The Summit Bar

I came here 4 yrs. ago with an amazing work buddy. Fast forward to last weekend. Absolutely amazing happy hour. $ 7 complex cocktails & small plates that are perfection.
Boozy & tasty.
Come to visit. I’m not giving anything away.

Awesome Happy Hour specials, even on the weekend. The Old Fashioned and the Guv’nor (which I like to obnoxiously and repeatedly order with a British accent) are quite good and appropriately strong (especially for $ 6/​$ 7 during happy hour). The oysters are also delish. Unfortunately this place doesn’t seem to play music, so not really for me after happy hour ends. The bartender kept telling us about the #elfieselfie sticker, which was quite entertaining, especially after several drinks. Will continue coming back!

I’ve been coming to The Summit for years. As I said in a previous review, it is my favorite cocktail bar in NYC. Not only is it congenial and patronized by some of the nicest people around, It’s a bar that works for me on many levels.
The drinks are consistently high quality and delicious. Some are so good, you wind up drinking them too fast. Many cocktail recipes at The Summit were developed by Greg Seider, and are very different than those found in most cocktail bars. Many are made with agave instead of simple syrup. To the extent that it may matter to you, agave has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar, and is marginally healthier in terms of metabolic and cardiac effects. Some drinks have agave infused with cardamom, cinnamon or rosemary. juices are freshly pressed and some drinks have ground clove or cardamom sprinkled on top along with a garnish of fruit or vegetable. My favorites are The Last Cocktail, The Charmaine Star and The Guv’nor.
Happy hour cocktails are $ 6-​$ 7 (5:30−7:30 weekdays, 4:30 — 7:30 weekends). Raw bar is half price. I come here for the healthy bar food: tuna tartar on avocado in soy and mirrin sauce (with some mustard oil and wassabi), Portuguese sardine rillettes and the Moroccan vegetarian platter are must tries. They also now offer a spicy crab roll and sliders. All food is prepared at the bar. It’s really good bar food
On Saturday nights there is a live DJ. But the music is good every night. Unusual playlists and not so loud as to interfere with discussions. I’ve Shazzamed some really esoteric songs here to add to my playlist.
The best part of it all is the lack of any attitude on the part of the bar staff. Some places along Avenue C feel what it’s like when you want to get into a club with a velvet rope. The Summit is very welcoming and, I say it again, draws one of the nicest crowds in the city. No hipsters here. They’re down the street.
When I have a visitor from out of town and want to go to one bar, it’s The Summit.

I love the atmosphere of this bar — it’s a perfect date spot. And their happy hour special is fantastic! They serve quality cocktails that you can get for like $ 6/​$ 7! During my most recent trip there, I had an Old Fashioned — I’m not sure what it was about the drink, but it was SOOO tasty. It’s probably one of the best Old Fashioneds I’ve ever had.
I haven’t tried the food yet, but it looks tasty as well — and they offer some great deals for happy hour. The bartenders seem very knowledgeable and can mix you things off the menu too.

Seriously one of the best bars in the city. First of all, everyone is hot here, and it ain’t just the booze talking. It’s like having a front seat to alternative top model.
Secondly, watching the bartender make your drink is like observing Van Gogh paint the Starry Night. It is a work of art, and you can tell they take their shit seriously. The Old Fashioned — try it — one of my favorites — a lustrous combination of sweet and bitter.
Third, oyster happy hour. ‘Nuff said.
You feel like a regular on your first visit. The place is adorably cool. All that’s missing is acoustic guitar and card gambling in some corner table under a dim light.

Loved this adorable bar in Alphabet City. Came here for after dinner drinks and it was crowded, but not uncomfortably so. There is a great little backyard area that is partially covered, and on a warm October Thursday it was the perfect place to enjoy a few cocktails. They have an extensive menu of delicious drinks, some classic like an Old Fashioned or a Moscow Mule, and others that are their signature drinks like «Breakin’ the Law.» The drinks are surprisingly «affordable» (about $ 10 – 12 per drink, compared to the $ 17 – 20 you may pay for the same thing elsewhere). Atmosphere is fun and friendly. Would definitely come back.

It’s a reaaaaallly good date spot. The patio in the back is prime for romancin’. Trust.
The cocktails were good to me – but not mindblowing. Not on The Nomad Bar’s level. I had the Last Cocktail and I feel like the bartender put way too much seltzer in it. He didn’t bring out the gin (or didn’t put in that much… it was hard to tell). Either way, there is a good balance of what types of drinks you can get here.
The vibes were dope. Like I said before, the back patio looks like it’s straight out of a basic girl’s perfect date night Pinterest board. It also doesn’t feel like a pretentious craft cocktail bar — a welcome change from the places in Gramercy/​Flatiron that have cocktails around the same caliber. Having a conversation on Friday night in the bar is a bit of a struggle (and it gets DARK) but sitting out with friends (or a date) in the light is pretty much how everyone should spend a Friday after a long week at work.
I’ll definitely come back and check out happy hour.

