The Guthrie Inn

This is a wonderful, simple local joint. Some of the reviews on here have complained about the size – it is certainly a smaller-​sized bar – but I think that adds to its charm. (So does the small, candle-​lit, single bathroom.) The two bartenders that I’ve met so far were both very friendly and willing to make me less than traditional cocktails. The mysterious pizza special mentioned on the chalkboard in the front room next to the bar is delicious – they order it from a pizza place nearby so it comes piping hot. The well-​drinks are a little pricey for the quality, but nothing too crazy for NYC and I think generally worth it for the ambiance (especially if you can grab the table in the front room right next to the door).

I came here for a couple drinks with friends a few weeks ago and was excited to see there was a cocktail bar in the upper east. There is a tiny bar up in the front room and saloon-​style seating (think wooden chairs, barrels, etc) and tables in the back.
I was pleasantly surprised to see drinks were in the $ 10 range. Score! But found that the drinks were just okay; there was nothing really special about them. I wouldn’t venture up here just for this bar, but might be something to peruse if you’re in the area.

This is a great spot. 10 out of 10 would go to again. The owner is really hot. Curious if he’s good in bed

This is the best keep secret on UES it is almost a speakeasy. I love this place my new neighborhood hang out.

Great local place for a beer and mixed drinks. Owner/​bartender is super cool. One of the best sangrias I have ever had. 2 for 1 draft beer during your happy hours. Nice easy going atmosphere. Bring your group here, you will have a good time drinking.

Hole in the wall, low key bar. Great for quick after work drinks before heading home. Bartender and other staff are fun, good-​humored. I did not have any mixed drinks– just beer and whiskey neat. Free chips for munchies.

Good
Local
Cocktail joint
on Upper East.
Disappointing beer list. Seating for groups.

Want a good example for «quiet greatness»? Look no further than the Guthrie Inn. There’s nothing fancy about this speakeasy-​esque spot. There’s very little in terms of decoration, dim lighting, only one bartender, and a menu that doesn’t exactly scream «high end cocktail bar». But don’t let all of that deceive you — this place is, wait for it, QUIETLY GREAT!
Came here on a Thursday night to find it quite empty. I went with a fellow cocktail nut, so when he recommended the Guthrie, I figured his word was good. We quickly got two seats at the bar and started quite the journey of a night.
We’re both the type of person who loves to schmooze with bartenders. Not in a weird/​stalky/​creepy way, just out of general interest/​curiosity. This guy, Francisco, was awesome. We talked all things Manhattan drinking culture. And eventually, after studying the menu for a few minutes, I participated in said culture. And though the menu doesn’t stand out as being exceptional, the drinks were still close to top of the line.
I can’t remember the name of the first drink I ordered, but if I’m remembering correctly, it had bourbon, amaretto, sweet vermouth and brown sugar in it. Thick and syrupy sweet. If the combo souds generally appealing to you but you’re not into sugar rushes, our new friend Francisco recommends passing on the sweet vermouth, or just adding a little splash. BUT the star of the evening was the Sharpie Mustache. I remember the name because… how could you forget a name like that? I was wary of ordering it because the base seemed so outlandish to me — gin and rye. I mean, I’m not saying I’m an expert mixologist or anything, but I would never think to combine those liquors in a cocktail. At least not if I’m intending on drinking it…
But our pal Francisco assured me that this drink was THE drink to get. He told us that he drank so many of them when he first started working at the Guthrie that he’s sick of them at this point. I don’t know how you could possibly get sick of this drink, but then again, I’m not a bartender. As the name suggests, this is SHARP. Like, eye-​poppingly sharp. Like, I think my eyes actually did one of those cartoon-​bulge type things.
Okay, I wouldn’t be a good Unilocaler if I withheld one of the negatives. At one point, our new friend left. I’m not exactly sure where he went. And by our new friend, I mean the bartender. As in, the only person working there. So… be glad I’m not a klepto?
Lastly: We ended up befriending another lovely individual that night, who was none other than Francisco’s girlfriend. You know when you have one of those nights that seems like one of those classic New York experiences? Thursday night was just that. Sometimes I forget that New Yorkers are not just balls of animosity that don’t give a damn about anyone else but themselves — it’s easy to get jaded here. The purpose of that little musing is to say that we befriended an awesome couple, and before the night was over, we did shots of Jack with them. Cheers, New York!

Delicious cocktails and chill vibe. Lively but not too crowded. Lovely bar with great attention to detail!

This place was a fun little place – I like it for being small and intimate. It gives the speakeasy vibe. Very chill and a cool place to hang out. However, please note it is small! The drinks are yummy but a little pricey (or – similar to what you would see in other places). Went during happy hour and you can get $ 3 off well drinks or $ 5 Jameson shots. There’s a smaller space in the back which could probably fit in a larger crowd of friends (maybe 5 or so). I would recommend checking it out though!

Dillon (the bartender) and the bar is an awesome place to visit! He is a mixologist and the drinks are really topnotch! I live next door and this will definitely be my new hot spot. the music is on point, sometimes 70s vibe and other times lil Kim rap. totally worth the visit… take a trip and you might even meet the owner ;)

So I like this place but the size ruined any happiness I might have had. I ordered the easy peasy during Happy hour and was pretty tipsy by the end of it. Happy hour means $ 5 jameson shots, $ 3 off well, and $ 2 drafts, which because the bar is small means one beer. Happy hour does not mean half off cocktails, which are $ 12. When i say it’s a small bar, it’s literally 8 stools, 2 group booths, 1 toilet, and one bartender. I know Manhattan is expensive and most places are pretty tight but you can’t drink comfortably or at all being elbowed in the back. But there are free Doritos so there’s that.

