The Clam Bar
Greenwich Village, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
The Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
The Clam Bar on Thompson Street is SoHo's practical answer for seafood without ceremony; easy to book, casual in tone, one of the few options in the neighbourhood that holds up late into the evening. Best for pairs who want shellfish and noise over white tablecloths and reservations weeks in advance. Walk-ins are realistic, especially on weeknights.
About The Clam Bar
Is The Clam Bar worth visiting late night in SoHo?
Yes; if you want a no-fuss seafood spot on Thompson Street after the dinner rush has cleared, The Clam Bar earns its place. SoHo has no shortage of places to eat early, but options that hold up past 10 PM thin out quickly. The Clam Bar fills that gap for seafood in a neighbourhood that skews toward trendy Italian and overpriced cocktail menus.
What The Clam Bar Is
The address; 169 Thompson St, puts it squarely in the middle of SoHo, close enough to NYU's orbit to feel energetic on weekends but grounded enough to attract locals who live south of Houston. The room runs on the louder side as the night progresses: expect ambient noise that makes conversation workable in pairs but harder across a larger table. If you've been once and found it too loud, go earlier in the evening. If the energy suited you, later hours lean into it further.
For the seafood format specifically, The Clam Bar is positioned as a casual, accessible option rather than a destination tasting experience. Compare that to Le Bernardin, which demands a $$$$ commitment and weeks of planning, or Masa for a Japanese seafood format at the very best of the price tier. The Clam Bar is the version you book when you want seafood without ceremony.
Booking is easy, this is not a venue where you need to plan weeks out. Walk-in availability is realistic, particularly on weeknights, which makes it a practical fallback when other SoHo options are full. For visitors pairing dinner with a broader New York evening, it fits cleanly into a night that starts late. Check our full New York City restaurants guide for alternatives across formats and price tiers, our New York City bars guide if you're building a full night out in the neighbourhood.
If you've visited once and want to go deeper: the name signals a clear identity, so lean into the shellfish side of the menu rather than hedging with safer options. That's where the kitchen's focus sits. First-timers should know that this is a casual, convivial room, not a white-tablecloth occasion. Repeat visitors who found it noisy last time should book closer to opening rather than peak dinner hours.
Quick reference: 169 Thompson St, SoHo. Easy to book. Louder room after peak hours. Leading for pairs or small groups. Casual dress.
Planning details
- Location
- 169 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012
- Website
- majorfood.com/brands/the-clam-bar
- Phone
- +1 212 254 3000
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Clam Bar reads like a neighborhood anchor in SoHo: unshowy, product-focused seafood service that earns a steady membership of regulars. It stands on a quieter stretch of Thompson Street, the kind of block that rewards habit and word-of-mouth rather than spectacle. The room favors reliable cooking over ceremony, so the mood is relaxed and intimate rather than performative. For diners who prize consistency and a warm, familiar table, the Clam Bar feels charming and quietly confident — a small, beloved spot where the focus is on the food and the people who keep coming back.
Best For
This is a go-to for straightforward seafood dinners where the draw is the cooking rather than a dressed-up occasion. The Clam Bar is suited to anyone seeking a reliable, neighborhood meal—regulars and visitors converge for classic clam-forward dishes. It works for low-key date nights and casual group dinners when you want solid seafood without fuss. Because the place is anchored in repeat business, expect a steady, conversational room rather than a destination for formality or spectacle.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the menu's signatures: the clam dip, spaghetti and clams and oysters are highlighted preparations that define the kitchen's strengths. Start with the clam dip or oysters to get a sense of the product, then move to the spaghetti and clams for a heartier, signature plate. The Clam Bar's appeal is the straightforward execution of seafood classics, so choosing well-known house favorites is a reliable way to experience what regulars return for.
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Le Bernardin; French, Seafood, $$$$
- Atomix; Modern Korean, Korean, $$$$
- Per Se; French, Contemporary, $$$$
- Masa; Sushi, Japanese, $$$$
- Eleven Madison Park; French, Vegan, $$$$
Restaurant context
The Clam Bar sits at the casual, accessible end of New York City's seafood spectrum; which makes direct comparison to the city's flagship seafood destination, Le Bernardin, more about format than competition. Le Bernardin is a $$$$ French seafood institution that requires advance planning and delivers precise, multi-course cooking. The Clam Bar is the venue you book when you want seafood on a Tuesday without a reservation strategy. They serve different decisions entirely.
