Verlaine

Went here for their happy hour, which was from 5pm-10pm with lychee martinis and sangrias. They have a variety of finger foods with vegan and vegetarian options as well.

I was roofied here on 9/27/25. While the male bartenders who served me failed me by allowing other patrons (male) to pass me the drinks I had ordered, a female employee came to the rescue by calling me an ambulance long after I lost all control of my body. This was after just three lychee martinis over 1.5 hours. There should not have been barstools at the bar on a busy night; as a result, there was nowhere to squeeze in to order a drink, so strangers passed me my drinks, and the bartenders saw this happening. Employees did not act until 30+ minutes after my friends took me to the bathroom, where I slumped over on the floor. I remember, through a haze, being futilely lifted by a security guard, my limp body exposed as my shirt and skirt were pulled up. Unfortunately, it is now January, and I am still dealing with the ambulance costs and emotional distress from the ordeal. To make matters worse, the ER refused to test me for date rape drugs and only prescribed Tylenol as I sat there shivering and scared, barely able to advocate for myself after my autonomy and dignity had been stripped at Verlaine. The martinis were good, but I get sick to my stomach just thinking of Verlaine. It is not safe for women. I am still traumatized almost four months later and have not found the words to capture my experience until now, as I receive yet another invoice from the fire department—a monthly reminder that I was assaulted and that a piece of myself was taken at Verlaine that I will never get back.

Been going to this place for years and it’s so good, so reliable for a good start to the night. The music is at the perfect volume to be enjoyed but still allow for conversation and the staff are always so nice and on top of things

Great cheerful atmosphere! We went on a Sunday and it had a live latin band for salsa dancing! It was quite crowded for being a sunday. Drinks were a bit expensive but it was worth it! I recommend the lychee martini!

Great happy hour spot. Lychee Martinis are not the most authentic but they are tasty and strong! So worth it!

Great place to grab a drink. They have happy hour every day with 8 dollar cocktails. Very worth. The service is great. And the food is pretty decent. We got chicken wings and they were pretty good. It wasn't the best but it wasn't bad. Great atmosphere especially for a date.

Vibes in here were great. Happy hour is definitely the time to go, with delicious drinks flowing. Definitely make a stop in if you are in the area.

Happy hour here , will have you leaving super happy. Those lychee martinis are truly something to drink for! The food was so flavorful and filling , definitely recommend the “Verlaine LoMein” and “Sweet n’ Spiced wings”. The waiters were very friendly as well as the bar staff , truly a must visit .

I, like every single other person in the entire packed bar, ordered the very-strong-for-alcohol-intolerant-me happy hour lychee martini and liked it. I dislike vodka (all alcohol besides wine is nasty, but vodka is downright sinfully disgusting drinkable acetone) and this tasted more like a juicy juice than it did vodka, but I still got drunk from just one. 10 out of 10 for the chill atmosphere inside and a yummy drink! Yes, I'm still feeling the effect hours later (lightweight behaviour or this is a syndrome).

Came here on a Saturday night. Sat at the bar to try some drinks. The decor is interesting, I'm not sure how it fits either the theme. We were able to find a seat at the bar, took probably 15 minutes to get an order in. Tried the lychee martini and rose and red sangrias. The lychee martini was good, but a little off, could be the vodka used, and very sweet. The sangrias were ok, but really could have used some fruit. For $8 it's a good hh price for nyc. It's very loud, so I wouldn't suggest it as a date night place. I woke up the next day with a raspy voice.

Stopped by around 7 PM on a Tuesday night and the place was pretty full. No wait to be seated. Ordered the lo mein, chicken wings, and chicken satay. The food was very average. Both the chicken wings and chicken satay were not seasoned at all. Wings were crispy, but again no other flavor. It comes with soy sauce you can pour over which helps. The satay also the chicken itself was so bland, but the peanut sauce was good. It also came with coconut rice which was quite deliciois. The lo mein was the most flavorful dish we ordered, but it was a bit too salty for my liking. The lychee martini was very good. I like how they use the canned lychees and include them in the drink as well. The lychee flavor is strong and there. The rose sangria was good as well. The service is good. The server constantly checking in on us, etc. This is definitely a good place for drinks. The vibe is nice. Would come again for the drinks and maybe try other things on their menu.

The lychee martinis have been a 10/10 since I started coming in 2011. Such a fun spot!

