Lantern's Keep

This was such a cute place. It's sucked away behind the front desk of the Iroquois hotel. We came here before heading to our broadway show. We tried the keepers choice drink where you tell the bar tender what alcohol you want and the flavor and they'll come up with something. Both times he came up with some Great drinks!! We also had the cheese plate which had a great selection. And the butter jam was so delicious!!

Great cocktail bar! The drinks were amazing and prepared with fresh ingredients and care. I was lucky enough to sit at the bar and watch the bartenders at work. They really put in the extra effort and are passionate about their work. During my stay in the hotel I got to meet Natalia, Daniel and Gus. Super friendly and knowledgeable about the cocktails. You can also order small bites at the bar. I recommend the cheese plate. Excellent. Can’t wait to go back.

Cute small bar, perfect for a craft cocktail with a friend or a lover :) cheese platter was great for 2! Loved my cucumber mixture as well. We both loved the experience.

The place has a great atmosphere with dark interiors. Gets filled pretty quickly as it is no very big. Even though it’s in a touristy location, it has mostly local or office crowd. Good drinks, but as most bars in New York it’s pricey. The food is just okay.

I had never been to Lantern's Keep before. I was absolutely blown away by the atmosphere and ambiance. Amadou was the most incredible bartended I have ever had. He was incredible at helping me get a cocktail. I will be stopping here every time I am in Midtown

Awesome hand-crafted cocktails in a small, dark, & comfortable space by The Sofitel. We were super lucky that a group was leaving as we entered. Great service & great music playing too! The McKittrick Old Fashioned was amazing & the West Side Rumble was really good as well. They had a small selection of wine & beer also. If you're nearby & love good cocktails, make sure to try to get in here!

Very cute hidden bar in Midtown. Perfect location for a quiet intimate date. The cocktails are really good.

Couldn't rate the food because I haven't eaten there. But everything about the place is amazing. The moment you walk in, it's like you escaped to a pocket in reality only meant to be enjoyed and not bothered by anything outside. Truly enjoy this place and the service is great!

Swanky intimate hotel bar that had delicious cocktails. I walked in around 6:30 PM mid week and had no issue getting a table for 2 for drinks.

What a cozy nostalgic speak easy. We stopped in before a show. It's in back of the hotel. The entrance is big unmarked blue doors. When you enter it feels as if you stepped back in time. The cocktail selection was great. The food was delicious. Homemade onion dip, charcuterie, pigs in blankets. The waiter was super helpful, and attentive.

Loved the ambiance. Service is friendly and kind. It's a really small bar located inside a small hotel. Decor is speakeasy. Drinks are good and it's not loud eventhough it's packed. You take people here that you like - and with whom conversation is invigorating, interesting. Everyone here looked so engrossed in their conversations... Clean and comfortable bathrooms - not to be taken likely. Not good for large groups. We stopped in before going to the Gershwin Theater for a show. It was conveniently located. We got drinks and appetizers. I would definitely stop in again if I'm in that area.

On a Saturday night, one person working. Why would management think this is OK? On a weeknight, service is also slow, and the vibe is just strange. Pre-COVID, this was the best cocktail bar in Midtown.

Revising my previous positive review. The service is horrible. I recommend avoiding until service improves.

Stopped by Lantern's Keep to meet some friends for a drink prior to a show. It's located inside the the Iroquois hotel so it's a little harder to find (this is a good thing). We got there when it opened and easily got a booth, but it filled up quickly. The drinks/wine were good and reasonably priced for the area. The biggest problem was there was only one person working in the entire place. He did an incredible job given the number of people, but the drinks took a little long to come. That being said, I would definitely stop here for a drink prior to catching a show!

Awesome as the first time I was invited here. Fabulous drinks, competent attentive , nice staff, sexy atmosphere! Intimate, moody, crushed blue velvet seating, bar and tables available and a love seat. Great selection of top shelf alcohol. Bar eats were tasty too! I had The Brown Citrus - refreshing, light , used knobbs creek bourbon. Devils on horseback - dates wrapped in bacon - yumm. The music here is also terrific!

For shame. This became a small institution of a bar that could truly make you a "hell of one" That has ceased. If you do the former "keepers choice" when asked of known drinks by a versed bartender. ( forget the nonsense twisty fools named mixologist) your return might be beyond sub par. Perhaps just part with the name because this I know now, it's Lanterns Queef.

As others have explained post-COVID Lantern's Keep has no relationship or similarity to pre-COVID Lantern's Keep. Pre-COVID, as recently as 2019, it still held onto much of what had put it at the top of multiple "best bar" listings. Skilled bartenders making excellent craft cocktails, a curated small bites menu. This is not that. When I last visited, the bartender was an older man who appeared to either be new to bartending, or at least a novice at anything other than 2-ingredient well drinks. When I was in, it relatively soon after opening for the evening. I was at the bar; there were two men seated at a table nearby. I asked for a drink off the new menu, which appeared to be a standard "hotel bar program" menu, not the one that had existed before. The dude pulled out a menu book and dithered over it before slowly making the drink. I ordered some food, and was told it was out of stock. Tried other things -- also out of stock. Ended up having hummus and carrot sticks, because it was pretty much the only thing they had available. It took about 15 minutes for me to get my drink in a nearly empty bar. I then watched the guy take the other folks order, and slowlllllly make the two drinks, one at a time -- not in parallel. I hear him deliver them, and heard them complain that the drinks were not what they ordered/not what they would expect of pretty straightforward classic cocktail orders. Meanwhile, another woman came and sat at the bar, and waited, and waited, and waited. Probably 10 minutes before she was acknowledged, and another 15 before she got a drink. I closed out my tab and left, after warning her she might want to find another bar. I don't know what happened here. As far as I can tell, the unique bar program originally helmed by Meagan Dorman was dismantled/discarded before the pandemic. What they have now loooooks like a remote bar program created by some corporate hotel folks, meant to be put together by folks who have no craft bartending skill, but are just making the menu drinks to spec. If they've gotten better at making those, well, I guess that's great -- but this is not a good cocktail bar any more. Go to "Nothing Really Matters" on 50th. Go to the Raines Law Room. Either will get you a great cocktail for less money.

The BEST bar in NYC. Go with dealer's choice and let these craft cocktail bartenders do their thing!

Came here for a few cocktails and really enjoyed both the drinks and service. The bartender even brought over shots for us that were delicious.

After spending the morning and most of the afternoon at a symposium, my colleagues and I decided to finish the day off with dinner and drinks. Drinks first - we were looking for something a little less typical bar and a little more upscale, so we whipped out the Yelp app and lo and behold we find Lantern's Keep. Located inside the Iroquois Hotel, LK is primarily a cocktail bar. Since it was a Friday afternoon, we decided to get there right for 5pm opening to land a table. A wise choice - the seating area is super tiny! The size makes sense though - LK exudes intimacy; the small size is complemented by the ultra low lighting and the vintage style bar and decor. It had a very warm and very cool feeling at the same time - I was a fan of the aesthetic. The cocktail menu was separated by type of alcohol - it changes frequently and they're super open to what you want, so I feel like if you have a special request they'll do their best to accommodate. I decided, however, to stick to the menu and have the Italian Rivalry; I can't say for certain what exactly was in this cocktail - I just saw Italian and brown sugar so I decided to try it. It was strong, but really good - they really take the time to craft the drinks. They also had a selection of small plates - we decided to order the white bean hummus, bison sliders, and cheese plate. All of these were really good - the hummus came with homemade (I think) chips and a few veggies for dipping. I'm a sucker for cheese so I was sold instantly - it also came with bread and jam to compliment. The sliders were also very good - I had never had bison before but it's really similar to beef so I was good to go. We did order deviled eggs as well, but the never came out (I guess they forgot?) it wasn't a big deal though because after a while we weren't feeling them. Overall, this is a great place. Service was good, food was good, and the cocktails were creative. It's not cheap, but it's a great alternative to a typical bar if you want to change it up a bit.

This is an under the radar gem of a speakeasy. Amazing cocktails. Great service. Super cool ambiance. One of my favorite places in New York City!

Terrible. The bartender wouldn't know a good martini if he was shaken violently. Overpriced and lacking smoothness.

This bar, off of the lobby of the Iroquois Hotel, is a phenomenal cocktail bar, surely up there with New York's best. The cocktail menu is a long list of classics and original creations, prepared excellently with attention to all the little details (I loved the metal straw in the Prizefighter, the perfectly clear ice, the glass-height ice-rectangular-prism to cool a drink in a tall glass). The menu is interestingly arranged by presentation (e.g. "shaken up", "stirred rocks") instead of by spirit or theme. Plus they were very gracious to us even though we were shepherding around the kid. The cocktails are $17, but it's an area where a more ordinary hotel bar will charge $14 for a more ordinary drink. Mocktails were good, too.

This bar was a very weird experience. Though we'd planned to go to Raines Law Room for drinks initially, it was closed for a private event. Thus, my friend suggested Lantern's Keep instead -- only for us to discover once there that it too was closed for a private event until 7:15pm. Oh well! We decided to wait out the 20-minutes until it re-opened. However, the staff then informed us, upon us trying to enter the bar, that the bar was in fact closed for the event until 7:30pm. They'd been wrong :-( More waiting occurred. Finally, we were inside. Once I opened the menu, I almost started laughing aloud at the prices. $19 cocktails, $14 beers -- you get the idea. It's just funny because the bar is located in the back of a hotel lobby that looks like MAYBE a Best Western, yet it fancies itself a nice speakeasy. My favorite part is when my friend ordered a vodka martini, only for the waiter to say casually, "we don't have vodka." WHAT! A bar that doesn't have vodka is like...eating a burger without fries. Actually, even worse than that. I also had this uncomfortable moment when some other waiter instructed me to hang my coat - which was slung over a chair at our table - at the coat rack in front because the coat might be annoying for foot traffic. However, he didn't say the same to my friend whose coat was ALSO slung over her chair. He was pretty rude about it too. Such a weird bar, but then again I suppose they don't have to try hard since hotel guests are at the mercy of this mediocre cocktail bar.

Lantern's Keep by name only. This bar opened in 2011, and since their earliest days, I've enjoyed every minute I spent there. Sometime in 2019 they were closed for a prolonged time for renovations and, sadly, it seems that between that closure, and COVID shutdowns, they've completely lost everything that once made this bar special. I've visited twice recently, and both times have been... to be frank, really shitty. Since it's initial opening, Lantern's Keep was in the upper echelons of NY Cocktail bars. They were the first bar to take Milk & Honey style drinks out of downtown and into the cultural wasteland of midtown. For close to a decade, it employed some of the best bartenders in town, they shared staff with Dutch Kills, Nomad, Milk & Honey, Death & Co and countless other exceptional establishments. All while being housed in the beige 1990's mediocrity that was the Iroquois Hotel, an insignificant boarding house run by people who's only other relevant experience was maybe working at a Hilton Garden Inn in Secaucus NJ. The hotel itself was only significant due to its proximity and similar naming conventions to the Algonquin down the block. In it's heyday (most of it's existence up until recently) the bar was helmed by 5 head bartenders, each one trained extensively by the previous lead. Like any trade, this preserved continuity, quality and identity. As someone who frequented the bar, I could tell they were in constant battle with hotel management, who couldn't understand or appreciate the concept. The horrendous adjacent lobby restaurant, Triomphe, is proof of what the Iroquois sees as good food and service, (got food poisoning from them twice) but that's a conversation for another review. Upon a couple recent visits to Lantern's Keep, all post COVID reopening, there's not a familiar face to be found at the bar, and sadly, also not a trace of the bar's identity or quality. The Iroquois Hotel broke the continuity of a once great establishment, and turned it into another bland, overpriced and under seasoned midtown tourist trap built from rotgut and the trappings of elegance. Dear Iroquois, you've proven that you never understood what good is. You had years of employees that you could have called in your HR files. But instead you arrogantly believed that you could do it on your own. Change the name, it's an offense to everyone who ever loved this place.

This is overwhelmingly disappointing to write. Lantern's Keep used to be a small haven in the chaos of Midtown. The cocktails used to be exquisite. Classic cocktails and modern classic cocktails were on par with every other cocktail bar of the same make. Something has drastically changed. Excited to be back after a few years, my guest and I ordered our same round from the previous time. He ordered a McKittrick Old Fashioned, and I a Violet Fizz. (The McKittrick OF was created at Lantern's Keep, and the Violet Fizz is a classic cocktail from 1939.) The bartender seemed a little unnerved when I ordered my drink, so I clarified, "it's a Gin and Crème de Violette classic Fizz". He defensively said, "I know what it is. It's just most people don't like Violet Liqueur." Well... I ordered it by name, so I already know I like it. He left our table side with a nod and went to the bar to make our drinks. He comes back in about 5 minutes, which is a very fast time to make a Fizz cocktail, and then I recalled-- I didn't hear any cocktails being shaken. My drink comes as a bright purple Collins. No egg white. No lemon. Possibly no club soda. I take a sip. It's awful. It tasted like watered down Crème de Violette with a splash of club soda and the ice was already melting quickly. A Violet Fizz done right is Gin, Crème de Violette, fresh lemon, shaken with an egg white (after being emulsified), poured into either a half Collins glass, or a regular Collins glass with ice, and then topped with club soda. The texture is like velvet and the flavor is like creamy lavender. I was so sad about the cocktail, but maybe the bartender just actually didn't know what the cocktail was, and that would be fine, but his defensive nature came off otherwise. I look at my guest take a sip of his cocktail and he winces. I take a sip and I almost spit it out. A McKittrick Old Fashioned is made with Bourbon, Pedro Ximénez Sherry, and Chocolate Bitters, stirred on the rocks and garnished with a Luxardo cherry. It's velvety, slightly sweet, and absolutely lovely. This cocktail in front of us was the antithesis. It was spicy (maybe Rye whiskey was used?) It was astringent and salty (maybe Fino Sherry was used?-- but whatever was used it tasted rancid). It definitely had orange bitters and was garnished with an orange twist. It was awful. A drink that was undrinkable. We pushed our drinks to the opposite side of the table and waited patiently until we could grab the attention of the bartender. After about 10 minutes, the other bartender finally sees us and he comes over. I ask him how they make their McKittrick and he says "very carefully"....What? I let him know that these cocktails taste completely off, and in fact are downright awful. He apologizes, acknowledges that we wouldn't be paying for these, and asks if he can make us anything else. We think, let's stick to the menu. We decide to share a Hotel Nacional-- a classic from the 1930s. Which, made right, is a delicious variation of a Daiquiri, another drink with a velvety texture. In the distance, we hear him shake the cocktail with what sounded like about 50 pieces of pebble ice. 3 minutes go by until he comes over. He places a coupe glass in front of us and pours the cocktail table-side. First thing we see come out of the strainer is water. That cocktail needs to be shaken with heavier ice. That way, it activates the sugar enzymes in the pineapple juice and the cane syrup. What you get after it's shaken properly is a lush foam and all ingredients perfectly combined. I appreciated his gesture, but man, paying $22 for a cocktail that's watered down, not properly made, and not properly shaken is a tragedy. I digress. I guess. I'm just so sad, feeling displaced about this bar. Moreover, I'm wondering what the hell happened to this once fantastic bar?! New ownership and uneducated bartenders is my guess. What a travesty. -Fin

