Bonnie Vee

Hadn't been to NY in awhile and we decided to all meet at Bonnie Vee on a Saturday to get the night started ... . The place had a good crowd, not too young and not too old and enough to socialise and still get good bar service but not too much that you couldnt move. Sydney served us our food and cocktails and she is one of the reasons we would all go back! Overall great ambience, great food and the DJ was dropping some truth! The outside space is also a nice touch in NY! Would highly recommend it and will definitely add it to my list of regular spots...

Awesome place, good snacks, best drinks, really nice bartenders. Really chill low light ambiance, and the patio is cute. 10/10 bar in LES

Good spot for a drink with a group. Plenty of indoor and outdoor space. The bar also has some board games out back that you can play with.

My husband and I were looking for a place to chill and relax for a bit before continuing to explore NYC. So, we showed up a little past noon and it was pretty empty. We asked to sit out back in the patio and the waitress seemed bothered. At first I thought it was just in my head. However, more patrons started arriving and she would also hesitate. At one point, she randomly just took out "reserved" signs, placed them on all tables, and denied two girls from sitting in the sofas. Then after a while, she randomly started letting some patrons sit there. Weird. Anyways, the drinks were good. Food was also good but I think a little overpriced. We walked out with a $60 bill + tip.

Visited some friends in Brooklyn and we went on a short excursion. On the way we had some time to kill and our Hosts mentioned Bonnie Vee was a good place to stop in at. They mentioned the good food and good atmosphere. We were sat immediately in the 'back rm' which was quaint & had enough seating for about 20 people. We were the 16th through 20th patrons in the space and although it was a little tight getting past us, no one complained or asked us to move. The food & drink menu was listed in a cool QR coded laminated paper on the table that I was not able to scan with my iPhone(no QR reader) but my Hosts had no problem. American comfort food is how they described the menu. We didn't do anything special for drinks, vodka soda & gin and tonics around the table. The vibe was good and even though you have to prove vaccination, the place was full of patrons.

Came here on Easter and had the best time! Cool lounge vibes and a great outdoor garden. TJ our bartender was spot on making us cocktails! He made me a delicious shaken Strawberry Daiquiri that was one of the highlights of the night!

Fantastic cozy little bar in the lower East side. Had a great Holiday season round of drinks here!

Would rate it 4.5 if I could. The beer selection is great (drank Other Half's Green City), and the cocktails are well made. The pizza was only okay, but I went there mostly for a relaxed environment. Would definitely go there again.

The selection of espresso martinis was fun, and the outdoor seating was pleasant. It was cute to have board games in the patio area. Clearly the vibe here is super different between day and night-- in the daytime it was super chill, almost snoozy. Seems like a nice neighborhood bar but I don't know that I'd seek it out if I was in the neighborhood again, rather than trying something new.

Great space to hang out and have some quality drinks with friends. Back patio is a great place to hang out. Bar tender really friendly. Great selection of drinks (very surprised to see Calvados at the bar!)

Standard Bar, expansive espresso martini menu if you are a fan of those. Margarita was good nothing special and the white wine was not the best. I know it's not a big thing but having wine in a wine glass makes a difference in presentation.

Highly recommend Santiago! He made my sister's 40th bday a blast. As did the whole crew. Love him!

Saturday night vibes were amazing loved the dj such a fun place! Not super loud where you can't talk but loud enough to wear you can dance a little!

Great happy hour with $5 beers and $11 martinis. Highly recommend this place and has a good vibe. It gets busy and you have to go up to the bar to get service.

My wife and I were staying at a place in Freeman Alley. Got back around 1030 pm and decided to have a drink. We wandered around the corner to the Bonnie Vee. The place is normally closed but they had a private event and the bartender let us sit at the bar up front. We stayed for a few drinks, mine was a dirty martini well crafted. Turns out the tender, Sydney, was actually the General Manager and was in working the bar for the event. Great place and wonderful souls working there.

