Paper Planes

Paper Planes is a super cute speakeasy cocktail bar in the Lower East Side. From the moment you walk inside this speakeasy-inspired bar, you're in for a unique experience. Follow the paper planes up on the ceiling and head towards the cute indoor-outdoor setting. Their variety of cocktails are travel-inspired and suitable for any person’s liking! Their vibes are great & service was top-notch which makes Paper Planes a must-visit cocktail bar! Whether you're a local or a visitor, Paper Planes promises an unforgettable night out.

We had such an incredible experience here! Our party of 2 arrived around 6:30pm on a Saturday and was seated right away. They do not take reservations. The place is on the smaller side - maybe seats 10 parties of 2-4 people and probably 4 seats at the bar. When we left around 8pm, the place was about 2/3 full. When we got there, it was still light out so we got to see all the decor - it's very nicely decorated. It's cozy but also you don't feel like you're smooshed up against the next table. The staff were also so friendly. They all seemed like they were having a fun time as well. We were thinking of getting 1-2 drinks each but ended up getting 3 each because we were enjoying them so much. The menu is really creative with some very interesting concoctions. We saw ancho infused campari, duck fat washed rye whiskey, house made syrups, just to name a few. We started off with the Tokyo Tour and the East India Trading Co - both were on the sweeter side and absolutely delicious. The East India Trading Co. drink is fascinating with its combination of sweet from guava and spicy from the curry spices. We then had the Cabin in the Woods and Morning Dew - they were both spirit forward drinks (which we were told when ordering). I'm not as great with very spirit forward drinks but my companion loved his Morning Dew. And look at the cute paper plane carved into the ice!! What an amazing touch We ended our stay with We'll Always Have Paris and, of course, the Paper Plane. We were curious, and a bit wary, about the duck fat washed rye whiskey and the staff super kindly let us try a sip. It was a smooth, delicious, fragrant and spicy drink all in one. The Paper Plane was so delicious and refreshing - a great way to end the series of drinks. We also got to try their fries - it was fried perfectly, spiced perfectly, and paired with an amazing sauce. Such a good companion to our drinks. I won't gatekeep this place even though I want it to be my secret, haha. I would highly recommend this place! I can't wait to go back and try more of their drinks.

Hidden Gem!!! Please do go, they have a huge selection of cocktails and the bartenders actually like their craft. So it was a pleasure to speak to them, get their recommendation and watch them make the drink.

Absolutely love the place! Great vibe, friendly people, amazing drinks! Got a few craft cocktails that I can easily describe with a word outstanding) We got a round of best Paper Planes I have ever tried! Very cozy atmosphere.

I came here for my birthday. They led our group to a lower room that smelled like a litter box. The white waiter spoke in a condescending manner to my friend, who is Black, and does not drink, telling him he had to order a cocktail or leave, even though we were in a large party that ordered plenty of drinks, and the tables around us were all empty, so it’s not like we were taking away space from cocktail ordering customers. The waiter’s tone made my friend leave. And we left after the round of $20 drinks we ordered arrived. All of the cocktails I tasted were out of balance, far too acidic. The shrubs tasted like window cleaner. It might look cute online but don’t waste your time here. Not cute. Also the cotton balls say something about the plantation mindset of the owners.

A really greet hidden bar. Cool atmosphere with a glass roof. Drinks are cheap proces too some of the cheapest in the area. Staff was also great. Ricky the bartender was wonderful.

Went to several speakeasies this night with a group and everyone’s favorite drink came from here! Max was a great server and the service and drinks were amazing. Definitely recommended!

The services of the chef and the food are second to NO ONE. Having a mutli-ethnic background himself along with his undying passion to learn new things and continuing to perfect his craft is what separates Paper Planes and their staff from the rest of NY. The owner has been challenged and caught off guard before by others with preparation, while he himself was unaware of the prep that has been done by them, with little or no time to prepare for himself. Such a scenario attests to not only his skill but also his authenticity. Dining at Paper Planes is an experience one should make at the top of their list when visiting Manhattan, if not, just stopping by in on a regular basis!

