Papillon Bistro & Bar

Came here for their Christmas decorations and it was amazing! Came Friday late evening—there was a line, but it wasn’t a long wait. Massive amounts of decorations all throughout the restaurant! Very energetic vibe here and it’s crowded so a lot of people can be in your way as you take photos. But definitely worth checking out their Christmas decor!

Came for my friends birthday and It was incredible! The Christmas decor is so homey and adorable. They don’t take reservations during the season and rightfully so but we waited outside in the cold for 30 minutes for a table for 3 and it was very worth it. (You can just go in and go to the bar from my understanding but we were hungry) The roasted chicken was delicious it came with mashed potato’s and garlic broccoli and we all inhaled it and loved it! Our server was Jorge and he was clearly busy with a lot of tables but he still checked in on us and even helped us sing to my friend for her birthday. It was a great experience and I hope to visit again soon! Thank you Jorge and all the staff at Papillon working very hard during this busy holiday Season. Merry Christmas!!!

I rarely write a five star review but I think it is mainly because of the way the business operated. First and only point I need to make is that they STOPPED doing reservations during the beautiful holiday season (Christmas) and that's so that EVERYONE gets a chance to experience the festive decor and wonderful food during the season. Having reservations, like almost all the restaurants in NYC, during this time books up the entire month and you're pretty much out of luck till next year. Moving on from that, the food was fantastic as I'm pretty sure it usually is. The location is tucked away in the middle of the block so not much foot traffic while you're waiting to get in or just traveling there in general. My only negative critique is that the Christmas drink specials were buried somewhere other than the main menu so I was already three drinks in until I finally discovered it but that could have been a mistake on my end because I like everything right in front of me. I know it wasn't on the physical menu I was given. Anyway, excellent job guys the way you changed up. Please please please - to the other restaurants in NYC during the Christmas season...people want to see all the festive decor. S-T-O-P the reservations so everyone gets a chance to experience it! Thank you Papillon Bistro & Bar! I'll be back!

December 2024: Fun experience and great hostesses. The hostess was the best employee experience. Christmas decorations from floor to ceiling. Fun Christmas experience. By 11:30 they ran out of bacon and did not alert us when ordering bacon & eggs platter and a bacon cheeseburger. The table next to us had same experience when ordering breakfast and bacon cheeseburgers. Our order was wrong but honestly, it was a warm place to sit, so we didn’t mind the long wait to get our food the first and second time. Ask before ordering if they are out of any ingredients. The Christmas immersion is fun!!

We took a friend visiting from Ireland over the holidays. We had never been here but were looking for a festive place near some of the attractions we were showing her. This place was all decked out for the holiday season, staff were very friendly, atmosphere was very festive and upbeat yet allowed us to carry on a conversation. We ordered mozzarella sticks, steak sandwich, chicken pesto sandwich and a salmon entree along with some festive drinks; all were good and arrived promptly.

If you love tacky over the top Christmas, this is the place. Not beautiful ornaments, but it is definitely festive. We had a great time because we knew what to expect. We were greeted with a smile, and the wait staff were good and even though busy took good care of our table. If you're in a rush, this is not the place. We had a nice evening, which is what I was hoping for.

If you want to get into the holiday spirit, Papillon is the place to be! It's a beautiful Christmas wonderland! The prices are very reasonable & the food is good. Nothing compares to the decor though. Loved it!

This spot was maxed out on Christmas decor and we loved it. We had a couple drinks as well as the calamari and a kale and quinoa salad. Both were great and a traditional smoked old fashioned with a glass of white wine!!! If you want some Christmas spirit right at 5th Avenue this this is a great little spot.

it was Saturday 12/7/2024 I was with a group of 5 people for a friends birthday. we got to the restaurant and the line was down the block but moving. we waited 15 minutes until the hostess told us if we dont mind sitting at the bar we can go right in there was space, so we did. Got seats at the downstairs bar. we ordered 4 espresso martinis and 1 old fashioned, only got 3 martinis and the old fashioned. we had to remind the female bar tender a few times about our missing martini, she gave us a bit of an attitude and proceeded to serve something that didn't look or taste like the other 3 martinis. when we complained she gave us attitude again and said fine ill remake it. she proceeded to dump the same martini mix in a shaker and served it back to us, we watched her.The decorations are beautiful. We did not eat there, but the customer service was terrible.

Great food, beautiful scenery good service great bartenders. And cocktails. The burgers are good too.

Came here with family for some drinks. Originally we were on line outside, but then the door man said we could enter if we were there just for the bar. They did a SPECTACULAR job decorating for Christmas - that is why we came here in the first place. The ambiance definitely made you feel like you were in a magical place. My family enjoyed the craft beers, a gin specialty cocktail, and some wine. Service was great, especially with it being so busy. I look forward to going back when it's not so crazy :)

My friends and I went to Papillon to check out the Christmas decor and ended up having the most wonderful meal and experience! They don't take reservations for dinner during Christmas time so we waited about a half hour to 45min outside. If you go directly to the bar you can just walk in but we were hungry. The inside is decorated wall to wall with Christmas! We got a table upstairs and our server Jorge was busy yet so attentive! All three of us got the roasted chicken dinner (mine without sauce, pictured) and Papillon's food definitely exceeded our expectations! The chicken was fresh and cooked perfectly and the garlicky broccoli with it was maybe the best I ever had! Jorge was the best and even made time to sing happy birthday to my friend! Overall it was a great holiday experience, I definitely will be back!

Reviewing this place i am stuck between a 3 and a 4 (so 3.5 is my real review) The decor for the holidays was amazing and very detailed. Really enjoyed looking at, but not really any spots to take pictures, they should really have some photo op or at least some guiding the staircase. The stairs are the best spot for pictures but it being so busy, it was a mess. The service to have us seated was quick and un like other reviews i did get water refills and my order taken quick. Now my issue which is always a red flag to me is that drinks do not have any prices on the menu(instant 1 star off)... so everyone knows the drinks were ok and cost 17$ each. The food also was pretty good and no complaints there, I went with the steak sandwich and was full of flavor. My issue with everything was also trying to leave, for about 30 mins no one came to our table after all plates were gone. Finally flagged someone down and was able to pay on a mobile machine.

We went during Christmas around December 18th. There was available seating at the bar downstairs and it did not disappoint. We ordered classic drinks from the bar and the service was good considering how jam packed the place was with people. It's decorated floor To ceiling with Christmas decor and the vibes are probably everything you're looking for especially to snag that perfect Instagram shot

This place looks amazing! It's so festive and amazing photo potential. However the service is completely terrible. Coming in the hostess was cold about the seating. They offer standing at the bar but there was no room at all. As we looked for seating there's was several tables open. So we sat down at an available clean non reserved table. The menu is a QR code, they have Christmas cocktails listed but they're not available. The waiter informed us but took too long to return so we left. Such a shame that this festive bar doesn't have a cheery staff.

If you ever read my reviews, you might be aware that I rarely review anyone lower than 3 stars. But I think the service of this place is terrible. Came here for their Halloween decorations. Their decorations for the holidays is top notch! The first time I came I just got my order and that's it. There was no friendliness, no engagement, just nothing from the servers. I dismissed it though. The second time I came with a friend who wanted to see the decorations. This time around there were parties with private areas for themselves. I had asked an employee who was standing behind the hostess stand what areas I could go to-- and she replied with a dismissive attitude : "There is a hostess standing behind you." Like somehow I was supposed to know that the employee standing behind a hostess stand was not a hostess! And even though she was an employee, she somehow couldn't answer my question of what areas we were allow to be in. She could but didn't wanted to. Moreover, I had no clue there was someone standing behind me. Luckily, this person (the hostess) standing behind me was kind enough to direct me where I needed to go. We sat at the bar, got our orders, but again not great service. And again no friendliness, no engagement, just nothing for the servers. This is just a place where you come for the photo ops.

Well decorated for the holidays but they were a bit overwhelmed on a busy Sunday evening. Food was okay - we all had the Pasta Spaghetti which was not bad. The desserts (Apple Crumble Pie and Cheesecake) were a little better as were the drinks (James Dean and Blood & Sand) Service was friendly but stretched thin (I.e. our water glasses were not refilled even once though a couple were empty) Go basically for the holiday decor.

This place has beautiful Christmas decorations and a lot more space than a lot of the other holiday bars that pop up around NYC during this time of year!

