I most recently went there a coupe of weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon. Â The place was well crowded, and I didn't mind waiting for the attention of one the 2 bartenders. Â One bartender was terrible (terrible cocktails and service), while one was very good. Â I wouldn't go there again in case only the terrible bartender is around and I have to deal with his annoying attitude and nasty cocktails.
Review Source:Amazing speakeasy vibe and wonderful drinks. The bartender can work with you if you don't know exactly what you want. I would caution against going on a Friday or Saturday night because the place just gets way too packed. The bar changes their menu often so you don't know what to expect. Bartender is very nice and just go for the ambiance.
Review Source:Great bar, drinks were fantastic! Fresh ingredients and I'm a fan of the large chunks of ice. Nice to see egg whites being utilized in drinks. Drinks of the same quality are double the price in BK or the city.
For all those slamming the hipster vibe, midtown is just a stop away on the N/Q...there's no shortage of Bud Lights and Rihanna.
The bartender here really knows his stuff. I haven't experienced mixed drinks like this really anywhere. Not that I can really stomach whiskey anymore (well my liver doesn't do to well with whiskey anymore).
Don't be fooled by the outside appearance of this place. Prices are fair for the level of service and product being sold.
They do a lot of unique things with the mixed drinks here and they pay very close attention to many of the minor details when preparing your drinks. These guys are definitely pros when it comes to bar tending. Something that seems to be a lost art in many of the hipster dives in Manhattan.
Spacious bar and a very unique setup.
Clientele here is sort of business professional, college grad. Most people here are friendly and it is a good place to settle in, enjoy a few and chat with friends.
LOVELOVELOVE this place! First of all, it's so convenient for the unfortunate people who have to truck it out to Long Island City for work every day. Secondly, as soon as you walk in, you feel like you've been instantly transported to the Prohibition Era, which is an awesome feeling! The drinks, while a little pricey, are awesome, but it's the Doc's Hard Cider from Warwick, New York that gets me coming back in again and again. Only slight problem is that the servers can be great some nights and awful other nights. Overall, I highly recommend this place!!
Review Source:Normally, it's better to sit at the bar at these places. Â The service tends to be better and you tend to not have to wait 30 mins for a drink (see Clover Club). Â The opposite is true of DK. Â It's a pretty attractive bar, but the snug booths in the hall are probably where you want to be (if you want to be here at all that is). Â The main reason you don't want to sit at the bar, though, is the bartenders. Â Yes, they can make you a stellar gin old fashioned, but yes you'll have to wait for that nauseatingly boring story of that one time Matt had to be, like, dragged all the way from Ridgewood to Bushwick, cuz he was sooo wasted. Â Good to see the philosopher bartender is still in fashion though, ours was quick to dispense with such axioms as 'dude, you have to get the black girls to the party if you wanna dance.' Â Indeed.
The drinks are great, probably not worth going out of your way for though. Â If you're around LIC, you could do worse than grabbing a cocktail here - just make sure there's a booth free first.
killer interior atmosphere--a new twist on a speakeasy feel. Â
however, the music is awful (i'm guessing on purpose--what purpose, i do not know), and the bartenders are wholly nonplussed and did not seem to want to be bothered (think Greenpoint ten years ago). Â i won't say they're rude, but they seemed to be too cool for school--again, a trait that is rampant in Brooklyn, and something i do not fully understand in any bartender in general. Â
back to the music really quick: happy hour on a weekday, James Taylor and 60s TV show music. Â oh, the irony. Â it offended my ears and it nearly ruined my drinks. Â this could be the coolest bar in any borough with simple audio tweaks. Â ironic music can work, just not when it sucks.
about the drinks: that is the only reason this place gets three stars. Â the drinks are PERFECTLY made. Â as a huge stickler for well-made cocktails, i was extremely pleased with the ones that i ordered.
so, in short, if you like aesthetics and well-made drinks, but don't mind bad music and uber-"cool" bartenders, go here ASAP.
i will be going back, until i can find a better vibe with cocktails made just as well.
Blink and there's a good chance you'll miss it! A telltale sign (literally) that you've arrived is the blinking neon "BAR" sign situated just outside the door.
Dutch Kills is dark and wooden and delightfully cozy, especially on a rainy night (which it happened to be when I visited). The live jazz pianist added to the ambiance.
As you enter, you're greeted with booths that seat large and small parties alike. The bar is in the back, so keep walking. The retro-inspired menu is filled with a variety of libations.
I opted for the Moscow Mule, an amazing vodka and housemade ginger syrup concoction. It was perfectly refreshing with a hint of spice to perk up the taste buds. My date had the Whiskey Fix. I don't typically like whiskey, but was pleasantly surprised by the taste. Depending on the type, each drink is served with a different kind of ice --- crushed, cubes, you get the picture -- and a different kind of glass.
I think what I love the most are the small touches like cool, refreshing cucumber water and the metal straws. Also, the coasters. I may or may not have helped myself to two of them. The servers are attentive but not overbearing. The mixologists will happily create something off-menu if you ask. Case in point: I wanted a drink with St. Germaine and was served up a memorable gin and muddled fruit cocktail.
The food is leave or take. I had the summer spring rolls and mac & cheese. Both were fair at best. I'll come back for the drinks, but probably not for the bites. Â
I was an LIC bar virgin, and Dutch Kills popped the cherry. It seems like the kind of place where in-the-know people go. It was the perfect spot for delicious drinks and conversation. I'm sure my date's wallet especially appreciated the reasonable prices.
My friends and I decided to check this place out for the first (and what would be the last) time over the winter. The bar itself feels cozy with its speakeasy vibe and decor, but it doesn't make up for the fact that their cocktails are overpriced and weak. I had three different "Bartender's Choice" drinks, all of which came in tiny glasses and had a watered-down taste. Which was very disappointing, since most of the reviews here on Yelp seem to rave about them. Maybe we just came on a bad night? Their aluminum straws were a nice touch, though. The crowd is young and pretentious, but we already expected that from a Long Island City hipster venue that refers to their bartenders as "mixologists". Lastly, the server was rude and explicitly told us by the end of our stay that we "had better leave him a large tip." Never coming here again. We left and had more fun singing karaoke at a cheap dive bar down the road.
Review Source:I've been here several times over the years, and it's always been a great place to go for a great cocktail when you don't want to go into the City. That being said, my last trip was a major disappointment.
We had brought some cupcakes to celebrate a special evening, and when the bartender saw them, he actually physically closed the box and said "we serve food here, so you'll have to put those away". On top of that, we waited for almost 20 minutes before someone even came over to take our orders. This was early in the evening and the place wasn't crowded yet.
Not interested in spending my money (quite a bit actually) at a place with service this insultingly rude. This is a cocktail bar. You think someone bringing in cupcakes to celebrate a birthday is going to cut into your bottom line? Idiocy. Your food is an after thought.
Love the place, awful location so it forces a selection by itself, great drinks really not just the typical sugar + lemon + fruit + alcohol as in many "tell me what you like I'll make you a cocktail type of places". I am always amazed by the variety of ice cube shapes they seem to come up with. Somehow to open such a place in such a location takes some balls... so well done! It works for me!
Review Source:Dutch Kills is the best cocktail bar in NYC. Yea I said it.
At a cocktail bar I typically just ask the bartender to make me a drink with a certain base liquor or flavor profile. At some places that strategy turns out to be a big mistake, but at Dutch Kills I am always impressed with what the bartenders come up with. These guys are pros.
If you are waiting hours to get into a Manhattan bar to drop $15 on a drink you are doing it wrong.
Watch out when trying to get to this place, if you are not a local! If you blink you will miss it, and that would be a darn shame!!!
This place is a hole in the wall worth the exploring. Â It is truly a neighborhood gem offering delicious concoction of various flavors. Â Got something on your mind, let them know they will make it for you... Got a favorite, they can tinker with it and make you a brand you spanking alternative. Â
Really enjoyed the music playing... A really cool place to hang out and quench your palate. Â Most drinks are a flat price of $11.00 - they make it you try it - you no like it they take it back (no charge) and make you a new one!!!