I'm ashamed I didn't know this place existed until an acquaintance from out of town (LA, no less!) introduced it to us while we were looking for a watering hole on a Sat night. In my defense, I rarely pay attention to the LES. :D Anywho, the fries were tasty with interesting seasoning, and the cocktails were on the more creative side. - Island Thyme: Tropical and tasty - Tokyo Tour: Needed more shiso and yakult flavor - We'll Always Have Paris: Strong and potent...the kind of drink you have three times if you're looking to get effed up - English Countryside: Pretty, delicate and quaint, just like its name - Paloma: A classic. Wasn't my pick, but tasted on point

I wanted to check out Paper Planes after dinner and was kind of confused upon entering the establishment, an empty restaurant. Luckily, we saw the paper plane trail and followed it to a backroom where the bar is located. Staff were friendly and checked in on us multiple times. Tokyo Tour (4/5): I saw yakult and was sold. The drink was sweet, refreshing, and light. I liked it. Banana bread (3/5): Concept sounded fun, but the dessert-tasting drink did get a little heavy on the palate.

We had such an incredible experience here! Our party of 2 arrived around 6:30pm on a Saturday and was seated right away. They do not take reservations. The place is on the smaller side - maybe seats 10 parties of 2-4 people and probably 4 seats at the bar. When we left around 8pm, the place was about 2/3 full. When we got there, it was still light out so we got to see all the decor - it's very nicely decorated. It's cozy but also you don't feel like you're smooshed up against the next table. The staff were also so friendly. They all seemed like they were having a fun time as well. We were thinking of getting 1-2 drinks each but ended up getting 3 each because we were enjoying them so much. The menu is really creative with some very interesting concoctions. We saw ancho infused campari, duck fat washed rye whiskey, house made syrups, just to name a few. We started off with the Tokyo Tour and the East India Trading Co - both were on the sweeter side and absolutely delicious. The East India Trading Co. drink is fascinating with its combination of sweet from guava and spicy from the curry spices. We then had the Cabin in the Woods and Morning Dew - they were both spirit forward drinks (which we were told when ordering). I'm not as great with very spirit forward drinks but my companion loved his Morning Dew. And look at the cute paper plane carved into the ice!! What an amazing touch We ended our stay with We'll Always Have Paris and, of course, the Paper Plane. We were curious, and a bit wary, about the duck fat washed rye whiskey and the staff super kindly let us try a sip. It was a smooth, delicious, fragrant and spicy drink all in one. The Paper Plane was so delicious and refreshing - a great way to end the series of drinks. We also got to try their fries - it was fried perfectly, spiced perfectly, and paired with an amazing sauce. Such a good companion to our drinks. I won't gatekeep this place even though I want it to be my secret, haha. I would highly recommend this place! I can't wait to go back and try more of their drinks.

It had been a minute since I caught up with one of my friends, so we made plans to catch up on a Friday after work. She suggested coming here since we're fans of speakeasies and she had this bookmarked on Yelp. No need to further convince me, so after work I made my way downtown. Paper Planes is located on the LES, and like many speakeasies it has an inconspicuous storefront. Depending on the spot, there may or may not be a sign out front, but this one was relatively easy to find as the name was on the exterior of the building as well as "secret bar". Upon entry we were in sort of a bare room; there were several paper planes hanging from the ceiling and instructions to follow them - so that's what we did. Eventually the space opened up into the actual bar area; the space was very cozy without feeling cramped - the bar was set on the back wall with tables scattered throughout the perimeter and low lighting to set the mood. It almost looked like a former outdoor area that was covered, but it didn't have an outdoors feel at all - they did a great job converting the space. The menu has an air travel theme, with each menu section corresponding to a different type of destination (tropics, overseas, the mountains, etc.) and drinks to match those themes. I decided to start with the English Countryside which had notes of pea, strawberry, and citrus - it was smooth with great flavor. I then went tropical and ordered the Island Thyme which was exactly how you thought it was - sweet, not too strong, and good flavor. We were hungry so we also ordered some food, and decided on the French Fries, Cheese and Charcuterie Board, and Fried Dumplings. All of the food was tasty - the fries had a tasty seasoning and came with a garlic mayo for dipping. The charcuterie was plentiful and had a good variety of meats and cheeses, and the dumplings were paired with a tasty aioli. The dumplings were definitely the most interesting to me - they were almost bite-size and came with a tasty aioli. Food definitely wasn't an afterthought here which was a nice surprise. Service was great, everyone was really friendly and made sure we were taken care of. Overall, I was really impressed with Paper Planes - the clever theming, variety of drinks, and attention to food really exceeded my expectations. I only scratched the surface here and would definitely return to explore more of their menu.