As a guest at The Iroquois Hotel, Lantern's Keep was super convenient since it's in the back of the hotel just behind the elevators. One night as we were trying to put our 8-week old down to sleep, I went down and bought two drinks and took them back to our room for us to enjoy (My wife and I, not my daughter...She's too young). It was $18 per cocktail, but you expect that in NYC. We both got bartender's choice and we were not disappointed. He was spot on! The atmosphere is small and not super classy, but if you make good drinks, you can be whatever you want to be.

Old school (as in prohibition-era) cocktails. The place is dark and somewhat glossy, and totally in keeping with the "upscale speakeasy" trend that has been sweeping through the country recently (or has it petered out?). That said, there is nothing wrong with the (quite excellent!) cocktails. They are crafted (word used intentionally) take a wee bit to make, but are very, very worth it - pretty much something that you sit back and appreciate for the work that went into it.

When I travel I love hitting up nice cocktail bars. This also applies to when I don't travel. Many places claim to be craft cocktail bars, but once you throw out a classic gin cocktail not on the menu the bartender will claim they don't have the ingredients. This wasn't the case at Lantern's Keep. A few drinks I ordered the bartender would recommend her own take on the cocktail. Each one delicious. You can see her using fresh fruit juices and big chunks of crystal clear ice. She was super friendly and knowledgeable of what she was making. It was such a cozy feel at the bar that I was able to chat up the guy next to me. Definitely a great spot for drinks, but like most cocktail bars in hotels...in Manhattan.......$$$$$.

Lantern's Keep is a speakeasy tucked inside the Iroquois hotel, so you do get the advantage of privacy and the possibility of a spare seat if nearby options like Valerie prove to be impossible to get a seat at. The bar aims to be like Raines' Law Room with turquoise upholstery and brass finishes, only they failed a bit at lighting because I felt like I was being interrogated under the harsh lighting of the bar. Get your romantic mood lighting act together, Lantern's Keep! The bar seating is also somewhat uncomfortable and overly packed. Accordingly, the cocktails here are expensive, at $20 a pop. Thankfully, they are served strong. I had the McKittrick Old Fashioned, which had bourbon, sherry, and chocolate bitters. It was a smooth, well-made drink.

A cute little backroom tucked in the Iroquois Hotel. Service here is okay, our waitress was pretty helpful and nice in helping us choose what drink was right for us. A dark lit room it is great for parties of 2-4 people, not larger groups. Drinks are mucho expensive $$$$, ranging from $18-$25 a drink. So don't come and expect to hang out over a few cocktails. That being said we were both very pleased with our drinks and the taste ratio of all ingredients was on point to a tee. They do have a small selection of snacks if you are hungry or looking to nibble. I would come here again, but would only order one drink upon visit due to pricing.

Tucked away within the Iroquois Hotel is this beautiful little establishment serving top notch cocktails. It was a perfect spot for a post theater drink where we were able to discuss the show in an intimate, classy environment. If you are on a date, or you are looking to impress someone that loves cocktails and mixology then look no further because you will find none better, but be forewarned, the plan could backfire because the space is limited and you may not be able to get service. The experience may not be cheap, but it's not too far off the mark for a well made libation. It is a small price to pay for what I feel is a quintessential NYC expereience.