My wife and I came to this restaurant because they started their Christmas theme decorations all over the restaurant. We were amazed at the amount of ornaments, wreaths, and Christmas trees there were from the first floor to the second floor. For an appetizer, we ordered the mushroom risotto croquettes, which were savory and not dry. They were fried perfectly and had a wonderful crunch. For our entrée, we got the branzino, which was so delicious and tasty. The vegetables that came with the branzino were cooked well but nothing too fancy. Of course we also got both of the gin drinks which were incredibly delicious and high-quality. We will come again, especially to see how they decorate for other holidays!

Came here for Halloween to see some cool decor and get some bar food before going to a haunted house. The decorations are insane! If you're looking for a cool holiday spot that goes all out-this is a great spot to go to. Unlike Lillie's Victorian, or any of the other holiday bars in the city-- you can actually get a reservation for a big group here and get decent food. The service was nothing amazing and the food wasn't anything crazy but it's still a cool, well decorated place to go.

Halloween is here, and Papilon is ready to get spooky! The place is decked out in cobwebs and skeletons, setting the perfect vibe for Halloween fun. Whether you're in the mood for some tasty foods or killer cocktails, this is the spot to match your Halloween spirit. Check out their skeleton scare this month and enjoy delicious Parisian-inspired food. The chicken dumplings are a must, and you have to try the NY strip steak frites and pan-seared Branzino--so good! Grab your friends, get spooky, and let's celebrate! Come for the frights, stay for the bites! Feature Papillon Salad Chicken dumplings NY strip steak Frites Pan Seared Branzino Mocktail

Attending a private holiday party! Very festive atmosphere! Delicious appetizers. Amazing bartender. Highly recommend the Ruby Cosmo!

Ambiance absolutely beautiful! Service from hostess, bus boy and female bartender- was absolutely nasty or non existent. Went Dec 30th - so hopefully management will see 2 reviews about female bar tender with her attitude and do something about it. The hostesses without a hello or a smile- said we can sit at the bar area downstairs- didn't realize the tables weren't part of the "area". Then the bus boy said -you can't sit here and then a waiter walked up to us and the bus boy interrupted and said they took this table and preceded to speak another language while pointing at us. We really should've just left at that point but we walked over to the bar- and that where we met our "friendly" bartender. We only ordered salads. After 25 minutes we politely asked- if she knew how long it would be- she rolls her eyes looked at computer turns back at us and said it's only been 25 minutes. - 2 Cesar Salads . Ok just asking- glad I was able to see the ambiance and salad was good too

Good music, nice interior decor and multi level, so far so good. And then, The place was not busy at all on a Wednesday night and that should have been my first warning. First course was the French Onion Soup. Broth was lukewarm and it had a good amount of cheese on it with a little bit of a crust. Just okay. Second course I went with the branzino. It was served nice and warm with a side of cauliflower and parsnip puree which was pretty good. The branzino was pretty good ... The service was poor and unattentive. Which was crazy because there was more people working than there were customers in the restaurant. At one point behind the bar there were bartender type people standing around and three more on the other side of the bar, talking to them and watching the soccer match. That's not to mention the manager, the food runner, a couple other waiters and a hostess. Not sure why they need that many people when the place was empty. At least as far as I could see. Nevertheless, I got out of there as soon as I was done. I don't think this will be in the rotation again.

IT WAS INCREDIBLY DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS! We sat at the bar and had great service! Drinks are expensive but they are expensive everywhere!!!!

Food was good, but slow service. Manager changed our waiter and didn't inform us. No water refills, had to chase them to pay the bill.

Just like their drinks, this place is FIRE!!! Maria was behind the bar tonight. She is a great bartender and made my night so much fun. One could say, she really "fired" up my night . The atmosphere is so nice. It is a place you can take someone when you are still trying to figure out their taste preferences. They have a variety of wines, beers, cocktails, and old fashioned. The food is also reasonably priced so you won't break the bank. The Tuna Tartare was very good. After a careful analysis between the two old fashioned James Dean (sweet smoke) If you are slowly diving into the realm of old fashioned, this is perfect for you. With a much lighter kick with the same buzz, this is that "sweet emotion" you have been looking for. This drink will be your "TNT" and rock you like AC/DC. This drink comes ON FIRE. Literally! See my attached video to see for yourself. Humphrey Bogart (Smokey) This drink is a living interpretation of the song "Highway To Hell". You know this drink will rock your world with your very first sip. Powerful, full bodied... it's as if the drink can talk. What it said to me was "Here I am, rock you like a hurricane". And that drink rocked my world. I would highly recommend this spot to all my millennials out there. This place is more of a sophisticated drink spot. I will be back.