Wow what a cute bar. Following the paper airplanes and going by the restaurant and kitchen which are located front of the house, you walk up a low flight of stairs to come to the bar of paper plane. Its not big, and probably can fit a good 30-40 guests at most at once, but what you do get is this cozy, romantic, intimate vibe that is perfect for a date night. The night I went we only got drinks - highly recommend the Molotov cocktail - literally was one of the best drinks I had, its pungent vodka aroma paired really well with the fruitiness of the drink, and you feel like they weren't skimping on the alcohol with the drinks that were being made there. Drinks are about $16 per person, pretty standard for a speakeasy/manhattan bar. Food is also served here, but it seemed more 'bar food' like - i.e., chicken wings, burgers etc. Would come back again for sure to try their other drinks!

We adored the paper plane trail to the back where the actual bar was located. Our drinks were delicious and fairly priced. Service was terrific - it got busy here quickly so I would head here early if possible especially if you have a larger party. We ordered quite a few drinks and had great suggestions by the staff there - my favorite was the Raining Blokes!

5 stars for the drinks, 1 star for the service. Three stars splits the difference here we are. I hate to tarnish the perfect record here (at the time of my writing this, Paper Planes has only five-star reviews) but our experience here was not fabulous. We had high hopes but we ended up leaving wanting much, much more. Mainly just wanting our second round that we waited an hour for and never got. I'd like to give Paper Planes the benefit of the doubt because it's a cute space with fantastic drinks, so perhaps I'll try again soon, but the service needs serious improvement. Came here at around 9:30 on a Saturday night. As you may know by now, Paper Planes is technically a speakeasy, in that it is not clear from its storefront that it exists. But as soon as you walk in, there are signs for a "secret bar" that you follow to the back of the space, up a few stairs, and into a fairly small room that appears a bit makeshift (there's a curtain along the back that seems like it was put up in a rush) but I actually found it to give it a charming and grassroots vibe. When we walked in and noticed how tiny it was, we weren't sure if we were going to get a table. But then, right there in the middle of the bar, was a vacant two-seater. Just for us. We thought it was a sign of good things to come. Once we were seated, it took a while for us to get (and hold) the attention of the one server there. There were a couple of larger parties (8-10 people) which might've caused the ample delay, but it still seemed odd that we were being overlooked for so long. Finally, we ordered. It took at least 20 minutes for our drinks to come despite the fact that the venue itself was small, but when they came, we thought maybe they were worth the wait. I got the Molotov Cocktail (Horseradish vodka, jalapenos liqueur, cardamom, lemon, cinnamon syrup, smoked sea salt rim) while my partner got the Ricky's Rickey (Gin, lime, rhubarb liqueur, ginger, basil), and both were superb. I love horseradish in drinks and spicy drinks in general, so this mostly-savory and spiced drink was right up my alley. My partner's was sort of a gimlet style drink but more complex and herbal. Our second two drinks never came. We waited about 40 minutes for them and we were getting a little anxious because we were hoping to stop by a party before calling it a night. When we finally couldn't take it anymore and flagged down the server, he said "oh I don't even think they've started those yet" but was overall a little strange and aloof and didn't seem to notice our frustration and urgency. But we asked for the check quickly and dashed out of there. Maybe we were just there on an off night, but what started as eager anticipation ended as disappointment and a premature departure.

