Pegu Club
Cocktail Bar · East Village, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Historic Craft Cocktail Landmark
Chef
Gavin Citron
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Pegu Club is worth booking when the brief is credible cocktails without a high-friction destination-bar plan. It is a better fit for small groups, solo drinkers, regulars who want an easy East Village stop; choose Double Chicken Please or Bar Contra instead if the night needs a more high-concept cocktail room.
About Pegu Club
Pegu Club is a New York City cocktail bar with a strong external signal: Opinionated About Dining ranked it #123 in Gourmet Casual Dining in North America in 2023. The practical planning question is still simple: choose it when the brief is a cocktail bar in New York City with smart-casual expectations, compare it with Double Chicken Please if the group is weighing another option.
Pegu Club is listed as a cocktail bar, with Gavin Citron as chef/owner, the published schedule runs from evening on weekdays, later on Thursday and Friday, from 11 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Treat the venue as a cocktail-bar stop and plan the rest of the night around the confirmed details.
A casual cocktail choice that works when the night needs less friction
The main reason to consider Pegu Club is its direct position in the category: it is a cocktail bar in New York City with smart-casual dress and a 2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining ranking. That is enough to make it more than a generic stop, without needing to frame it as a formal dining room or a tasting-menu destination.
For planning, the hours are the most useful detail. Pegu Club is open 5–11 PM Monday through Wednesday, 5 PM–12 AM Thursday, 4 PM–2 AM Friday, 11 AM–2 AM Saturday, 11 AM–10 PM Sunday. Weeknights suit a simpler evening plan; Friday and Saturday provide the latest windows. Avoid assuming a particular service setup before you go.
Gavin Citron is listed as chef/owner, but the venue's category is cocktail bar. Do not treat the visit as a restaurant-style chef's counter, tasting menu, or dish-led meal unless you have checked directly with the venue. The safer read is to plan around the cocktail-bar category first and make separate dinner plans if a full meal is the priority.
Where it sits against other cocktail-bar options
If the decision is between Pegu Club and Double Chicken Please, use the comparison to clarify the kind of night you want. Pegu Club has the OAD Gourmet Casual Dining placement and a cocktail-bar identity; Double Chicken Please is another name to consider when the venue choice itself is the focus of the evening.
Bar Contra and Sip & Guzzle are also useful cross-shops for guests comparing options. Tigre can be considered as another reference point. For Pegu Club specifically, the grounded decision points are New York City location, cocktail-bar category, smart-casual dress, Gavin Citron's role, the published hours, the 2023 OAD ranking.
The verdict: choose Pegu Club when you want a New York City cocktail bar with a recognition signal and a schedule that supports evening and late-weekend plans. Skip it as the main plan if your priority is a dinner format, a tasting menu, or another specific service style.
Planning details
- Location
- 509 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009
- Website
- pineappleclub.com
- Phone
- (212) 697-8600
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Pegu Club reads as an unshowy, disciplined cocktail room in the East Village where reputation rests on the glass rather than theatrics. The copy emphasizes a smaller, focused approach to drinks—no hidden doors or spectacle—so the atmosphere feels intentionally restrained and professional. Coverage points to consistency and craft: a high Google rating and recognition from serious drinkers underline a steady, dependable personality. The bar’s presence is modest at street level, but its influence comes through precise, well-executed cocktails rather than décor or gimmicks.
Best For
Pegu Club is best for people who prioritize cocktail technique and consistency over flash. Review and ranking details in the description frame it as a destination for serious drinkers and repeat customers who cross-reference bars across cities; the OAD placement and a strong aggregate rating signal a bar that rewards patrons who care about execution. It suits visitors who want an accomplished, low-key cocktail experience in the East Village—drink-focused outings where the quality of the mixology is the main event.
