The Aviary NYC

Cocktail bar · Upper West Side

The Aviary NYC

Cocktail bar · Upper West Side

80 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10023

Highlights

Chef Grant Achatz' 35th-floor destination for imaginative cocktails, tasting menus & set lunches.

80 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10023 Get directions

theaviarynyc.com

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@eater

"The Aviary and the Office, upscale cocktail bars in the Mandarin Oriental in New York, were operated by the Alinea Group. Staffers were blindsided by the news of the bars' closure, which was decided before the pandemic hit the city. Despite being furloughed, employees were not informed about the permanent shutdown in April. The bars were known for their prime space with views of Central Park but were not well-reviewed. Alinea was involved in hiring and managing operations until February, after which they signed a separation agreement. Staff remained as unionized Mandarin Oriental hotel employees. The space is no longer associated with Alinea, and the hotel has not communicated future plans for the space." - Erika Adams

Alinea’s NYC Cocktail Bar Staffers Say They Weren’t Notified That the Spaces Were Closing - Eater NY

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@michelinguide

"Mr. Black Cold Brew, an Australian-based company favorited stateside by the likes of Dante, The Aviary NYC, The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog and NoMad. The brainchild from distiller Philip Moore and designer Tom Baker started in 2013; currently, a mere 300 bottles are handmade at a time at the Distillery Botanica facility in New South Wales." - Marguerite Imbert

10 Gifts for the Food Loving Father

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Vani

Google

We did the 5 course cocktail menu- wow! Cocktails, food and service was amazing. Yes it is overpriced but you’re paying for the innovation and experience. As it was my birthday they threw in some extra cocktails and dishes so that was a pleasant surprise. Each full cocktail paired well with the course/small bites. The drinks are flavorful, unique, with crazy blends one wouldn’t have imagined. The view is very scenic and worth a visit on its own. The experience also includes a tour to their speakeasy in the back which was interesting- nice to hear a bit of the history and ingredients used in their cocktails. It’s well worth it.

Sravani Reddy

Google

Visited this place for a special occasion. As expected the ambience was classy. We had the tasting menu and the first round came with apple ice and whiskey cocktail paired with caviar salad. Drink was delicious. For the next round we had peach ice cubes in a champagne cocktail. Though the drink was okay we were disappointed in seeing very regular drinks. Spoke with the host expressing our disappointment, as we wanted to try their signature drinks to which they responded that the tasting menu comes with drinks not on the menu. They accommodated the next 4 cocktails with their signature styles and I must say I was impressed with their craft!! I was expecting weak drinks based on the reviews, but oh boy!! They were strong with a blend of flavors in them all. The service definitely was impeccable! Attentive but not intrusive, will definitely be visiting again, though not for the tasting menu

Mahima Srivastava

Google

Posh cocktail lounge serving some innovative and very cool cocktails and food. It is an expensive lounge, so dressing up is better. Views of Central Park is spectacular and Columbus Circle looks very nice. We tried a cocktail each and had made reservations a week in advance for a party of 6. You will not regret any cocktail you order. Each one looked amazing. Some were even fancier with the way it was presented and made. I had the Bring another Smurf which was delicious. Aviation was delicious too. I have been to the Chicago one twice and it was surreal experience. NYC is equally good with even stellar views from the lounge.

Serge R (IAHGVA)

Google

We had a wonderful 6-course cocktails experience with a drop-dead gorgeous view of central park. Every cocktail was a marvel of creativity, both in taste as visually. The food was exceptionally good as well. Service was impeccable, very friendly, knowledgeable. The highlight of our 36 hours NYC weekend.

Francis Ricci

Google

While the idea of a cocktail-based tasting menu is intriguing, the Aviary falls short. We ordered the chef’s tasting menu (6 cocktails and 7 food courses for $195). The food was good, although not at a level you might expect for the price point, cannot compete with the food on a tasting menu at a Michelin star restaurant for sure. The cocktails were a pretty major disappointment. There was very little diversity in flavor profile, with almost every cocktail being either rum or tequila based and fruity. There wasn’t a single savory or smoky cocktail, nor was there a single whisky-based cocktail. The closest they had to a non-fruity cocktail was the gin and tonic, which at least had the potential to be herbal. Even this cocktail, they converted from herbal to fruity by adding lots of cucumber and apple. As someone who doesn’t like sweet or fruity cocktails, there wasn’t a single cocktail on the tasting menu which I’d choose to order again. Overall, quite a disappointment, especially given the price point.

Konstantinos Rizakos

Google

Wow views, and impressive cocktails. The $65 three-cocktail tasting is a great option, but please don’t combine it with the food ($110 for pairing, really poor food though, both on the pairing and a la carte). Why not 5 stars? Due to the exorbitant prices (up to $30 per drink + tax + 18% tip automatically added to the check)

Prashant Mathur

Google

Aviary is an experience in itself. We went there in a group of six and we had a blast! The view is the one of the best you can get in Manhattan. Make sure you are in a party of 4 so that you can get seats with a view. The service was amazing... Waiters came and took the order pretty fast. The cocktails we're extraordinary! Most of them were really tasty! Except a few which I think grows on you as you drink. What can I say more... I just loved this place! Highly recommended!!

Sonia Matos

Google

Came here for NYE dinner - The service was excellent! And the overall experience was awesome, especially since we had the view of the city. The drinks presentation is the main reason I came to this place and that was worth my time and money. The only thing that was a bit disappointing was the 3rd dish - which mainly felt like sauted pieces of cabbage with not much presentation. But everything else was so great that I'm still giving this place a 5.