Milk and Honey (Reported Closed)

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Cocktail H.

Joined 1 year ago

Set aside the evening for an exceptional cocktail experience. I am so in love with this place that I want to marry it. I found the bartenders and other staff extremely gracious, and the cocktails are unparalleled. The reservations-only policy might be a little inconvenient, but how else would they ensure that all the patrons have a seat in the beautiful (and small) space and that everyone gets such a finely crafted cocktail? It would be an entirely different experience if you had to stand three deep at the bar or the bartenders didn't have several minutes to lovingly craft the drinks. So set aside an evening, make a reservation, and enjoy it to the fullest.

I wrote a post about my experience at my blog, hostessdiary.

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JessicaGoldman47

Joined 3 years ago

As Rachel Zoe would say... I die!. All the glamor of the roaring 20's but without the looming thought that you could get arrested for sipping on a cocktail at any moment. I thought I died and went to heaven when I stepped into milk and honey.

Ironically milk and honey is the only thing served in heaven according to a professor of mine during my undergraduate years.

Anyway, back to the experience. A discrete door with M&H is all you see from the street as you walk into, yes into, a black velvet curtain you think "this cannot be right". Then...BAM it is like you just walked into a dream. The staff plays right into the part and next thing you know you are having a custom made drink in a sleek bar and you never want to leave this speakeasy.

Read the rules in the bathroom they are hysterical. Still do not know if they were real or not...

Go for the experience! Make a reservation no membership required and enjoy!

Doesn't Recommend

BillMelcher

Joined 3 years ago

Disappointing. We take our craft cocktails seriously so I don't mind a bartender surprising me with something. But if you don't have a menu I would expect to be surprised with something besides a whiskey sour. And if you bring me a whiskey sour it better be the best one I ever had. Or it better cost less than $16. Unfortunately that was my first and last experience at Milk & Honey. The service was good though. Not having food at all was another surprise, not even bar food.

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silverblue

Joined 3 years ago

Classy and Mysterious but Mixologist Could Do Better. I came to this speakeasy (which is located on a very ghetto alleyway and sits behind a locked dingy old door that says "134. M&H") about 2 years ago when M+H didn’t require a membership to get in yet. I clearly remember not being too fascinated with the cocktails there, esp the ‘signature’ drink that the waitress recommended but I wanted to give it another try.

The bar itself is dimly lit, and has a few booths on a long and narrow hallway. It does have that prohibition era (1920–1933) ambiance to it for sure. The waitress comes and asks us what kinds of drinks we like - sweet? creamy? what kind of liquor do you like?

At least $16 a pop, I must admit that I’ve unfortunately had better cocktails at Raines Law Room, Angel’s Share, Pegu or Death & Co. We ordered 7 different drinks in total and while they were good, they weren’t all that unique (for example, the waitress made me a Penicillin, which was the exact drink I had at Raines but better) or memorable and there was always something a little off (too much lime, too creamy, can’t taste the blackberries, etc).

I am not sure who pays for membership to M+H these days but I surely will not! I can email the hostess and get a table at a certain time almost guaranteed; so in a way, getting into M+H for me is easier than getting into Raines, which doesn’t take ressies. Nonetheless, if you do plan to go, bring a stack of cash. This speakeasy don’t do plastic!

Doesn't Recommend

bnmbnm

Joined 4 years ago

Slimy bartender. It started out nice, but after serving us several stiff drinks the bartender lured my friend to what he claimed was a "back room" (there was no back room) and tried to make out with her. Each time she pushed him away and told him she had a boyfriend. He told her that he had recently had sex in the bathroom. She got back to the bar and he made several lewd comments. We didn't realize it was a cash only bar so when we got the bill had to go to an ATM. He whisked her outside to an ATM. This time he was more aggressive, putting his hand where it didn't belong and pushing her hand on him. We paid and left. This occurred Sunday, 12/20.

Doesn't Recommend

Sheckysnightlife

Joined 4 years ago

Great Drinks Bad Service. I came to Milk and Honey with a group of 3 clients looking for a place to shoot a 20’s themed fashion ad I figured that Milk and Honey would be the perfect location with the speak easy reputation it has.

But…… when the first impression you have of the place is a rude hostess it changes the evening for everyone. The Short Haired (brown bob with bangs) waitress was so rude to our entire table, by rolling eyes and glaring. Originally I brushed it off as a attitude problem and approached her about space for the shoot. She answered me with a rude tone the returned to her blackberry. With the reputation that Milk & Honey has I was sad to see them have such an ignorant employee. The drink are fabulous but when the person that serves you is uncouth it always leave a bad taste in your mouth.

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Tonyap29

Joined 5 years ago

The Best!. I miss this place! Wonderful and reminds me of places outside of the US... brings back great memories and there should be more places like this (some uptown please) throughout the city.

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dwntwnpainter

Joined 5 years ago

Re: The absolute best. "The number is no longer unlisted - as Sasha has published it on his website"

Boomski - which website did Sasha publish the number on?

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Boomski

Joined 5 years ago

The absolute best. There are some firsts in life you never forget. Your first kiss, first fight, first trip to Disneyworld etc. For me, that list definitely includes my first trip to M&H. 2 years, and countless visits later, I have become a regular, but that little feeling of anticipation as I walk through the heavy velvet curtains has not totally vanished. Everything about this place is exceptional. The atmosphere can't be beat, whether you are on a date or just relaxing. All the previous reviews are accurate in that they use fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruit and alot of other goodies that Sasha can get his hands on. The rules are not meant to be pretentious, but to maintain a certain atmosphere. This isn't the kind of place you can drunkenly sing along to "livin on a prayer" with your girlfriends. There's nothing wrong with that - but there's a time and a place. You wouldn't conduct yourself the same way if you were eating dinner @ Jean Georges as you would at Applebees, would you? The number is no longer unlisted - as Sasha has published it on his website, and has made 2 of the 6 tables available to the public to reserve (the rest are only available for "keyholders") Sure, there are other great cocktail bars in Manhattan. All the guys at M&H work at Little Branch, and are friends with the guys @ PDT, Pegu, D&C etc, so you could get the same drinks there. But for the total experience, M&H can't be beat!

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jondrama

Joined 5 years ago

Finally after a year of serching!. It took me sadly a year to finally get the secret number and address, but it was well worth the wait! Come with an idea of what kind of tastes you prefer and they will custom tailor drinks to your individual likes. Be warned though the drinks are pretty pricey ($15) but you're also paying for the attention to detail, private ambiance, and exclusivity. Keep hunting for the # cause that's part of the fun! :-)