This is a beautiful, small bar with amazing service and yummy drinks. A safe and quiet space. Perfect for an intimate date or just to have a nice moment with friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Julio Joseph Alarcon
An intimate bar perfect for a date, the cocktails are good but nothing crazy around 22$ - I found it a little expensive.
Theodore Lano
New York charm is walking by a place you've never heard of, going inside because it looks interesting, and then having an amazing experience. This is that kind of place. Great selection of different sakes, wines, and beer, but the ambiance is the best part
EDIT: I love this bar so much that I get to pick up a shift when they need it! Sometimes I have too much fun (sorry to the review below this one). To be fair, I was off-duty at the time, but helping the lovelier bartender with the unexpected Sunday rush.
Niamh Taylor
Great cocktails, lovely waitress with great recommendations. However, the other waiter (or owner) needs a class in customer service. To walk in to a bar and not be acknowledged at all, leading to a patron to tell you that there are stools left in the back of the bar is ridiculous. He spent the whole evening drinking, singing and joking with his friends. He can obviously do better, he just don’t want to.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
Lulu Chen
Stumbled upon this unassuming bar on a rainy Sunday and what a find! Teddy and Cameron were fantastic bartenders — friendly, attentive, and fun. The crowd was lively and engaging, which made the atmosphere even better. Our favorites were the Empress X and the espresso martini. We’ll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Chaeha 채하
The bartender girl with black hair and glasses was very rude. I had just walked into the bar and tried to ask about the wait time, but she avoided eye contact and the first thing she said to me was, “There is no way you’re standing here.” That completely caught me off guard since I had literally just walked in. When I clarified that I was only asking about the wait, her response was simply, “I don’t know,” delivered with an attitude that made it feel like I wasn’t supposed to be there at all. The whole interaction felt unnecessary and unwelcoming, and honestly, I wouldn’t recommend this place based on that experience.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Eunice Chung
I hosted a couple of private parties at Hard to Explain, and the service and quality is unmatched! The staff is kind, the selection of sake, beer, and wine is stellar, and the vibes are great! (Personally a fan of the wine choices!)
The communication and ease of working with the folks at Hard to Explain are so smooth, and I highly recommend if you're hosting a small event :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brian Balch
Small place, maybe 15 people can fit comfortably. Background music from a turntable behind the bar. This place is perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Colleen Wong
I first stumbled in here on a date a couple of years ago, and returned last night with a couple of girlfriends for a nightcap. If you’re searching for a cozy, romantic little hideaway that feels like stepping into a little Japanese Parisian bar, this is the place. Dim red lights, rustic walls, and artsy details make the whole space glow with intimacy.
The bartender, Teddy, was wonderfully warm, funny, and attentive, genuinely engaging with every guest. My first drink, the Sugar Teddy, was perfectly balanced: nigori sake with just the right hint of yuzu, ginger, and pineapple. After that, he asked us what we like and crafted us a hibiscus-based cocktail that was refreshing, unexpected, and delicious. (Note: everything here is sake-based, so if you’re looking for heavy pours, this won’t be your spot—but that’s part of its charm.)
For cozy vibes, easy banter, and a little romance, this just might be one of my favorite bars in the city. Seating is limited and it’s popular, so you may have to wait—but honestly, that’s part of the NYC experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Bianca Falero
Hard to Explain was one of the best surprises of our NYC trip. Tucked away in plain sight, it’s the kind of place you’re glad you noticed. Inside you’ll find some of the best Japanese-inspired cocktails in the city. The drinks were unique and perfectly done, and the bartender was a good time. Definitely a spot I’ll be coming back to.
Really disappointed with tonight’s visit. We ordered the Bitchy Mango and the Yuzu Sour, and both came out tasting like watered-down mud. At $21 a drink, that’s just insulting. I observed the bartender underpour into the jigger, and by the time he shaked,the ice had already melted in the shaker. How I know - my first sip was with melted floating ice pieces.Mud. Bartender subbing was friendly though. I had high hopes to make this a go-to spot, but after tonight, I would only come back if I knew Christina was working - as she was amazing. Also the light was too bright I could see everything what was happening behind the well.
Atmosphere: 2
Service: 4
Bahla
This place ✨
Justyna S
tiny, intimate bar — a great place for good conversation! solid selection of beer, wine, and sake, and i saw a few people with great-looking cocktails too
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dean McKenzie
Visited here over the weekend from Toronto with my brother, and had a great experience visiting on a Saturday afternoon. Great sake and beer options, and I really enjoyed our conversation with the bartender (whose name I regrettably didn’t catch). Will be sure to return again soon next time I’m in the city.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Haidar Hachem
This is a must every single time we come back to New York. We absolutely LOVE Hard To Explain. The staff is awesome, the drinks are awesome and the place is an absolute vibe. Just be sure to get there early and don’t be rude when ordering or waiting for a drink. There’s one bartender and they’re working as fast as they can.
