Katana Kitten in
New York (NY)

Excellent cocktail program. Ronny was a highly skilled and attentive bartender, and the quality of the cocktails was outstanding. We will definitely return 10/10 experience.

I have been to a bunch of the top 50 bars and there are all disappointing. The drinks are not unique, interesting, or tasty, like at all. They are usually tiny drinks, like almost a shot, and very expensive. The staff and patrons are usually not friendly. At least the 80s music was good here. I am not sure who runs the top 50 but it seems like it is mostly like something purchased to get in new business.

We were for drinks and quick bites. Tried shiso gin & tonic and matcha grasshopper. So delicious. Great atmosphere, low-key vibe, friendly staff.

Came solo on a work trip to NYC and loved it. Had a quick bite and one of the best cocktails of my life. Bartender was awesome! Will definitely return next time I’m in NYC!

Great vibes! Bartenders were so fun! Good drinks, delicious food and great happy hour.

Excellent drinks in a 90's vibe, singing my childhood to me. Our bartender (Devon?) was awesome and gave us a list of his favorite bars in the city. A++ hospitality. Will return soon for more drinks and to try some of the food

I have wanted to try Katana Kitten for a while. I stopped in on Thanksgiving weekend, with the hope I could grab a seat with most of the Tik Tok crowd back home in North Carolina with their families for a few days. As luck would have it, they had a cozy seat open for me, right above the staircase. I didn't feel claustrophobic in the seat, even though there was a party seated directly behind me. I recently came back from Japan and have been feeling nostalgic for all things Japan, which led me to Katana. The first drink I had was the Meguroni #3. I had high hopes for this drink as it contains umeshu and shochu. However, this drink fell flat for me. It didn't taste like much of anything except alcohol, which was disappointing. I had the grilled cheese to eat which was much better than I expected, with seaweed mixed in. As a vegetarian, there's not a ton of food I can eat here. For my second drink, I had the shiso gin and tonic which was herbaceous and refreshing. What really stood out to me was the friendly and attentive service, which reminded me of the standard of service in Japanese bars. In New York, we mostly don't hold the same standards for customer service, even in expensive establishments (how do we fix this?). The vibe of the bar was cozy and chill. It wasn't very loud, but lively. Every seat was taken but it didn't feel overwhelming. The dim lighting and 80s music playing were a nice touch. There are two bathrooms located on the upper level which were pretty spacious, all things considered. There is a downstairs area that I did not venture to so I am unsure what is down there. Overall, while I was not super impressed with the drinks, I did enjoy the hospitality and food. I would come back and continue to try other drinks in hope of finding a favorite.

This is my favorite bar in NYC by far. There's a reason it consistently makes the top X bars in the world and it's because the cocktails are fantastic. The bar itself has a couple of different vibes. The upstairs is nice and cozy while the downstairs is a bit more chaotic. Each has its perks depending on what youre looking for. The food is also really good. It's mostly appetizers so not a good option if you want a sit down dinner. But the katsu sando is out of this world.

Smaller than I thought. The amaretto sour was good. Only has one mocktail on menu so I got that and it was a bit too bitter for me. But I like that they make it taste like a mocktail and not juice.

An amazing experience thanks to Lauren ?. From the very first moment we walked in, her attention, vibe, and energy made everything truly delightful ✨. The drinks were outstanding, crafted with a level of skill and flavor that was truly surprising ??. Lauren radiates a unique energy that makes you feel comfortable and well taken care of at all times. The atmosphere of the place is already incredible, but with her service it becomes even more special. Without a doubt, a wonderful experience that I 100% recommend. Thank you, Lauren, for making the night unforgettable! ?

Visited this spot after seeing it on “Best Bar 50” – had high expectations! Came by right after they opened on a weekend, so it wasn’t crowded. Loved the vintage interior with a chandelier covered in tucked-in dollar bills – such a unique vibe. The Japanese posters and decor gave it an authentic feel that kept things interesting. We ordered the Matcha Grasshopper and Best Friends – both were tasty, but maybe we overhyped ourselves or picked the wrong drinks? Felt a bit underwhelmed. Next time, I’d try different menu items to give it another shot!

