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The Volstead

125 E 54th St
New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 583-0411
The Volstead
Cross Street:
Between Park Avenue and Lexington Avenue
Directions:
E, V at Lexington Ave; 6 at 51st St; 4,5,6; N, R, W at 59th St
Best of Citysearch:
After-Work Bar 2007
Hours:
Mon-Wed 11am-2am, Thu-Fri 11am-4am, Sat 5pm-4am

Editorial Review for The Volstead – by Aaron Barker

In Short
Serious cocktails, slider trays and flatscreens are a winning combo for post-office fraternizing, and by adding a whiff of speakeasy intrigue to their latest midtown venture, the owners of PS 450 and Vig 27 hope to seal the deal. Secretive the Volstead is not--you can't miss the Versailles-worthy chandelier at the entrance--but it is underground; two flights of stairs lead to a double-wide bar and an adjacent lounge area that has plenty of group-friendly nooks with waitresses and silver ice buckets on hand.

Hits: Chef Dominic Giuliano's menu of comfort foods like mac and cheese pops and lobster roll sliders is delicious, and the kitchen stays open until 2am Thursday through Sunday.

Misses: Domestic bottles of beer run a whopping $7, with no happy hour.

Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.

Insider Tips

The Extras

A DJ pumps up the volume with collegiate nostalgia (think Cream and the Beatles) and late '80s retro (Young MC) from Tuesday to Saturday.

Fun Fact

Tipping its hat to the legislation that led to the original American speakeasies, this modern-day version is named for Andrew Volstead, founder of the Prohibition Act.

What To Drink

Try a specialty cocktail like the Capone--a lethal combo of Ciroc vodka, Mathilde Peche, and Peychaud's Bitters.

When to Go

Lunch is served during the week.

User Reviews for The Volstead

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/09/2008 Posted by Kastchei

I've been to Volstead a couple times recently. I really like the place. It's very nicely designed and decorated. Having two bars really helps. The place is classy without being snooty or trendy. The patrons - at least at night - are quite diverse. Some are in suits, some just walked in wearing whatever; and no one seems to care. To me, there was very little pretension. The bar tenders are very personable, and I've always gotten a good pour. I haven't sat at a table, so I can't attest to the wait service. Nor have I ordered food. The music was fun, but not too loud. It's not a dance club, and I was able to carry on a conversation with my friend and the bartender just fine, even at the height of the crowds. They serve some really good cocktails as well. The Eastsider is excellent - you can barely recognize that it's gin based. I wouldn't call it a singles bar, but since I'm not straight, I'm obviously not going to Volstead for that. Overall a great experience.

Pros: Great atmosphere, attitude, and service

Cons: A tad pricey, but it's midtown east, so not bad. I don't think there is happy hour.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/15/2008 Posted by musix

Visited the Volstead last Saturday and I was blown away. I am a single guy and I came through with a buddy and we were quite pleased with the potential both at the bar and at the tables. Both bars were totally packed and we had a tough time getting a drink, but once we did we were very pleased with the quality (strength) of our drinks. We decided to sit at a table and order one of the bottle coctails from our waitress. It was only 50 bucks or so and ended up being 5 drinks. By far the best deal in midtown... The music was exceptional too, with the DJ seemlessly going from 80s pop, Southern Hip Hop, Classic Rock, Electronic, Reggaetone and anything else he could think of. It seems dancing is mandatory after midnight which we found quite amusing as we sat there and chatted up the girls next to us. Overall, our waitress was great along with the music and atmosphere and I will definitely be back.

Pros: Bottle Coctails, Seating, Music, Girls, Staff

Cons: Location, Crowded Bar Area

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Editor's Review

This fresh spin on the speakeasy aims to keep young professionals in midtown long after the workday has ended.  See the full editorial review.

Insider Tips

The Extras

A DJ pumps up the volume with collegiate nostalgia (think Cream and the Beatles) and late '80s retro (Young MC) from Tuesday to Saturday.

More Insider Tips

Bar/Club Information

Atmospheres

  • DJ
  • Bars
  • Specialty Cocktails
  • Neighborhood
  • Late-Night Scene
  • After Work
  • Lounge
  • Happy Hour
  • Food Served

Parking

  • Street

Coat Check

  • Yes

Hours

  • Mon-Wed 11am-2am
  • Thu-Fri 11am-4am
  • Sat 5pm-4am

Dress Code

  • Casual to Dressy

Payment Types

  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • Discover
  • American Express

Recognition for The Volstead

2007 Editorial Winner - After-Work Bar

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