Little Branch Reviews

I loved this place, for a secret bar. Imagine the rattle of the subway shaking the bottles, a slight smell of mildew from Hurricane Sandy, cinder block walls, and Fallout 3 ragtime music playing. But... I knew what I was getting into.

I’m ashamed to have brought my friends here as someone who grew up in New York. The bartender was so crude and rude

This tiny place really is well hidden away and even when you are at the location it is still really easy to miss. It is a plain door with only the tiniest sign telling you have found your destination. A clue is that there is a doorman outside because the place is so tiny that there is quite often a line of people waiting to get let in. It's well worth the wait though with some of the finest cocktails you will ever drink. There is a menu or you can ask for some of the more well known cocktails however, my recommendation would be to tell the barman what your preferred spirits are and he will concoct something for you in the time it takes him to shake his thing! I can pretty much guarantee that whatever it is he makes for you will be delicious. Not the cheapest place to drink cocktails but definitely worth the price for the experience and ambiance. Highly recommended oh and cash only so go prepared!

Nice atmosphere, good music, nice venue, very good cocktails. The place to go with friends if you want to spend a good time. The place is often crowded on Friday and Satuday nights however.

Fantastic place. Doorman checked to make sure we were over 21, even though you could measure how much we're over 21 in decades. Which is not to say the other folks (all couples) waiting on the sidewalk for the bar to open at 7pm weren't young -- they were. Down a narrowish, dimly lit staircase to a darker room with a bar and booths along the wall. Quiet music playing, so you could actually hear the person you're with without shouting. Attentive and pleasant service, very tasty cocktails. But get there when it opens -- by the time we left, 45 min later, place was jammed.

This is a great little bar/cocktail lounge that really takes you back in time. There's no sign, so you have to know where you're going. If you're in the mood for real cocktails, like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan, this is definitely the place to go. Its small, so be prepared to either get there early, or be slightly uncomfortable, unless you can score a table. Well worth the trip.

Cute speak-easy with delicious drinks. Despite being a "speak easy" it's relatively easy to find but I appreciated the rules for occupying the space.

Arrived with a few friends fairly early in a Saturday night, only to find a long line. The doorman was friendly. After waiting for about 25 minutes, we finally got in. The place was packed. The hostess told us it would be an hour to get a table. It would have been nice if the doorman told us while we waited in the cold. They do have a tiny area where you can stand with your drink and wait for your table. The bartenders made very good drinks. I just had to tell them what I like and they came up with a cocktail.

This bar is really nice, it has been designed like the bar of the prohibition era, with few lights (inside the bar there only candles, no electric lights), and it is hiddwn behind an anonymous door on the street. The cocktails are strong but very good.

If you can find this location, you will love it. Great cocktails and a fun environment. Everything is by candle light. We really enjoyed our drinks (the bartenders are very creative). Would definitely return (cash only)!

This hidden gem had an amazing vibe, staff, and mixology menu! One of our favorite speakeasy spots with amazing live music in NYC! Amazing whiskey cocktails!

Underground environment, good music and nice cocktails. nice place to go with friends to have a drink.

We didn't know the way to get in Milk & Honey, so we tried Little Branch (the sister bar of Milk & Honey). There was a line outside the door on Wed night when we arrived at about 10.30pm. The 20 mins wait is definitely worth it. There was live jazz, nice crowd, and the bar tenders are creative & nice, they even make me a cocktail based on my mood!

Went here for a couple of drinks with my girlfriend and found it to be a really funky little place with great cocktails and a very helpful, hipster waiter (very cool moustache!). We are pretty uneducated in the world of cocktails, but the waiter was extremely helpful, and the drinks were great, especially the dark and stormy made with their home made ginger beer. We were seated in a private booth and the space is really cool, very low lighting with unobtrusive jazz playing in the background. A definite recommendation from me!

Went to this speakeasy after an incredible dinner at Senza Gluten. Great jazz and great ginger mojito!

do yourself a favour and go to this cocktail bar, ask for a "bar tenders choice" of your favourite spirit and enjoy! Best cocktails I think I've ever had...