Tucked unassumingly into the back of the Iroquois Hotel lobby is cozy Lantern's Keep. Before attempting to visit this establishment, you should know a few things: They have rules. No, really, there's a list of rules on the website. And they're worth reading because the list is actually pretty funny. But seriously, this is a small place. It's not a spot to grab shots and be rowdy, or even run in for a quick cocktail. It's an establishment where you may take your time and savor your drink, your company, and, should you be so inclined, your tasty little snacks. I'm talking olives, spiced nuts, deviied eggs, cheese plate to oysters or even escargot to chocolate lava cake. You won't starve if you're hungry, but you're not stuffing face with chicken wings and mozzarella sticks here. Not even fancy ones. It's so small you may find you have a bit of a wait until you're seated. That's OK, there are couches in the lobby where you can comfortably relax until your table is ready, and because It's not a spot where you want to rush at all once you get inside the cozy, dark room, you may find the wait very worth it. The drink prices are on the high side of average for a craft cocktail place, but the folks behind the bar know what they are doing. I've been on a negroni kick (yawn. Hasn't everyone?) and they made me several unique riffs on that cocktail that I enjoyed thoroughly. I recommend a visit if you have the opportunity, but do have a plan B in your back pocket in case 1) you're not prepared to wait, if there is a wait. There might not be one, but there might be. 2) Sometimes they are closed for part of the night due to a private event. Check their Instagram for updates on full or partial closings. 3) You're an incredibly loud person. Did I mention the space is small? If a shouty person is in there it gets shockingly loud and then everyone has to raise their voices over Mr or Ms Shouty and that creates an un-fun din in the room. 4) Your party is larger than 5. They don't seat parties larger than 5. 5) Your one and only liquor is vodka. They don't have vodka. For serious. I mean it. Try something new tonight and live a little, why don't ya.

My husband and I dropped in here last night for a late night drink after a show in the city. We were seated promptly and given water and menus immediately. We then sat there for ten minutes Nobody came to take our order. The waiter and the bartender seemed to be more concerned with chit chatting than serving customers. We left after 10 minutes of no service.

Planned to meet some friends here for a drink before a show at the Town Hall theater nearby. Everyone was late, as typical, so we didn't actually meet. However, I stayed for one drink. :) I had one of their specialty bourbon "Old Fashioned" cocktails. It was made with chocolate bitters which accented the drink nicely while not being in your face. Served in a nice, large and heavy, rocks glass. The room is small, maybe 8 tables (?), and is dark and intimate but also a bit loud. Cool art work adorns the walls. The service was prompt and pleasant. A cool cocktail bar. :)

Hotel bars are the underrated heroes of the late night cocktail hour. This bar is super small, located inside the Iroquois hotel. There is a coat rack and rest room right outside of it to the left. When we arrived we were asked to wait outside of the bar until there was a space for us. Finally one stool opened at the counter and we were asked if one of us wanted to sit and one wanted to stand. We decided this was fine until something else opened up. However, Even when a small table opened up, the next duo was seated there, so I guess they forgot about us. It was fine, as the guest next to us left after a bit and we were able to take that stool. The drinks are expensive, so just be ready for that. But they are fantastic, and the bartenders are truly skilled. Yes we spent almost $100 when you count tip for a total of four drinks. But they were some seriously good drinks.

Found my new go-to cocktail bar in midtown! Located in he back of the Iroquois Hotel , it is perfected sized and space to offer comfort to those looking to thoroughly enjoy a nice cocktail in a warm, intimate (and still comfortable) setting. Absolutely loved the drink selection and the bartender and server were more than helpful. Yes the drinks are pricy but it's NYC and the drinks are worth it. One piece of advice : definitely arrive early (5 pm) as it starts to fill up around 5:30. So glad I managed to make it early to secure seating as I will def be returning again!

The review is overdue but I came here with my mom back in February when we were visiting NYC. This is top 3 for bars we went too. Speakeasy vibe, that was dark and cozy. Drinks were crafted after we talked to the bartender and told him to surprise us. Don't remember the drink but I know we had one to many. Def pricey but worth it for the service, atmosphere and drink quality.

A cozy place to meet up & have a drink and small bite. It got a little noisy while there. Thought it would be quieter. Drinks are pricey but good.

Really tasty onion dip and chips but.... the service had my friends and I feeling like we were in a fever dream! The two guys on staff were all over the place, forgetting items, yelling, spitting on my arm... My girlfriend ordered a manhattan and they brought her an old fashioned. When she pointed out the mistake they rushed to grab a small thing of vermouth, reached over my shoulder, poured it into the glass and stirred it with a tiny straw - all on the table in front of us with their bare hands! Jarring. My eyes popped out of my head. Capped off the night by accidentally adding another table's drink on to our check. Oy vey! I will not be back.......

For a place that carries all spirits except for my god to vodka, it is a hidden gym in the heart of midtown/Times Square area. Who doesn't love a good bar in the hotel? The place gets pretty crowded even at 7pm. Got here, was told it's about a 30 minute wait went to a bar across the street, came back was seated promptly. The bartender made a bespoke drink, no idea what it was but was by far one of the best drinks I have had.