The Summit bar was such a nice experience for happy hour on a Thursday — $ 6 and $ 7 select cocktails and wines, $ 4 beers, and oyster specials everyday!
Can’t speak for the oysters as I’m not a fan, but the cocktails my boyfriend and I had were mixed well and made with quality ingredients! We had the Charmane’s Star, a cinnamon-​infused cucumber cocktail, and the classic Old Fashioned (pictured below), and the Dark & Stormy. The flavor combinations in the Charmane’s star were unique and subtle — recommend! The Dark and Stormy was delicious and almost tasted like a cream soda. The homemade ginger agave made for an interesting, refreshing twist.
As for the atmosphere, this place isn’t pretentious yet classy; featuring lots of natural light, chandeliers, exposed brick and two bars — one in front, one in the back. Perfect for catching up with a friend or a low-​key date. The music selection was great too — cozy jazz
The surrounding neighborhood is nothing to brag about, but it’s absolutely worth the walk if you’re around! Will be back to try their popular «The Last Cocktail» drink :)

I loved this place! Definitely a gem in the neighborhood and one of the nicer places in Alphabet City – dim lighting, trendy bespoke-​y décor. This bar is deceptively large as there is a whole other separate bar in the back. Menu isn’t pricey either – $ 12 cocktails and a French 75 (gin, prosecco, lemon) for only $ 9! You’d be surprised how many places really f&%$ up the classic French 75 but this place made the best one I’ve ever had. Plus the bartender was super chill. But be warned: place advertises late kitchen but kitchen closes at 12:30. Which was a shame cause some of the appetizers looked really good.

Two words: happy hour. I came here with a friend on a Tuesday around 5:30, drank and ate until 9ish, and we each owed about 45 bucks with tip. When was the last time that happened at any cocktail bar? Possibly never.
The happy hour menu has a nice selection of cocktails as well as a few beers and several food options. I stuck with drinking French 75s during the confines of the happy hour (5:30−7:30). Not only were they delicious (gin, prosecco, agave, lemon juice), but they were an excellent deal at 6 bucks each. I also had half a dozen oysters for 7.50, which were a nice complement to the summery French 75s. My friend had a couple of Dark and Stormys and the pork sliders, which she seemed to enjoy. Once the happy hour ended, I tried the The Last Cocktail (Beefeater gin, prosecco, rosemary infused agave, pear purée, lemon juice, clove dust), which was an amazing combination of peppery and sweet.
I think the layout of the bar has changed slightly since some of the pictures were posted on Unilocal.For example, there are no couches anymore. There are a couple of tables in the back in addition to the one in the small «outdoor» area, but the rest of the space is the bar itself plus long, narrow tables with bar stools at the very front by the window. In other words, I don’t think it’s the best space for a larger group unless you want to stand or all sit in a row. It’s perfect for two people, however. Additionally, it never got crowded while we were there (granted, it was a Tuesday), and the music was audible (and good) but not so loud that we had to shout.

If you are looking for a bar in LES that is fun, not overcrowded, and has nice clientele, I would definitely check out this spot. I came here with a group of friends a few weeks ago on a Saturday night and everyone we met at the bar was super outgoing. The music was a very reasonable volume too, which is good if you want to converse at the bar and not have to yell. Weekends at some bars on the LES can get claustrophobic, and my friends appreciated that there was plenty of space to move around and chill here. Stuck to beer that night but a lot of their cocktails looked interesting so I want to go back.

I will start off by saying that The Last Cocktail is one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had. The aforementioned statement is bold but true.
Seriously, I could not wait to say it mid-​way through this review. I had to come right out of the gate with it. A combination of Beefeater Gin and Prosecco with pear purée and a dash of ground clove took me to another place. The scent of the cloves hit my nose with each sip, contrasting with the sweetness of the fruit and the tang of the carbonation on my tongue. If I didn’t just make a Sallie Mae AND monthly MetroCard payment on the same day, I would have gladly dealt out another $ 12 for that glass of ambrosia. I hope it’ll be their menu for a future visit.
Okay! Backtracking…
I ended up in the depths of Alphabet City for my cousin’s girlfriend’s big 3 – 0. I was expecting something divey, not knowing any background about this establishment before entering, but my earlier assumptions were blown away when I entered a sleek, dark, and sexy cocktail bar. The list of well-​crafted cocktails was appealing, and it took me a while to finally decide. I did try sips of some other cocktails, such as Charmaine’s Star (a popular choice amongst those in my group) and The John Lee Hooker. My hat is tipped to the excellent cocktail scientists behind the bar! Needing some food, too, the beau and I ordered some sliders: the Buffalo Chicken for him, and the Pulled Pork for me. Both were excellent, the pork being especially tender, almost a little too hot from the pot! The housemade chips served alongside of it were stellar; I could have consumed half of my weight in them. They were light and crispy with the perfect amount of salt, rosemary, and lingering oil on them.
I did note a lull in the crowd around 8 p.m. after many folks were leaving after their daily Happy Hour specials, but the crowd picked right up again around 9 p.m.; we had the space in the front but moved to the back once it cleared out. Be warned: it does get tight in there, and it does get hot. Thank goodness for a small but welcomed rear covered outdoor section. The fresh air was appreciated.
Sucks that I have to travel so far from my nook in Inwood to have The Last Cocktail again. At least it’s worth the trip. I’m in love with The Summit Bar, absolutely.

I love the décor and apparently, they’re not busy for early week happy hours. Hubby and I came here to pre-​game before a bday dinner double date with friends. I really wanted some oysters and remembered seeing a list with the best happy hours in the city. I also recalled one particular place that offered Beausoleils, which are my fave mollusk, presently.
The original place that I looked up has since closed down but on their website, they mentioned The Summit Bar as being part of their business family. I immediately called to confirm that they offer my oyster of choice and hubby and I rushed downtown to partake in the ever so inviting happy hour.
We arrived and found parking particularly quickly, considering the area. As I previously stated, the establishment was quite empty so we didn’t have to worry about seating. The host was very amiable and welcomes us upon our entry. We sat in the back and I ordered one and a half dozen Beausoleils to enjoy all by myself
My oysters arrived, freshly cleaned and shucked with a red wine vinegar mignonette and cocktail sauce. I requested some tobasco and was graciously obliged. Good stuff. So creamy and fresh. They taste like East Coast Kumamotos… so good.
Hubby and I both ordered some cocktails. He had the Charmane’s Star which was half priced and I opted for a Dirty Martini (not included in the HH).
If they became bustier than tonight, I could definitely see issues because it took rather long to get our bill and have our bill corrected because despite the three people working behind the bar, only the hostess handled the monies.
I would still love to come back. The quality of the fare and the service up to cashing out, was excellent.

Recently, I went to The Summit Bar and both my girlfriend and I were incredibly impressed with the attention to detail Summit places in creating unique cocktails.
When you walk into Summit there is a large sign, behind the bar that displays their «Alchemist Cocktails.» These are basically the special cocktails and considering the extremely limited beer selection basically everyone orders cocktails.
I ordered the «Born & Raised.» This consists of Honey Bush Tea Infused Famouse Grouse Scotch, Oak Cross Rinse, Dolin Sweet Vermouth, Agave, Summit Orange Bitters. To be honest, I don’t know what half of that shit is, but I like tea so, I ordered it. Unfortunately, ordering a cocktail because you have the mentality of a dumb sorority chick who «likes tea» is never smart and I went wrong here because this cocktail is SO strong. Of course, I just need to grow some hair on my chest.
For the failure in this drink, I blame myself and not Summit. The bartender who was attentive and kind took extra care in making my drink and he cut the zest of an orange, mixed, strained and shook my drink like he was giving it everything he had.
Moving on, my girlfriend ordered the «Gingerita.» This consists of Corralejo Blanco Tequila, Ginger, Agave, Lime and Don Amado Mezcal Rins. She loved it and ordered two.
PROS:
Nice venue — Summit bar is chill with nice lighting, good music and a classy, diverse crowd.
Service — I watched one of the bartenders, who had a ponytail, make at least 3,000 cocktails. He made every single one with incredible care and attention and he was never once fazed by the absurd number of people trying to order drinks. In addition, this particular bartender was not only friend, but had great customer awareness. At one point, he noticed I had ceased to drink and kindly poured me a glass of water. Although simple this was thoughtful and I appreciated it.
Unique Cocktails — Every single drink summit oftens seems to be a culinary experience in the world of alcohol.
Food — They serve food all night. We didn’t order any though.
CONS:
Poor beer selection — They offer like 6 beers to choose from so, you’re basically forced to drink wine or cocktails. Granted, if you’re coming to Summit I think you’re coming exclusively for their cocktails.
Small venue — I like the venue a lot, as mentioned above, but it’s quite small and therefore, we were uncomfortably crowded at times. However, I also did not realize that apparently there is an outdoor smoking area which I would have definitely taken advantage of.
Pricey — Each cocktail is 12 dollars. In the realm of NYC, this actually isn’t pricey at all, but additional beer options would be appreciated for those who don’t want 12 dollar cocktails all night.
OVERALL:
The Summit Bar is quite far from the upper east side which is where I generally chill in NYC however, the trip out here was totally worth it. I’m looking forward to coming back.

have you ever been stuck in a basic as shit midtown bar itching for escape?
and then your friend texts you and says summit bar, now?
and then you hightail it the fuck out of MT for your EV sanctuary?
To me, last night, the summit was perfection. everything from the ambiance to the cocktails to the DJ spinning vinyls (talking heads? yes please!)
I started with the «breaking the law» a spicy mezcal concoction. I then continued to drink 3 because it was AMAZING.
Covered out door smoking area? check
good for large groups (at least on week nights)? check
all the charm and character you expect from an EV bar? check
well done, summit, well done.

