Altar: A Martini-Obsessed Crown Heights Bar With $10 Happy-Hour Cocktails
Altar runs a generous happy hour — $10 classic cocktails Mon–Thu 5–7pm and Fri–Sat 4–7pm, with bonus late-night windows Thu–Sat and all day Sunday. It’s a martini-focused cocktail bar in Crown Heights from a serious bartender.
It’s the project of Phil Ward — a Death & Co and Pegu Club veteran who invented the Oaxaca Old-Fashioned — opened in 2020 with an ‘ode to the martini.’ The honest read: the drinks are excellent, the room is small and sexy, and by day the same space runs as a café.
The Happy Hour
Happy hour is $10 classic cocktails: Mon–Thu 5–7pm and Fri–Sat 4–7pm, plus late-night Thu–Sat (12am–2am) and all day Sunday (days/times from the bar’s site; exact food prices live in a menu image). The menu is a martini study — dry, dirty, and a rotating ‘baby tini of the day’ — with small plates like a smashburger, sticky fried chicken, and mini lobster rolls.
The Room
A narrow, intimate room with stripped-back, church-inspired decor, a disco ball, burning palo santo and soul/funk on the speakers. By day it’s a light-filled café. Between Franklin and Classon Aves, near the Franklin Av 2/3/4/5 and Shuttle. Crowd: a Crown Heights date-night set.
Who Altar Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| A proper martini | From the bartender who made the Oaxaca Old-Fashioned. |
| $10 cocktails | Classic cocktails on a deal until 7pm. |
| Date night | Small, dim and sexy. |
| Late-night drink | Bonus HH windows Thu–Sat and all Sunday. |
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Altar FAQ
Does Altar have a happy hour?
Yes — $10 classic cocktails Mon–Thu 5–7pm and Fri–Sat 4–7pm, plus late-night Thu–Sat and all day Sunday.
Who is behind Altar?
Phil Ward, a Death & Co/Pegu Club veteran who invented the Oaxaca Old-Fashioned.
Where is Altar?
645 Sterling Pl in Crown Heights, near the Franklin Av 2/3/4/5 and Shuttle.
Is Altar a café too?
Yes — the same space runs as a café by day.
Happy hour times and deals last verified June 2026. Details can change — confirm with Altar before visiting for a specific deal.