The Haberdasher

Anytime my friends suggest getting drinks in the Meat Packing District I make a face that simply put says: «No…I don’t like this idea»
But since we were going earlier in the evening, and I had never been to this place before I reluctantly followed. I’m glad I did, as I was pleasantly surprised. Now not in a «I can’t wait to go back» or «You have to check this great bar out now» but juts in a «If your in the area and it’s before 11pm, it’s a fine choice»
We did not get food as we were on our way to a later dinner reservation, but it looked fairly yummy. The $ 16 cocktails were on point but nothing amazing. And that’s all I got to say about it.

When you look at the address of Haberdasher– The Meatpacking District — and combine that with Saturday night, you think, «yuck, a B&T festival». But no, this place is decidedly much more West Village, event though it is across the street from the Gansevoort.
I came here for a birthday party on a Saturday night and cringed at the specter of nutso bachelorette parties or «guys night on the town (kid)». However, I was pleasantly surprised. The space is upstairs from the 5 Ninth restaurant, with a rustic, old world feel. The service was great and the drinks were good as well. We did not eat anything, but there was a food menu and what I did see looked pretty good. I assume it all came from the restaurant downstairs.
The Haberdasher is a great choice to get some drinks with friends in the MPD without all the madness.

Get ready to squeeze your cheeks onto someone else’s seat. Walk up three floors and gather into the far corner… or why not just wait uncomfortably at the top of the staircase… as you’re told to ‘move outta the way’ by the bar staff each time they throw what seems to be an impromptu burlesque show.
The burlesque show lasted about 5 minutes each time, an entertaining novelty.
The drinks were good, they have to be at $ 16 a piece.
The seating is setup almost «club vip table esque.» I believe there were 4 ‘table’ areas occupying most of the square footage. Of course people piled up their benches with bags and jackets (coat check anyone?). They definitely need to reevaluate their interior planning situation to comfortably accommodate the number of people they’re trying to attract with the burlesque show. Regardless, I don’t see myself coming back to find out…

Came for a birthday party around 10pm on a Saturday night. The space is so beautifully decorated but more cramped with all the settees on the 2^nd floor and tables on the 3^rd floor. Pretty standard fare for meatpacking, $ 15 cocktails but pretty well done. We had two off the limited menu, one tequila based and the other rum based both tasty. Went with beer for the next round which was surprisingly affordable. I would come back earlier for the atmosphere but the crowdedness doesn’t really do much for me in these quarters.

This place is great! Delicious cocktails, cool waitstaff, and beautifully decorated.
Come for the FREE interactive burlesque shows, every Thursday night! Such a fun and unexpected surprise! I think they start around 10 or 10:30. Woohoo!

i think the official opening was last night, but i actually went last friday — i guess they were unofficially already open for business. on the top floor of the restaurant 5 Ninth, they’ve got a nicely decorated, dimly lit lounge with couches and tables and a bit of additional standing room. we were there early (around 8pm) so we had no problem getting in, though it was a bit crowded by the time we left around 11pm. for our first round we ordered cocktails off of the limited menu, and we both enjoyed what we got — my friend had their variation on a manhattan and he loved it. for our second and third rounds, we asked the bartender to make us something off-​menu, describing to him what we generally like, and those were also very good. not the best cocktails i’ve ever had, but definitely well-​crafted drinks. they started projecting a french film on the wall, maybe around 10pm, and i just found that distracting… i think i would go back for a couple of rounds early in the evening, but i wouldn’t want to be here late-​night when it’s more crowded and more of a scene.