Intimate, cozy, hidden, and most importantly their drinks - WOW! I came across this place after watching a late musical, and no other rooftop bars were open (due to the rain.) And am I glad to have stumbled here! I didn't expect such a high quality bar to be inside a hotel; I almost didn't want to share this review lest I bring in a crowd... But their drink menu is too fantastic not to share. Perfect for a small party, or a date... Enjoy!

This was such a cute place. It's sucked away behind the front desk of the Iroquois hotel. We came here before heading to our broadway show. We tried the keepers choice drink where you tell the bar tender what alcohol you want and the flavor and they'll come up with something. Both times he came up with some Great drinks!! We also had the cheese plate which had a great selection. And the bUtter jam was so delicious!!

This bar is tiny, located on the lobby level of the Iroquois Hotel. Seemed like there was only one person running the show (taking orders and hosting). Took a good 20-30 minute wait to get in. The atmosphere in here is nice and intimate. The drinks left more to be desired.. the $17 price for cocktails in this area and style is expected, but I was not too impressed by the quality of the drinks. They were all pretty strong (esp my Old Fashioned), but I've had better. I would recommend trying this place if you haven't been, but I don't think I'll be coming back.

I'll start by saying that I really wanted to like this bar. Online it looked amazing and I had really high hopes for it. Btw, if you haven't read the rules for this place (on their website) there is one that is absolutely hysterical and I hope someone has the privilege of someone seeing that rule be exercised. That being said, I felt the cocktails were rather expensive for the base liquors that are used in them. For example, the bourbon drinks leverage Four Roses as the base - not a necessarily bad label, though, for $19 a drink I would hope for something a bit more premium. Perhaps I did not order the right thing for me, though, overall I felt that the experience could have been a bit better. We came after work for drinks and the crowd was rather loud. Another callout would be that you really have to make yourself known outside the door as no one is walking over to check and see if someone is waiting (we waited for almost 5 minutes to be seated when almost all tables were empty). Overall, I recommend popping in if you're in the neighborhood and want something a bit more crafted in the cocktail realm.

This is a cool hidden bar inside a hotel. I wouldn't have know anything about it until my girlfriend, through a little yelp searching on her own, found this cocktail bar. The Lantern's Keep only has about 10 tables and maybe can hold 25 total people in the bar. This isn't your lively upbeat place rather an intimate place made for conversation with a properly made cocktail. We had a gin fizz and the Iroquis @2 which was amazing! Even when you drank, the design on the top of the drink remained intact which is a show of a well made drink. After we finished our first round and the bar cleared up we moved to see the bartender in action. I told the bartender my girlfriend enjoyed champagne drinks and he custom made her a cocktail which she couldn't get enough of. I had a whiskey based drink which was great and strong but didn't burn at all. This place is great and I need to be in the hunt for other hidden cocktail bars through out the city.

The Bottom Line: Classy, with great service and solid drinks. Come here for a quiet conversation or if you are looking for a classy night out. Try: Charo's Kick Serenity Now Pro: Come here for an elegant evening and a good conversation. The service is what you'd expect; refined and on-point. They did their best to not be noticed, to their credit, but it was akin to what you'd see in a movie. The drinks were well made, had a good, clever balance of flavors. The ambiance is excellent as well. Con: The sound levels fluctuated considerably, from an enjoyable murmur to leaning in to understand each other.

This place should change its name to Cocktail Heaven. Really tho... As someone who is a bit of a cocktail snob, I long for places that can concoct enjoyable drinks with hint of creativity. There's Nomad, Raines Law Room and a few others in Manhattan that do just that. However, enter the conversation this little gem called Lantern's Keep. Hidden in The Iroquois hotel, Lantern's Keep is a very small bar that churns out cocktail gem after gem. The bartenders here take this cocktail thing VERY seriously. The bar is lined with fresh ingredients of all kinds, and the spirit selection has the who's who of all liquors. You can tell immediately upon entering that you're in for a special experience. I told the bartender that I like rum and wanted to something with a hard taste to it. She took that info and put together something that was beyond amazing. I watched as she used fresh ingredient after ingredient and took her time with it, it was unreal. She then made a drink on the sweeter side with Gin, champagne, strawberry and some other herbs I'm not familiar with. Absolutely speechless. Simply put, if you're a real cocktail lover, this place needs to be on your go to list. It will likely be the best cocktail you'll ever have. I, for one, will be back here quite often.

Probably my favorite bar from now on but really really really hope it doesn't get crowded any time soon. This is the kind of bar where you should go to if you want to have a great catch up session with a girlfriend. Since the space is small and intimate (covered with Degas painting prints, might I add) it's a cozy atmosphere that allows you to talk to your company with little interruption. The cocktails were strong and delicious. I don't want to go into details of each of them.. But if you're a tequila lover, the Monte Carlos and Better&Better are must-try's!

I met up with a friend and he wanted to come here since he explain this bar to me as interesting. My curious self was very excited since I love new places. I have to say I wasn't disappointed, you walk through the hotel to the back and the bar it's pretty small. This is a great bar if you love good cocktails (not cheap but hey this is midtown) and it's super cozy perfect for a date. When we got there wasn't any seats available but we got one within minutes. Our server came with some water and gave us the menu which was more like a book. After giving up trying to figure out what to drink I just ask our server what he recommended. He was super knowledgeable and gave me a few options and even offered for them to make me my own personalized drink. I decided to go with McKittrick Old Fashion and I'm so happy I did since it was delicious, probably one of the best drinks I ever had. I could have stayed there all night just trying different drinks but we had dinner plans so I couldn't stay as long as I wanted.

This cocktail bar in the Iroquois Hotel leaves something to be desired in terms of atmosphere, but the cocktails are phenomenal. The bartenders were nice, attentive and helped me pick a drink. I went with the Keeper's Pick which translates to "you tell them what you like and they make something specifically for you." I'd recommend this unless one of the cocktails on the menu really speaks to you.

This was my first speakeasy experience, so I don't have anything but imagination for comparison. That being said, I was hoping for a more discrete entrance. It was in the back of a hotel. Still not worth taking a star off though. Everything here was top notch. The menu had several craft selections to suit any taste. My friend and I both lent our trust to the keeper of the bar ("Keeper's Choice" on the menu). I had a few drinks with bourbon, gin, and mezcal bases. They were all delicious, and masterfully prepared. The seating was tight, but this a speakeasy and it is in NYC. Sharing a table with another party actually even elevated my experience. The conversation was great, and I would've missed out by having my own table. Overall, excellent experience. I'll be back, and strongly recommend visiting if you're near Times Square. You won't be disappointed!

A perfect spot for cocktails. They are all $16 which in NYC is not a bad deal for what you get. It's a quite bar with friendly bartenders. The setting is kind of like a speakeasy for the 20's. You wouldn't know it's there if you are not looking for it. The Lantern's Keep is a hidden spot so you have to be sure that the light outside is on and the curtains are open to make sure they are open for business. The bartenders make fantastic drinks, all with fresh ingredients. Each one that my date and I tasted were amazing. There is no vodka on the menu so if you are a vodka drinker ask for something similar to a martini. I did and got the Regal Business (gin drink) I enjoyed both the Trenchtown (rum drink) and Regal Business drinks. I'll def. be back the next trip to NYC!

Just between you and I. It is possible to get turned off. After all, it is just a tiny bar inside of a hotel located in Midtown. Not to mention you won't find the coolest-outfit ever- bouncer asking for the password of the minute in order to let you in*. What kinda speakeasy is that. But just between you and I, Lantern's keep serves among the best cocktails in town. In the past few years I have had a handful of unforgettable sips. The Jungle Bird served at Lanterns Keep constitute one of them on pair with The Clover Club from Pegu Club, The Guv'nor at Summit Bar or Cumin my Cocktail at The Wayland. Attracted by the name at first, by the ingredients right after and the visual presentation several minutes later, I haven't forget the first taste to the exceptionally crafted Jungle Bird (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lanterns-keep-new-york?select=RN0_CKMb3YBD0V7jo6bnSA#RN0_CKMb3YBD0V7jo6bnSA) Simply constructed. After all it is "just" a mix of rum, campari, pineapple and lime, I still recall the pleasure of a sweet drink, very smooth to the palate, where the ingredientes fuse together, none predominant over the other, yet strong as the time pass by. By the way, the story behind this drink is incredibly catchy and worth to read about**. The Jungle Bird is my drink to go always, but don't skip any of the menu if you don't get such obsession. I haven't dislike not even one among the ones me or friends have order. Just between you and I, Lantern's Keep is not just a hotel bar. Exquisitely decorated yet simple, with dark wooden floor, marble round tables, blue seats and a fireplace. It emanates elegance, intimacy. Seriously, it is a pleasure to be there. Somehow everyone seems to know about it and in occasions, without a reservation, you won't be able to stay. It happened to me more than once. Other times, mainly when I have been late at night, near the closing time, there is seats available, but seating at the bar seems more attractive. The bartenders are more relaxed then. Get there and chat with them. It is been always a pleasure as well. They actually, are well known within their profesional world and some are also behind other infamous speakeasies. Lantern's keep may be immune to time. Impressions have not change since I first stepped in over three years ago. Which impressions? Well, just between you and I. Even when he won't pick me up when we meet at (this) bar, I just love to "drink, even better than James Bond" http://robbreport.com/robb-vices/drinking-bond Tell me that you wouldn't like it too ... * figurative ... for now **http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/09/dining/a-bird-walks-into-a-bar.html?_r=0