We came as a group of 3 on a Saturday night for good eats and the daily happy hour deal. We were seated in the corner, directly in front of the staircase leading downstairs to the bathroom. It was a tight space; anyone sitting on the outside of the table had to watch their back for people needing to head downstairs. The ambiance and decor is very nice. It is quite loud, but that's to be expected on a Saturday night. By the time we left around 10pm, it was VERY crowded and difficult to walk through. The space is a bit tight to begin with, and I think everyone just rushed in to get the $8 martinis before it ended at 10. The $8 lychee martinis were the spotlight. Very strong and very good. We also had the short rib sliders which were great. Served on what seemed to be toasted Hawaiian buns so they had a touch of sweetness. We also had the honey wings and the sweet and spicy wings. They were fried hard and very crispy. Someone else had the kitchen sink tacos and said they were decent. What fell flat for me was the chicken curry. It appeared to have a coconut milk base, which I LOVE, but it tasted like they added an extra cup of sugar into the pot. Coconut milk lends a bit of sweetness to curry, but this was more than that. It was a bit sickening and difficult to eat. If it weren't for that, the flavor would've been good as it was seasoned well. The coconut rice was the perfect side. I was just disappointed that I couldn't finish my meal because the curry tasted like a dessert. Overall, I'd come back for a martini and wings early in the evening to beat the night crowd. The curry is HUGE no no.

Came here for a drink after my birthday party with 10+ people and staff were accommodating and drinks came out fast. Friends ordered wings and fries and we even stepped out for ice cream and returned. Someone did spill a drink and the floor was sticky but we were only provided napkins. Greatly appreciate walking in with a big group and I loved the real plants. Surprised at the very young crowd, like someone said below this spot was popular way before but I guess times are changing and I'm glad the place is holding up for the new crowd.

I will say this is the best place for happy hour because they have an actual happy hour that ends and starts at a reasonable hour which is 5 PM to 10 PM. Their lychee martinis are delicious. The customer service is pretty good. The ambience is very intimate but loud. This is a go to happy hour spot for me in the lower east side

The cutest bar ever! Went here for happy hour for their $8 lychee martinis and they were so good. Our party of 4 came without a reservation and had a standing table by the bar; it was crowded but not too crazy and a super fun vibe. The lighting in this space is super ambient and the bathrooms are clean too, overall a great space to start a night out in NYC.

Saturday at 11:30pm Came here post dinner for a nightcap and reminisce about the many nights spent here with friends years ago . This place is an institution and has been around a long time ( before LES became this popular ). They are known for their happy hours and delicious lychee martinis . Decor is nice, place is vibey and love the diversity of the patrons . The music is loud, not best for you're looking to have a conversation, it's more of a listen and feel the vibe . We sat at the bar ( got lucky with the seats ), people come and go . The bartender was ok , not the friendliest but I'm more concerned about the quality of my drink , which was good . I'll certainly come back if I'm the neighborhood again .

Lychee martini happy hour, HELLO!!! Can't go wrong with any of the drinks here, they're all delicious + happy hour prices are great. The ambiance, music and overall vibe of the space was elite, I felt like I was transported to another place as soon as I walked in. It does get very crowded during HH, so I recommend getting there early and making a reservation if you want a table. The service was great though, despite the crowd. I didn't try any of the food but would love to try next time I go.

I went here to get drinks with some friends and the ambiance of this place is very nice. It is a little darker lighting with some hints of yellow. The bar area is in the front and we sat in the front very close to the bar area. We had reservations so were able to get seated almost immediately. I just want to say their Lychee drinks are oh so very delicious. You need to try it, dont leave without trying it. We also tried some of the food and it was also pretty good. Our waiter was attentive during the beginning but we did wait some time to get our check but we were drinking so it was okay in the moment. I would still go back and enjoy drinking and a good time with friends.

Came here after seeing their $8 lychee martini deal on Instagram. My friends and I were impressed with the really cozy and attractive ambiance. This could make a perfect place for after-work drinks, and they're definitely unique in being able to offer their drink deal til 10PM. Their martinis were incredible, fruity and STRONG - I would get this over the Sangria, unless you love Sangria - there are two options to order and you get a soda-sized glass of it! We did order food to go along with it, and immediately noticed portions are pretty small. Our coconut curry did not have any protein in it if you picked vegetarian (no option for tofu), and tacos were also small. They do get points for being so understanding about our dietary restrictions at the table (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.) and being able to accommodate them with transparency. Overall, four stars for their drink deal bringing people in the door, and I would probably stick to their drinks and return!

