Le Bar Penelope in
New York (NY)

Excellent food, delicious drinks, and great atmosphere. And the live music was the cherry on top. The shrimp dumplings and the wagyu sliders were so so good.

We visited Bar Penelope on Wednesday for the first and last time. The restaurant was half empty when my boyfriend and I arrived for our reservation, shortly before two friends were meant to join us. Despite the fact that we were all dressed appropriately (and that I was also wearing jeans), the bouncer refused to let our friends in because they were wearing jeans, albeit polished ones. Inside the restaurant, other people were wearing jeans, as well. When I asked the general manager why our friends weren’t allowed in, he replied, “Oh, these are your friends? Give me a second,” and then proceeded to disappear without addressing the situation. Service was equally disappointing. Our server seemed distracted, only part of our order arrived and it did so quite late. We ended up leaving just 30 minutes after our reservation. It’s surprising that in a city like NYC, especially at a time when the dining scene is struggling, a half empty restaurant would turn away a group of people in their late 20s who were there to enjoy themselves and likely bring in more business. Terrible vibe, poor service and overall not worth your time or money.

Every time I have been at Le Bar Penelope I had an amazing time. The live music on Wednesdays can’t be beat. Food is wonderful, which I am surprised by every time. The staff is always kind, friendly, and welcoming. Will definitely be back

Le Bar Pénélope is such a vibe. Great cocktails, cool music, and a really nice crowd. The staff are super friendly and make you feel welcome right away. Easy place to stay for “just one drink” that turns into a great night. ?✨

It’s gorgeous but that’s about it. The bar staff was having an argument when we arrived which was very awkward and the hostess was cold and off putting from the moment we checked in. She was impolite and unpolished. Not a good look. The food is extremely mediocre and not at all the quality of Avra its sister resturant. Big fan of Avra Beverly Hills and both city (Manhattan) locations.

Positive NYC atmosphere. Emphasis on beauty and sophistication. Amazing cocktails and music. Staff is professional and accommodating. Christina P is the best host. I wish I could give more stars.

I wanted to love this place so much but the drinks and service could use some improvement. The place is stunning though!

I only gave two stars because I’ve been to Le Bar Pénélope back and forth since the beginning, and it truly is a beautiful spot. But the door guy is not polite or welcoming. Even if someone is turned away, it should be done with basic respect. At the end of the day, he’s just a doorman—there’s no reason for the attitude. I’ve visited this place since its opening and always appreciated its atmosphere, but my recent experience was deeply disappointing. As a longtime UES resident, I was surprised by how unprofessional and dismissive the current door staff behaved. When I arrived with my friend and my boyfriend, we were turned away without any explanation, while the doorman selectively admitted other guests—mostly women who appeared intoxicated or altered, and chosen more for their “look” (if you know what I mean—escort-type vibes, no judgment) than anything else. The only reason I even stopped by was because my boyfriend’s friends were visiting from London and Dubai and wanted to check it out—they always spend well and enjoy a proper night out. But oh well, sometimes things happen for a reason. Seeing the type of women being let in honestly left me disappointed, so it was easy for us to just turn around and leave. This door guy is going to make the spot look poorly—he’s simply not professional, and he acts like he’s running Studio 54 back in the day (not that I lived during those times). It’s unnecessary, out of touch, and completely misaligned with what the neighborhood expects. We ended up choosing another UES spot close to my apartment, and honestly, Melody’s Piano Bar remains the far better option. Their entire team—the doorman, the host, everyone—is elegant, polite, and genuinely welcoming. That’s the level of class and hospitality that should be standard.

We were supposed to celebrate our friend’s birthday, but there’s no security. Someone could easily touch your friend, and no one kicked him out. There’s a place for couples that’s dangerous. I’ve never seen a place like this! Don’t go!

Really nice décor with warm, flattering lighting. I came for drinks on a friend’s recommendation (they booked a table), and the space makes a great first impression. We were seated directly under a speaker that got progressively louder as the night went on, which made it a bit hard to relax or have a conversation. Food-wise, the fried calamari was excellent—crispy, well-seasoned, and not greasy. The crispy rice tuna bites were also solid. Drinks were decent, and service throughout the night was attentive and on top of things. The crowd skewed very Bridge-and-Tunnel, a little trashy, depending on your mood—not necessarily a bad thing, just something to be aware of before you go. If that vibe works for your night out, you’ll probably have a good time.

The food and drinks were really yummy! The manager, Christina, was amazing, she helped make my mom’s birthday extra special! Definitely will be returning…

Doorman is very friendly let us in without a reservation, once we arrived we were able to secure a table within minutes, the atmosphere inside is gorgeous. Our server Linda was great as well& drinks, food 10/10. Would definitely come back!

Le Bar Penelope is an amazing establishment, which is very hard to get into and always fully booked. dining there I understood why this place was so exceptional. The live music, the ambience and the impeccable service so appreciated. if you can get in, this is a must to go place. Enjoy it with your best friends.see you there

Had a quick drink w my friend there, so no comment on the food, but the complimentary snacks were good! Top notch atmosphere, service was great idk why there’s so many bad reviews. Honestly, the host was nice, our server Cynthia was wonderful! I also didn’t see the specific crowd lots of the bad review is referring to, I was hesitant to go bc of that, but I’m glad I still went! Would def come back.