I needed a spot to meet a friend of mine where we could talk politics. He said he would be in the Lower East Side so I scoured the map and found this place. I was hoping to grab a seat at a table in their rear area but they had it reserved for a large group. Further dampening my hopes was the fact that the area was covered following some rain. When uncovered and open to the air, I can see the area as being safer than an indoor table. It's all good though because I was granted permission to grab any table inside. I was surprised they were basically all available. Then again, it seemed like it was a really popular spot to meet and actually drink (standing) at the bar. There was a whole crowd amassed around the entire bar. I stood there patiently thinking I had to grab drinks myself but the hostess saw me and told me she'd help me out at the table (I was so glad!). I ordered the "Flawless Victory" (Bourbon, Benedictine, Malbec, Lemon, Pineapple, Ginger, Honey, Absinthe) hoping it would give me luck in the ensuing debate. I followed that up with the "Flight to Capri" (Bourbon, Campari, Cinnamon Syrup, Lemon, Pineapple). Both cocktails were great! Meanwhile, my opponent arrived so late that we really didn't get deep into it. It didn't help that the bar got louder as the night progressed. We ended up leaving after my opponent's companion fell to the floor (Drunk? High? Both? I don't know). Slip up notwithstanding, I told myself I'd be back to the Bonnie Vee for more drinks, food and the outdoor/backyard experience. Hopefully the hostess Stephanie will still be there. She was stellar, calm and well accomodating.

Really cool bar with solid quiet ambience and cool interior aesthetics. The cocktails were good and the bartender was nice and the service was good. Got the happy hour bartender's choice and they made a good one that night. Recommend.

A small group of us popped into this cozy and casual bar for a night cap. It was really quiet on the weeknight we visited, which is exactly the vibe we wanted. Shout out to the bartender who agreed to make us a round of drinks even though we showed up after their last call. I tried the 'Mexican Morning,' a mezcal drink with thai chili, grapefruit, lime, velvet falernum. It was fruity and had the slightest bit of spice from the chili. I'm impressed they have 3 different types of espresso martinis on the menu, a classic, one with coconut cartel rum they call "the island one" and a holiday one with gingerbread syrup. They even have hot cocktails for the season. Though the ambience feels pretty bare bones, the menu is surprisingly interesting and the drinks are tasty.

Bonnie Vee was such a good time this past Saturday (10/16/21) for my friend Tym's birthday. We got there around 9:15pm and parked about 2 blocks away. When we got to the door, the bouncer was so nice and even held my umbrella for me while we attended the event. Since it was a birthday event, there were appetizers laid out and the birthday boy was covering the tab for our drinks. I asked for a cable car but the bartender could not make it. Then I asked for a mojito and he said he didn't have any mint. I landed on a rum and pineapple and had that for the rest of the night. Despite that, we had such a great time. The music was good, the ambience was fun and the staff was pretty incredible.

A place in NYC that isn't too crowded on a Friday night and still has good cocktails below $20? Sign me up! First time trying this place on a whim and so glad I did. The outdoor patio is perfect for a nice day and the service was very quick. Really good spot for groups.

Such a good, cool bar. Very spacious for the area and they even have an covered back patio. The drinks here are consistently good. My friends and I have met up here several times and have really enjoyed our time. I've even had the pigs in a blanket before and they really hit the spot. Overall, if you're looking for a chill spot to grab a drink with a small group of friends I highly recommend this bar. 5/5

Stumbled upon this place entirely by accident. We were day drinking and found another bar to continue festivities so Bonnie Vee it was. Drinks are good. We ordered pizza like...three times. And their fries were good too. Too drunk to remember anything else.

Came here for my birthday last night and had a great time. The cocktails were good and the music was on point. It's more spacious than I expected from having passed by the bar several times in the past. The vibes are great to catch up with friends where you can hear each other but still have a lively backdrop. The bartenders and bouncer were really nice as well. My friends loved it as well and will definitely be back.

Somehow ended up here twice this week (though I hadn't been here before). On Wednesday it was not busy at all so was a great spot to have a nice cocktail with friends. On Saturday it was considerably busier with a fun vibe but still had enough space for a few of us to sit at a table. Delicious cocktails and a nice vibe so definitely worth checking out if you're trying to find a place for drinks in the area.

Came here this past summer for Happy Hour with a friend and had a great experience! The drink specials were limited but enticing enough. My friend ordered the Jessica rabbit and I a slushy drink. The ambiance is really cool in terms of feeling romantic and hidden with a cool back area. Definitely looking forward to visiting again and would highly recommend.

This place feels like a hidden gem. I've been here a couple times and it's never been crowded. Drinks are great and the back greenhouse style patio is super cozy. Lights are very very dim in here so definitely a more intimate vibe.

The drinks are good, but more on the pricey side. They have a cute seating area outside as well as a bar inside. The outside seating was cute but the chairs are super small and so are the tables. The service was wonderful they always checked in on us.