Date: Friday, January 12th, 2024 Time: around 6:15pm Party of: 3 What: Happy Hour (Tues to Sun, 5pm - 10pm) *Rose Sangria ($8) x2 *Lychee Martini ($8) *Balvenie 12 ($15) We had some time to kill before dinner, so decided to drop by Verlaine for HH. It was busy, but we managed to find 3 seats towards the back of the bar. Atmosphere was very bustling and the bartender was busy, so I quickly made up my mind to try the rose sangria. It was light and refreshing. I followed that up with the lychee martini since EVERYONE was ordering it. This was much better. I'm normally not a lychee martini fan, but this was nicely balanced and not too sweet. Everything above was part of the HH menu except for the balvenie. We didn't spend much time here since we needed to make a dinner reservation, but I wouldn't mind coming back to try their red sangria.

Great prices, we each got 3 drinks (lychee martini, red sangria and the rose sangria) all for $8 each. We also ordered so much food, our favorite was the chicken wings, they were the perfect level of battered and crispy. The calamari sauce was also really good, the hummus was very fresh and homemade, we could've done without the fries and fish tacos but they were also decent. We got the shrimp and chicken Lo mein as well.

Pretty cool bar with a nice rainforest aesthetic. They are so generous with their lychee martini pours that they literally have a 99.999% chance for you to spill it. That's probably why the floor is sticky. I'd recommend going during the "happy" hour which is before 10pm to get sangrias or the lychee martini. I came on a Thursday night with a large crowd. Was no line and I got a big table immediately with no reservation?!

They have $8 lychee martinis, which were good for the price. I also got fries which were tasty. The tables are small. It gets filled up quickly on the weekend. The decor is cute. Servers were nice.

They have the best lychee martinis! The bartenders are also very nice. I would just go for the drinks and skip the food there.

I came here on a Saturday night and my friends and I were able to be seated fairly shortly. We sat outside. You really can't beat a happy hour deal that ends at 10 pm every night (select $8 drinks). My friends and I got the lychee martinis, wine, sangria, and fries to share. I enjoyed the lychee martinis. The red sangria was a little too sweet for my liking. The fries were a good portion for sharing but they were a little too soft. It came with a garlic aioli sauce but it was honestly not enough for the large size of fries. So we asked for extra sauce. The bathrooms are all the way in the back and downstairs. It was pretty vibey inside but I liked sitting outside because I was able to have conversations with my friends.

AMAZING bar with genuinely the best vibes. Happy hour here is such a steal, and their lychee martinis are to die for. Food comes in very big portions and is really good for splitting with friends. I'd recommend trying to get a reservation here if you can!

Verlaine is a great, late night dive. It's the bar you go to after you've already been where you've been. After midnight on a Friday, this place was loud and packed. My friend and I caught two tight seats in a corner section of the bar. We sipped on very tasty Lychee cocktails. Drinks are reasonably priced. If you're looking for quiet intimacy, Verlaine is not it. If you're feeling frisky and tipsy and want to drink amongst other tipsy revelers who are spilling drinks all over the floor, this is the place!

Oh, Verlaine- you remind me of my youth. I used to come here often in my twenties. The mural is so pretty all around the bar, dim lighting, chill vibes. We went last night for my friends birthday & I felt a wave of nostalgia come over me. I know I know, I sound ancient. It's cool they have a drink HH until 10PM - god knows how many lychee martinis they make every night but it's pretty good - even better for $8 a pop. Our table probably had like 15 lol. The food is ok. I would recommend the chicken dumplings and short rib sliders. I was still starving so I downed the lo mein too but it was whatever. Luckily it came with a sauce otherwise there wasn't really much flavor. You don't necessarily come here for the food but I am glad they have the option. This place is more for the younger crowd especially on a Saturday night - gets pretty packed. I would recommend going earlier if you want to skip all the noise and just grab a casual drink.

A NYC STAPLE ! Did you even have a lychee martini if it wasn't from here ? No! Also food is phenomal I had the garlic chili shrimp, crispy honey chicken wings and veggie dumplings and it was satisfyingly good ! Small venue. Great for dates and small groups of 3 or 4.

Two words: Lychee martinis!! They have the best ones and are only $8 during happy hour, which lasts until 10pm! This place is so cute and makes for a nice date night. It is always dimly lit and packed inside. My favorite dishes are the honey-ginger salmon, which comes with coconut rice, and the ginger chili shrimp. They're both must tries! The chicken dumplings were just okay to me, but the teriyaki ginger garlic dipping sauce that it comes with takes it up a notch. Verlaine is definitely a staple spot that you have to visit in the Lower East Side!

