The Bar Downstairs & Kitchen: $15 Cocktails, Tue–Sat 4–6pm
The Bar Downstairs & Kitchen runs happy hour Tuesday to Saturday, 4–6pm, at 485 5th Ave at E 41st St. Beer is $7, wine is $10, well drinks are $13 and cocktails are $15.
The verdict: a good deal on the cocktails. The regular seasonal and classic cocktails here are $23, so the $15 list saves $8 a drink. It’s a short list of six, and the window is only two hours. The catch: it doesn’t run Sunday or Monday, and the happy hour menu is drinks only.
The Happy Hour
- Days: Tuesday to Saturday
- Hours: 4–6pm
- Beer: $7
- Wine: $10
- Well drinks: $13
- Cocktails: $15
The $15 cocktails are listed under the happy hour heading: a house dirty martini (gin or vodka, vermouth, olive brine), a vesper martini, an espresso martini, a black manhattan, a shiso gimlet and One for the Road, a rum drink with lime cordial.
The Bar
The Bar Downstairs & Kitchen is on the cellar level of Andaz 5th Avenue and bills itself as a speakeasy vibe hidden in plain sight. It’s a neighborhood restaurant and bar with a long cocktail list and seasonal, shareable plates: karaage chicken bites $15, furikake fries $14, duck leg confit $25, salmon $32. Dinner and bar run Tuesday to Saturday 4–11pm, with the kitchen closing at 9:30pm, and lunch is Monday to Friday 11am–2pm. A front lounge holds 15 for private events and a full buyout holds 75. The nearest trains are Grand Central-42 St (4/5/6/7/S) and 5 Av (7/B/D/F/M).
Who The Bar Downstairs Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| A pre-dinner martini | $15 cocktails, Tue–Sat 4–6pm |
| A group party | Front lounge for 15, full buyout for 75 |
| Drinks near Grand Central | The bar is steps from Bryant Park and Grand Central |
For the area, see our Midtown East restaurants guide and Grand Central happy hour guide. More rooms like it are in our best cocktail bars in NYC and hotel bars in NYC guides.