My sister and I decided to stop by for happy hour drinks before heading to dinner on Saturday night, and left impressed. First of all, who has happy hour on actual cocktails, let alone on a Saturday? This place does, and it is amazing.
We decided to each get a cocktail and spilt a half dozen oysters to whet our appetite for our impending dinner down the street. My sister had actually never had raw oysters before, and what better chance to pop her cherry than try them when they are only $ 7.50 for the 6? They were offering 3 different kinds of East Coast oysters –Malpeques, Blue Point, and Beau Soleil — so we each got to try one of each. We both agreed that the Malpeques was not to our liking, but the others were great. As for cocktails, she got the Lions in London, and I tried the Gov’nor. Never one to turn down a drink with whisk (e)y, I thought mine was perfect. Sort of a mix between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan. My (still in College) sister was not so enthused with her drink, but that has something to do with her normal drink of choice. Vodka water this is not. No matter, I was more than happy to help her finish.
I loved the dark, intimate setting and it was nice being able to find 2 seats next to each other at the bar around 6pm. I imagine it starts to fill up as it gets closer to 7pm. I have already been telling my friends in NYC that we will need to come back the next time I am in town!

Came here with the girl and some friends for a new years eve shindig. This place is absolutely awesome. The noise level is kinda loud but it is new years eve so I’m going to come again another time to see how it is at another time.
What really sold me on this place are two things. One, the drinks are amazing. Definitely do not get a beer at this place. Get only they’re cocktails as it’s their specialty and they’re delicious as hell. The bartenders really take their time with making the drinks. Which brings me to my next ‘thing’. The bartenders are great. They take the time to make sure each drink is made right. I saw an instance where one if them the a drink out because they didn’t like how they made it and remade it got the person who ordered. They’re also super friendly.
Definitely come here if you have the chance.

TL, DR:
A happy hour on a Sunday in Manhattan? $ 6 handcrafted cocktails and $ 15 for a dozen oysters FTW! Try «The Last Cocktail», it will change your life!
Long:
My girlfriend got this place as a recommendation to host her birthday drinks and it couldn’t have worked out any better! I made a reservation for a party of 15 and they were more than happy to accommodate us on an early Sunday night. I reserved that back part of the bar and when we walked in they were even nice enough to hang up a Happy Birthday banner!
Hidden in the back was a more intimate private room where we ended up gravitating to. It was a wine and liquor storage room that had a single long table for large parties. The smaller room was technically outdoors but the heat lamps above made it nice and cozy for everyone. At times, it was a little too hot so I recommend only turning on one of the overhead lamps!
The really gem about this place was the happy hour from 5:30pm (open) to 7:30pm and it was half priced cocktails and oysters. Non-​happy prices were $ 12 per cocktail and $ 30 for a dozen oysters and getting half off was a major steal!
These were the cocktails I had:
The Last Cocktail x 2
Born & Raised
The John Lee Hooker
The Guv’nor
Ground to Glass
Hands down the best one of the lot was The Last Cocktail. Everyone in our party loved it. A friend proclaimed that it was the best cocktail he has ever had in his life! We put the bartender to work ordering so many of them! The combination of gin and prosecco was spot on! All the other cocktails were great as well. As you can see, I put in some serious work during the happy hour. Greatest deal in the city!
As for the food, it wasn’t as good. The Mediterranean Platter was decent and the oysters weren’t as good if you’re used to eating oysters from the Gulf. Nevertheless, I would come back over and over again for those cocktails. I can’t wait!

I’ve known about this bar for the longest and have had it bookmarked for just as long. Thanks to the fact that I now work in the neighborhood I finally got to check out this awesome bar. And what’s even better is they just started doing a Happy Hour this summer. Where else would you get craft cocktails for $ 6? Yup, this is my new after work drinks spot! I particularly enjoyed the Governess cocktail. They also offer half priced oysters during happy hour. The bar atmosphere itself is nice and on the quiet side, at least during the week. It’s a perfect date spot I’d say.

Really nice ambiance, great drinks. The staff is really nice.
We has a private event, they reserved the whole back for us. Definitely will come back.
Pretty small place but I guess that’s pretty common around here.