Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
Bar Contra, New York, NY
Award-winning

Bar Contra

Visa logo badge

Visa Dining Collection

4.7 (295)
$30 and under
American
138 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 11 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Innovative
A New York cocktail bar founded by Dave Arnold, Fabian von Hauske & Jeremiah Stone. We specialize in delicious drinks and tasty food.

Your reservation will grant you 90 minutes in one of our tables.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Cocktail Bar, Contemporary American
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–12:00 am
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Jeremiah Stone, Fabian Von hauske
  • Catering
    Bar Contra accepts parties of up to 4 guests in the dining room. Alternatively, you may book the entire dining room for a private event for parties of 10 to 35. For private event inquiries, you may email Bar Contra directly - info@barcontra.com
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Lower East Side
  • Cross street
    Between Delancy and Rivington
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    JMZ or F to Delancey St - Essex St. Alternatively B/D to Grand St.
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 295 people are saying

Bar Contra reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bar Contra offers an exceptional experience with "phenomenal" drinks and "incredible" food. The cocktails are "next-level," inventive, and beautifully balanced. Guests rave about the "amazing" service, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a welcoming atmosphere. Highlights include unique offerings like the veridian sour and frozen pisco colada. Perfect for any night out!
295 Reviews
  1. Grace

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Sooooo cute and the fluke Crudo is a must order!!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Francis VIP

    New York City9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Team did a great job with an exceptional dinner and cocktail service and appreciate all the help maneuvering our table size.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Kilson

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    My wife and I popped in on a random Wednesday and had the best time. The food was great, the drinks were fun and interesting but familiar at the same time. Service was great. We felt like regulars for a bit. Huge thanks to the gentlemen with the great mustache and our server. I think her name was Pearl, sorry if I got it wrong. But yeah place was great, will definitely be back.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Naz VIP

    Toronto / Ontario9 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 20, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Expected better hospitality for a cocktail bar like this - was good, but staff could have been definitely more hospitable and warm.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Keenan

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent experience top to bottom, friendly knowledgeable team, amazing drinks, great food. What more can you ask for?

    Is this helpful?

  6. Jason

    Chicago / Illinois1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Daniel and co crushed it, and the veridian sour was awesome! Adding you guys to my rotation for sure!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Katie

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had the best time! Thank you so much to Josh and Ginger for making us feel so welcome & giving the best hospitality. The food was great - particularly the dates with cheese - and all of the cocktails were fantastic (no surprise). The frozen pisco colada was the perfect size. Can’t wait to visit again!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Lucy VIP

    Austin3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place. Great for. A good to spot top go to any day of the well

    Is this helpful?

  9. Edmund

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Bar Contra is phenomenal! The drinks are truly next-level, like nowhere else on earth—flavors so beautifully balanced and focussed. We had seven drinks (two rounds spirited, one round zero-proof, plus an after dinner mini frozen colada arrived on the house with our desserts) and we ate seven dishes. Literally every sip and bite was a joy and a revelation. Hospitality is exceptional, too, informative when you need them to be but never overbearing, and the food was coursed out with perfect timing. Thank you, Bar Contra!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Manuel VIP

    New York City47 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great drinks, the staff are super nice. Feels like a self-contained universe in a way.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bar Contra is rated 4.7 stars by 295 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. New York City
  4. Manhattan
  5. Lower East Side

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 11 times today
Google Map for Bar Contra

138 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2022
  • Cross street
    Between Delancy and Rivington
  • Neighborhood
    Lower East Side
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–12:00 am
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Cocktail Bar, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    JMZ or F to Delancey St - Essex St. Alternatively B/D to Grand St.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Jeremiah Stone, Fabian Von hauske
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Bar Contra accepts parties of up to 4 guests in the dining room. Alternatively, you may book the entire dining room for a private event for parties of 10 to 35. For private event inquiries, you may email Bar Contra directly - info@barcontra.com
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant Management Solutions
  • Restaurant Reservation Software
  • Restaurant Marketing Software
  • Restaurant Event Software
  • OpenTable For Restaurants
  • OpenTable For Restaurant Groups
  • Restaurant Resources
  • OpenTable Pricing & Plans
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo