The Up & Up: A Serious Basement Cocktail Bar in Greenwich Village
The Up & Up is a craft-cocktail bar tucked below Greenwich Village, on the densest two-block stretch of bars in the neighborhood — MacDougal between Bleecker and Washington Square Park. It’s been pouring for about a decade (in a space with several decades of history before that), and it’s earned its spot on plenty of ‘best bars’ and ‘best cocktails’ lists for New York: a stylish, dimly lit basement room of sumptuous teak wood and serious bartending.
This is a drinks-first destination, not a deal bar — by our own reckoning, it’s the best room in Greenwich Village for a serious 9pm cocktail. The menu runs expertly made classics with a modern twist alongside inventive new builds (the cheekily named ‘One-Star Yelp Review’ among them), spanning gin, vodka, whiskey, bourbon, and scotch, plus a genuine non-alcoholic list. The drinks run about $19, and the bartending is as polished as the room.
The Room
The Up & Up plays the stylish basement speakeasy beautifully — teak wood, retro wallpaper, low light, and a polished, slightly cool crew of bartenders who put on a show while they work. There are a few tables, but a seat at the bar is the classic move; it’s intimate and serious, the kind of room built for savoring a great drink rather than a raucous night out. Reservations are recommended (parties up to six), though walk-ins are welcome.
The Cocktails
The drinks are the point: expertly made, balanced, and inventive, from modern takes on the classics to original builds like the ‘One-Star Yelp Review’ (Reyka vodka, Amaro Montenegro, cachaça, grapefruit, lemon, demerara). The list spans gin, vodka, whiskey, bourbon, and scotch, with several thoughtful non-alcoholic options, plus bar snacks like nuts and charcuterie. They run about $19 a cocktail — pricey, but this is a place you come for one or two exceptional drinks.
The Room
The Up & Up sits below 116 MacDougal Street, between Bleecker and Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village — a dim, teak-lined basement room built for serious cocktails. It opens at 5pm most nights (4pm on weekends) and runs late, to 1am midweek and 2am Thursday through Saturday. Reservations are recommended but walk-ins are welcome. The A/C/E/B/D/F/M at West 4th St is a short walk.
Who The Up & Up Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Serious cocktail drinkers | The best room in Greenwich Village for a meticulously made drink |
| A stylish basement bar | Teak wood, low light, and polished bartending — a craft destination, not a deal |
| Classics with a twist | Expertly balanced takes on the canon plus inventive original builds |
| A refined night out | Intimate and serious — reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome |
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The Up & Up FAQ
Does The Up & Up have a happy hour?
No — by our own reckoning it’s the best room in Greenwich Village for a serious cocktail, but it doesn’t run a happy hour. The cocktails run about $19 and are worth it; come for a meticulously made drink rather than a deal.
Where is The Up & Up?
Below 116 MacDougal Street, between Bleecker and Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village — on the densest two-block stretch of bars in the neighborhood. The A/C/E/B/D/F/M at West 4th St is a short walk. It opens at 5pm most nights.
Do I need a reservation?
Reservations are recommended (for parties up to six), though walk-ins are welcome. It’s a small, intimate basement room, so booking ahead is the safer bet, especially on weekends.
What should I order?
Trust the bartenders — the menu runs expertly made classics with a modern twist alongside original builds like the ‘One-Star Yelp Review.’ There’s a strong non-alcoholic list too, plus snacks like nuts and charcuterie if you want a bite.
The Up & Up is a craft-cocktail destination with no happy hour; cocktails run about $19. Hours can change — details last checked June 2026. Confirm with the bar before visiting.