place in my heart because unlike most of the places I’ve reviewed on Unilocal,I first came here long before I joined the site that has since become a dangerously large part of my life. Speakeasies were still fairly new to me — I had been to two (Angel’s Share and Raines Law Room) — prior to my first trip here, and was absolutely enamored with both. Little Branch was no exception. After coming here last night, I immediately remembered why I’ve been dying to return here. Unlike a lot of the speakeasies in the city, this place really really feels like one. Let me explain…
Like Raines Law Room, Dear Irving, Death + Co and the like, Little Branch isn’t hidden within another establishment — the entrance is simply an unmarked door accompanied by, yes, a bouncer. Unlike the aforementioned speakeasies, however, the exterior of this lovely little spot seems pretty run down. No glossy wooden doors here.
The interior is just as satisfying. It’s hard to put into words, but this place is equal parts sophisticated and rough around the edges. The bar area isn’t particular nice. It’s quite small relative to the bar setups at other speakeasies, but good things come in small packages, I assure you. Before you’re seated at a table (there’s usually a wait), there’s what I can only call haphazardly-​organized (that seems like an oxymoron but go with it.) seating options that you can plop yourselves down on while you wait. My first time here, I ended up sitting on some random steps towards the right side of the bar. Last night, it was the small, plush bench (not sure what else to call it) right by the hostess. You make do. Dim lighting, 1920s music playing softly in the background, bartenders who look like they’re constantly having a grand old time… it’s immersive. Which is what I look for in a speakeasy.
I’m going to echo what pretty much everyone else has said here: ignore the menu. The menu isn’t even that interesting, honestly. Just go with bartender’s choice. Honestly, I’d recommend doing this at most speakeasies — for at least one drink. The guys behind the bar here are master mixologists so ya just gotta have faith. Last night, I got the East Side (pictured), which was the product of my request for a gin-​based, herbaceous drink. Refreshing and delightful. You might not find «_​_​_​_​_​— infused such and such» here, but I don’t see that as a con. These drinks are refined and made with care. If you’re curious like me, just watch the bartenders for a bit. They’re efficient, knowledgeable and personable — what more could you ask for? Truly lovely.
Other notes:
–I wouldn’t necessarily call this place «sexy», but it certainly is intimate. It’s dark and candlelit — perfect date environment. I’ve only been to Little Branch with friends, but it seems like it’s frequented by couples (prospective or actual, I don’t know) often.
–Little Branch is right off the 1 line, which is incredibly convenient for me. I’m a diehard west-​sider, so I can get here without any subway headaches (though it’s NYC, so ya never know)
–Cocktails here *are* pricey ($ 15-​$ 16), so keep that in mind. And CASH ONLY!

Firstly, this speak easy has one of the nicest door men I’ve ever met.
The space is dark and somewhat small which is why they are so controlling on letting people enter.
There are a few tables but we stood near the bar. They have a menu with craft cocktails, none of which contained vodka. I asked the bartender to make me whatever he wanted using vodka. Without saying any more he made me a fancy version of what I always order– vodka soda. I was elated! It was vodka soda with some cucumber and whatever else he did to make it fancy but it was very good and not sweet.
FYI– The bar is cash only despite the NYC prices.

We came here after our original plans for Employees Only went down the shitter when the bouncer and one of the guys got into each other’s faces in 30 degree weather. Yeah, no.
Goodness, can this place get any grungier? I don’t have a problem with the genre, per se, but when the location of the bar is in a dank basement with minimal lighting and stickyish tables the ambiance sort of takes a toll on your well-​being.
We didn’t stay too long, as a result. I ordered one of their gin based drinks with lemon. Pretty good. Then I ordered another classic, the Dark & Stormy. SOLID. Drained that bitch in minutes.
I probably wouldn’t come back unless my original plans for another bar went south, like what happened this night. Not many drink choices, and most of them veered towards generic.
Cash only.

Little Branch is everything you’d want an old school speakeasy style cocktail bar to be. Great cocktails, great music, great vibe. It’s easy to feel that you’re transported into a completely different era here. Definitely a favorite in town.

One of my favorite speakeasies in the city. Sitting in the basement of a corner white cottage house with a little black door as its entrance, this lovely 1920s style cocktail bar is cozy and dim with candlelights as its primary source of lighting. The noise level was medium with jazz and sometimes light modern musics playing in the background making it perfect for any types of conversations. The staffs are friendly, cool and attentive regardless how busy it gets. The drink selections are unlimited and they’ll customize your drinks however you like, top with perfect quality.
This is a CASH ONLY bar. No password, just ID prior to entrance. Snacks available upon request. Weekends are usually more pack than weekdays with a short line outside. The wait during the weekends are usually no more than half hour

A great little speakeasy that’s perfect for an intimate date (who cares about the noise) or to meet up with some friends. It’s small and crowded but a lot of fun. I love this place!
From the exterior, you would not think Little Branch was nestled in a basement, but it is. Once you make your way down the stairs, it’s like walking into a speakeasy from the 1920s. It’s dark, cozy and kind of sexy. The walls are scattered with black and white photos and you’ll probably find some instruments sitting nearby. The kind of place Hemingway or Fitzgerald would frequent. :)
The bartenders here are dressed very chic with their cute little vests and suspenders. Oh and they make some really great drinks too! There is a small cocktail list available (a man’s man type of list) but they’ll customize a drink however you want it. I’ve never had a Swizzle before so I asked them to make mine with vodka (instead of gin or rum) and also to make it with cassis. It wasn’t too strong (which was fine) but more on the refreshing side. I loved tasting the bits of berries towards the end! A good drink to keep you cool since it’s so stuffy inside. My friend ordered a Pisco Sour, which was delicious. HELLO LOVER. Another first for me, so I ended up ordering one too. Those Peruvians knew what they were doing when they invented their amazing brandy! Yum!
Seating is pretty limited so you’ll have to put your name down for a table and wait. The tables are these small booths, off to one side, that will fit up to four people. At least that’s what our table looked like. The booths have coat hooks (which is great during the winter) so you can hang your stuff to make more space. Look under your table if you need to charge your phone because you may get lucky with an outlet. ;) There’s also some counter space, opposite the bar, where you can just stand and mingle with other patrons. Most people are standing anyways since it’s usually packed.
The bathroom is right by the counter space/​standing area and it’s co-​ed. It’s small and dimly lit (like the rest of the bar) but it’s cute and kept fairly clean. For all you tall people, watch your head! I like that Little Branch provides several, clean hand towels as opposed to using paper towels. Very eco-​friendly! They also use cloth coasters instead of paper, which is AWESOME. My inner Martha Stewart was totally geeking out, lol!
The staff is really nice and work very diligently, despite how busy they are. The hostess working the night we were here was constantly refilling everyone’s water glass throughout the evening. I forget her name but she was wonderful. I would say the only downside to this place would be the fact that it’s stuffy (they only have a fan) and it’s a cash only bar. Even so, I’ll still patronize Little Branch. :)
Remember Unilocalers, CASH ONLY!

Little Branch
NY Manhattan East Village
10pm Friday 5^th June 2015
Five Stars
I have been here three or four times and each time its been a great time. There was a line but it went pretty fast. We ordered some classic cocktails: Old Fashion, Sazerac, Manhattan, and Negroni ($ 14 Each). Its cash only. It is small place but a fun vibe. If you haven’t been, check it out. I like it most because its much less pretentious than some of the other places.
Also there are a lot of reviews with Live Jazz but not once have seen or heard any bluesy notes.