Papillion offers a lunch, dinner, and a bar menu, as well as lunch specials on weekdays. We came here to check out their Christmas decorations, and it was nice - they had both floors decorated, and I enjoyed the decorations adorning the staircase. Definitely a popular spot for those want to have photo ops and to take selfies - so much so that the staircase area is usually blocked. I noticed that the place was extremely warm, so the heater was definitely working overdrive, making it a bit uncomfortable. The bar area is first-come, first-serve. +check out their Christmas decorations +extremely warm inside! +first-come, first-serve at the bar

This is a balanced score because food and ambiance was good but the service was poor....And it was not busy. Took 10 minutes just to get a beer and as we were waiting for the beer the waiter tried to take our food order. Don't take a food order until drinks are served. Food was pricey but good. Ordered mushroom risotto croquettes. 5 small croquettes but were really good so no complaints that it was $17...Waiter still MIA. Received dinner of roasted chicken and a steak sandwich. As I was almost done the waiter finally came over but was too late to get my A1 for my steak sandwich. And it really needed it because it was on the dry side. My waiter obviously does not worry about tips because with the menu being pricey tips are big. Go to sister restaurant Lilie's which was way better all around. This place need management!

Horrible Poor service, ran out of basic wine and 3 dishes. We were there on a Sunday at 5pm. Decor was old and falling apart. Extremely disappointed.

This was a really fun spot to hit if you like Halloween decor or if you just love skeletons and eery vibes. We came here in October in the spirit of Halloween and really enjoyed entire atmosphere. For food we got the spinach dip and it was pretty good. It came with pita chips. They have an appetizer deal so if you come with a big group it can be very cost effective. Drinks we got the cocktails and they were surprisingly strong. They tasted good, usual cocktails - nothing special. Service: The service was pretty slow and there were a few times we had to flag our server down. Price: The price of the drinks and appetizers are the usual NYC prices. Overall, I felt like it was an average bar for food and drinks however the decor really made a big difference in the atmosphere and it was a fun experience. Perk of this place: It's on Seated, so I got cashback. If you don't have the app, try it out. If you use code Forum1, you'll get $10.

It was a tough call for rating, but I decided to go with three because of the bartender, who was patient, attentive, and kind. The drinks were decent, the steak frites took forever and were mediocre. I ended up here because I was looking for a place I could eat dinner and kill a little time before my Broadway play. I'm sure this place is different when it's not Christmas time. But because of the festive decor, this place was teeming with people. To the point that there was a line outside the door. It took me a minute to realize these people weren't even waiting for a table, but just crowding the front to take photos. When I finally did get in, I was directed to the bar. Nothing drives me crazier than when places won't let you make reservations or have any other seating as a single, especially as someone who's 5'2, making bar seating incredibly miserable. The bartender (I wish I knew his name) greeted me quickly and served me without hesitation. The steak frites were fine. Not worth the price tag, but fine. The drinks were pretty good. I had: Helena Molony: tequila habanero, aperol, chinola passion fruit, lime, and agave. Afecto real: corralejo reposado, peloton mezcal, Benedictine, pineapple, and lime. Breaking the 4th wall: lemongrass infused Tito's vodka, hibiscus, berry shrub, lemon juice, and club soda. The agave drinks were good. The vodka based 4th wall was watered down, bland, and unfortunate. Holiday decor, no holiday decor, decent drinks or not, there are so many better, accessible, less crowded, more creative restaurants. Not even sure how I ended up here--maybe some ridiculous instagram ad or article that I fell victim to.

Took us 45 minutes to get seated. Then waited over 90 minutes for our food, don't come here save your time and money

Stopped in for late lunch and sat at the bar. Very cool atmosphere and beautiful bar. Grabbed a Sauvignon blanc and draft beer. Ordered from lunch special menu which includes a beer or wine. We had the chicken pesto sandwich with fries, and burger with salad. Burger and fries were delicious! Chicken pesto was ok but not as good as burger. I mean burger was amazing DO NOT get the side salad! It's literally a giant pile of arugula and nothing else, nothing, nada, zilch. Cool spot and looks like fun place to catch drinks later too.