Been here a couple times now; mostly using it as a low key bar to grab a quick drink or two with some people. Regular setup of a few tables in the back and bar seating up front. They have your regular selection of beer on draft ($7-8) and a few ciders available as well. My most recent time here, ordered the Carta Falco II ($14) - a strong drink with mostly bourbon and a hint of lemon. It's certainly expensive for how much you get, though it does pack a punch. There is a small food menu here as well which I have never tried (tacos looked interesting). The bartenders here have always done a good job, and the space has never been crowded as far as I've been there. Good meetup bar for a quiet afternoon/evening.

A cocktail bar gem in the Lower East Side - chill, unpretentious and has some delicious concoctions. The Flawless Victory was flawless as advertised - it's got a kick to it from the ginger, so be prepared. And although I stuck to it for the night, I made a mental note to come back and try the Peachy Keen. They have happy hours! And some of the latest HHs I've seen i.e. 5-8pm Mon-Fri. But you have to scan the food menu to get the HH drinks (odd, I know). The list is also somewhat limited with regards to drinks. Bathroom is in the basement where there is also a photo booth for when you get drunk enough to want to memorialize your night.

I don't get all the 4-ratings here. This was a 3 at best for drinks and 1-2 for food. Firstly, the food was terrible! Got the chicken tacos and BV hotdog. Both were bland but the hotdog was next level disgusting. It was greasy and not even a nice reddish color that an all-beef hotdog should be. The taco was a bland, drippy mess. Neither was worth any money spent on it! The drinks were mediocre. Wine is very small for $8 happy hour price. Hubby didn't like the mule special and the Jessica Rabbit was only ok.

Cool indoor and outdoor venue! Friendly bartenders and great drinks!check out the photo booth downstairs with your friends!

Great service, drinks, and atmosphere! I especially love the outdoor courtyard. Definitely worth a visit.

The bar food is okay if your needing a pick me up or something to snack on while your drinking. he service from the servers is really bad the are extremely rude and really slow it's almost like they want to avoid coming to your table for anything even on a slower night. I used to be a server so I'm a really easy customer. Personally I won't be back here.

This place is a nice little secret in LES that doesn't get too crowded and the scene is quite good. The music is poppin' and the vibe is good. They also have a great outdoor patio area that gets packed pretty early especially in the warmer months. My first experience here was great - the draught beers were fine and the food we got was good, but the second time is why I'm giving them 3 stars. We came on a friend's birthday and they had the reservations set up and everything. For all intents and purposes, I should have had a good time. What went wrong? When you call yourself a cocktail bar, I expect good, well-balanced cocktails. My friend got a tequila mule and I a dark and stormy - simple ones that I thought I'd test out before diving into their signatures. The first time he made the mule, he messed up and used vodka instead, so he made us another - neither of our drinks were well-balanced and mine in particular felt layered. The top had a strong rum-club soda flavour, while as I drink to the bottom it became just ginger essence. It was really disappointing to have such simple drinks messed up from a cocktail bar, and it dissuaded me from staying longer.

I visited Bonnie Vee on a warm day after being enticed by the premise of cocktails in the garden. They do have a rather large inside, but the garden is definitely where you want to be if the weather outside is nice. When I went, on a Sunday evening, there were surprisingly not too many people around inside or outside. The space was modern and trendy. The inside was a little dark, but spacious just like the garden. The seats outside were comfortable. I do hear it usually gets packed so maybe I just got lucky, but I'd definitely try to come during less busy hours for a more low key experience. The drinks themselves were great. The bartenders were friendly and were able to make me custom drinks that weren't on the menu and tasted great. Service was quick and attentive, even outside. What more could you ask for in a cocktail spot? This place is definitely worth checking out, both for dates and nights out with a group of friends. There is even a photo booth downstairs. Fun!

We came here on a Friday night to kick off a night celebrating a friend's birthday. This place has a cool speakeasy vibe, and has a nice seating area in the back; downstairs has a photo booth, which we didn't use. Music selection was really good on the night we went and we had fun dancing in our little corner. This place isn't all that big and on a Friday night it can get packed quickly. I can only speak on the cocktails. I had the "flawless victory" drink, which has pineapple, absinthe, ginger, etc. It was really good - sweet, refreshing, and not too strong, just how I like it. I only settled for one drink as one cocktail will set you back about $16-17 ($14+tip). All in all, great vibes, great ambiance, good cocktails to start off the night.

