Raines Law Room at The William

Our oasis after lots of walking in the city. Cozy decor with dim lights that is so romantic. Lots of couple on dates as they should be.Cocktails are amazing and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu.Service is amazing and attentive. Ambiance is old contemporary and is explained on the front page of the menu. A must try for anyone who wants a peek in the history.Kids are strictly not allowed so take note as I saw twice that families had to go elsewhere.I would just want to spend hours there sipping their delicious cocktails and talking my heart out!

This is a review for their New Years Eve party! I bought general admission tickets on pulsd for $139 the day prior to NYE. Plenty of last minute tickets for general admission (usually $195) and for table service with champagne for ($249). It included unlimited craft cocktails (including espresso martinis), passed hor d'ourves from 9-11pm and glass of champagne at midnight.The space: very limited seating indoors. Essentially this is a standing party for the duration of the event. If you didn't do table service there was probably enough seating for like 10 people. They had a "heated" terrace which wasn't the worst on a 40 degree weather night except it was raining so some of the sofas outside were wet. The heaters were ok but not full blast, so not the warmest. If the night is colder expect that to be uninhabitable. If I knew it was mostly a standing party I would have probably not come or wore much more comfortable shoes. It is a beautiful speakeasy space nonetheless.Food: passed hor d'ourves from 9-11pm. They were plentiful. Didn't leave unsatisfied. There was a limited selection, some Waygu crostini, salmon blini or salmon and avocado on a cracker, fried goat cheese, crab salad on a cracker. Mind you the pulsd deal said "Passed Hors 'Oeuvres such as Caviar & AvocadoBlinis, Lobster Buns, Wagyu Sliders, Smoked Salmon Dip, Wild Mushroom Croquettes, Filet Mignon Crostini, Macarons, and more" There were no lobster, caviar or macarons, so definitely feel lied to. Felt like there could have been more variety. The taste was a 7.5/10. Decent but not spectacular. Drinks: high quality drinks all around. Tasty specialty cocktails and classics. Definitely got my monies worth in this category. There were 2 bars. Never waited too unreasonably long.Attire: dress code said elegant. I was curious what that actually meant. It was interpreted by nearly everyone as cocktail attire. They provided NYE top hats, crowns, beads, horns and passed them out through the night. Overall it wasn't a bad experience at all. I enjoyed myself! Especially considering I got a discounted price and I literally booked it 24 hours before. So beggars can't really be choosers. Would definitely recommend someone looking for last minute plans. I don't think it's worth the full price ($195/$249) without including more luxurious food items and perhaps more areas to lounge.

If you're looking for an upscale bar with a touch of personalized charm, Raines Law Room at The William is the place to be. From the moment you walk in, the sophisticated ambiance, with its dim lighting, plush seating, and elegant decor, sets the tone for an unforgettable evening.The highlight of my visit was the bartender--a true artist behind the counter. Not only was he incredibly welcoming and attentive, but he also offered a unique experience: crafting a drink tailored to your alcohol of choice. Whether you're a fan of gin, whiskey, vodka, or something more obscure, he takes the time to understand your preferences and builds a cocktail that's perfectly suited to your taste.I opted for a tequila-based drink, and what he created was nothing short of magic--a refreshing yet complex blend of citrus and subtle herbal notes, served with impeccable presentation. It felt like having my own personal mixologist for the evening.

Without a doubt, this speakeasy is an absolute gem in NYC! In my honest opinion, it's unparalleled. The cocktail prices are incredibly reasonable, coming in at less than $20, making it even more appealing than many standard restaurant bars in midtown. The ever-changing menu, carefully crafted by a team of creative bartenders, always keeps things exciting. Personally, I enjoy sitting at the bar, so I can catch up with my favorite bartender, Juan. You can also name your liquor preference and receive a delicious cocktail! It's truly a delightful experience that keeps me coming back for more.

This was our first time at this location, and I actually prefer it over the other one. It's very small, but the way it's set up has good people watching. The service was very attentive and the drinks were very good (as usual at Raines). The food menu is larger at this location and had better things. We had the chips and pastrami sandwiches. The chips were typical but the sandwiches were great. We were celebrating our anniversary, so they brought over a complimentary drink. We will be back.

We came here for drinks just to check out the speakeasy vibe. Very cool place with really good drinks. I highly recommend this place. I would come back.

This spot has a very swanky vibe- small, intimate, darkly lit. Perfect for a date, a meet up with a girlfriend, or a business meeting. The drinks are also very interesting. The Vegas stage was very good, but a little sweet for my taste. The hearth of gold was also a little too sweet. I'll keep working to find the perfect drink.

Beautiful place to grab some cocktails. The ambiance was what you'd like as an intimate setting or to catch up with a friend. A lot of thought went into the walls and the chairs and seating was top quality. We had sat at the bar and the bar tenders were very accommodating. Drinks were tasty, not the best I've had or would expect at the caliber of the place, but good enough.

My friend Katie M. and I were in need of a bar in this part of Manhattan on a drizzly Wednesday night, and we ended up walking into the Raines Law Room at the William. I'd had the original location bookmarked for over a decade and was pleased with the way this worked out.The William appears to be some kind of extended stay hotel. The decor is swanky and modern, but there's no reception area, and it had this strange, lightly haunted vibe when we showed ourselves in, like a Scooby Doo situation might unfold in the deserted lounge across the hall from Raines Law Room. The bar felt nice, though, attractive and buzzy, even in the quiet closing hour of a rainy school night. It looked like a luxurious living room, grand but intimate. We sat on comfortable chairs and enjoyed a few drinks. Service was prompt and friendly.I loved the cocktails. The Desert Bloom was a refreshing mezcal drink with bergamot, aji amarillo pepper, lime, and passionfruit. The Electric Guava was delicious and interesting, jalapeño-infused Oaxacan rum mixed with Select Aperitivo, guava, passionfruit, grapefruit, cinnamon, and lime. Pulling Threads might have been my favorite, a boozy, aromatic cocktail of gin, Salers, blanc vermouth, saffron liqueur, and orange blossom.I don't live in New York, but I'd love to revisit Raines Law Room on another trip, especially if I find myself in this area. It's a great bar with fantastic cocktails, and any ghosts in the William are probably not real.

My new favorite speakeasy in NYC!- could make a reservation for a big group easily online- front desk, service, and the bouncer were all super friendly- dim and intimate vibe- the food was a plus!! I highly recommend the Croque Monsieur!!! It's so much beyond ham and cheese. My group were all impressed by it that we ordered another plate and the plate went empty in a second. The elote was awesome tooIt charged a mandatory 20% tip though and nobody said anything. I wish I paid more attention to the bill...