DO BE WARNED THOU - THERE IS NO FOOD HERE - they do offer a very small menu (and I mean small - piece of paper typed up with a few things) which is not much. Â So EAT before you go or have a few drinks then drag yourself down the street (a few blocks) to Burger Garage.....
In a city with an abundance of speak easy's, Dutch Kills is a local watering hole filled with fedoras, suits, and polka-dot blue/white dresses like no other. I was dragged here by a good friend and I'm glad he did so. Even though I was trying my best not to drink for 30 days, there was no way I could pass up a bartender that is rumored to have one of the most extensive knowledge of classy drinks stored in his noggin. Â
All I did was say "give me a drink with Burbon and a twist of bitters." Â And magically, I got something new and amazing. Â Hopefully he wasn't just using some drink recipe app behind the counter. Â Either way, the ice shard I got in my beautiful glass was glorious and the generous pour made my whole body warm inside.
We sat at the booth chatting away and looking through the menu. The rainy weather with the lighting inside reminded me of a Max Payne scene. I think we should have been talking about something else besides puppies and candy canes. Something more manly and era-specific, like pizza and murder plots. Â I hope that if we were in a movie, we would have made the cut. Â Probably not though... I was taking too many photos with my phone.
Front entrance is a bit daunting, but once you get passed the "this is totes sketchy" door, there is a wonderful, clean speakeasy bar waiting to be graced with your elbows. Bartenders are excellent at concocting more or less anything you want, and are up for conversation if you want to chat. Bar is pretty slim, on row of seats (about 20 stools), and gets packed around 6-7pm.
Review Source:I get it....no sign outside, barkeeps with unkempt facial hair and metal straws. For some reason this is a recipe success in this day and age. Â The place is cool, there is no doubting that and the prices are reasonable.
I'm giving you 3/5 stars because I've been told to go to this place countless of times. That it's "so awesome".... yea it's cool, but the concept has been done over and over, ever since Mad Men became popular.
It's kind of of like that popular movie that you don't see until it's out on DVD, that just doesn't meet your expectations.
I love the name and its Speak-easy atmosphere. It is only less than 5 minute walking distance from my apartment. We were lucky to come here early on a Saturday night so we had a booth to ourselves. The unfortunate part is that I cannot drink alcohol since I am pregnant. I did had a sip of my husband's New Brunswick. It is very sweet, sour and strong! Drink is pretty strong for $11. He also had their Satan but I am not a bitter fan so that drink did not do it for me.
I also tried their Mac and Cheese and it is a side dish portion but is pretty good. My husband had their Sirloin Steak Sandwich and the steak is very tender and the bread is toasted just right. We think it needs a bit more sauce though. Overall, it is a great speakeasy with creative cocktails. Would come here again!
This is one crazy bar and a throw back to the 1700's. Â Lots of old fashion wood panels throughout, but a very cozy, together place! Â The drinks that they made were very unusual. Â I was watching the bar person make them and he mixed up a lot of ingredients and it sure looked great. I stayed with the standard Apple Martini etc. I went very easy on the booze, since I had to drive back home. Â Very noisy crowd, but a great hangout for the young to middle age crowd. Â It is not easy to find, since the store front is sort of hidden and once you have gone there, you never forget the place.
Review Source:Let's break down the legitimacy of this LIC gem:
1. Happy Hour every day but Fri/Sat from 5-7pm with $3 off cocktails (I did the maths and the maths told me this allows me to buy one more cocktail than I normally would)
2. You'll experience a mystical, quasi-secret feeling that you're drinking expertly crafted cocktails in a place that no one else knows about.... (minus the almost 300 Yelp reviews).
3. There is a menu for those who need to "choose" and know exactly what you're going to get, but do yourself a favor, don't even look at the menu. Â Talk to the bartender (think of him as your hair stylist, or your doctor)...tell him what's wrong (meaning what you like). Tell him your mood. Â Tell him sweet, or sour, or ginger or Cognac or Rye or citrus. Â What comes next is magic. If you don't like it, he'll take it back and try again.
