Here are real Manhattan reviews from bars & restaurants around the world
Have a great (or terrible) Manhattan experience? Share it → nuckos1@gmail.com
| Date | Bar / Restaurant | Drink | Price | Reviewer | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 24, 2025 | Firebirds Wood Fired Grill – Fredericksburg, VA | Perfect Bulleit Rye Manhattan | $17.50 | Jim Watson | A Perfect Bulleit Rye Manhattan with standard ingredients. Serving this drink in a standard chilled martini glass enhanced the drink and added to the ambiance of the modern bar with its wall of liquor that can be seen in the web page photos. A welcome respite for a weary traveller. |
| October 25, 2025 | Circa 1886 Restaurant – Charleston, SC | Classic Michter’s Rye Manhattan | $19.00 | Jim Watson | A Classic Manhattan (not perfect) made with Michter's Rye Whiskey and Carpano Antica Vermouth. Served in a Nick and Nora glass it was the perfect match to appetizers in the upscale restaurant. It was so delicious that I may have consumed two. Garnished with 3 high quality infused cherries. |
| October 25, 2025 | SNOB (Slightly North of Broad) – Charleston, SC | Manhattan After Dark | $27.00 | Jim Watson | A specialty cocktail weirdly titled "Manhattan After Dark," from a high-end establishment only serving breakfast and lunch. Hence the exorbitant price and small portion. Made with Fig-infused rye, pine liquor, Japanese red wine, molasses bitters and amaro. The libation was served in a coupe glass and garnished with a small fig. Not your standard ingredients, but the taste was amazing. A wonderful start to a long and expensive day of consuming both beverage and food. While the ingredients were very exotic, the portion was nowhere near the generous pour received at the House of Bachi located in Normandy Beach, NJ. |
| June 7, 2025 | Stracci - Alexandria, VA | Elijah Craig Manhattan | $15.00 | Joe Bachi | The Trastevere: Elijah Craig straight rye, fernet-branca, dolin blanc vermouth, angostura bitters. A twist on the traditional Manhattan. An excellent drink to sip on as we wait for our table at Stracci. |
| May 15, 2025 | Aparima - Bora Bora | Bulleit Bourbon Manhattan | 2875 XPF | Jim Watson | Enjoyed a pre-dinner cocktail in a lush, tropical oasis. The very precise bartender served a petite Manhattan, expertly stirred with Island Bitters, and garnished with a cherry and elegant orange twist. The steep price was on par with South Pacific libations served in remote, idyllic corners of the world. USD cost is about $27 |
| May 4, 2025 | Lala - St. Pete FL | Old Forester Manhattan | - | Devyn Bachi | Old Forester Manhattan. Not perfect, bar was out of sweet vermouth. At LALA in Downtown St Petersburg FL, 80 degrees and windy. It is strong but tasty & smooth! Rating: 7.1/10 |
| April 12, 2025 | Frankie's – Point Pleasant Beach, NJ | Perfect Manhattan | $14.25 | Joe Bachi | Perfect bourbon Manhattan (Bulleit?) - on the strong side, light on vermouth, but just what I was looking for on a cold rainy day. Looked so good - Barrett made multiple attempts to grab and drink it. Enjoyed one with pretzel appetizer and one with chicken Marsala special. 8.1/10 |
| June 11, 2024 | Jin Bo Law - Aldgate in London England | Perfect Manhattan | - | Coleen Bachi | Perfect Manhattan at Jin Bo Law, rooftop bar at the Hotel Saint London |
| June 10, 2024 | The Cardinal Bar & Kitchen - Aldgate in London England | James E Pepper Rye Perfect Manhattan | - | Coleen Bachi | Enjoyed a Perfect Manhattan at the Cardinal Kitchen & Bar, a stone's throw from the Aldgate subway stop. Great atmosphere. Did not need instructions. Delicious, my boss paid! |
| May 11, 2024 | Blue Monkey Tavern – Merchantville, NJ | Bulleit Bourbon Perfect Manhattan | $16.50 | Joe Bachi | A pair of fine Perfect Manhattans shared with my less than perfect brother. Ordered from the table with Amanda, Barrett, Coleen, Charlie, and Maeve. No hesitation from the waitress. Served nice and cold with a sweet cherry at the bottom. Well balanced. Paired perfectly with fried cheese curd appetizer. |
| Dec 28, 2023 | Three Oak Steakhouse – Easton, PA | Bulleit Rye Manhattan | $13 | Tom Sullivan | Strong one, whiskey forward. Not for the casual Manhattan drinker. But very good! |
| June 24, 2023 | David Burke Tavern – Manhattan, NY | Rye Manhattan | — | Tom Sullivan | Super cool place. Excellent food and NYC tavern ambiance. Excellent service. Ultimately, good but ordinary rye Manhattans. |
| June 20, 2023 | Martinique – Manhattan, NY | Wild Turkey (house) Perfect Manhattan | $16 | Joe and Amanda | Well presented in a high-stemmed yet deep glass. Sweetness was a bit much — improper sweet-to-dry ratio. Chatted with a local who mentioned the classic “2-1-2” ratio (bartender apparently took note). |
| June 20, 2023 | The Harold – Manhattan, NY | Bulleit Perfect Manhattan | $18 | Joe and Amanda | Well-balanced Perfect Manhattan, perfectly stirred. Not too sweet, not too dry, just the right bitters. The maraschino cherry was the literal cherry on top of a delicious (albeit overpriced) drink. Sadly mismatched with lackluster calamari, resulting in an unsatisfactory combination. |
| June 19, 2023 | Redstone – Marlton, NJ | Woodford Reserve Redstone Select Manhattan | $17 | Chuck Bachi | This custom drink is made with a unique single barrel bourbon only available at Redstone, which is why I decided to order one on a Monday night during a work meeting. My coworkers may have been surprised by my drink choice but no matter. The drink itself was full bodied, smooth and rich. The cocktail was perfectly balanced with a hint of sweetness from the vermouth and spice from the bitters with subtle cherry flavors peaking through. This Manhattan was more than just a drink, it was an experience. The first sip of the Woodford Reserve bourbon sent a surge of euphoria through my body, making me feel relaxed and happy. It was a heavenly drink that made me forget all my worries. Would order again. |
| June 17, 2023 | Juniper Hill – Annandale, NJ | Black Manhattan | — | Tom Sullivan | Excellent bartender. Delicious, well-balanced cocktail. |
| May 27, 2023 | Rod’s Tavern – Sea Girt, NJ | Perfect Manhattan | $15? | Joe Bachi | Perfectly balanced between sweet and dry, well-crafted; paired beautifully with giant mussels. |
| April 29, 2023 | Addam’s Tavern – Westfield, NJ | Woodford Reserve Perfect Manhattan | $15 | Joe Bachi | Solid Manhattan, great presentation, paired perfectly with a cheeseburger. |
| April 17, 2023 | The Oak Tavern – Oak Grove, MO | Buffalo Trace Perfect Manhattan | $12 | Elijah Weller | Meticulously crafted, impeccably presented. Harmonious flavors that elevated a classic cheeseburger to new heights. |
| April 1, 2023 | Two Fools Tavern – Albuquerque, New Mexico | Four Roses Select Perfect Manhattan | $16 | James McGill | Extraordinary Manhattan — meticulously crafted, expertly mixed by a master bartender, and flawlessly chilled to perfection. |