Wished their food was as good as their Christmas decorations. Came in for a quick lunch, they didn't have about two thirds of the menu as they were busy. Got the chicken and steak.. chicken was good, steak was cold and not cooked to medium as requested. Took too long to get food, restaurant wasn't even full. Come here for a drink and a insta pic but go somewhere else for food.

Dined at Papillion today for an early lunch. Service was awful. I had to wait 20 mins for my order to be taken then another 45mins for my food to arrive. The waitress never apologized and I noticed my plate looked very different from another customer who ordered the same thing. I think the staff ate off my plate ( French fries). Waitress never apologized for the delay, the restaurant wasn't at full capacity. I won't be returning for the money I spent.

I've only ever come here for work related lunches/Happy Hours but it never ceases to be a fun time! I've actually never had a drink here except for a mocktail (which was tasty!) but you can't go wrong with a croque monsieur for lunch. Definitely will be back!

You come here for the experience and ambiance. It's crazy crowded for a reason- It's FUN. Yes it's hard to get service but these people are working their best. Worth a visit and a Christmas Smile.

The decorations here are always incredible and over the top for nearly every holiday. The downside, the food is overpriced for the quality. Everything was very underwhelming, and I personally found our server rude. We felt rushed even though the place was not full. Maybe fine for drinks and apps but that's about it.

5 stars for the holiday decorations and fun atmosphere! Perfect place to go for Christmas spirit where you won't wait in line for 5 hours but can still enjoy all the festive decor. The food was good but nothing to write home about. We enjoyed the chicken and croque. Service was slow but everything went smoothly. Would definitely return here again during the holiday season.

Possibly the worst experience I have ever had in a restaurant. In the website and open table, it says that they are not taking reservations for December, I called and they said the same. When I arrive, they said that they are not taking walk ins and it's reservation only. The manager, the tall guy with the little ponytail was so rude and didn't want to comprehend that the website said no reservations for December. Then Beverly came along and after waiting said we can sit somewhere but we only have one hour to eat because another reservation is coming. Yet, it took the waitress 20 minutes to fetch us drinks, beverly even suggested that we can go to another restaurant, which is so rude because we came all the way from New Jersey to this restaurant, it's like she didn't want to deal with us. How dare she. The food took forever to come, cold and unsalted, the calamari was mushy and not crispy. All and all, worst restaurant I ever been. Be more organized and let people make reservations instead of saying they take walk ins when they clearly don't. Unpleasant staff. All you guys are a unsalted plate with Xmas decorations.

Came here after work with a friend during the holidays and it did not disappoint! Absolutely beautiful decor as soon as you step in. It's easier to get in and get a table for two mid week than on the weekend as it requires reservations during the holiday season. The server was amazing. And the food I just loved! They crisped the skin of the salmon just right! Never had it served like this before. It was paired well with the risotto. Loved my drinks as well.

I can't give it any stars. We ate there off of a tour bus December 14. The chicken sandwich was so bad I couldn't even take a bite. We sat there for 15 minutes before we had to glad down a waiter. When he came over then he was rude and acted like we were a bother. Then sat for another 30 minutes waiting on our check.

We stopped here to have a drink. There were no tables available for dinner, but it was OK because we enjoyed listening to the Christmas music and looking at the beautiful decorations.? It was very busy and took awhile to get a drink but still worth going z

Stopped in for a drink with my wife. Bartenders on lower floor more concerned about being on their phone than giving good service. Decor was amazing, James Dean drink was great. Service was disappointing.

A great place to celebrate the holidays in NYC!! What an explosion of HOLIDAY decor! We stopped in this weekend and we had reservations ( must) and enjoyed it. My fave was the James Dean smoked old fashioned. Ask to sit upstairs. We first were seated downstairs and it felt a little out of the vibe. The host came to get us and moved us to 2nd floor which was much better. We had apps, and each was delish. We loved the spinach dip. Make it a must stop in NYC.

Ambience five stars However, for a place that advertises having "many"vegetarian options, there's NOT ONE vegetarian entrée or vegetarian sandwich on the menu! That was very disappointing for me and my family, who went there to enjoy the Halloween decorations, which were amazing. It was just sad that the vegetarians in the group had no entrées to choose from. Yes there are salad options available, but we are in midtown Manhattan in 2024 guys... At least think about ONE vegetarian entrée or ONE vegetarian sandwich for the menu! Thanks so much.