Paper Planes is a super cute speakeasy cocktail bar in the Lower East Side. From the moment you walk inside this speakeasy-inspired bar, you're in for a unique experience. Follow the paper planes up on the ceiling and head towards the cute indoor-outdoor setting. Their variety of cocktails are travel-inspired and suitable for any person's liking! Their vibes are great & service was top-notch which makes Paper Planes a must-visit cocktail bar! Whether you're a local or a visitor, Paper Planes promises an unforgettable night out.

Super cute bar with solid drinks. My party of 4 walked in at around 9 pm on a Thursday and there was no wait. I tried the Davy Jones's Locker and Banana Bread cocktails, which were both great. Vibe was very chill and service was good.

Have to go through the restaurant to get to this new cocktail bar but worth a shot! A simple drink menu yet there's something for everyone. We sat at the bar and 10/10 service from the bar tender. We got a "Pussy Galore" and "Tai Tai" which were great variations on a classic martini and mai tai. TLDR : new bar in LES that isn't too crowded yet but worth trying!

LOVE!!! Great vibes, friendly staff, amaaaazing drinks! Follow the trail of paper planes on the walls to get there! I had the Banana Bread- dark rum, banana syrup, cognac, and chai infused oat milk. Our waiter described it as a banana chai latte. Creamy, sweet, light hint of banana- truly super unique and so delicious.

Stumbled upon this place looking for a spot to grab a drink with some friends and liked that this bar is located allllllll the way behind a restaurant. The menu is super duper cute where it's like a travel book and then each section has a title for "frequent flyer", light flight and etc. The drinks were good and it was nice that they had a kind of lounge feeling. It's a small area with the bar seating and a long table as well as some seats by the wall. The bartender was also very engaging and made my friend a drink based on what she liked. Some of the drinks also had a little paper plane!

Came here with a friend on a Friday since we were on the waitlist for attaboy. The entrance is kind of hard to find, but once you go in, there's a back section (really cute greenery decor and dim lit) with a wait and a front section (a lot quieter, pictured in this review). We only got drinks - I got 2 drinks and I didn't really like them. They were strong but were either too sour or sweet.

I love the travel themed setting this bar has! At first impression, there is a sign to follow the paper planes trail, so you get to make a small journey to reach a bustling bar. We were promptly greeted by the host and got a seat at a table. My friend ordered the House of the Rising Sun and I got the Paper Plane cocktail. The House of the Rising Sun has egg whites with whiskey and scotch, and it is quite strong. The Paper Plane cocktail is more fruity and a bit more herbal as well. They even have a paper plane origami garnish as well! The layout and the menu are thoughtfully curated with travel themes, such as "Experienced Traveler" and "Easy Glidings." As a traveler myself, this place is the perfect cocktail bar that I have been in terms of theme, though the drinks are still pretty amazing.

It was okay, cocktails sounds better than it tasted. However, at $16 a craft cocktail in NYC now it's a steal now.

Very cute bar with a good selection of drinks, price is fair for NYC. Before sunset, it is actually quite bright in the back room which was a bit unexpected for a speakeasy, but not a complaint from me. They had tiki drinks, classic drinks, and interesting twists on classic flavors, plus a small selection of snacks. Seems like a good hangout spot, it's not very loud so you can actually hang out with friends and chat. We didn't have a reservation and they were able to accommodate us very easily in early evening.

Delicious drinks, great atmosphere, great service, I'd definitely come back! Easy walk in on a Thursday night around 8:30ish with half of the seats open! The island thyme didn't have much of a thyme flavor but was good and came in a tiki cup and the English countryside was a perfect amount of sweet.

A cool, hole in the wall spot with great cocktails! When you walk through the hallway of the sister restaurant you are transported to what looks like a rooftop bar. There is lots of space and the decor fits the place. Had a round here with a friend and really enjoyed it. The staff here are awesome and welcoming! Definitely recommend if you are in the area!