Awesome drinks in a speakeasy vibe environment. The place is super tiny but never feels too packed. I love their sharpie mustache drink. But then again I’m a sucker for anything with dark brown yummy liquors.
If you’re looking for a chill night with a few friends come here and grab a seat by the bar. There’s like 8 spots for butts max. On the other hand, if you’re looking to dance I’d go elsewhere.

Really cool place to go for a drink after a grilled cheese at Earls. You can easily walk by this place without knowing its a bar. It’s a very small space with a little back room area that’s pretty cool. The size is perfect for what it is though. It fees a little like what a hidden speakeasy would have been like during prohibition. Pretty cool. They make some really good cocktails too. If you tell the bartenders the things you like in a cocktail, they will mix you up something really good.

Pull hard.
Their front door can be tight. You may need to add a little gusto to get it open.
The Guthrie Inn is a virtual speakeasy, all dim lighting, light seating, and a definite lack of obvious signage. And they serve cocktails. It’s a short walk from the 96^th Street Lexington station; you’ll be sipping fizzy there faster than you can bat your eyelashes.
We ended up here accidentally while lamenting the early close of a neighboring bar[1]. I don’t know what inspired us to check next door, but luckily we did. During our inaugural visit, a lone bartender[2] served us at the bar, introducing me to a whiskey I’ve never had. His pour was mean. He might’ve told jokes.
Stop in solo, with a date, or with a few friends. It’s that kind of place.
[1] Earl’s Beer and Cheese, if you’re curious. It was a weeknight, so it probably wasn’t fair to lament as hard as we did.
[2] I’ve since forgotten the identity of our mystery bartender, but the current bartenders are just as welcoming.

The tiniest, cutest, jazziest hole in the wall bar I’ve been to since…2012.
The exposed piping and dim lighting makes the space feel industrial/​gothic/​romantic. If I time traveled from the 1800’s, I’d probably dig a place like this.
The antique chandelier is gorgeous and a nice piece to stare off to.
It’s fun to bounce from here from Earl’s after some casual eats and beer to something a little more upscale, but still mildly casual if necessary (you can barely seem anyways.).
It’s in a strange location, but ideal for the Mount Sinai crowd.
Charming — I give it a 4.

Speakeasy type bar on the nether regions of the UES that you can occassionally find me face down at. In a good way!
Not much up this way other than the terrific Earl’s Beer and Cheese. It’s right next door and the area it’s in looks like an underdeveloped country. The views across the street are basically of the subway heading underground and some apartment buildings. That being said it’s a nice reprieve to hide away in this dark and seemingly obscure spot for an exceptional cocktail.
The Guthrie Inn, though small in stature, packs quite a hefty punch when it comes to proper libations. You might find me sprawled out on the cozy leather couches in the darkly lit back room sipping on a Sidecar, Old Fashioned, and even a Sharpie Mustache. The classic cocktail list is one that takes a page out of the Roaring 20’s to Maltese Falcon era of men wearing fedoras and the ladies in demure vintage dresses. The bartenders are quite the mixologists with a wonderful encyclopedia of drink recipes stored away and ready to go at your request.
Every drink I have encountered here has been excellent, and never have regretted any choice that passed my lips. The place itself exudes a relaxed vibe, and the patrons here reflect that as you won’t find the frat boy crowd that populates a lot of the UES bar scene. Cocktails are in the $ 10-​$ 12 range, and the menu of options reads more like quality over quantity. Decent bourbon list to choose from too. Great choice to bring a date if up this way. Not much by way of seating but the front area also opens up a bit to let in some fresh air.
Chill atmosphere. Quality cocktails. A bit sexy and seductive. Earls Beer and Cheese next door. Whoa! What is happening up here on the far Upper East Side? This strange new land actually has some good things going on all of a sudden.

Very very small place, people describe it as a speakeasy but I would call it a fancy dive bar with solid cocktails. It is at times a one person operation, two at peak hours. It feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere, which is cool because this place gets a very local vibe. No tourists, no sports fans.
The back room is very classy, a U shaped bench seating arrangement where up to 10 – 12 people could squeeze in. It’s inconvenient if it’s two different parties, in that case you’d want to go all the way to the back so you don’t get disturbed as often by people coming through.
Cocktails range from $ 11 – 14. Check out the bitters that they have up front and I think they will make you custom drinks if you are curious and ask about them. They will make you something good for all the ingredients you choose.
I would come here again, it’s a great uptown stop that doesn’t feel as pretentious as other speakeasy style places.

This place is small, dimly lit bar that you would pass by without even knowing it existed.
But it’s fantastic!
Great happy hour with either $ 4 beers or a $ 10 beer+shot special. Also decently priced cocktails. Great for a small group or a date. Music is always great. Bartenders have been super chill and helpful every time I’ve been.
Only issue is that it can get crammed real quick if more than about 10 – 15 people are in there at one time.
All-​in-​all a very welcome addition to this part of town and will definitely be back at some point.

Just a fantastic place.
Go! You’ll love it. Be surprised. There is nothing better tin that neighborhood.