The Portrait Bar

I am giving this place five stars because it was a good experience, however the hotdog is a little overhyped.I came here because their hot dog au poivre was named New York's best hotdog. Served with crispy potatoes (which I couldn't taste) and pickled onions (also couldn't really taste)--it was a nice snack for sure. I did enjoy the way the dog was composed; made it an easy bite or two, without mess. Price: 20 dollars for two dog halves that equal a whole.I also had the caesar deviled eggs, topped with sardine. I probably enjoyed these more than the hotdog. More flavor, great seasoning, salty and savory. Price: 14 dollars for three.And I had the London fries, served with malt vinegar aioli. Crispy, hot, meaty chips. I enjoyed them. Price: 16.Other parlor snacks include: stuffed olives, a prawn cocktail, foie gras tartine (not a fan of foie gras), French onion dip, caviar, tuna tartare, oysters, and "the burger," made with dry-aged beef, clothbound cheddar, special sauce, on a brioche bun.They also have a craft cocktail program. Again, I enjoyed the cocktails, but felt they were overhyped and not fantastically better than many other tasty cocktails I've had across the city.I had the Torino--Italy (herbaceous, sweet, bitter), made with Campari, cardamaro, Antica, Torino, Saba, and fig leaf soda. Also had the Oaxaca Mexico (not a margarita for margarita drinkers), made with Oaxacan gin, empirical ayuuk, contralto aperitif, lime sherbet, hibiscus, and chocolate. Not too chocolate heavy.And the Cebu Island--Phillipines (clarified cocktail with silky tropical notes), made with rum, scotch, coconut, calamansi, bay leaf, peppercorn, and midori.The cocktails here are admittedly complex. Multiple ingredients and a variable flavor profile. Various gins, scotches, fruits (cucumber, blackberry), even ear grey tea, English milk-punch gin, yuzu, cynar, sarsaparilla, cherry bark, and more.Service was reserved, but attentive and on the spot. Inside the 5th avenue hotel, with elegant and beautiful fixtures, perfect for instagram.I am glad I tried this place, but probably wouldn't go back.

Beautiful ambiance and interior but the cocktails were just not it for my personal taste. I don't know what it is but nothing on the menu stood out and when I did order the St. James it just tasted off to me (nothing unique, flavors were weird together). In my opinion, this is a place that does classics really well (Manhattan, Old Fashioned etc.) and has the vibes to fit.Come here for the ambiance but I wouldn't expect world class cocktail flavors.

The Portrait Bar was such a spectacular experience. It's such a cozy, rich atmosphere with velvet furniture and antique decor. Our server was so beyond knowledgeable on everything on the menu- including drinks, and was able to help pair the best cocktail based on our preferences. I ordered the Marrakech- a Beach Plum Gin drink with cinnamon and egg white. It was delicious and fancy. For an app we shared the French onion dip, with house made potato chips that were HUGE! The dip was thick rich and creamy. So good!We split the burger and wedge fries. The burger was simple, but was cooked and executed perfectly. Simply delicious!

Really a gorgeous space, but sadly the drinks did not live up to the hype for me. And the food was substandard. Ordered the hot dog, which was advertised as one of the best in New York by our server and it was lukewarm with a stale-ish bun. Service itself, however, was impeccable, and they were nice enough to let our party lounge and order far past the standard allocated time per reservation and even gave us a parting complementary drink at the end of the night.

Portrait Bar is an absolute vibe--sexy, upscale, and a fresh take on the classics. Started us off with their truffle butter popcorn, it was oddly satisfying. Their burger? Unreal. Just beef, cheese, sauce, and a pickle on the side, yet somehow, it's one of the best burgers I've ever had in NYC. No fancy toppings, just pure, savory perfection. We also tried the Hot Dog Au Poivre. It's good, but at $20, I'm not rushing to order it again. The tuna tartare? Light, fresh, and fantastic.But let's talk cocktails--wow. Monty, our bartender, was a mixology wizard, crafting some of the most creative and dangerously smooth drinks I've ever had. He was so talented that we went off the menu and had him curate cocktails for us based on what we wanted to taste/experience. Between my friend and me, we easily tried 10 different cocktails. The Barrio Getsemani--a wild combo of gin and aguardiente--completely blew my mind. Every drink was an unexpected flavor journey, balanced and bold in ways I didn't know were possible.Reservations are tough to get, but if you can score one, jump on it! Portrait Bar is a gem you won't want to miss.

Nice spot to grab a drink.Enough seating that we could just walk in without reservation.Def worth to try and not miss out on the framed eye corridor to the restroom!

10/10 experience. Their menu consists of drinks inspired by cultures around the world. We tried a few different cocktails and they were all different, but delicious. Some of the best cocktails I've had. The ambiance is super cool. Dimly lit and has really cool, unique decor. Definitely a great date night spot.

The Portrait Bar is hands down the best spot for cocktails in the city. The drinks are next-level--creative, perfectly balanced, and just what you need after a long day. James, the bartender, is a total pro, crafting each cocktail with serious skill.The vibe is chill, and the whole team is awesome. Kendrah, the manager, and every staff member I met were super friendly and professional. If you're after killer cocktails and a great atmosphere, The Portrait Bar is where it's at.

This lounge was so cute and filled with, you guessed it, portraits (and books)! I liked how the cocktails referenced different cities and countries around the world, too. They also give you complimentary popcorn, which had a mix of butter and...(was it garlic and truffle?) in it!

Love this spot, great drinks and aestheticShoutout to JUSTIN for amazing service, and genuine great conversation. He was able to get us fries even though we originally thought the kitchen was closed! You rock