4. Furthering #3, sit at the bar. Â Watch the magic. Â Transport yourself back to another era.
5. Cocktails (at non-Happy Hour times) are $11. Â Worth every penny, especially since they'd be $15-$20 at similar places in Manhattanland.
Know it gets crowded fast, especially with each passing hour. No food on the menu, but we saw people walk through with trays of food. Â Perhaps they ordered from places around the corner.
Great tunes on the spakers. Â Lots of Etta James and Nina Simone.
Go!
You have not lived, if you haven't visited Dutch Kills!
Lately, I have been on a Speakeasy kick, and let me tell you... This place is amazing!!!! While many speakeasies I have been to do not have menus, this place does.
DO NOT ORDER FROM THE MENU.
While I am sure that the drinks on the menu are great, you HAVE to trust the bartender. My request was "Citrus, Ginger, and Mint"... It was the best thing I have ever put into my mouth! The whole night he kept drinks coming with this flavor combination, but all different drinks! (I wish I caught his name so I could rave about him here!)
This is definitely the place to go for a great experience. Awesome bartenders, and unforgettable drinks. The liquor that they have here is not the usual stuff that you see at your local Joe Schmoe bar... Everything is really good quality! I am living, breathing proof as I had a flight to catch at 6AM the day after drinking...... A LOT...... No hang over even at 33,000 feet in the air! Yay.
GO GO GO GO here! What are you waiting for?
Oh dear me... So I'm a bit prejudiced. I'm one of those 'dislike hipsters' type of New Yorkers. I was reluctant to come here, but I was on a date and he recommended it. While this place is pretty much hipster to the core, I like it nonetheless. Why?
- The bartenders (at least the guy I had... Colin, or something...?): They know what they're doing. They're like an encyclopedia of drinks. Plus they always try the drinks (By dipping a new clean straw. NEVER double dipped) before serving it.
- The drink policy: You like liquor or do you fancy yourself a cocktail? Either get that same one you always get, or let the bartender make something similar from that unseen encyclopedia in their brain. Tell them what you like or what you normally drink, and they'll craft one right there for you. If you don't like it, send it back and they'll make something else. It's okay.
- Decor: fun for dates and hanging out with your homies
- Eco-conscious: actual hand towels instead of paper towels in the toilet, and metal, reusable straws instead of plastic, and probably a half dozen or so other things I don't know about.
I wish the location was more convenient, BUT I'll relish that for the time being. Definitely recommend this place, and definitely recommend you let the bartender make you a drink similar to what you like (I am a hard core gin and tonic drinker. My drink of choice every time I've been out for the past 2 1/2 years, but let the bartender make me an eastside rickey. I'm in love).
I never been to a speakeasy before, so I actually had trouble finding this place. Good thing there a lit neon sign that reads "BAR". It's actually a little intimidating to walk into a place that is dark and hidden, but there's a certain giddiness to chance upon a bar such as Dutch Kills.
It was a busy night with just one guy at the bar when we got there (and he did the floor as well). Real knowledgeable expert. Recommended some great drinks. A friend of my didn't like the drink she order because she didn't realized there was ginger in it and he gave it to her on the house.
Recommendation: The Mulled Cider was awesome.
Full Disclosure: I am not a cocktail person. However Dutch Kills came highly recommended from some people so me and a few friends decided to check it out a few weekends ago. If I were a cocktail person I would probably love this place.....great menu choices and all for $11 (or $8 if its happy hour). Its got one super shady entrance to get into the place, but its got a great atmosphere/ambiance once you get inside. Its a pretty small place, but I think that is part of the draw. However what was unfortunate was that the service was not super great. Its not that the people were rude, the servers just didnt come around that often. You would think that they would try to pump their guests with as many $11 cocktails as possible, but we found ourselves trying to find our server most of the time.
So in summary, if you are a cocktail person its worth making the trip to LIC to check this place out, but if you are a beer person (like me) you are better off going somewhere else. I dont have anything against the place, but I dont think I'll be returning either.
I seldom drink in Queens. Â I snobbishly pride myself in being able to count on one hand how many times I've done it, and I'm a native New Yorker. Â But If I'm going to do it, I'm doing it with Queensians, and I'm letting them pick the place.
It's small--enough to get really awkward by the bar if its crowded--but the dark, intimate nature of it appeals to me more. Â Practically everyone here is indie as fuck. Â I particularly enjoyed the guy with ski boots, tights, and a v-neck tee having a few laughs with his equally ironic snow buddies. Â
I had a Smuttynose Robust Porter. Â When in Nieuw Amsterdam...
I am not fond of LIC (because it looks scary and is only really accessible by the 7 train, which makes it not very accessible), and I am not fond of the bitter cold (because I am neither a masochist nor a penguin?). Â I am, however, apparently fond of this bitter friend I have, who really wanted to go here as per some Yelping he'd done.
We went to Dutch Kills on a particularly cold day; so inhumane was the weather that nary a person was in sight, not even inside the bar. Â For anyone standing outside right now hopelessly confused, it is simply labeled BAR. Â That nondescript, faux-nonchalant brick/mortar cube with a tiny window of light is quite the place you're looking for. Â I wonder why it's so small. Â There is probably nothing else on that whole block.
As (intentionally, I'm forced to assume) dull as the exterior is, the interior transports you somewhere almost old-timey, but still comfortable, and a sense of calm washes over you.  I had driven in that day, because it was too cold to stand, let alone take a chance on the MTA, so I didn't grab a drink but coerced my friend into buying me some flour-less chocolate cake, which is dense but comes with fresh berries and whipped cream to cut the richness.  Still, I advise you to share.  The...I want to say waiter, since he did wait on us, but I think he's actually a bartender...though he acted more like a blasé sage drinker with special bar privileges...made several suggestions, then special cocktails (many of which were not on the drink menu) for my friend, all of which were received extremely well.
Sage server was dressed to match the establishment, and I am forever grateful that there was no reference made to the guitar case I had sitting next to me.
I could tell you the truth, that LIC worries me and I was concerned that the guitar would be missing if left in plain view in my car, but I know I have no excuses left, that once you've walked into a bar carrying a guitar (do not write a song using this line), you've just earned your hipster wings and have no choice but to hang your head and accept your fate.
Damn it.
If you can't tell by my oodles of check-ins, I come here way too much. Â Though I am generally the kind of person to try as many new restaurants/bars as possible rather than even repeat favorites, Dutch Kills is the rare exception. Â Not only are the drinks amazing thanks to skillful bartenders, but each of the guys are capable of delivering different odd corners of the drink universe (especially when I simply request "something weird").
Over the past few years, it has become increasingly popular. Â During prime time on the weekends or during local events like PS1, it can get quite packed, so I tend to like going during off hours to have a little more room (but even when packed, if you have a seat, life is still good).
At the end of the day, Dutch Kills is the standard I use to compare all other cocktail bars. Â The drinks are executed with creativity and precision (without relying on random infusions or ten ingredients for the novelty factor), the bartenders are welcoming and remember your favorites, and the atmosphere does not take itself too seriously. Â A long night parked in bar seats with friends is pretty much as close as I can get to my happy place while still in New York City.
I've been meaning to stop by here for ages. I finally dropped in for a drink with friends last night and it's about time I did. It was the perfect spot for a snowy and deliciously boozy night in LIC!
There's little NOT to like here. I've been to quite a few "speakeasys" in the city, like Angel's Share, Raines, etc, but this has now topped my list as favorite. It's unassuming, the crowd was chill (surprisingly full of good looking guys... nice!), and most importantly, the mixologists really know how to make a drink. It's obvious they do it with care and take their mixing seriously. I didn't know what to order so the guy behind the counter asked me what type of flavors I liked (not sweet, interesting, vodka or gin) and he came back a few minutes later with a gorgeous light green cocktail. I took one sip and dammmm.... My eyes rolled back into my head with pure pleasure. It had the subtle flavors of fresh mint, fresh cucumber and gin. Heaven in a glass. My friends had equally good drinks.
All in all, my new favorite bar. I'll be back....
LIC's best kept secret. And when I say secret, I mean SECRET.