I’ve heard so much about Katana Kitten and finally got to visit! The atmosphere here is super lively and fun. We were not able to make a reservation, but we were lucky to get seats at the bar, where we could watch the bartenders work their magic and even chat with them a bit. We ordered some food and drinks — the nori fries were tasty and went perfectly with the drinks. As for the cocktails, I highly recommend the Highball, especially the Shiso Highball. It’s refreshing, delicious, and a must-try!

Katana Kitten – Bold, Bright, and Totally Worth the Hype hands down one of the best cocktail bars in NYC. Katana Kitten delivers a perfect blend of Japanese creativity and downtown NYC edge, with drinks that are as exciting as the space itself. Mikan Swizzle – This was my first drink of the night, and it absolutely stole the show. Made with iichiko Saiten shochu, Calpico, mango, nigori sake, clementines, lime, bubbles, and topped with a red cherry, it’s tropical, citrusy, and beautifully layered. Lightly carbonated, frosty, and bursting with flavor—this drink is sunshine in a glass. Tia (shoutout!) made it perfectly. Amaretto Sour – Not your average sour. Crafted with Wild Turkey Rye, amaretto, umeboshi, honey, lemon, egg white, and yukari, it’s smooth, rich, and incredibly balanced. The umami notes from the umeboshi and the creamy foam elevate this into something special. A modern twist on a classic—and it works. Not picture but very much enjoyed was the Toki Highball – Super clean, super refreshing. Just Toki Japanese whisky and lemon oil, but that’s all it needs. Crisp, effervescent, and ideal for sipping slowly. Elegant in its simplicity and the perfect nightcap. Overall the atmosphere was funky, stylish, and full of character. Retro Japanese posters, great music, a fun crowd, and bartenders who really know their stuff. It’s intimate but energetic—an ideal spot for a night out with someone you want to impress (or just for treating yourself). ? Location: 531 Hudson Street, New York, NY ⏰ Tip: Go early or expect a wait—it gets packed for good reason

I stumbled upon Katana Kitten on Google Maps without knowing much about it (didn’t even realize it was that popular until I looked at the reviews later lol), but honestly, we just went because the cocktails looked cute — and they delivered. We went on a Wednesday after work, no reservation, and got a seat without any issue. That said, the place filled up fast — by 7pm it was packed, so I’d say come early if you don’t want to wait. The vibe? Super cute, kinda cozy, very fun. No food/snacks available early in the evening — I think they start serving food later, maybe after 7, so just keep that in mind if you’re going straight from work and you’re hungry. Now the cocktails… SO GOOD. I got a matcha cocktail with alcohol (don’t remember the name but it was green and delicious lol) and we tried a few others — all tasted amazing and were really well balanced. Also, presentation was on point. Price-wise, it’s not cheap — expect to pay $20–$25 per drink, but honestly that’s pretty standard for a solid cocktail bar in Manhattan. Totally worth it in my opinion. Definitely coming back. 10/10 recommend if you’re into fun drinks, good vibes, and a chill spot to start your night.

The drinks were very interesting, but honestly hit or miss. You order a drink and it just tastes like something is a little off with it. I think they are doing something expertly with Japanese ingredients, but I’ll say it doesn’t taste like it in some scenarios. My wife got a Paloma and it just tasted off like an old bar That hasn’t been cleaned in a while. My whiskey drink Had a pinch of some other flavor that I didn’t really enjoy. The style of drinks in this place isn’t for me, but the atmosphere is really cool and everyone is very nice there. I don’t love the seating getting seated on a 8 inch bar sandwich between other people is a little difficult but they work with what they have

Great place to catch up with friends, have a date night, or just enjoy good drinks with decent appetizers. The amaretto sour is definitely a highlight. I also love the interior design and quirky details.

Such a fun cocktail bar. The vibes were great and so were the drinks. Large selection of highballs. We were seated in the downstairs/basement area pretty quickly. We also enjoyed their Nori Fries.

An excellent little bar with decently priced food that’s very delicious. Often bustling & boisterous, it’s a great place to make a friend at the bar and chill out for a few hours. The martini is superb and definitely a must-try, but grab a specialty cocktail, a mortadella katsu sando, and just enjoy the retro vibe!