Nice cocktail bar and restaurant with ample seating. Good date spot! Cocktails are $14 a pop, and there's something for everyone. The Jessica Rabbit spicy tequila slushie is a crowd favorite, and I can see why. Also tried a whiskey cocktail, and a gin/rum one and both were good. The gin one (Pleasant Demise) was my favorite. They also have a full kitchen menu, but we just got potato wedges to share, which were good.

I dropped in Bonnie Vee with a group of friends on the Sunday night prior to NYE. We came in right when the bartender was asking for last call, which surprised me they were closing so early on a holiday weekend (before midnight), but to be fair it was a Sunday. The bartender was nice and offered to serve us all one drink as long as we would close out when we ordered and leave when he had to shut down. Fair enough. There was only a small crowd in there that evening, but the music was great, the ambiance was nice, and the staff were friendly. The menu listed Happy Hour Monday-Friday, 5-8pm which included $2 off wine, some select cocktails a couple bucks off, and some discounted food options as well. Happy Hour seemed like the time to come here, otherwise you will be paying about $15 per drink which can add up pretty quickly if you plan to stay awhile. The vibe reminded me of some of the "speak easy" style places throughout the city. The space inside was small, but there was comfortable seating in lounge areas and at the bar. There is a downstairs with more space and a photo booth and an outside area "the garden" for seating when the weather is nice. As it was the finals days of December, we didn't get to check out the garden area but I imagine it would be nice in the summer and fall. Good music, fun vibe, nice staff--I would come back and enjoy one of their custom cocktails and some food during their Happy Hour.

I'm starting to wander into the LES for cocktails and I gotta say, it is pretty great. Bonnie Vee is one of the places that should be on your list to check out. The best way to describe this spot is: nice vibes. It's lowkey and a good change of pace. I came here right after work to meet up with a friend of mine and catch up. We got there a few minutes after BV opened so it was pretty empty. The staff was really helpful and accommodating throughout our whole time there. That goat cheese and bread? It's essentially all you really need with a good cocktail. I got the Flawless Victory which was a great cocktail. It was strong -- maybe a little past the Negroni level of strong. It's overall a good spot to hit. It has cocktails at the levels of Employees Only and Bathtub Gin but isn't too much of a crowd/scene.

I really liked this bar. They had Allagash White which is one of my favorite beers. I loved the interior. It definitely had a speakeasy feeling. The bartenders were nice. I enjoyed the music. I would definite recommend this bar.

Been here twice and I've enjoyed myself both times! First time was during happy hour with a friend and second time in the evening with a group. As a group we stayed in the back yard. It's surprisingly warm outside, probably due to it's surrounding of buildings. Amazing cocktails and strong. Very good ambience and noise levels for conversation.

3.5 stars. I sometimes feel perplexed or think it is unfair to review/rate an establishment based on a quick visit. Tonight, I was here to meet a friend for a brief hello that included a happy hour glass of rose wine. That's it. Every single restaurant/bar/lounge/speakeasy will most likely serve wine. Though the surroundings and vibe was chill and good music was being played, I would definitely have to return again to try their notable cocktails and/or light bite. Until next time.

Came here for the first time this past weekend and had a great time! I met up around 9pm with a group of friends and while the bar was about half full when I got there, it was lively throughout and more people started coming in later. The drinks were absolutely amazing. I forgot what I had, but it wasn't too sweet as I find many cocktails to be. We ordered a round of Don Julio shots as well and our lovely bartender took one with us! It was such a fun time, and the music was so phenomenal. It wasn't too loud that we couldn't have good conversations and laughs, but we were still able to sing and dance along if we so wished. Will definitely be back!

This is an averaged rating, as the spectrum of ratings range from 1 stars to 5 stars in different areas. 1 star for the grilled cheese sandwich. Why does one go to a cocktail bar and order a grilled cheese sandwich? Because it's on the menu, and if it is, then more than a kraft single and webers bread is expected. The bread was crumbly and NOT buttered (ok there, I said it). Multiple people in the party ordered this and they all came out terribly. 5 stars for the ambiance, cocktails, and overall service! Seems like the type of place where you can go have boogie drinks, but don't count on it for a birthday bash that includes dinner, as the grilled cheese fell very short.

What a great little spot in the LES with amazing cocktails and super cool atmosphere. I had come here as a late night visit and had such a great time. Would definitely return, I just hope not too many people find out about this gem!

