The Up & Up
Greenwich Village, New York City
Bar in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Village Cellar Craft
Why go
The Up & Up is worth choosing for a smaller, drinks-first Greenwich Village night, especially after dinner. It is less useful as a full-meal plan or large-group fallback, but the 2025 Pearl Recommended Bar signal makes it a credible cocktail-focused option in downtown New York City.
About The Up & Up
The Up & Up is a New York City bar with a Pearl Recommended Bar designation for 2025. Use it as a bar-focused option rather than building a full dining plan around it. Plan around the essentials: New York City, smart casual dress, Pearl recognition as a recommended bar.
The useful way to think about it is occasion fit. This is not the right answer for every New York City plan: if the evening depends on a specific cuisine, menu format, outdoor setup, or full meal, check those details before building the night around it. For a bar-first stop where smart casual dress is appropriate, it is easier to justify. The Pearl Recommended Bar nod for 2025 gives it a credible quality signal without turning it into a restaurant recommendation.
A better fit for a bar plan than a full-night dinner plan
Choose The Up & Up when the plan is centered on a bar visit rather than a restaurant decision. Do not use it to anchor a meal decision around a cuisine type, signature food program, or menu format; treat it as a bar-led choice. For planning around dinner before or after, use Our full New York City restaurants guide rather than forcing this bar to do restaurant work.
For someone considering a visit, the next step is to confirm the practical details that matter for the specific night. Do not assume group capacity, reservations, seating style, outdoor space, or special pricing; check those details directly for the date. If the plan needs another New York City venue to compare, consider Tokyo Record Bar, LPR, Dante NYC, Soho Sushi, or Il Mulino - Downtown (West 3rd) according to the needs of the night.
How to place it in a New York City night
The main reason to choose The Up & Up is that it is a Pearl Recommended Bar in New York City. That makes it useful as a bar-led stop, but it should not be treated as a substitute for a dining room if the group wants food to carry the night. Other New York City planning options such as Il Mulino - Downtown (West 3rd), Soho Sushi, Dante NYC, LPR, Tokyo Record Bar can be considered when comparing different kinds of nights out.
If this is one stop in a broader city itinerary, keep it in the bar lane. For wider planning, use Our full New York City bars guide, Our full New York City hotels guide, Our full New York City experiences guide, Our full New York City wineries guide instead of stretching one venue beyond its bar-first role.
Bottom line: choose The Up & Up for a smart-casual, bar-first New York City plan. Skip it when the booking needs dinner details, outdoor seating, or a specific group setup. For a focused bar stop in New York City, it earns consideration; for anything broader, build the night around details you have confirmed.
Planning details
- Location
- 116 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
- Website
- upandupnyc.com
- Phone
- +1 212-260-3000
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Up & Up occupies a quietly durable corner of Greenwich Village, leaning on the neighborhood's long memory rather than on novelty. It sits below street level and nods to the speakeasy lineage that shaped downtown cocktail culture, but its appeal is less about theatrical concealment than about reliable execution. Regulars return for the bar's steady program: technically strong cocktails, an intimate room and the sort of understated elegance the Village rewards. The tone is familiar and unfussy, a classic cocktail bar that trades hype for craft and keeps a crowd that prefers consistency over flash.
Best For
This is a go-to neighborhood spot for low-key celebrations, date nights and after-work drinks because it balances finesse with familiarity. Pearl’s recognition and a high volume of positive reviews point to a reliably well-crafted experience, which makes it comfortable for special evenings without being ostentatious. Locals treat it like infrastructure, so it also works for casual hangouts when you want competent cocktails in a calm, intimate setting. The Up & Up fits moments that call for good drinks and quiet confidence rather than spectacle.
Ordering Tips
The bar's reputation for craft and consistency rewards trust in the bartenders and the cocktail program. Rather than hunting for gimmicks, ask the staff for their recommendations or request a well-executed classic — the venue’s strengths lie in technique and balance. Because the place appeals to repeat visitors, expect thoughtful, steady service and cocktails that prioritize clarity over flash. If you want guidance, mention flavor profiles you enjoy and let the bartender select; the program is built to deliver reliable, expertly made drinks.
Venue details
Ambiance
Dark but not oppressively so, with warm lighting and a cozy, comfortable atmosphere that feels like stepping back in time; intimate and relaxing despite being underground.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Speakeasy
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
- Music
- Ambient/background
Signature Pours
- Disco Volante
- One-Star Yelp Review
- Screen Door Slam
- Slack Tide High
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Soho Sushi, Notable alternative
- Tokyo Record Bar, Notable alternative
- Il Mulino - Downtown (West 3rd), Notable alternative
- Dante NYC, Notable alternative
- LPR, Notable alternative
Bar context
How It Compares
The Up & Up is the cleaner choice when the night is about cocktails and conversation rather than dinner or live energy. Soho Sushi and Il Mulino - Downtown (West 3rd) make more sense when food is the anchor; The Up & Up makes more sense after that part of the night is already handled.
For atmosphere, Tokyo Record Bar and LPR are better if the group wants the venue to drive the evening. Choose The Up & Up when the bar should support the night rather than dominate it. That is the safer fit for a date or a smaller catch-up where talking matters.
Dante NYC is the more obvious downtown cross-shop for a polished cocktail plan, while The Up & Up is the better call if the group is already in Greenwich Village and wants to keep the night compact. Booking difficulty is listed as easy, so it is a practical fallback when a tighter reservation plan falls through.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Up & Up guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Up & Up
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Up & Up | New York City | Pearl Recommended Bars |
| Soho Sushi | New York City | No published awards |
| Tokyo Record Bar | New York City | No published awards |
| Il Mulino - Downtown (West 3rd) | New York City | No published awards |
| Dante NYC | New York City | 2026 North America's 50 Best Bars · #58Top 500 Bars 2026 · #1232025 North America's 50 Best Bars · #462024 North America's 50 Best Bars · #202024 World's 50 Best Bars · #792023 World's 50 North America's Best Bars · #62022 North America's 50 Best Bars · #82021 World's 50 Best Bars · #302020 World's 50 Best Bars · #2 |
| LPR | New York City | No published awards |
How The Up & Up NYC compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the food good at The Up & Up?
Treat The Up & Up as a bar-first stop, not a food-led night out. It has a Pearl Recommended Bar (2025) designation in New York City, so plan around the bar rather than an assumed cuisine type, menu format, or signature food program. If food matters more, compare it with other New York City options such as Soho Sushi, Tokyo Record Bar, or Il Mulino - Downtown (West 3rd), and confirm current details directly.
Is The Up & Up good for a date?
It can be a fit if you want a smart-casual bar plan in New York City rather than a dinner reservation. The Pearl Recommended Bar (2025) status signals a place worth considering for a bar visit. Dante NYC is another New York City option to compare if you are choosing between venues for the night.
Is The Up & Up good for groups?
Confirm group capacity, seating style, or private-event details directly if you are planning for a group. Treat The Up & Up as a bar-first New York City option. LPR is another New York City venue to compare when evaluating different plans.
What's the crowd like at The Up & Up?
Do not plan around a specific crowd profile without checking current details. The Up & Up is a smart-casual New York City venue with Pearl Recommended Bar (2025) recognition. Soho Sushi and Tokyo Record Bar may be useful comparisons for a broader New York City night, while The Up & Up should be considered for a bar-first stop.