Amazing happy hour deals, sweet staff, and beautiful atmosphere. Which is overall surprising for a busy night in NYC

I don't remember this space being as buzzy as it was that night I went out. It was overpacked and honestly frustrating. It reminds me of people trying to take advantage of the last few minutes of an open bar package. The drinks are still good and strong but unfortunately I couldn't get anything to snack on because there wasn't any place to eat it. Then we got shooed away from standing in front of an empty tables marked reserved. I asked why were they allowing people in if there's no space because we were asked to move over but there's was no over to move. I was told they stopped allowing people in. I spoke to one of the owners and he turned my experience around a bit because I definitely was expecting to give a negative review lol.

Overall rating: 4.5 I am so happy to know this place is still in business. Definitely a 20s place for sure. It was weird revisiting in my 30s. Happy hour still stands until 10pm. Inflation increased the price, but still a good deal. I probably won't come again because I've outgrown it. But I recommend if you're under 30! Totalllly your spot.

The atmosphere in here was nice, the dimmed lights were easy on the eyes, the layout of the bar had a calm and pleasant vibe. The male bathroom could have been a little cleaner, but I'm not sure if they were going for a dive bar kinda style. However. I was there from 7-11pm on a Saturday. And it got crowded, the had a menus for food, but i did not have anything to eat. They also did not have any non-alcohol beer, but that's just me. All my friends did get martinis which the said was good, and they also said the food was good too. We had a designated waiter, possibly because our group was large. He was responsive and drinks were coming out like hot cakes. Overall, it's a great please to pregame and chill, but if your looking to dance and have a night out in NYC, this isn't it.

The happy hour here is so worth it!! Lychee martinis are only $8 each and they are so tasty and get the job done ;) The interior is also gorgeous, although the bathroom is a bit scary with the singular red light and the dark walls... but I can look past it for some great cocktails :D

Checked out Verlaine in May 2024. This cozy bustling restaurant in lower Manhattan serves yummy drinks and meals to patrons. The place has nice decor, a fun vibe, and cool artwork. The place has a bar and railroad seating (so don't expect to sit apart from others). Some seating available in the front of the establishment and by the bar. Dont forget your PHOTO ID, its checked at the door. 21 years+.

Cute little bar in LES with a great happy hour. The lighting and photographs give this place such a warm vibe. Also love the high ceilings, which were decorated w a paper dragon to chinese new year The service was quick and efficient. QR code menus on the tables. They offer sangria and lychee martinis for happy hour and both were made strong. The martini was the perfect balance of sweet and strong.

Their 8$ lychee martini deal is SOOOO good. I'm obsessed and this is the perfect spot for a pregame. I also thought their calamari was delicious. Their dumplings were average. Ambience was very lively at 9pm and the interiors and decorations were so pretty. Service is very fast. Overall I highly recommend a visit!!!

I will say the highlight of dinner was the order of lychee martinis. Great price and they taste great! I will also say that the food was very meh. This was on a Saturday night. It didn't help that things seemed pretty hectic all around, noisy and small space so servers always seem stressed and rushing around, trying to fit in tight spaces. For food we ordered the crispy honey wings, which were tasty but pretty small. We got the fries which were pretty good - can't go wrong with fries - and the lo mein. This is where we were slightly disappointed. Not only was it small, but it tasted like linguini pasta with the cheapest veggies - bell pepper and mushroom with slight hint of sauce. A pretty good spot to enjoy drinks and happy hour, but don't make reservations here if you want to get a nice sit down meal.

This is a cute bar in the Lower East Side. It's large on the inside and pretty dark/ambient. There's a lot of intimate seating, though the tables are a little close together. The happy hour lasts until very late, like 10 pm. And they have lychee Martinis for $8. They're pretty strong, and the taste does reflect that. But it's a great deal. Fries ($9) - these were a great size to share between 4 people. The fries are crispy on the outside, but still soft on the outside. It's served with a garlic aioli as well. Note that they do add an automatic 20% tip on every bill.

Ryan, my waiter, my king, I appreciate you I apparently need 85 characters to leave a review so xoxo go piss girl

A dimly lit and moody bar with phenomenal happy hour of $6 lychee martinis ($5 for a nonalcoholic one). The waiter serves you at the tables and it looks like you can reserve tables in advanced. The wait staff was a bit short with us but perhaps it was an off day.

Really fun atmosphere and equally great service, drinks, and food. The lychee martinis were a great deal during happy hour. We loved the sliders.