Ordering Tips
Order with the menu’s discipline in mind: the house classics and signature drinks are the draw. The description names the Pegu Club cocktail, Gin-Gin Mule and Earl Grey Martini as emblematic offerings, so sampling one of those is a reliable way to gauge the bar’s approach. Because Pegu Club trades on precision rather than spectacle, expect carefully balanced, technically polished cocktails rather than theatrical presentations—let the drink list and those signature preparations guide your choices.
Venue details
Ambiance
Dark, sensual atmosphere reminiscent of a bygone era with low lighting, armchairs, low tables, and an upscale hotel lobby feel.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Intimate
Signature Dishes
- Pegu Club cocktail
- Gin-Gin Mule
- Earl Grey Martini
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Tigre, Cocktail Bar, Cocktail Bar
- Bar Contra, Cocktail Bar, Cocktail Bar
- Double Chicken Please, Cocktail Bar, Cocktail Bar
- Double Chicken Please, Cocktail Bar, Cocktail Bar
- Sip & Guzzle, Cocktail Bar, Cocktail Bar
Restaurant context
How Pegu Club compares in New York City cocktails
Against Double Chicken Please, Pegu Club is the lower-friction choice. Double Chicken Please is better when the bar is the main event and the group wants a more engineered cocktail experience; Pegu Club is better when the night needs flexibility, conversation, a credible drink without making the reservation the whole plan.
Bar Contra is the sharper cross-shop for guests who want a more contemporary cocktail-room feel. Pegu Club is easier to recommend for regular cocktail drinkers who care less about novelty and more about a relaxed, reliable stop. Sip & Guzzle is the better pick for a livelier night, while Pegu Club is stronger for a smaller group trying to keep the evening manageable.
Tigre belongs in the same broad cocktail-bar consideration set, but for a New York City night, Pegu Club is the more direct option if location matters. The practical recommendation: choose Pegu Club for ease, Double Chicken Please for a destination cocktail plan, Bar Contra for a more current-feeling room, Sip & Guzzle when energy matters more than a quiet drink.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Pegu Club guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Pegu Club
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pegu Club | New York City | Cocktail Bar | 2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining in North America Ranked · #1232012 World's 50 Best Bars · #322011 World's 50 Best Bars · #112010 World's 50 Best Bars · #62009 World's 50 Best Bars · #5 |
| Tigre | Manhattan | Cocktail Bar | No published awards |
| Bar Contra | New York City | Cocktail Bar | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #136Top 500 Bars 2026 · #4472025 North America's 50 Best Bars · #982025 James Beard Award Semifinalists2025 OAD Casual in North America2023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #144 |
| Double Chicken Please | New York City | Cocktail Bar | No published awards |
| Double Chicken Please | Manhattan | Cocktail Bar | No published awards |
| Sip & Guzzle | New York City | Cocktail Bar | No published awards |
How Pegu Club New York City compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to Pegu Club?
For another option to compare, consider Pegu Club alongside Double Chicken Please, Sip & Guzzle, or Bar Contra. Tigre is another reference point to consider depending on the kind of night you want.
Is lunch or dinner better at Pegu Club?
Pegu Club is a cocktail bar, its weekday hours are evening-focused: 5–11 PM Monday through Wednesday, 5 PM–12 AM Thursday, 4 PM–2 AM Friday. Saturday hours are 11 AM–2 AM, Sunday hours are 11 AM–10 PM. Plan around the posted hours rather than assuming a daytime meal service.
What should I order at Pegu Club?
The category is cocktail bar, so the safest expectation is a cocktail-bar visit. Specific cocktails, dishes, menu formats, dietary details are not confirmed in the available facts, so check the current menu directly before going if you need something specific.
What should a first-timer know about Pegu Club?
Pegu Club is in New York City, has a smart-casual dress code, is listed as a cocktail bar with Gavin Citron as chef/owner. It was ranked #123 in Opinionated About Dining's 2023 Gourmet Casual Dining in North America list. Plan around the posted hours and do not assume a particular meal format unless the venue confirms it.