3.75 stars -- I've had my eye on Lantern's Keep for some time, and mostly because there aren't very many great cocktail bars on this side of town. Though I was finally able to go for some belated birthday drinks with a good friend, and while the anticipation was there, the expectations fell just a bit short. There was nothing horribly bad to note, and the cocktails were great, but I feel for the price ($16 for each cocktail), I know there are better places to enjoy a great, quality cocktail. The collective experience overall wasn't that impressive, especially when speaking in regards to speakeasies. Lantern's Keep is a tiny, inconspicuous spot, hidden and tucked inside the Iroquois Hotel. I made a reservation for 9PM on a Saturday evening only a day before, and I was able to without any issue at all. I advise reservations though as this spot is very tiny with a limited number of tables/seats. The setting and mood of Lantern's is generally intimate/romantic but quite low-key at the same time. There was a mix of couples and a mix of mid-sized groups. The only throw-off was the increased volume of music later into the night, which thwarted that level of intimacy in the space. Decor wise, it is all dark walls with marbled tables, set by candlelights. It's a simple yet classic style that's not too trendy or flashy in any way. The service was really great, and the server was very polite and attentive throughout the night. I was able to try three cocktails, two of which were Bartender's Choice. My guest wanted a chocolate-based cocktail while I wanted Gin-based with tart. They created a Jack Dempsey for me, and I was only a bit disappointed because I'm not a big fan of apple, and apple brandy is one of the base ingredients. My guest's drink was fantastic though, namely the Twentieth Century. It was a mix of chocolate with slight citrus/lemon base. My second drink was a shaken tall drink off their menu, the Diamond Fizz, a mix of Gin, lemon, Champagne, and some egg white. A very well-made cocktail, different from what I'd normally order, but I very much enjoyed it. Cocktails were overall great, though my Bartender's Choice was not what I was really expecting. Perhaps I should have been more specific. Overall, the experience was good, and the service was great. Their menu is very impressive. If you want to be surprised, try the Bartender's Choice. At $16 a drink though, it is good to know what you want to a certain degree, or else it may seem a bit of a disappointment. Nonetheless, for those who just take their cocktails a bit more seriously, this is a midtown spot to check out.

My visit was on 8/3/14 evening: Plan was to meet up with 4 friends for amazing girls night out. This place was the start to our night. I arrived solo before the rest of my party got there. I first sat at a table close to the door. Waiter bypassed me a few times. I then switched over to a table in the middle of the room so he could see me. Took a few minutes, but he came over & I informed him that I was eventually going to be in a party of five. He told me that there were only two seats left since they had a lot of reservations that night. I told him I'd let him know what I'd like to do once he came back to the table. Fifteen minutes go by in which he passed my table numerous times. He brings a menu after I ask him for one. Fifteen more minutes go by & he still hasn't taken my drink order. He has passed my table numerous time to cater to the tables with more than one person. Oh wait, there was an older gentleman (by himself) who the waiter took an order from who came in after me and sat in the seat close to the door and YET STILL MANAGED TO TAKE HIS ORDER. He got a drink too by the way. So at this point, I barged into the waiter's conversation that he was nonchalantly having at the bar with two patrons & purposely attempted to take a seat right in front of him. He sees me and I say I want to sit at the bar and get a drink. He tells me the spot is taken, that it's okay if I wait at the table I was at. Then he says the seat at the end of the bar is available. You've got to be EFFING kidding me! Horrendous service indeed from this waiter. He didn't treat me like a customer should be treated. Ignored me, seemed stuck up & clearly didn't like me for whatever reason PRIOR to me interrupting his conversation after I waited way too long for service. I was not rude at all. I get a drink from the bartender, who was accommodating. Eventually my friends arrive and we all crowd around the seat at the bar that I'm at. All of a sudden, said waiter comes over and says that there is a possibility we can get a table in eight minutes because one of the parties didn't show up. He says we can sit in their spot & if they don't show up, the reservation is ours. We get the reservation & he brings us complimentary champagne for being inconvenienced. Which we greatly appreciated. Yet, when I asked for another drink later whilst with my party, it is never brought to me. The experience overall was 40% good. The rest was absolute shit. I wish I had a more professional, astute, & accommodating waiter. Enjoyed the time with my friends, but I won't be coming back. There were two handfuls of people there, not including us & four empty tables. I don't know what happened to the other parties, hmm...

Ambiance is dim light and romantic but it's a small room that gets loud. Cocktails are also pricey at $19. Service could have been a bit more attentive. Nothing stood out to me, but it's not terrible if you're in the area.