If your evening is built around a serious dinner experience and budget is less of a constraint, Eleven Madison Park, Atomix, or Per Se are all $$$$ options that deliver at the highest level; but they require weeks of lead time and a specific kind of occasion to justify the spend. Masa sits in the same tier for Japanese seafood. None of these are substitutes for what The Clam Bar does, which is low-friction, late-accessible seafood in a lively SoHo room.
For travellers building a broader New York itinerary, The Clam Bar works best as a complementary booking rather than a headline dinner. Use it for a casual night before or after a bigger meal elsewhere. See our full New York City restaurants guide for options across every tier, or explore hotels and experiences if you're planning a longer stay. For comparable casual seafood benchmarks outside New York, Providence in Los Angeles and Emeril's in New Orleans show what the format can do at a higher commitment level.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Clam Bar guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Clam Bar
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Clam Bar | No published awards | Easy | ||
| Le Bernardin | French, Seafood | $$$$ | 2026 Eater NY 38 Best Restaurants in New York City · #82026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #132026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #212026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #342026 Forbes 5-Star2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #3 | Unknown |
| Atomix | Modern Korean, Korean | $$$$ | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #62026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #72026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants · #7Star Wine Lists 20262026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 World's 50 North America's Best Restaurants · #12025 James Beard Awards · #12025 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City · #2 | Unknown |
| Per Se | French, Contemporary | $$$$ | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #292026 Forbes 5-Star2026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #102025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #922025 Relais Chateaux Award | Unknown |
| Masa | Sushi, Japanese | $$$$ | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #922026 Forbes 5-Star2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #672025 Michelin 2 Stars2025 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Forbes 5-Star2025 Michelin 3 Stars | Unknown |
| Eleven Madison Park | French, Vegan | $$$$ | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #12026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #472026 Forbes 5-Star2026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Grand Award2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #32025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #218 | Unknown |
A quick look at how The Clam Bar measures up.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Clam Bar good for a special occasion?
Only if your idea of a special occasion runs casual. The Clam Bar at 169 Thompson St is a SoHo neighborhood seafood spot, not a destination dining room built around milestone dinners. For a birthday or anniversary where the setting needs to carry weight, you are better served elsewhere in the city. If the occasion is more about good seafood and easy company than ceremony, it works fine.
What should I wear to The Clam Bar?
Dress casually. The Thompson Street address and SoHo neighborhood context point to a come-as-you-are seafood bar, not a room with a dress code. Jeans are fine. Showing up in office wear or weekend-casual is equally appropriate; there is no signal in the venue's profile that formality is expected or rewarded here.
Does The Clam Bar handle dietary restrictions?
The venue's menu specifics are not publicly documented, so call ahead if you have serious restrictions. As a seafood-focused spot, shellfish and fish will dominate the menu, which limits options for anyone avoiding seafood entirely. For guests with allergies, confirming directly with the kitchen before visiting is the practical move.
How far ahead should I book The Clam Bar?
Booking windows for The Clam Bar are not publicly listed, but SoHo seafood bars with a late-night following tend to fill on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you are visiting on a weekend, contact them earlier in the week. For a weeknight or post-dinner-rush visit, same-day availability is more likely.
What are alternatives to The Clam Bar in New York City?
For a step up in format and credential, Aquagrill in SoHo covers similar seafood territory with a longer track record. If you want raw bar focus with more polish, The Oyster Bar at Grand Central is the city's most documented seafood institution. For neighborhood-casual without the SoHo prices, Greenpoint Fish and Lobster in Brooklyn is worth considering.
What should I order at The Clam Bar?
Specific menu details are not publicly documented for The Clam Bar, so ordering to the name of the place is the practical guide: shellfish and clam-forward dishes are the obvious starting point. Ask the server what is coming in fresh that day; at any seafood bar worth visiting, the answer to that question tells you more than a printed menu.
Is The Clam Bar good for solo dining?
Yes. A seafood bar format on Thompson Street suits solo diners well; counter or bar seating is typically available at spots like this, the casual register means you are not expected to fill a table for two. It is a practical choice for a solo late-night meal in SoHo without the pressure of a formal dining room.