Super cute drink spot with a very unique menu and a wide selection! You're bound to find something that you like. The Shiso Fine was my favorite! Small selection of snacks in the first page. We got the Cheese Charcuterie that served 6 half pieces of bread.

TLDR: great little drink spot. Favorite was House of the Rising Sun. Located in the back this bar serves numerous craft cocktails. They range from fruity to bitter with everything inbetween. There are some snack type foods available as well.

Met an old friend here for some drinks and light eats after dinner, which I would say is a quaint little space for that. The drinks were good and the appetizer was fun and tasty. Ordered paper plane and Paloma for drinks with a pickle variety and croquettes. The service here was amazing, the staff was on top of refills and they were super friendly. The couple downside was the lack of ac and it's technically outdoor with a roofing cover, so there were mosquitoes that bit my legs and we never cooled off.

Popped here for my birthday post dinner the other night after hearing the buzz on the place as a solid speakeasy with impressive cocktails...really didn't know if i was gonna be impressed or not. The drinks blew me away. I don't really consider this a speakeasy in the truest sense as it's not really hidden per se, and is associated with the restaurant. It's simply a backbar to a restaraunt. But the space is decorated very cute and has a wonderful vibe. The tunes are on point. I got a seat at the bar with my fiancé and we got to watch the bartenders at work. They are talented mixologists and Ricky is extremely friendly and the man. We got the Banana Bread and El Chingon to start, as well as House of the Rising Sun and Molotov Cocktail. All extremely creative and bursting with flavor. House of the Rising Sun - a take on the whiskey sour - was the star (and Ricky avidly called it their best seller) and instantly vaults to one of the top 3 cocktails I've ever had in the city. Long story short go. You'll love it!

We had such a great time here and the drinks were amazing. Came here with a friend and sat at the bar and the bartender and servers immediately were so friendly and fun to talk to. Highly recommend sitting at the bar because we got some great recommendations from the bartender who put together some really delicious cocktails for us - a true mixologist! My favorite was Ricky's Rickey.

Great little cocktail bar tucked away in the back of yo + shoku restaurant on the lower east side. It has a speakeasy vibe but its a bit different from your traditional speakeasy, firstly there is a pretty large sign outside the restaurant that announces "Secret Bar" and secondly it seems to be an outside patio that the place had that's been covered up and converted into a cocktail bar. Nonetheless, the place is great! If you didn't pay attention you'd never even realize that you're sitting in an enclosed outside area - it was perfectly temperature controlled even in the cold. The decor plays along with the paper planes theme and was tastefully done in my opinion. The only thing I'd say is this is not really ideal for groups bigger than 7-8 unless they are having a super slow night. Most tables are for 2-4 with a few bar stools and just one larger table that'll fit about 6. Now, getting to the important part - the drinks. Really loved them! The house of the rising sun was one of the best whiskey cocktails I've had in a while. A beautiful combination of scotch and citrus it really hit the spot. The twin peaks was similarly fantastic with its rye and coffee notes. A friend had the Room where it happened, a cognac based cocktail and was similarly impressed by it. All in all the drinks were delicious I would love to be back to try their rum based cocktails next time. Bartenders and host were excellent. Super friendly and accommodating. They definitely gave you a very warm and positive vibe to let you know they appreciated your business. Really makes a difference to the experience when the staff make an effort. Definitely recommend for a date night or a small birthday celebration or even just to enjoy a great cocktail in a lovely space.

Super fun concept but the drinks kinda missed the bar. They were cute but a little too strong.

The theme of paper planes was cute. The menus had a book theme to it which was cool. I wouldn't call it a speakeasy tho. The service was alright. Didnt totally love the drinks but overall good vibes.

A very cute cocktail bar hidden in the back of the restaurant! I loved the fun drink names and my personal favorite was the Shiso cocktail (very sweet and fruity). The drinks are around $16+ but the ambiance was great because it was pretty quiet and very cozy.

Paper Planes provides a comprehensive cocktail experience executed to perfection. Whether you are looking to embrace cocktail traditionalism and indulge in their homages to the mainstay recipes of bartending cannon or if you are looking to seek out the daring fringes of mixology imagination, you will be satisfied all the same. For example, consider two of the main cocktails I had there. One was a creative but familiar tasting take on espresso martini - and the other a drink with elements of duck and five spice. Both drinks were staggeringly good. Add in the charisma of Ricky, the owner/operator and his excellent staff and you have one of the best cocktail bars in the city. 11/10 P.S. The ambiance is super stylish and cozy; the music is always great too

We were waiting for a reservation around the corner and popped in here for a drink. We ordered two drinks at 6:15 pm on a holiday Sunday with 1 other table in the back room. One of those drinks didn't arrive for over an hour. Tried to tell the bartender I had ordered a drink and never go it, they responded with 'yes.' They did give us some free fries, but def never coming back here.

Such a cool setting. The back room is awesome. Great service and beautiful crowd. So much fun.

Once you get up to the seating area, this is a really nice place to have a quiet drink and talk. There is a clear ceiling, and while no view, it still allows a really nice lighting when the sun is still going down and all-around ambiance. The drinks are very upscale and well-mixed. Following the event I came out for, I went to another speakeasy-style bar and the drinks weren't nearly as tasty or balanced. The bartenders/servers here were both extremely kind and helpful. I would definitely go back.

Follow the planes! Literally - a fun few moments of following the paper airplanes to the back of the building to a quiet charming nook with a bar. Friendly staff and excited to share the details of their concoctions. Try it - it's a great place for a date. Meet friends. Also try the dumplings. They were delicious and very tiny! So easy to eat and not messy with the cocktails.

Great drinks. Bartender was super friendly. Not sure why there were so few other people on a Thursday night.

Came by this secret bar, i had a rickys ricky music, lights, drinks and service are a great combo. Have to come back again.

We hang out here lately a lot. They have really great cocktails, never tried such good drinks anywhere else before. And that cheeseboard and dumplings they have, oh my... u just have to try.. The service is very professional. U just feel very special there. Amazing bar with a cozy atmosphere. Def recommend visiting!

I came here on a Saturday evening/night. The bar is setup in the back of a restaurant and as i walked in, i was greeted by staff of the restaurant who knew i was there for the "secret bar", Upon entering the bar space which is setup like a garden-esque layout with bright lighting from outside, (the roof is all glass) and was greeted by Ricky and his coworker. I was seated at the bar and talked with Ricky about good options and he was very knowledgeable about spirits and other speakeasies in the area and in Brooklyn. I started with Pussy Galore which was strong and not much on the "taste" side. it was definitely good to start the night off with. My second drink was a Paper Plane which is a house speciality drink and it was refreshing, not so spirit forward but it was a creeper. About a quarter way through the drink, i realised i was nice as hell. LOL My third and final drink which i will always recommend if ever asked is the "banana bread"! Holy shit! It is by far thee best drink I've ever had! It was literally banana bread in liquid form. For as long as it is on the menu i will always order it. I think i have found my new spot to go and have some good drinks. I didn't order food so i cant speak to that but the drinks were incredible! I will definitely be back!

I like this bar! Semi speak easy vibes but very moody, dark and chill. I'm into it. Good thing we came around 9 bc it actually filled up. Their menu has interesting names but drinks are just fine. Good date spot, not too rowdy or loud so good for chit chat. Not really the vibe for canoodling but I guess you can make it happen

Drinks were amazing and the service was great. Love the speakeasy vibes too! I would come back any day.

To my taste, a little loud and "tropical" for a speakeasy, but pretty nice nonetheless. It's small, and might be crowded. But you'll get a seat if you're patient. (Which is what we did.) They do make a nice drink. I'd recommend the paper plane. Lol

We had an outstanding late evening at Paper Planes. The space is both chic and comfortable. Ricky, the owner and bartender, is friendly, skilled, and knowledgeable. Both the classic and creative cocktails were tasty and well-executed. I hope this becomes more than a pop-up.

Awesome spot! Great drink list and quiet little speakeasy in the east village. Super personable staff as well!