As I was spending an afternoon at MOMA with a friend we decided to have lunch quickly nearby. We chose Papillon Bistro and Bar as we had heard our friends talking about it. We at the bar to have tasty cheeseburgers and fries. The burgers were well made and satisfied our hunger just enough to allow us to wander the exhibits without feeling tired. Neither of us ate dessert. This restaurant is pretty with lovely decorations and service was brisk.

DONT EAT HERE. No menu selections. And HORRIBLE FOOD. we ordered a salad and it came out looking like a grocery store salad with NO dressing. I'm so Tired of TikTok recomending a restaurant because it's pretty. We go to restaurants to EAT. SAVE THE TROUBLE AND GO EAT AT MCDONALDS.

Just to warn you the specialty drinks are 17 which I don't mind at all it's nyc but we also ordered a shot that was just straight lemon juice and the shot which also costed 17 dollars like a specialty cocktail. So if want ambiance this place has it but forewarning the prices don't make sense and the drink have 0 alcohol. Once we saw it was going to be around 51+tax for 3 shots we asked about it and the lady looked like she was going to change it but the guy said no.

Great after work spot in midtown with bomb appetizers. I love the calamari because I'm a fried food addict. If you need a spot for a happy hour, go here. The upstairs is really cool too.

Went here for my friend's birthday dinner. They seated no problem even though we had a few late comers. The appetizers and food was delicious. I forgot to take pictures of everything but we had a bunch of appetizers to share and everyone loved their main dish. For apps we had the truffle fries, mushroom risotto croquettes, and coconut shrimp. For dinner I had the sautéed shrimp. Absolutely delicious. Service was top notch. Will definitely visit again.

Came here solely for the decorations. Food is overpriced and mediocre at best. Staff were attentive initially but started to slack after we put in the order. Won't recommend it unless you're here for the decor.

Totally worth it for the festive Christmas experience. Service? Not so much. Food? Meh. Would I go again at Christmas? Definitely.

I've never left a review but I feel like this needs to be said. Save your money. Three things. Bugs, attitude, and gross food. My suggestion if you want to look at their christmas decorations would be to walk in, view everything from the doorway, and then walk right out. The menu was extremely limited. We saw a bug (stink bug or roach, not sure) and told our waitress. She was unphased and didn't really say anything besides "oh okay". Makes me wonder how many they've seen to not care or give a simple apology. I don't even want to know what could possibly be going on in the kitchen. As far as the attitude and food: Several times throughout the night our waitress was very defensive and argumentative, and it came off very rude. We were told the kids pasta would be with red sauce before placing our orders. It came out with butter, which was not so much the issue if it would've been handled more professionally. They took it back and added red sauce on top...it was like a greasy, brown bowl of soup when it came back, and it was completely inedible. The waitress came back to our table a while later and asked "how is everything over here?" and we shrugged and looked around the table not really sure what to say. Things had been missing/wrong orders, and the apps came out with the entrees so we were pretty thrown off. She then asks again, this time with a bit of an attitude. At that point we pointed out the pasta being buttery and she just argued back saying she "watched him do it in the back". Several times throughout the night she made things seem like WE were the issue, down to the little things. She argued we had ordered an entire meal that we didn't until she realized her mistake. A family member who's food they forgot just took the extra order to make things easier. Throughout the whole thing, another family member must've told them what burger toppings she wanted about 10 times and they still couldn't get it right. Trust me when I say I'm a very patient person and was saying please and thank you throughout the whole experience despite being highly unsatisfied. This is not a place I would ever recommend giving your money to.

Decor for Halloween was incredible and what made us come in and try the place. Aperol spritz was delicious. So was the buffalo cauliflower and truffle cream gnocchi- Omg. I want to come back just for the gnocchi. Skip the margherita flatbread. Coconut shrimp were just okay; their sauce was yummy though. Overall, Cute place for lunch.

The decor is amazing but that is where it ends! Come in and have a drink ( if you can get service) take your photos and go- don't waste your money or time trying to get a meal here. The service is terrible, the food is not good but the decor is absolutely amazing!