The $7 lychee martinis were fantastic. Loved the vibes there and our server made sure to get us our second round of drinks before the discount ended

What a beautiful spot! I was in NY visiting my peoples, and a friend suggested we go to Verlaine for their great happy hour. So glad that we did! Immediately when you walk in, your environment is mesmerizing. It is beautifully lit with painted ivy and flowers all over the walls. Gorgeous. It was a very cozy and romantic spot- I'd totally take a date here! Keep in mind, the tables are CLOSE together. I felt like we were sitting and eating with the people next to us... Any closer, I would've been on someone's lap! Hahaha. The Goods! What we got: 1) Sangria- Yum. Not too fruity, and not just straight wine. Got it for happy hour and enjoyed it. 2) Lychee Martini- Whaaa. So good! A perfectly-made lychee martini, AND had several pieces of lychee in the martini. Another happy hour selection, and very worth it! 3) Chicken Dumplings- My buddy ordered these and said they were good! 4) Crispy Honey Wings- These were alright... If they were better, I would've given Verlaine 5 stars. The wings were REALLY tough. The chicken seemed overcooked; it was difficult getting it off of the bone. I wouldn't order this again. Service was great; our server was SO nice. I absolutely loved the vibe in there. The music was at an ideal volume. I'd definitely go back!

I'd say the music is excellent, the vibe is chill, the crowd is lively, and the service is outstanding. However, if you're planning on dropping in for drinks, be prepared to wait for seating, but keep in mind seating is limited. Despite the busy seating area, the overall service is commendable, and the drinks are of high quality. They offer the option to make reservations in case you want to plan ahead for bigger groups.

Classic LES spot Best lychee martinis that they're known for. Happy hour prices are amazing. The wings & dumplings are good. 10/10 rec

We had dinner at 8:15 nearby so decided to stop by here for some pre dinner drinks and snacks. It wasn't crowded at all around 7pm on a Tuesday night. The happy hour of 8 dollar lychee martinis and sangria goes until 10 pm! I had 2 lychee martinis. They were so good that I didn't realize how strong they were until a few hours after! We split an order of fries which came piping hot and with an aioli sauce as well as chicken dumplings. They were good pre dinner snacks for the three of us! I would probably stop by here again for a lychee martini if I have plans around the area.

Super cute & super yummy lychee martinis. Great first date spot. Loved the plant decor

Solid place to get litty before going out! There is happy hour until 10pm which is $8 lychee Martini or red/rose sangria. Wish they had happy hour food too. The lychee martini was good and strong for the price! #value We also got the calamari and crispy hot honey wings! I would skip on the calamari. It was ok; I think I prefer a good crunchy crispy calamari but this one was lightly fried not as crispy as I expected. I LOVE the crispy hot honey wings. I would definitely get those again!

My girlfriend and I stopped here yesterday to grab a quick drink. We had their famous lychee martini and it was delicious. The perfect balance of sweetness and fruitiness. Best of all it was happy hour! Highly recommend stopping by and grabbing a lychee martini during their happy hour.

This place was so fun last night. The bartenders gave such good service and the drinks were affordable

Verlaine will always be a favorite of mine. Happy hour is everyday until 10pm. Lychee martinis are $8 .. they also offer a nice size menu of appetizers and salads. I've been coming here over 17 years and the drinks are still as good. Tables are small and close to each other and the place does fill up fast. I highly recommend coming here for drinks.

$8 Lychee martini happy hour from 5-10pm. We came here for a quick pregame chug before dinner at Nami Nori on a Friday night. It was packed and most people were holding lychee martinis. We were able to drink and take some pics.

Came in for some drinks and apps, and we heard the lychee martinis were a must try. The ambiance was trendy, modern, cute for drinks. Service was good overall. We came in time for happy hour! - Lychee martinis (4/5): I was worried this would be too sweet, but it was surprisingly a perfect balance of sweet and sour. And love that the lychee was put into each drink! - Fries (4/5): pretty basic but really good! They were crispy, seasoned well, not too salty. Great spot for happy hour and apps!

BEST LYCHEE MARTINIS! Verlaine is one of my favorite restaurants in LES. Verlaine has a chic, lowkey vibe with great music. I try a new dish ever chance I get. The ginger wings are my new favorite! Although it can be packed, the service is always top tier as well as the food. Every dish comes made to order with fresh ingredients which is very rare for a busy restaurant. I can rave all day about the great food options at Verlaine including the veggie dumplings, shrimp skewers and lo mein. The bread pudding for dessert is absolutely amazing and a must have when you visit.