Little Branch

Little Branch is one of my favorite hidden gems in the city. It's easy to miss as it's barely marked. It's also VERY small, but it's well worth a stop for some excellent cocktails and intimate vibes (it's very dimly lit). Definitely one of the best cozy speakeasies you'll find that also plays live music on some days.

Came here on a Saturday at 7pm and there was a short wait to get inside, but we never got a table inside as we waited at the bar. Table sitting has no time limit and the place got pretty packed as the evening got later. You must put a name down for the table seating as well so don't forget!Would totally recommend the bartender's special! Basically he/she will make a drink for you and if you don't like it, he/she will make another one for you! I gave a few parameters and what I got was perfect.

Little Branch has a good selection of cocktails and friendly service with good off-menus with the "let the bartender decide" option. The space is pretty dark and intimate and does feel a bit more like a speakeasy than a lot of other places making the claim in NYC. There isn't too much to the place, but it's a good spot to start your night! And with how limited seating is, getting here when they open is your best bet.

Love the cocktails, but the low ceilings and basement seating made me so claustrophobic. Once I realized the emergency exit was right near the main entrance, I couldn't relax. There are other spots in NYC to enjoy cocktails without this lingering fear

Small little speakeasy that looks unassuming from the outside, but transports you to a jazz club once you get downstairs. I really loved the live music/pianist they had when I went -- just made everything so much more vibey. Drinks were good, and if nothing on the menu speaks to you, you can ask for bartender's choice, and they did a really great job.

Ordered:The Bee's Knees (~$19): Brooklyn gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey syrupAya's take:Now this is what NYC is about. Little Branch is an awesome speakeasy that's hidden in plain sight. It's not very spacious inside (or maybe it just felt that way because of how crowded it was) but the bartenders make it worth it. You can tell they value their craft and make every drink as good as possible. The Bee's Knees was a good drink to sip on as I caught up with some friends. Cool vibe and definitely recommend stopping by a bit early (we got there at 10pm and didn't wait at all) to avoid the lines.

First time back since 2017 and LB definitely holds up. My boyfriend and I came at around 8 PM on a Friday and waited outside for about 30 mins to get in. They were, at that time, a tiny bar upstairs while they renovated the downstairs. The upstairs had maybe 15 seats, so it was very cozy and intimate. We became best friends with bartender Alex, who is a wizard. We returned a week later, and imagine our surprise when we saw the downstairs had reopened (and thus the upstairs was now closed). Our party of four snagged a booth after about a half hour wait, but due to them having more room, we were able to order drinks and stand at the bar. Incredible experience both times. Will be back again and again!

True to its Speakeasy aspirations, the vibe here is intimate, shadowy, and fun. As a nerd, the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack on the stereo was appreciated. The drinks are innovative, expertly constructed, and delicious. Plus the bartender was happy to discuss the thinking that went into them, which is always nice. The Frantic Atlantic was insanely tasty.

Little Branch gets 5 stars for the quality of bartending alone but the ambiance also doesn't disappoint. I think you could ask for just about any cocktail (within reason) and be met with a knowing nod, a brief wait, and a perfect drink. The ice is crystal clear if you care about that sort of thing and I do. Service is remarkably quick given the complexity of the menu, which is inventive without doing too much. Pro tip: come early or have a reservation because the standing room area can get a little crowded and loud. Not necessarily a bad thing if that's what you're after but something to have in mind.

This was my second visit to this speakeasy and I absolutely love the vibe here! Just like most speakeasies, the way you enter this place is pretty discreet and it is located underground. They have very limited seating available and this place is almost busy every time and I say this because I've visited this place on a weekend as well as on a weekday night and it was always packed. We wrote our names down for seating and just ordered drinks and hung out by the bar. I got a Moscow Mule and my friend got a Manhattan ( because why not?) The drinks are slightly on the expensive side but it's SoHo NYC! The music is pretty mellow which we couldn't really enjoy as much as there were a lot of people. The crowd and vibes are great, we eventually took our names off from the waitlist and hit another bar as the wait time was a lot, but I guess that was kinda expected!