This is a beautiful, small bar with amazing service and yummy drinks. A safe and quiet space. Perfect for an intimate date or just to have a nice moment with friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
An intimate bar perfect for a date, the cocktails are good but nothing crazy around 22$ - I found it a little expensive.
New York charm is walking by a place you've never heard of, going inside because it looks interesting, and then having an amazing experience. This is that kind of place. Great selection of different sakes, wines, and beer, but the ambiance is the best part
EDIT: I love this bar so much that I get to pick up a shift when they need it! Sometimes I have too much fun (sorry to the review below this one). To be fair, I was off-duty at the time, but helping the lovelier bartender with the unexpected Sunday rush.
Great cocktails, lovely waitress with great recommendations. However, the other waiter (or owner) needs a class in customer service. To walk in to a bar and not be acknowledged at all, leading to a patron to tell you that there are stools left in the back of the bar is ridiculous. He spent the whole evening drinking, singing and joking with his friends. He can obviously do better, he just don’t want to.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
Stumbled upon this unassuming bar on a rainy Sunday and what a find! Teddy and Cameron were fantastic bartenders — friendly, attentive, and fun. The crowd was lively and engaging, which made the atmosphere even better. Our favorites were the Empress X and the espresso martini. We’ll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
The bartender girl with black hair and glasses was very rude. I had just walked into the bar and tried to ask about the wait time, but she avoided eye contact and the first thing she said to me was, “There is no way you’re standing here.” That completely caught me off guard since I had literally just walked in. When I clarified that I was only asking about the wait, her response was simply, “I don’t know,” delivered with an attitude that made it feel like I wasn’t supposed to be there at all. The whole interaction felt unnecessary and unwelcoming, and honestly, I wouldn’t recommend this place based on that experience.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I hosted a couple of private parties at Hard to Explain, and the service and quality is unmatched! The staff is kind, the selection of sake, beer, and wine is stellar, and the vibes are great! (Personally a fan of the wine choices!)
The communication and ease of working with the folks at Hard to Explain are so smooth, and I highly recommend if you're hosting a small event :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Small place, maybe 15 people can fit comfortably. Background music from a turntable behind the bar. This place is perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I first stumbled in here on a date a couple of years ago, and returned last night with a couple of girlfriends for a nightcap. If you’re searching for a cozy, romantic little hideaway that feels like stepping into a little Japanese Parisian bar, this is the place. Dim red lights, rustic walls, and artsy details make the whole space glow with intimacy.
The bartender, Teddy, was wonderfully warm, funny, and attentive, genuinely engaging with every guest. My first drink, the Sugar Teddy, was perfectly balanced: nigori sake with just the right hint of yuzu, ginger, and pineapple. After that, he asked us what we like and crafted us a hibiscus-based cocktail that was refreshing, unexpected, and delicious. (Note: everything here is sake-based, so if you’re looking for heavy pours, this won’t be your spot—but that’s part of its charm.)
For cozy vibes, easy banter, and a little romance, this just might be one of my favorite bars in the city. Seating is limited and it’s popular, so you may have to wait—but honestly, that’s part of the NYC experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Hard to Explain was one of the best surprises of our NYC trip. Tucked away in plain sight, it’s the kind of place you’re glad you noticed. Inside you’ll find some of the best Japanese-inspired cocktails in the city. The drinks were unique and perfectly done, and the bartender was a good time. Definitely a spot I’ll be coming back to.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Really disappointed with tonight’s visit. We ordered the Bitchy Mango and the Yuzu Sour, and both came out tasting like watered-down mud. At $21 a drink, that’s just insulting.
I observed the bartender underpour into the jigger, and by the time he shaked,the ice had already melted in the shaker. How I know - my first sip was with melted floating ice pieces.Mud. Bartender subbing was friendly though.
I had high hopes to make this a go-to spot, but after tonight, I would only come back if I knew Christina was working - as she was amazing. Also the light was too bright I could see everything what was happening behind the well.
Atmosphere: 2
Service: 4
This place ✨
tiny, intimate bar — a great place for good conversation! solid selection of beer, wine, and sake, and i saw a few people with great-looking cocktails too
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Visited here over the weekend from Toronto with my brother, and had a great experience visiting on a Saturday afternoon. Great sake and beer options, and I really enjoyed our conversation with the bartender (whose name I regrettably didn’t catch). Will be sure to return again soon next time I’m in the city.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
This is a must every single time we come back to New York. We absolutely LOVE Hard To Explain. The staff is awesome, the drinks are awesome and the place is an absolute vibe. Just be sure to get there early and don’t be rude when ordering or waiting for a drink. There’s one bartender and they’re working as fast as they can.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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