Amor Y Amargo, New York NY

Great cocktails in an intimate ambiance.

We went for a cocktail & food pairing event that was simply amazing.

Inventive cocktails paired with plant based menu was a delightful and surprising experience.

Amor y Amargo on the Lower East Side is a great bar and one of the best spots in the city for cozy cocktails and great conversation. The music is well-selected and the cocktails themselves are complex and very special, owing to the head bartender's training in the culinary arts.

I have many fond memories of the bar, have bought bitters bottles there, brought many friends there, and had so many memorable conversations with genteel strangers that I consider it my favorite bar in New York. It has an atmosphere like no other.

I am taking two stars off only because of a single unpleasant experience I had at the bar several years ago. I had gone with a friend during the early evening in the summer, and upon approaching the uncrowded bar we were asked for our IDs. We handed them over immediately and I casually and non-fretfully remarked to my friend that I had never been asked for ID before seeing the menu or ordering at a standing bar before. At Death and Company down the street, you are asked for ID by a host before entering the premises, which has a less jarring affect.from the guest's point of view, we should at least be able to glance at the menu before being asked for identification. In any case, the head bartender came back, glowered at me, and said that I looked like I was thirteen years old. He said that he had the right to ask for anyone's ID before they entered the premises if he wanted to and could kick us out as he saw fit. This was all unfortunately spoken in a condescending manner. Unfazed, I told the bartender that I wasn't criticizing him - I was just making a curious remark to my friend about my experience - no argument here. I could see how the bartender might have misunderstood me, which is why I wanted to clarify the situation. In any case, we left it at that and had our drinks without further conflict. No apology or even an invitation to reconciliation over this little scuffle.

I know this small incident may seem minor, and in totality it is, but I do feel that it's particularly unacceptable at a place like Amor y Amargo and thus worth mentioning in this review. Amor y Amargo is an exceptional, high-end bar. I've worked years as a bartender in the service industry, and one of the core tenets of that industry's best practices is that the guest should feel welcome and have the best experience possible. Unless a guest is being dangerous or belligerent, the server should not hector them or make negative comments on their remarks, even if they are disagreeable. This is hospitality 101. The head bartender has remarked in his cocktail recipe book (which I purchased) that he "has a sometimes gruff personality. " I understand this and totally respect that, but that personality should be checked at the door when dealing with anyone except the most insufferable customer. Even though Amor y Amargo is a very popular bar and people sometimes form a line out the door (well-deserved), that's not an excuse to lower the quality of the hospitality of the place. If anything, it should be the opposite. Anything less is a betrayal of what it means to be a good bartender, because it's not all about the drinks. I've worked in Japan, and while they take service to an extreme at times, they at least get right the idea that customers are to be treated with respect always, even when they seem to be saying something impudent, and even when they look young. If you must engage, at least do so in good faith in the event of a misunderstanding.

I've been to the bar many times when many different bartenders were working and had great experiences almost every time except for this one. I will keep going back to Amor y Amargo and hope that they will give some thought to preventing needlessly unpleasant interactions like these in the future.

The drinks at this corner bar and store are delicious, and definitely unique from one another. It’s sophisticated and kind of bohemian and the servers are cool but friendly. We had the olives and the patatas bravas (I have mangled that spelling) and both were delicious. Highly recommend for any afternoon or evening.

Had a fantastic fine drinking experience at the reserve bar at Amor y Amargo. Was a cocktail experience with plates of delicious vegan food.

Cocktails here are an experience. We love this place. Before Covid this place was packed, standing room only. New reality addition - outdoor tables, is definitely a plus if you can tune out the hustle and bustle of the city. A few finger food choices - fried but good. Another sin that we indulged in. Come here to enjoy the senses and conversation not to get drunk.

I had made an appointment for April 28th 2021 for 8pm for 3 people.
I tried to call to confirm the reservation several hours before the reservation but no one answered and I left a message as well as email.
Then few hours prior to the reservation I got a text message from the manager telling me that "he had to cancel the reservation because of a. Unexpected emergency" no further Information was given.
I still did not get a response on when I could reschedule my reservation that was canceled last minute by the restaurant.
I feel extremely disrespected as a customer.
I had made plans and it was not honored by the establishment with no plausible explanation and even though the manager asked if I wish to reschedule and I asked him when was the next available date he never got back to me.
I'm still waiting for the response.
I'm extremely disappointed with this place.
I had made plans for that night and it was all ruined and the manager acts like he doesn't care.
This is very unprofessional and disrespectful to the customer.

The drinks were amazing. The old fashion was delicious! Highly recommended. The cocktails do come in a pre-made chilled bottle, but they’re still delicious. They supply you with a clean glass, some ice and a snack. Would highly recommend.

I never had a chance to drink here before the pandemic, but easily my favorite outdoor bars in the area.

It is a digestif/amaro fan's dream-get ready for some rich, delicious, and bitter cocktails.

Sother Teague poured his heart out to keep marching on through the pandemic and you can see it very clearly with Amor y Amargo Reserve, a beautiful creative craft cocktail tasting experience. The Reserve took over the space previously occupied by Mother of Pearl to set up a cozy vault behind a old-timey shop out front and recruited a chef. If you are already a fan of AyA cocktails, you’ll love them even more after some one-on-one time with Sother in this quieter, more intimate space. I enjoyed every sip (that I can handle) and learned so much during our visit, which was one of the first seatings offered during soft opening. The vegan bites also make lovely accompaniments.

The best cocktails in the neighborhood, maybe the city. Even during covid.

Sit down.

This place could have a dedicated person doing to-go sales and hosting the tables. They would improve the customer experience, create a job and sell a many many more of their perfect drinks. I often wish I could get a single drink to go from them but it would be annoying to buy the way things are now.

Admittedly, the place is small but they make one hell of a drink. This bar will make you think differently about what defines a delicious cocktail. I wouldn't spend your entire time here because it can get pretty packed for such a small space, but it's definitely a good place to start or end a night out

The experience was amazing our food was delicious and our waiter Adrian was excellent in providing feedback and suggestions for us. The drinks and the bartenders were out of this world! I am extremely picky and enjoyed my East Westbourne! I will definitely be back loved the atmosphere here.

Went here with friends to celebrate a birthday. We chose to go there because a) a long time patron from east village recommended it as a middle point for our friends meeting from several boroughs and, b) we wanted to support the bar after hearing it was struggling due to the pandemic. We were a group of 8 in our 40s who weren't being loud or demanding. After spending too much money on drinks, the bartender ruined the night by being rude to several of us when having to use the bathroom. Won't be coming here ever again. Should have stuck to our neighborhood uptown where people keep it real instead of this bourgeoisie place.

I enjoyed my time at this place. The bartender was super friendly & helpful. The drinks were amazing! I love the atmosphere too, it's a cute set up. We went on a Tuesday, early evening and it was empty (which is great imo) minus one other patron.

Our bartender, Mel, was fantastic! The drinks were delicious and this was my favorite bar experience in New York. Thank you, Mel!