Friendly staff, plentiful outdoor seating either in front or backyard. Came for happy hour at 6p on a wednesday in late june and it was empty inside with a few tables out front and out back that were taken. If you're more than 5, reserve a table or arrive by 6. The back is more spacious and has a loungy backyard vibe. The happy hour special is naraganset beer or bartender special ($10). On this day the special was a gin gimlet which was delicous. We ordered 4 rounds of it even though it was VERY light on the alcohol. Felt no buzz, but didnt care. The pretzels with mustard dipping sauce were so good and fluffy. We ordered 3 but could have had 10 more. Thin crust pizza was below average. Its the size of a plate and easy for 1 person to finish. Not very flavorful. The burger was also small and average, but if you're hungry it'll do. Overall, the vibe and staff make this a great group hang with friends or coworkers.

The most attentive staff, quick with delivering orders, friendly and accommodating. Loved the old time photo booth by the bathrooms!

Happy hour menu is misleading not pointing which beers are happy hour. This place has great ambiance but we got charged a 20% service fee when we were there with a group of more than 6 even with multiple tabs on a group. I understand if there was a waiter serving us but we had several people with individual accounts and all of us had to serve ourselves carrying drinks to our table (wheres the service?) I understand the charge if there was an actual service but getting charged for your own self serve is very pitty. If you want to enjoy this place I recommend paying cash or going elsewhere.

Ok here's an update. Their cocktails still are not great whatsoever in my humble opinion - sorry. BUT, their whiskey list is surprisingly great and amazing prices. 2 ounces of Lagavulin 16 for $16 in NYC. You just can't beat that.

Bonnie Vee is a bar I will always love. They gave me the best 30th birthday party. I had never felt so loved in my life. This bar made sure I celebrated well. I will always remember this place for making sure I had fun! Their bartenders, Jason and Christine, made sure I was happy and made sure I had the night of my life. There is no other bar to celebrate your birthday than at Bonnie Vee. Thank you Bonnie Vee for giving me the night of a life time! :)

Had a 30th birthday party there - it was PERFECT. Private, great food, great drinks, great servers. Will definitely be back whenever I can!!

When you're in a pinch and have no idea what you're going to do for NYE, Bonnie Vee comes through. I was skeptical at first, but my friend didn't lie and we had a great laid back evening! Walking in at 10:30 we somehow managed to grab a whole section and table in the back. The cocktails were on fleek and the champagne was cheap. I'll definitely be coming back again when I need a good cocktail spot in the LES.

Perfect place for a sunny afterwork! You might need to wait a little bit to get seated but sofas are great

Really cool cocktail spot with awesome drinks. I had the "lay your rifles down" which is gin, cucumber, lime, tonic, and black pepper. It was a nice refreshing mixed drink. After that I pounded a bunch of $5 tecates which I always find awesome for some odd reason. It wasn't too crowded but crowded enough for you to feel like you were actually out doing something. It might have been on the less crowded side because it was an end of summer weekend that I was here. Check it out, it won't disappoint.

Fantastic service and Delicious cocktails! So glad I came here with a friend on Easter. TJ the Bartender has extensive knowledge in craft cocktails and was able to make me the most divine Strawberry Mezcal Daiquiri based on my flavor profiles! Totally impressed. He is wonderful, super genuine and personable with customers. We couldn't stop after just 1 drink. I can't wait to go back! The photo booth downstairs was a great touch! Good times and great Drinks!

Bonnie Vee has been one of my go-to cocktail spots for years. The vibe is low-key but on-point trendy and the drinks are solid. I am a particular fan of the Salt & Ash and Flawless Victory. Perfect for laid back afternoon drinking or after dinner chic. Great bar all around. I am only now writing this overdue review because I just hosted an event there for 50 people. I would encourage everyone looking for the perfect place for their next birthday, party, etc. to do it there. The event team was amazing: from Jason's responsiveness with planning to Chelsea and Reggie's flawless service night of. I got lots of compliments from friends to the tune of "this was the best-run open bar I have been to." Cheers and thanks to Bonnie Vee!

Visited on Friday 1.19.19 at around 7PM This was a cute place with an intimate atmosphere. Very date-night worthy. We found seats right away at the bar and the server gave us water right away. I think they have happy hour deals for food and drinks, which is always nice. Everything was great but the reason for only three stars is that the cocktail quality wasn't that great. I remember I got a fruity gin cocktail but it tasted too much like juice. My fiance's old fashioned was a bit too sweet. Otherwise, a pretty good spot.