A+ Perfect score. Best ambience, such comfortable spacious seating, fantastic cocktails and delicious table bites. This is just what the neighborhood needed. The service is what truly made it a top experience, with stellar service from the gracious doorman, hostess and servers. We called to inform the hostess we were late from UN traffic and she was so sweet. Our waitress had the best attitude and really knew the menu and helped us navigate our choices. I liked that the crowd was diverse and lots of different types of people and ages. They really put some thought into creating this establishment and just like Avra it’s a hit! It’s a great place to dress up which I love! Can’t wait to go back. Final note, everyone smiling and the warm good night was a nice touch, we need more of that in the City.

I was there with my best friend, on a friday night, and… It was Delicious!! The food is super tasty, the drinks are so fresh, the atmosphere is unbelievable! and the service was amazing ! I can’t wait to go back! This time i want to try the Piano Night, but Dj was amazing!

Unfortunately this bar is such a disappointment and I was looking forward to visit it! First, level of rudeness from the guy on the entrance and hostess is so high! I was appalled how they were talking to us ( we were party of 4 girls, had reservation ). Once you are seated is when it gets uncomfortable. Place is full of older men with younger ( much younger girls ). It is so obvious that they are either escorts or very desperate :(( food is ok - lobster roll was great, drinks are terrible - we returned 2 rounds asking to make new ones since we could not drink it how bad it was. It is decorated so nicely, but the staff, the vibe, the drinks and shadiness around everything makes you never come back again. Do not recommend this place

I love coming to this place! Incredible atmosphere, sophisticated crowd, good music, delicious food and cocktails. This is a place where you always want to come back

We dropped by Le Bar Pénélope and tried the tuna sashimi and the truffle fries. The tuna was super fresh, clean flavors, nicely sliced — really lovely. The truffle fries were indulgent and crispy, with just enough truffle so it felt fancy without going over the top. The ambiance is cozy and stylish, great lighting, and a nice vibe for a casual dinner or drinks. Service was friendly and attentive, came by regularly without feeling pressured. Only holds back a little due to price: portions were decent, but on the pricey side for what we had. Still, for good food, nice setting, and standout flavors (that tuna!), it’s very much worth it.

My friends and I were there Wednesday night and it was PACKED! Very cool ambience , interesting crowd, great drinks , ok food. Our server Olga was great, very welcoming and professional. Live music was fun too!

I was really disappointed with my recent visit here. The food was good, the service was exceptional, but the bar practices left a bad impression. When I got home, I noticed there were extra charges added on top of the alcohol itself - for example, ordering a simple cocktail like a martini or old fashioned came with an additional separate line charge. I’ve been to many bars and restaurants and have never seen this done before, so customers should be aware that your bill might not reflect the price you expect when you order. On top of that, the DJ was over an hour late, which really threw off the vibe for the evening. Overall, that wasn't a smooth guest experience. I hope management takes this feedback seriously, but until then, I would advise other customers to double-check your bill carefully before paying.

What a shockingly great experience ! The live music was LIT. The crowd - magical. The food - delicious. The drinks - plentiful. It really was nice. The staff was just really something - nice, attentive, conversational - give Olga, Christina, and Shane (mgmt) a raise ! TRY IT NOW !!

Loved it here! I almost skipped because of some shaky reviews, but I’m so glad I didn’t. The doorman was really nice and let us in without any issues. It’s easier with a reservation or if you’re in a group of girls. I came with a big group on a Saturday and the vibe was so fun—friendly staff, great music, and plenty of room for all of us to hang out. We had such a good time we were planning our next visit before we left.

HOW TO GET IN: I just did a walk in on a Friday at opening time and it was very easy to get a table. The inside is absolutely stunning. It’s really beautiful. I love all the details and there is even a candy cart at the end. I love the matchbooks too. The security is a bit intimidating in the front but he was nice. The staff is friendly too. The olives were incredible. The only reason for the 4 stars is I don’t think the drinks were incredible and I thought they were too expensive for what they were. But the service was great.

Great atmosphere, delicious drinks and beautiful decoration. Went twice and both times were amazing! Great vibe! I will definitely be back.

My new favorite spot! From the moment I arrived, everything about this bar was impressive. It all started at the entrance, where the staff greeted me warmly and wished me a lovely evening. I had a reservation, so I was seated promptly even though my friend hadn’t arrived yet. They also took my coat at the front, which added to the smooth and welcoming experience. Once seated, the service continued to be exceptional. The waitress was incredibly attentive, and the helpers ensured that our table was always spotless. The balance of care and space was perfect—I never felt overwhelmed but always felt looked after. My friend and I even joked that we felt like we were in Europe because the service was just that good! We ordered burgers, lobster rolls, and egg rolls, and everything was absolutely delicious. The lobster roll and burger, in particular, were astonishingly good. The food was so amazing that we kept ordering more just to enjoy it again! The cocktails were fantastic, and the music added to the fabulous vibe of the evening. We initially planned to stay for just an hour and a half, but the atmosphere was so lively and enjoyable that we ended up staying late into the night. It was truly a perfect Friday night, and I’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for great food, drinks, and an amazing ambiance! ❤️

A beautiful new lounge with live music and cocktails, making it an excellent addition to the neighborhood. It's perfect for a date or a night out with friends. We had an amazing time singing and dancing to our requested songs played by the pianist.