The outward appearance of Dutch Kills gives off a creepy-mightbeclosed-mightgetkilledinside type of vibe. Standing exactly in front of the entrance at around midnight on a Friday night I decided it was probably closed and began to walk away, when a friend of mine gathered all of his courage and decided to try the door anyway. It was open?
We stepped inside, into a trendy old-school venue and made our way past the booths towards the bar. Once we had recovered from the shock, we ordered drinks from the barman and asked the hostess to place us on the waitlist for a table. We didn't wait long for our drinks, or to be seated, although in the case we would have, it'd have been well worth it. The booth seatings are intimate and dimly lit, perfect for a relaxed night out. The cocktails and long drinks were delicious. The only con was that I didn't have the time (or the liver) to try every single drink on the menu.
There aren't many nightlife venues in this up-and-coming area of LIC, but from the choices we have this bar is by far the best. If you don't live in the vicinity of the area, drive here or take a cab. The nearest public transportation is quite a walk away.
Despite my raving review, I would NOT recommend this place for large groups. The largest seating looks like it can hold a maximum of 6-8 people, and there isn't much standing room near the bar. It's also baffling that the noise from inside the bar could not be heard at all from the outside. Great soundproofing? Or do I need to get my hearing checked?
In summary, this is my favorite bar in LIC. Happy people, good vibe, great drinks. Win.
This place can be easily missed as it does not say the name outside. I am glad I was with a friend and she knew about this place.
Really cozy setting, they have some seating in the first part  and rest of the seating is at the bar. The decor is chic and modern. The lighting is perfect at the bar. After a quick glance of the menu I ordered the New Orleans Buck and my friend she ordered Bee's kiss.
Few observations on my drink -
1) There are lot of small ingrediants which were put in my drink.
2) Instead of crushed ice, I had a long slab of ice in my drink.
3) They use metal straws which is really cool , it is environment friendly too.
My drink was good and it had a perfect pinch of ginger syrup. I tasted my friends drink which was more on the creamer side but still good. Even though there are located in LIC, the drinks are expensive. But still it is good spot to go with friends.
I may or may not be biased because this little lover is located within walking distance of my apartment and is cheaper than any speakeasy-esque bar you will ever find in Manhattan. It may or may not also have something to do with the fact that this bar was chock-full of very good looking men (my boyfriend included, of course). But aside from those definite perks, Dutch Kills is just a real charmer. Owned by the same bloke who is responsible for Milk & Honey, Dutch Kills has the same attention to detail and variety, but is less expensive, less snooty (you can actually walk in and not be turned away for not having a reservation) and accepting of credit cards.
The Don Lockwood was definitely my favorite cocktail; with bourbon, scotch, maple syrum and chocolate bitters it was both smooth and complex. I was also a huge fan of the menu itself, which showed the sources for all of their cocktail inspiration; much of the time the inspiration was a hundred-year old cocktail boook, which I obviously searched the heck out of on Ebay.
The service was admittedly kind of slow, but given how packed they were I wasn't too upset about it. Our server was very attentive and knowledgable about the menu, providing suggestions based on our tastes.
I will definitely be back for their $8 all-night specials on Mondays, and eventually might speak to them about moving a cot into their bar area.
I know I haven't been on Yelp in a while and my memory is a little foggy BUT I SERIOUSLY NEVER REVIEWED THIS PLACE?!
Dutch Kills has that speakeasy vibe that when you open that door, you feel like you're in for a treat. The drinks are always great and they make a whiskey sour, the right way.
Most of their cocktails are whiskey/bourbon based so it is my kind of bar. Their drinks are served with a metal straw so the drink stays nice and cold when it reaches your taste buds..mmm
I love the dark, intimate lighting at Dutch Kills. It's perfect for date night or a night to go out with your friends (they have booths available)
Fantastic place.
I have been twice. Â Cocktails are supurb.
They are well worth the $$ for them. They are made with care an attention. Service is always good, and the space is very cool. Definitely a place to impress someone. Good date spot or with friends.
Also all night happy hour on Monday is great!
Will be back many times!
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