Lips: New York’s long-running drag dinner cabaret
Lips is Midtown East’s decades-old drag dinner cabaret, where costumed queens work the room while you eat. It’s part restaurant, part theater — a boisterous, campy night out built around themed shows like celebrity-impersonation dinners and the famously bottomless drag brunch. The performers double as your servers, so audience participation is guaranteed.
You’ll find it at 227 East 56th Street, a short walk from the Lexington Avenue/59th Street trains. Lips runs on a show schedule rather than typical restaurant hours, generally open Wednesday through Sunday with set showtimes, and it’s built for celebrations — birthdays and bachelorette parties are the house specialty. Reservations and a per-person minimum are the norm.
What to Expect
There’s no traditional happy hour at Lips — pricing is structured around ticketed dinner-and-show packages, not a discounted window at the bar. The best value is a prepaid dinner package (three courses with a cocktail and show admission has been offered around $29), or the bottomless-cocktail weekend brunch. Expect a two-drink minimum or cover on drinks-and-show reservations.
The Room
A glittering, over-the-top cabaret room drenched in color, with tables angled toward a small stage and queens sweeping through in full costume. It’s loud, tightly packed, and interactive — the whole space is engineered for spectacle and group celebrations.
Who Lips Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Bachelorette party | The house specialty — queens single out the bride and turn the night into a spectacle. |
| Birthday celebration | Themed dinner shows and a party atmosphere make it a go-to for group birthdays. |
| Drag brunch | The long-running weekend brunch pairs a Broadway-themed entree with bottomless cocktails. |
| A campy night out | Celebrity-impersonation dinners and full audience participation for a memorable evening. |
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Lips FAQ
Does Lips have a happy hour?
Not in the traditional sense. Lips is a ticketed drag dinner cabaret with fixed dinner-and-show packages and drink minimums rather than a discounted happy-hour window.
How much does Lips cost?
It’s package-based: prepaid promos have offered a three-course dinner with a cocktail and show for about $29, while standard weeknight dinner-and-show packages run roughly $42 and weekends more. Weekend brunch usually includes bottomless cocktails.
Do you need a reservation for Lips?
Yes — Lips runs on a show schedule and is reservations-driven, typically with a per-person minimum. Book ahead, especially for weekend shows and brunch.
Where is Lips located?
Lips is at 227 East 56th Street in Midtown East, Manhattan, near the Lexington Avenue/59th Street subway station.
Happy hour times and deals last verified June 2026. Details can change — confirm with Lips before visiting for a specific deal.