My friend knows I'm a speakeasy fan, so she was super excited to bring me here. Thankfully, when we went it was already really late on a Saturday night and the line was short. I like the atmosphere a LOT - on just the atmosphere alone I would've given it a higher rating. I just wasn't a fan of the drinks. I had the Goldrush, which was the only thing on their signature drink menu that spoke to me, but I wasn't really impressed. Most of the drinks were comprised of ginger beer, or cucumber, or Applejack, so if that's your thing, this is your place!

This bar is an amazing secret gem, hidden away behind a black door. You'd walk straight past it if you didn't know it was there! The cocktail selection is great and all delicious, the bar staff know how to mix up a treat. It has a lovely, friendly atmosphere and the booths are cosy and comfortable. Definitely worth a visit for a tasty nightcap.

Cute little underground cocktail bar. Get in early to get a table. Good venue for a date, a little too dark (hard to read the menu) and a little pricey. Waiter overcharged us at first.

This is the place for the Manhattan experience you wanted to have when you planned your trip. But, beware, it's hard to find and on a Thurs, Fri, Saturday there is always a line. So, either get there when it opens (which is early evening) or get there late at night. Early evening kind of defeats the purpose of going...this is a late night place that makes for an excellent spot after eating and drinking other places. You won't get a table so forget it...but there is a small place to stand near the bar. And, there is usually a jazz trio.

The entrance that is lacking distinctive features or characteristics of a bar makes this place a great speakeasy. Good cocktail menu and the staff were friendly. Only compliant would be that it was quite loud and packed - they could have managed the capacity better.

Cool spot, good drinks

This place is awesome. It feels like an underground, tell-only-your-best-friends kind of place, back in the 20s. Great vibe, lighting, seating and service. And the drinks are wonderful. Tell your server what's on your mind, and the bartender will create something off the cuff for you. We went twice on the same night.

Little Branch is a fantastic basement bar in the West Village. Get there 15 minutes before opening (it gets backed up), go through a door on the corner with a discrete sign, and down a flight of narrow stairs. The atmosphere is speakeasy hip, the waitstaff wear suspenders and are friendly and knowledgeable and the drinks are absolutely to die for. Their Presbyterian is something else, and if you don't know what to order just tell the waiter what types of flavors you do and don't like and leave it up to the bartender. They use perfectly clear cut blocks of ice in each drink that fit the type of glass. It's going to be tough going to other bars from here on out, as Little Branch is my new gold standard.

Was at little branch for a goodbye party for a friend ,never been there so took a stroll to check out the place after two seconds hot stooed by a screaming waiteress saying "CAN I HELP YOU!!!" I said i am just checking out your place then I said " wow you had a bad day today why can i not check around" then she said " we don't want people like you strolling around" hinting I was gay i said sorry but what u say is not ok and btw I am not gay then she said i call the police I said go for it actually i will call them then she said we are very close with the police you have no chance and got the doorman who kicked me out and she said this is what we do with people like you although to his defense this was not sexually orientated he had no idea and was just doing his job. at this stage I would have called the police but had no more battery. Beyond the fact that this place seems to have a toilet problem ( the toilet was clogged with so much sh..that it overwhelmed the whole place) I felt like I was in a night club in Ukraine almost got beaten up for being gay which i almost hoped would have happened because could have sued for sexual discrimination and false accusation at the same time!!! Happily for them smelly sewage but not suing for now because have to much work to bother...

The LB bar is an absolute gem - located in the base of a building it features a nice ambience and a fully featured bar. The extraordinary skilled bartender creates cocktails based on the customers likings and succeeds to make everyone feel at ease.

On a late Monday night, with only a few customers in, the least one would expect is to get some cocktail recommendations from the bored "mixologist" behind the bar. Unfortunately wrong, because except from drinks the bartender and the waitress also "mix" the good manners of any sincerely-cool speakeasy place with the arrogant attitude of a wannabe-cool newbie bar. He plainly refused to give a recommendation and arrogantly forwarded us to the waitress and we refused to place an order and kindly left him to further enjoy his boredom. As simple as that. So queue in lines if you wanna feel cool. The staff certainly feels cool when you do so ;-)

Although difficult to find, it was a great experience for us with nice jazz music and wonderful cocktails. Staff was very friendly.

awesome mojitos!

Little Branch is considered one of the best bar worldwide! we waited about 30 mins outside but it deserved! This nice place is "hidden" behind an anonymous door on the 7th ave. The atmosphere will take you directly to the roaring Twenties! when we went there a jazz quartet delighted our time

Some New Yorkers at the table next to us in a restaurant earlier in the night told us to go here. It's not easy to find so take a map. We got a booth when we arrived and had some fantastic cocktails. It was a really fun place and the live music was just lovely and added to the atmosphere. The service was great and the toilets are really clean. I'll be back!

I went on a Thursday night with friends. We were at the door, at around 10:30 pm or so, and we were told we would have to wait because they were at their capacity, but after 5 minutes we were inside. We managed to get a table, which was great. There was live jazz, so that made the place feel really nice and intimate. Cocktails were nice, and I had even asked for cocktails that were not on the list (I wanted a champagne cocktail), and they made it for me. I don't know what it is like during the weekend, but on a Thursday night, it was just perfect for drinks with friends (we ended up leaving at 3am). Do not, however, have too great expectations. I was surprised entering this bar, because it looks quite drab, and even perhaps smells a bit of humidity (it is underground, perhaps that is why), walls are cracked, etc. Looks more like a hole in the wall, than a nice coctail bar. I almost wanted to leave... But the atmosphere and drinks were really good, so just give it a chance. It is also rather small. Tables can seat 4, and the bar area is tiny (perhaps 10 people can fit there), so it is not for a big party... I would recommend this place...

I know its hard to find but we walked around for ages and it was no - where to be seen! Only myself to blame really but best take somebody who knows where it is!

Another speakeasy in the city, but at least the ambiance here matches the idea. The bartenders are suspendered and there is a live jazz band. It gets super crowded on weekends and standing at the bar is more like a mosh pit. I wasn't in love with any of the drinks I had as they tended to be overly bitter with a grapefruit taste, even when no grapefruit was present. The staff is also a bit pretentious and the bartender had a bit of attitude when taking our order. Overall, great atmosphere but only average drinks and service.

Keep your eyes peeled for this little speakeasy style bar. The nondescript door leads you down to a dark stairwell to a low lit room with a tiny bar tucked away in the corner. We must have stumbled upon this place at the right time, as there was no line. and the wait time allowed us to enjoy a drink at the bar before being seated. Once seated we were tucked away and left to enjoy a variety of delicious cocktails. I tried the Airmail, which felt similar to french 45 and felt perfectly balanced. I will definitely be happy to come back for another nightcap.

If you're a drink snob like me and like jazz, this little hideaway is the perfect place for a low key night.

Little Branch doesn't need the gimmicky entrance hidden behind a tarot reader, telephone booth or in the back of an art gallery. It sits behind a simple unmarked door, and if there's no queue, you won't even notice the doorman lingering a little further away, until he walks up to you, asks if you care for a drink and requests your ID. The space is fairly small, which makes for a great, intimate experience, but it also means it fills up quickly. We were there fairly early on a Sunday night and got right in, but there was a queue as we were leaving. At first glance, the cocktail menu seemed a little underwhelming, but we spoke to the barman, who made us two divine cocktails based on the taste profiles we usually like. To top it all off, there was a jazz trio playing live. Perfect way to enjoy drinks!

If you want to get back to old times, make a stop here, enjoy your sophisticated cocktail and the atmosphere. Any cocktail is about 16$ and beer 8$, tips aside. Bring your ID along and have fun! It is worth it!

Fabulous little cocktail bar hidden away in west village. You may have to queue, we did but only five minutes max. Great fun, cocktails and sprits. As the other reviews pointed out a bit tricky to find but we did it, so you should do it as well. Enjoy your time there,

You won't need a menu. Just tell the waiter how you feel, and what kind of alcohol you like... And the best drink ever will come! Very cozy and intimist, and should remain like that. As the toilet sign says: bring only those you would invite to your place.

We were in town for a short holyday and we were looking for a some good relaxing drink in a warm place (it was freakin cold outside). The Little Branch is like a speakeasy, so you don't find any sign or flashing lights outside, just a door on the corner of the street. Down the stairs a man check your ID without smile or "hello"... so we ordered the drinks at the counter while waiting for the table, the barman took our order, but "smiles"... not recieved... I can say thet the drinks were very good, the place is cozy, the light was too tenuos for me but it created a romantic atmosphere. Price is like other similar bar (about15-16$). I think that a smile is a very simple thing but can change everything...

Amazing bar . Had one of the best drinks ever prepared by Lauren. All i had to tell her was that I wanted spicy vodka drink. She game me a excellent spicy ginger drink. AWESOME.

Went here after a play because I had read so many positive reviews and wanted to check it out. I was expecting a more charming atmosphere since it was a speakeasy but it looked more like a basement bar you'd go to in college. Which is totally fine if the vibe is right. It just wasn't. The person that greeted us at the podium was super rude and dismissive. They had no tables available, which we were fine with but he just waved his hand at us in a "shoo" kind of movement towards the bar. Seriously? We were still contemplating giving it a shot hoping the drinks would redeem the situation, but as we stood there waiting and taking in the atmosphere - no music at all, bare surroundings, lack of a welcome, we decided to bag it and left.

Was recommended this bar for its atmosphere and cocktails by a few different friends so we went on a saturday night. We queued for around 30 minutes and was slightly disappointed by the drinks given the rave reviews we had heard. The bartender was helpful making his own creations based on a suggestion of spirits / flavours but have had better in London....

I love a place where you can walk in the door be greeted proper and tell the barman the mood your in and bam! If so, you're in the right place. Great atmosphere and service to boot.

A relaxing getaway in the heart of the Village. Little Branch uses fresh ingredients to mix straightforward cocktails accompanied by mind blowing music. Service is attentive but unobtrusive. This place is so good that It is not for everyone. Only take people you really like here.

Went there solely for the drinks. Speakeasy atmosphere. Great drinks. The Deauville was killing me, in a positive way.

been here a few times, real NYC experience, various types of live music, last time jazz, before that blues

I like the old speakeasies that are popping up around NYC and this one was no exception. The drinks and service were great and it really had that old-time feel to it. I would definitely recommend going here.

Bartender asking my friend for his choice of spirit My friend: What should I get? Me: Vodka? (may be) My friend: Vodka please Bartender: Boring Bartender asking me for my choice of spirit Me: Tequila Bartender: Interesting Me :) My Bartender's choice drink was pretty good. It was sweet and gingery, perfect for a cold winter night. If you don't know what do pick, just pick the bartender's choice drink and tell them what you like. Very cute and cozy. Good spot for a date. If you can a cozy booth that would be perfect. A little jazzy live music in the corner for those awkward moments when you want to pretend to enjoy the music and may be... text (jk) I have been here with date, girlfriends, guy friends many times and it's still one of my favorite speakeasies. Very chill and low key. Since it's such a small cozy place I wouldnt go with a group of more than 4 people. The line can be pretty long on the weekends. And CA$H only though

Easy to find, if you know what you are looking for.. very small inside. Well crafted drinks by great bartenders...Takes a couple minutes for a drink, but well worth the wait for the quality..($14)

We walked past the entrance to this place about 3 times before finding it! Very prohibition. We came on a Monday night for a drink or two and it was quiet at first, so we spent the first half an hour chatting with the bartenders/manager who were great value to talk to. Every time we couldn't figure out what to drink, the bartenders would simply ask two or three questions about our flavour preferences and before we knew it we had a drink! One of the bartenders already finished making my cocktail before I got the chance to finish explaining my preferences and the result was exactly what I wanted. It became busting with energy towards the end of the night, especially when a small, live jazz band came in to play! Everything about this place was so great, would definitely go back.

Phenomenal drinks and cute space. On the small side so if you don't get a table, getting a drink from the bar is near impossible.

Little Branch rocks! Dark, candle lit, speak easyish. This place has great concoctions. The staff was so friendly and the ambiance was beautiful. I had several Cloak and Daggers. A pirates ration and they were awesome! Kelley had the bartenders choice and each time she loved them. Get there at 7 if you want a table. Give the doorman a tip for because he deserves one!

All the cocktails here were very good. The surroundings were very chilled and dark, reminiscent of prohibition era speak easys. To try- French East India, Moscow Mule and Old fashioned.

A great place for a night of cocktails and jazz. This village speakeasy is located behind a nondescript door, but once inside it’s a cool vibe with great cocktails and live music. They have a great cocktail menu and a ‘bartenders’ choice for those that just can’t decide. When it’s packed it does get a little loud, so if you’re looking for a quiet evening this may not be for you. Please note for those with mobility concern-you do have to navigate down steps. I’m looking forward to going back next time I’m in NYC!!

I had heard amazing things bout this place and was a "must do" for this trip. We were able to get in without putting our name on a wait list. It was a really small bar and packed pretty tight but I was still able to get a drink at the bar while we waited for a table. The bartenders were great. I ordered "bartender's choice" which is where you tell them what you like & they make something up. That' one of the things I like about these types of bars. The drink was really good! I would come back in a heartbeat. We ended up leaving before a table became available because we were both exhausted.

My husband and I wanted to find an unpretentious speakeasy in New York City and boy did we find it at Little Branch. This place does not look like much when you drive up to it. The structure is covered with graffiti and the only indication that you have arrived at the correct destination is the tiniest sign on the door. You will likely walk past it. We love this place because it has great and inventive cocktails. Just tell the 20's dressed bartenders what you usually drink, and they will serve up some delicious cocktails that will surely please your thirsty taste buds. (I usually drink vodka and Little Branch does not serve vodka, but I still enjoyed the drinks, so do not let that deter you.) The service is great and the waitresses are very knowledge and will be very helpful with questions. Little Branch only accepts CASH so come prepared. Also arrive early, particularly during the weekend, as the tables get full quite fast. Last time we were in NYC we arrived around 8 pm and it was perfect. We got a table right away and were able to enjoy several cocktails throughout the night. One time, we arrived at Little Branch after dinner around 10:30 pm and had to wait about a 1/2 hour outside, and then another 1/2 hour inside to get a table. So arrive early and beat the rush! My husband and I have also gone to other speakeasy's including Please Don't Tell and Raines Law Room and Little Brach is by far our favorite. The other 2 were quite difficult to get into. We also love Little Branch because you will be amongst locals and you can pretend you are a New Yorker for the night. Cheers!

Excellent cocktails at this small speakeasy-like bar. Nothing is visible apart from a little door and a potential line up of people waiting to get in. Underground small place, with live jazz (piano and contrabass) and great mixologist at the bar. Cocktails are at $16 and there are around 6-8 tables to accommodate larger groups.

Small, quiet speakeasy with incredibly good cocktails. It's dimly lit and quiet in Little Branch (no loud thumping music, just some quiet jazz playing in the background) so the focus is definitely on the drinks. Asked for the bartender's choice, and he mixed me a delicious whiskey based cocktail w/ cucumber and mint. Refreshing, strong and really great. My wife had a vodka-based cocktail and said the same thing. Definitely a place we'd go back to on a date night.

LB has jazz most nights in an intimate space serving up AMAZING drinks! Unless you know where they are located, you'll pass them. It is a hidden gem. It's worth the wait for a table.

Visited with friends on a hot and humid summer Saturday night and the ice cold a/c and dark underground vibe were the perfect antidote to the sweaty environment outside. Delicious cocktails and friendly staff tick all the boxes. Just don’t fall down the steep steps going in! Or trip over the hidden step into the bathrooms…!!

Be prepared for a queue/line to get in, we waited about 30 minutes as the premises is very small and they can only let people in as others exit. We headed down about 11pm following dinner in Mas Farmhouse, although you could also do pre-dinner drinks and it would be less likely to be busy at an earlier time. Great cocktails, very knowledgeable staff and there was a nice jazz quartet playing when we were there. Definitely worth a visit although considering the size of the place I should probably be trying to keep it a secret....

Sasha Petraske who debuted pioneering craft cocktail bar Milk & Honey in 1999 (now Attaboy, which I visited in December 2017), opened Little Branch in 2005. Another great bar in the mould of the Petraske family. Interesting to read Petraske’s rules, which were apparently put in place because his landlord and friend lived upstairs above Milk & Honey and only agreed to lease the space if Petraske promised to maintain "pin drop" silence… 1. No name-dropping, no star f*cking. 2. No hooting, hollering, shouting, or other loud behavior. 3. No fighting, no play fighting, no talking about fighting. 4. Gentlemen will remove their hats. Hooks are provided. 5. Gentlemen will not introduce themselves to ladies. Ladies, feel free to start a conversation or ask the bartender to introduce you. If a man you don't know speaks to you, please lift your chin slightly and ignore him. 6. Do not linger outside the front door. 7. Do not bring anyone unless you would leave that person alone in your home. You are responsible for the behavior of your guests. 8. Exit the bar briskly and silently. People are trying to sleep across the street. Please make all your travel plans and say all farewells before leaving the bar. Paraphrasing Petraske’s obituary in the NY Times in April 2015…The Petraske style became known for its unapologetic dedication to expertly crafted, pre-Prohibition era cocktails, its eccentric reservation system and exacting rules of decorum. His influence can be seen in myriad details now common to cocktail bars around the world, including hidden entrances, a focus on classic cocktails and a formal attire adopted by bartenders. He also championed the “bartender’s choice” found on many cocktail menus, the use of jiggers to measure out drinks, and even the ubiquitous use of cucumber slices in water glasses. Many leading bartenders in the cocktail industry began their careers at Petraske bars. My local example, which is a favourite, is The Everleigh in Fitzroy which was started by Petraske in partnership with Australian bartender Michael Madrusan who gained his experience at Milk & Honey, here at Little Branch and PDT (Please Don’t Tell).

So my friend walks me up to this random door on 7th avenue then we go down dingy stairs and walk into a speakeasy type of place where I proceed to have a Brandy Alexander which is just freaking awesome. What's not to like?

Was at dinner in the West Village and asked table next to us if they knew of any cool local bars for an after dinner cocktail - they suggested Little Branch. We googled and physically searched for it as there is no street sign. Down the stairs was live Jazz, knowledgeable bartenders and GREAT cocktails. What a cool little place - packed wall to wall with good music and people having fun! You gotta go. . . .

I never would have known this place existed if I had not been shown its location by a couple of friends. I would agree with other reviewers in saying that it is a bit of a basement bar atmosphere, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I rather like the dim lit atmosphere, with a candle or two strewn about. It is a nice ambiance for a more casual yet still intimate date - if you can get a nice little table/booth. Beware that odds are you will not get a seat and will have to stand as this place can get very crowded. The cocktails are pretty darn good.

People love this place but it is not for me. Went on a Tuesday around 8:00 and it was pretty hard to get a table, so we had to stand at the bar (no stools). Drinks were really good.

Don't bother. Don't bother waiting in line outside in the cold. Don't bother getting cash for this cash-only establishment. Don't bother be crammed into a small hot basement. Don't bother trying to meet your friends here, they won't be able to get in because they have to wait on-line.

THIS PLACE... Hard to find, candlelight, monitored number of guests, order drinks by taste... I felt like I fell into a different time zone. Jazz music was incredible. The location has you wondering if you are walking down into God knows what, it is so incredible. I would recommend this place for locals or out of towners, and anyone that wants a fabulous memory

great mixed drinks, truly a bespoke cocktail made to your liking. Go in the summer though because they max out at around 50 people (I believe) so you may wait a little bit. The earlier you go, the better.

This speakeasy bar has absolutely fantastic cocktails. As a result there is often a queue so be prepared for a short wait. But it is well worth it. I recommend telling the staff a liquor and letting them make something special for you. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable and happy to talk you through the drinks. I will definitely be back.

Fantastically talented mixologists on display here in this downstairs, below street level, gem. The Host is beyond compare; taking the time to ensure the drinks you order reflect your mood as well as your taste buds and masterfully works the room from table to table ensuring each of his guests are having a good time; always knowing when it's appropriate to approach a table - or not. What a pro. Superb. Highly recommended.

Cool bar in a basement through an anonymously door. Great drinks, hip clientele, live music, but 14 USD per cocktail is a bit expensive.

Little speakeasy tucked away on a strange corner with a triangle-shaped building. One of the first places to specialize in mixology before everyone and their dog jumped on that trend.

A must do for cocktail lovers in Manhattan. Mr Johnson at the door provides great commentary and cocktail chatter. Sezarac was outrageous! This will become a staple for us when visiting NYC.

Our friend who works in Manhattan brought us here-don't think we would have found it ourselves. Best old fashioned I've ever had-potent but very tasty. Great atmosphere and once you are prepared to wait for a table to free up, you can happily spend hours here.

I was researching other speakeasy's (that just sounds wrong) and was considering PDT. After speaking to the concierge in our hotel he suggested Little Branch or Bathtub Gin. We wanted something where it was feasible to get a table just for the two of us so he suggested getting to Little Branch around 7 when it first opened. A couldn't imagine what a bar in Manhattan would have looked like at 7pm. That's like 10am in most cities. I wasn't all that surprised that by 8 this place was shoulder to shoulder. We had gotten there around 7:15 and all the tables were already taken, but there was only one other couple on the waiting list in front of us. We grabbed a drink and about a half an hour later we were seated. The hostess along with the bartenders were all very kind and knowledgeable. The drinks were fantastic. My date ordered a Tom Collins and I didn't know what to get. The bartender asked what I liked and I said I usually drink Grey Goose on the rocks, pretty boring. He asked if I put fruit in it and I said a lemon from time to time. That's all he needed. He mixed up something that tasted fantastic. Not overly sweet like most mixed drinks tend to be and not so watered down that you can't appreciate the alcohol. It was the perfect mix and went down a little too easily. After a couple of drinks we remembered how early we started and decided to take a break and head somewhere to grab a bite to eat. There is no food on the menu at all, which is understandable. The place is so small and crowded it isn't the right setting for any type of food. Plus as small as the place is I can't imagine the food smell that would linger. I plan on checking out another speakeasy next time I am in the city, but I would definitely come back here again. Also this place is cash only so make sure you bring some paper.

I'm still giddy with the feeling of an era gone by. We happened upon Little Branch after a little web searching while wandering the west village. A fella standing near .. but not directly by the door (that would be a give away) checked IDs and let us know it would be a cash only night. (As they all are at LB) We walked down the sketchy Stairwell and a musty smell overwhelmed us (stay with me) My sister had the same look on her face she gets at Carlsbad caverns... (low ceilings). It was so dark inside I would've never been able to see the ripped cushions on the booth where we were seated had it not have caught in my purse and ripped a little more. There were only 2 or 3 other booths occupied and we were wondering where we had stumbled and if we would stay... but within a minute or two a menu was plopped on the table with the most interesting drink choices and concoctions. My sis isn't the most daring and told the waiter she likes margaritas and he asked her why. After she told him he sent another gal over who reminded me of the singer from the B-52s and between the 2 of them they decided on a tequila and lime and mint drink with cucumber and salt and pepper on the top.. NOT on the menu but she tapped her her brain to let us know where it's kept. The cool kids started pouring in and the cover was yanked off the piano . A small trap set showed up and I could JUST see the top of a stand up base from where I was sitting. Holy holy. This was good stuff. Every so often you could hear the subway rumble over head. I had a Moscow Mule that had a twist that I can't explain. Candied ginger on the rim.. a mint julep that read like a whisky sno cone. When we left it was getting CRANKING with standing room only and the colorful Bartenders (now 2 of them) shaking their shakers like sets of maracas. I guess you could say we WILL BE BACK.

Great atmosphere, GREAT drinks. There is a comfortable hum in this bar, not too loud and not too quiet. The bar tenders knew everything about their drinks and were very helpful. Great place for drinks before or after dinner.

Quirky underground setting. Everyone really friendly...I didn't know what I fancied, so the mixologist just asked me what I would normally drink and he made me my own cocktail and it was delicious...jazz was good too, just wish we were a bit closer to really get in the feel of it. Great night.

Nice cute little place for a date. Not a restaurant really, but they do make some nice drinks!