Katana Kitten: A World’s-50-Best Cocktail Bar With an Actual $12 Happy Hour
Katana Kitten is ranked among the best bars in North America, and it still runs a real happy hour: Mon-Fri 4-6pm, $12 house cocktails and $8 bites. That combination — genuine world-class drinks at neighborhood-bar prices — doesn’t exist anywhere else in the Village.
The happy hour at Katana Kitten runs Monday to Friday, 4pm to 6pm.
The deals: $12 cocktails — Japerol Spritz, Lychee 3-2-1, Bamboo Soda ($15 for the Peach Julep) — plus $8 bites: edamame, the mini teriyaki BLT, and takoyaki.
About Katana Kitten
Masahiro Urushido’s two-level Japanese-American bar at Hudson and Charles is the rare institution that earns its hype — No. 42 on North America’s 50 Best Bars in 2025, and a room that treats a highball with the seriousness most bars reserve for a tasting menu. It calls itself a dive; the drinks say otherwise.
The Happy Hour in Detail
Weekdays 4-6pm, straight from their own menu: $12 gets you a Japerol Spritz (shochu, Aperol, yuzu-lemon sake), the Lychee 3-2-1, or a Bamboo Soda; the Peach Julep runs $15. Food drops to $8 — edamame, a mini teriyaki BLT, or four pieces of takoyaki. Full-price cocktails run $19.50-23, so the happy-hour list is close to half off. Two hours, weekdays only — set an alarm.
What to Order
Off the happy-hour list, the Hinoki Martini ($23) is the signature — gin, vodka, fino sherry, and junmai daiginjo with hinoki essence, poured over an ice-filled masu box. The Toki Highball ($19.50) is the purist’s order. Eat the Mortadella Katsu Sando ($16) regardless of the hour; the Teriyaki Smashed Burger ($21.50) is dinner disguised as bar food.
The Space & Vibe
Japanese movie posters, light fixtures shingled in dollar bills, and a loud, jovial room that runs on precision underneath the noise. Weeknights, people settle in for two or three rounds; weekends get packed and stay packed. A 20% gratuity is added for parties of six or more.
The West Village Angle
The corner of Hudson and Charles puts you a short walk from the White Horse Tavern (567 Hudson) and the 1 at Christopher St-Sheridan Sq. Hours: Mon-Fri 4pm-2am, Sat 2pm-2am, Sun 2pm-midnight — so the weekday happy hour starts the minute the doors open.
Who It’s For
| Best for | Why |
|---|---|
| A first date that lands | world-class drinks, loud-enough room, no stuffiness |
| The 4pm sharp crowd | doors open into happy hour — $12 cocktails before the rush |
| Cocktail nerds | a 50-Best bar where the classics are built with obsessive precision |
| Groups of 3-5 | two levels of seating; six or more triggers the 20% auto-gratuity |
FAQ
Does Katana Kitten have a happy hour?
Yes — Monday to Friday, 4-6pm: $12 select cocktails and $8 bites, straight from the venue’s own menu.
Where is Katana Kitten?
531 Hudson St at Charles St in the West Village, a short walk from the 1 at Christopher St-Sheridan Sq.
Do you need a reservation at Katana Kitten?
No — it’s walk-in. Only private and semi-private events book ahead.
What is Katana Kitten known for?
Japanese-American cocktails — the Hinoki Martini and Toki Highball — and a No. 42 spot on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2025.
Happy hour details verified July 2026. Times change — confirm with the venue.