This bar has a great vibe, super friendly staff, and tasty drinks and bites. The tonic water on tap is super fizzy and we enjoyed a few drinks with that! Miso deviled eggs were great. A highlight was our bartender who recommended great drinks plus some of his other favorite spots around town.

Visited in Feb 2025 Decided to pay a visit to this world famous bar during my recent visit to NYC. I went on a weekday but was able to get a bar counter seat in-spite of not having a reservation. The bar’s ambience is quite nice and so are the drinks. The interior decor is quite interesting and definitely unique versus other cocktail bars I’ve visited in NYC. I ended up trying 4 of their drinks and my favourites were the Meguroni and the Amaretto Sour. I also tried one of their highballs (Toki Highball) as that is what the bar is known for, but that was my least favourite. All in all, I liked my visit to Katana Kitten and would definitely recommend it to folks.

Was referred to Katana Kitten by a local bartender and she said they have amazing cocktails. My wife and I decided to go right as they opened on a Saturday afternoon at 2pm to avoid the massive line. We ordered 2 drinks and decided to have a light lunch. For drinks, I had a Meguroni #3, and by far it was the best version of a Negroni I’ve had. My wife ordered their version of an Amaretto Sour and it was heavenly she said. For food we ordered their Deluxe Nori Fries that included bacon, cheese, fried egg and some sort of a light curry sauce and it was amazing. We also ordered their garlic wings and the seasoning was very flavorful and the chicken was moist inside. The environment was clean and the decor had vintage Japanese posters of old movies and tv shows, it was pretty cool. The staff were nice and attentive. The most interesting part were the ceiling and lamp fixtures. Looks like customers have been attaching dollar bills and have remained there as part of the decoration. It was unique to see.

Fun bar and a cool atmosphere. We were seated at the bar which was fairly tight and crowded but overall we had a good experience. The hostess was SO nice and had great customer service. The drinks are really good and innovative! The amaretto sour was my favorite. I wanted to try this place after seeing it on the 50 best bars in the US and I'm glad I did! Not sure I would have wandered in here otherwise. Hope to be back soon!

My girlfriend had been dying to try this place because it’s on north americas 50 best bars list. Hostess and server were great. The service was great. We came around 10p and were immediately seated outside, which is what we requested. We tried the garlic soy glazed wings, burgers/nori fries were recommended and deviled eggs. The food was fresh hot ingredients and taste were interesting. The drinks we had were the best friends, panda fizz, Scotch ginger and apple & slow pitch Paloma. They were pretty balanced. I can see the hype but for me the drinks were very overpriced. Not hitting for me as a #12th best bar in America but I’d come back again to try those dashi braised ribs.

It's a fun bar! Loved the funky Japanese decor. Came here with a friend at around 7 on a Tuesday and it was only a short 10 mins wait for a seat at the bar. I liked that it wasn't too crowded at the time and I was able to catch up with my friend. The drinks were good and I enjoyed them, but I was expecting something more special. They have interesting choices, but the unique ingredients did not "shine" and my cocktail tasted kind of just like other cocktails I have at other bars and not particularly memorable.

Amazing cocktails in a fun and comfy setting. We came here on a Friday after dinner, we didn’t have a reservation so we had to wait for approximately 20mins which was not bad. They have a set of drinks called highballer, they are light, fizzy and delicious. They have soda as one of the bases, which the other cocktails don’t have. I ordered one with melon and matcha and it was amazing.

Visited Katana Kitten and was thoroughly impressed. The panda fizz was absolutely incredible, and the fries with curry sauce are a must-try. I wish I had the chance to try more of their dishes and cocktails! With friendly staff and a laid-back atmosphere, I'm looking forward to my next visit to the neighborhood.

It's a pretty cool place with solid drinks and great service, but I'm not sure if it's worth the hype. We came by at 11 on a Friday night and were told it would be a 90 minute wait. Thankfully we got in after about an hour and ordered a few drinks and the calamari. The high balls were all pretty good and the calamari is solid, but again, I'm not sure if it's quite worth the hour wait when there are so many other options available in the neighborhood. A solid bar but nothing to write home about.