Amor y Amargo
Bar · East Village ·
Bitters-focused bar with extensive amaro & craft bitters selection
![Amor y Amargo by Mother of Pearl [Official Photo]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62591061/interior_photo3.0.0.jpg "Amor y Amargo by Mother of Pearl [Official Photo]")
Bitters-focused bar with extensive amaro & craft bitters selection
"A tiny, eight-seat East Village jewel focused exclusively on amaro and bold, bitter stirred cocktails that change seasonally. Industry veteran Sother Teague oversees a menu of affordably priced, tightly composed drinks—recent spring offerings include Grandmother’s Tea (an Italian-amari and cognac assembly with orange cream citrate) and Commit to the Bit (a spicy mezcal and rhubarb-bitter blend brightened by smoked heirloom chiles)." - Brad Japhe
"Our friend once ordered a gin and tonic at Amor y Amargo, and the bartender said, “Sure.” The bartender then delivered what was actually a gin cocktail with club soda and grapefruit bitters and quinine syrup. That’s because this is a “bitters tasting room,” and all the cocktails on offer are made accordingly, with bitters. This is an East Village institution that you should check out at least once. Just enter through the shop in front, and you'll find what looks like a small, old-timey apothecary with shelves full of booze." - bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah
"This East Village bar is also a bitters tasting room, and all the cocktails on offer are made accordingly, with bitters. No bottles of Schweppes here. Open since 2011, it's tiny, and mostly standing room with a few stools. Find a spot to squeeze into, and rest your well-mixed cocktail on a penny tile counter. Sip slowly while admiring one of the city's most impressive collections of bitters and amari, with countless bottles lining the shelves. Despite the ornamental tiles and multi-ingredient drinks, this is a relaxed bar to start your evening off with a spritz or an 8 Amaro Sazerac. And though it gets packed on weekends, the bartenders are always happy to chat about their latest seasonal creations." - Sonal Shah
"These days, there’s an abundance of nerdy cocktail bars in New York City. It seems like every other spot uses fat-washed spirits and crystal-clear, hand-carved ice. Most of these nerdy places are kind of uptight, but Amor Y Amargo feels like a friend’s rec room where you can stand about and sample hard-to-find booze. This place easily has the most impressive selection of bitters and amari in the city, with countless bottles lining the wooden shelves in the small, saloon-like space. Stop by for a casual drink, and try the sazerac made with eight different amari." - bryan kim, neha talreja, sonal shah, willa moore, will hartman
"This is a “bitters tasting room” and all the cocktails on offer are made accordingly, with bitters. No bottles of Schweppes here. It’s small and standing room only, but it’s a very cool spot to stop for a drink on your way." - katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg
