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Mon-Thu. 6:00 p.m. - 3:30 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 6:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
What a cute spot. I am so happy I decided to try this place for a pre- dinner drink last night. The cocktails are cute, little and tasty. The space is open, intimate and clean. Most of all, the cocktail waitresses were little darlings. Really interested in making sure we liked our drinks and were having a good time. They were taking a little while on one of the drinks...and though we barely noticed this, they acknowledged it by apologizing for the delay and bringing us a little cheese plate with jalepeno jam. I will definitely be back. It's nice to see normal, nice and charming people running a bar for once. Keep up the good work!
I now believe in love at first sight! *_*
Can you be my Valentine? Please?!
....You've intrigued me and made me swoon over you since I left you. I have found my new infatuation!
It may have been your flashy retro lightbulbs OR your cute little hardcover menues that looked like old story books OR it was the sewing machine adapted beer dispenser :).
I think it may have been the odd 2-headed teddy bear sitting near the entrance...I'm not sure about that one!
Being with you in the midst of candlelights flickering throughout the room just made me fall head over heals, I can't help myself (even if your bartender had a quirky double cocktail shaking technique that had me cracking up in the corner) @_@.
You have Pimm's in your J.M. Jenkins...I love Pimm's :)
- rang in 2010 here with some friends
- paid $50 for open bar from 9pm-1230am which out of the kindness of the incomparable Mr Brandon Davy (the bartender), was extended until the bar closed its doors at 4am. . .and considering how much work and expertise went into each drink (averaging a price of $12-15 and invented/created by Brandon himself), the evening was far beyond a steal
- the drinks were fantastic, the bartenders (Brandon, Max) dapper, charismatic, and generous, and the DJ (Ludwig) skilled, served up the ideal evening of good company and perfect atmosphere
- the music was loud enough to enjoy and dance to but not so obnoxious that you couldn't speak to your party
- the space intimate and charming
Great atmosphere and well-executed cocktails. The bartenders are all very good!
My favorites here are the Against Nature and the Jaszek, of which I was initially skeptical, since it uses Applejack, but which turned out to be surprisingly lovely in this drink. They also make a very nice Old Fashioned.
The only downside is the small space can get uncomfortably crowded at peak "going out" times (read: Friday and Saturday nights), which means the staff can be a bit draconian about who gets to sit or stand where and when. You can't blame them given the cozy nature of the location, but if you want a relaxed, good drink, don't come at peak times or it will just be stressful, not nice. Also, they never seem to have more than two staff at a time, one bar tender and one tender/wait staff, so if it's crowded, anticipate a wait for your drinks. Tis the curse of being a wonderful little place that becomes just a bit too popular!
Still, a great place overall. :)
So cozy, great for a date (romantic or friend). Interesting selection of drinks, nice cheese and meat platter with delicious mini gherkin. Helpful bartender. Best part is the atmosphere, clean and simple and great for private conversations.
While in New York recently, I found myself with an hour to kill late on a Thursday night. My friend dropped me here as it was close to his place. It couldn't have been a more perfect spot for me to drink alone.
Extensive drink list with a mix of specialty cocktails and lots of liquors. I found myself drinking bourbon silently in the corner. My waitress was attentive and not too pushy. There was a DJ in the corner playing actual records...and they were good jams. I was having a great little time by myself, observing the groups of friends celebrating birthdays or just having a few drinks.
This was the perfect quiet neighborhoody bar I've been looking for. So when I get myself back to NY, I will definitely get back here.
Whenever you crave a respite from city life, be sure to pay Elsa a visit. Some (me) say the decor reminds them of being in a log cabin in the middle of a secluded forest. Others (my friends) liken it to being on a nautical voyage. (I think you can tell which one of us hails from the Midwest.) No matter your viewpoint, Elsa distinguishes itself through its power to evoke such varied interpretations of its serene, tastefully crafted surroundings. The genial staff make a delicious cocktail called The Jaszek, which has rightfully earned its popularity. Some of the other concoctions such as the Loisaida Punch and Lightning (summer special) were good, but not as outstanding as the Jaszek. I was surprised to find Elsa empty on a Thursday night, but it was bustling with cool hipsters when I returned on a Friday night.
Kudos to Elsa for unique ambiance/decor, the most affable staff I've ever met in the city, and pricing their cocktails ($10 a pop) well below many comparable speakeasy-type venues.
And, if you're into Cuban food, I recommend eating at a wonderful family owned restaurant called Cafe Cortadito (no longer BYOB), just west of Elsa on 3rd street.
An interesting business model - a tailor that's also a bar. (Well, why not.)
Elsa looks and feels like a Burtonesque vision of Victorian times - a rickety, pinstriped parlor room that was refreshingly empty at twilight, and amicably staffed by a couple fashionable bartenders.
I had a couple of drinks at the daily happy hour fee of $8 per; typically, prices run from $10 - 14. The cocktail repertoire is indeed small, and, my goodness, fond of bitters. Of the two, I far preferred the Dark & Stormy (the first was a J-something. . . dominated by bitters), although the stratigraphic distribution of the alcohol was a touch amateur. There's also a petite wine list that we didn't try, and a selection of a few snacky accouterments.
Elsa's definitely suffering from style-trumping-substance-syndrome right now, but I sure hope that changes. Maybe it does, after dark?
If the store Anthropologie were a bar, this would be it. There is a reason everyone is reviewing it as cute-it is! Great mixed cocktails with a totally approachable wait staff. Its lighter in feeling and decor than some of the other speakeasy, throw back bars so its great for a small group and for good conversation and laughs. Completely enjoyed my experience here and would recommend it as an alternative to the divey joints in alphabet city.
It's a really cute place. The drinks were a bit tiny for the price however. The atmosphere is what I really liked about this place the most.
While I confused Elsa with Ella's prior to my arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to enter a brightly lit, mostly empty "pretty" bar around 8pm last Friday. Now, I would not usually describe a bar as pretty but Elsa is just so well-lit with wood paneled white walls and little antique accessories...it had the Anthropologie store flavor I thought I'd never find in a liquor peddler.
The drink menu is appropriately quaint with slightly old-fashioned cocktails and difficult to pronounce names. Since my companions were already two drinks in (I have trouble arriving on time to things...) I simply ordered up another round of the Jazkeian tumbler CK was nursing. It was delish--and it was quite reasonably priced for Manhattan at only ten bucks.
Though I haven't witnessed the late night scene, this was an incredibly pleasant place to meet a few friends for a cocktail. The squeaky clean bathroom and shabby chic decor might not appeal to hardcore beer swillers but for me and my ladies, Elsa is simple IT.
Grabbed a drink with Caro M. and Miss Jane K. here on a Friday night as I had been wanting to try it. I rocked in at 7:30pm and marched through the fake "tailor shop" in the front into the bar acting like I knew what I was doing... and NO one was there.
"Uh, are you open yet?" Yup!
I sat down and ordered the Jazekian (sp?) on the advice of the waitress. It was very citrus-y and crisp and I can see why it's their most popular drink. Caroline showed up a few minutes later so I wasn't that awkward girl sitting and drinking alone anymore and we got on with it (ie: gossip and mucho imbibing).
The drinks menu is limited, though the cocktails are all under $10 and they do have some munchies you can order. The very sweet waitress came by with a free glass of a lovely Lambrusco - a sparkling red wine that was actually really refreshing. We tried a few other cocktails though the crowd favorite remained the Jazekian. At this point, it was now 10pm, maybe 3 other people had come in and we had the place to ourselves for hours. Literally at 10:15pm on the dot, hundreds - no thousands! - of well-heeled guys and gals poured in. There wasn't a seat, or a square left to stand and the masses eyed our booth hungrily. We all agreed, it was time to bounce.
I wouldn't ever come here after 10:15pm, however with all the darling restaurants in the area, you will be sure to see me here again for a pre-chow apertif. Elsa is certainly a nice little find!
A charming alcove of varietals, this wine bar is distinctively a diamond in the alphabet city rough. When I arrived on a Sunday night, I didn't see any haute couture tailoring action but did see a whole lot of full bodied wine being consumed! And as a side note, I would like to add that the night staff has super bionic hearing. The one server was very attentive to my "soft spoken" side comment about liking the taste of my friend's French white wine more than my Argentinian white. She was more than happy to bring me a different wine to enjoy (I neglected to recall which ones we ordered). There's a cheese and bread type menu with a handful of selections. With a few tables up front, and booths that could seat 4-5 people, Elsa is a respite for conversation and a relaxed atmosphere.
This is surely a spot to show off as the adroit bar find.
It's been a while since I've spent a weekend night bar-hopping the below 14th St scene, and now I remember why--it's a bloody nightmare. After dinner, J, his brother and I were craving delicious cocktails, but the nightlife gods seemed determined to quash our dreams. The line outside Little Branch made our heads spin, and a text to Milk & Honey returned the reply that their waitlist was especially long. We cabbed it over to Louis 649, which is usually pretty mellow, but arrived to find it packed. Was there no hope? Would we be forced to have well gin and tonics at a generic East Village dive? And who are all these people in MY bars???
Walking dejectedly down Ave C, I suddenly remembered reading on UrbanDaddy about a new cocktail bar-slash-TAILOR (yes--you literally can have a suit made here) on 3rd between B and C. Maybe, just maybe word hadn't gotten out so much that we'd be able to sit down and have a few delicious cocktails. The former turned out to be true, the latter, not so much.
We walked in and were pleased to find that not only were just a few tables full, but that the space is really, really nice. Ten stars for design, which has sort of a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse thing going on--raw wood booths, exposed Edison bulbs hung from copper piping, Windsor chairs, and my favorite, an antique sewing machine fashioned into the beer tap. The menus are affixed inside old hardcover book covers, another very clever detail. If only the drinks in the menu were as impressive as the menu itself!!
Now, I'll be the first to admit that the three of us are pretty snooty when it comes to cocktails, but we were seriously far from impressed. The cocktail menu consisted of 8 items: 4 classics--martini, manhattan, margarita (what???) and old fashioned, and 4 signature drinks, which mainly feature Applejack and champagne. The old fashioneds were tasty but too watery, and the Elsa cocktail, while sweet and bubbly, lacked any kind of complexity (though I did love the bitters-soaked sugar cube dropped in table-side). For our second round we decided to test the bartender a bit, asking for a Brooklyn and a Last Word, neither of which he knew.
I realize that they're still in soft opening and getting things worked out, and I will give major props to our waitress who was extremely nice and patient with our ridiculous drink demands. And at $10 each, the cocktail prices are very reasonable fro the neighborhood. I'd recommend though, that if they really want to compete with other cocktail dens in the area like PDT and Death & Co, Elsa should get a copy of American Bar or the Savoy Cocktail Book to keep behind the bar, should future customers want to deviate from the limited menu. But again, it is so, so nice inside, and I would definitely go back, especially if it manages to fly under the radar for a little bit longer.
Elsa is a perfect place for the sophisticated drinker who tires of the cocktail snob scene in New York. The decor is light and airy, opposed to the dark and serious decor of a PDT, Death & Co, M&H, White Star, etc. The tables are open and inviting, instead of closed off and secretive like the aforementioned venues. The waiters and bartenders are seemingly non-pretentious, very friendly and casual, unlike the aforementioned venues. In short, it's a gourmet cocktail venue that's the complete opposite of every other speakeasy in the city.
However, there are similarities to the rest of the New York speakeasies. Careful and skillfull crafting of the cocktails, with an attention of detail that carries over to the shape and structure of ice that they use in each drink. Elsa also demands a sort of reverence and mature behavior... you won't find any screaming drunken idiots here.
My slight gripe about Elsa, is that the cocktail menu isn't as extensive or imaginative as its brethren. A short list of cocktails, a few wines, and nothing to nibble on, the menu feels incomplete. In addition to this shortcoming, my 'Perfect Manhattan' cocktail fell short of its namesake. It was good but a little too heavy handed with the vermouth and citrus for what I consider to be a 'perfect' Manhattan.
For what it is, I think Elsa is another welcome addition to the New York speakeasy scene.
I went here with the lovely Chantelle K. and Jane K. recently, and even though I like to think I know what's going on in the downtown cocktail scene, I had never actually heard of Elsa and was more than pleasantly surprised. The waitress even brought us samples of lambrusco to taste, which was quite nice.
My review is pretty much in sync with Chris H.'s: great cocktails but without the dark-and-snooty cocktail lounge vibe. Very Euro. The cocktail list, as Chris said, isn't as extensive as it could be, but the ones they have are great; there's one called the Jazcek (sp?) that we all loved.
Here's a tip: Elsa was EMPTY until well after 9 PM -- on a Friday night. This place is now officially on my radar for pre-dinner cocktails. Wait, wait, you didn't hear that.
In a city full of bars trying to be cool via blueprint, Elsa is in a different class. Everything about it - from the decor to the drinks - is thoughtfully done. There's no other place in NYC like it. A *great* date spot; just a tiny bit off the beaten path - and really impresses.
I've held a party there, and the staff is fantastic. Friendly and incredibly accommodating. Highly recommended.
Cutest date spot ever. If you're a fan of the Death & Co./PDT speakeasy vibe, you'll absolutely love this place.
Jane K. mentioned the Anthropologie flavor, and I couldn't agree more. It's very dimly lit in there (perfect when you're not sure if your date you met after a few too many cocktails is really as cute as you remember).
The drinks are very interesting- I'm not in love with any of the cocktails on the list to be honest, but their wine is DELISH! My favorite is the cheaper Chenin Blanc, even my bf who hates white wine loved it.
If you're looking for a quaint little romantic spot, definitely check it out!
A descent into sepia tones in this candle lit parlor where we shared a bottle of wine served by a Bologne-bred Jean Seberg. Hard not to look good in honeyed lighting.
A nice spot with freshly made cocktails. Loved the oranged tinged art on the walls and the hats!
Great, cute place. We were the only two there enjoying birthday drinks over happy hour (cocktails reduced to $8 from a standard $10), so who knows if it will stick around. The atmosphere was so lovely. My companion's Manhattan was declared "a little watery," but my vodka with muddled cherries was perfect.
Two patrons, four staff. Who knows how long that business model will last.
After dinner at Cafe Cortadito we headed across the street to Elsa, a place I've been hearing so much about lately. The interior is simple, understated and felt very clean. A great date spot. The music was varied and maybe a little too loud for my liking. So what about the drinks? The cocktails here were good but lacking. If what they're aiming for is to be on par with the other speakeasy's of the land then I feel like they need to raise the quality of their drinks. But overall not a half bad experience. In all honesty I'd say 3.5 stars but I'm chalking it up to 4 because its a newer place and maybe they just need a little bit more time to get their act together. As for now though, its definitely a great spot but with only so-so cocktails.
A quiet, warm and clean little Alphabet City hang out. Its very Euro themed decor and not-too-loud music is great for conversation in small parties, or to bring a date. The location is great too because there are bars and lounges all within a 2-3 block walking distance, so you're never stranded without anything else to do. The drinks here were good and the selection was fine. One of my favorite new places to bring a small group of friends.
Way too crowded on a Friday night. Skip the weekends unless you like hot and crowded. The lightbulbs were cool and the copper pipe track lighting was a nice touch. That and the sewing machine on the bar were all I noticed before I had to escape the crush.
Stephanie, you are right on. Elsa is damn cool. It's both sophisticated and relaxed. This is definitely the place if you like detail. Some tables, according to my wine companion, are made out of parts of old sewing tables, and molding, light fixtures, and overall ambiance are among the best I've seen in a bar ever. This is my new favorite place and I'm so happy it opened up about 5 minutes from my apartment. I plan on going.... a lot.
Booths for big groups, medium groups, and smaller booths for 2-4 people. Love it.
Last night we wandered into Elsa just after midnight. I've been wanting to check it out and realized that it's in the same space that used to house the old Plant Bar. As for ambiance, the entire room is white washed with a small bar in the front. An antique sewing machine has been rebuilt to dispense beer on tap. The space is pretty open and borderline intimate. The back of the room opens up with a huge skylight, and all of the accents are perfectly antiqued. Once you've taken over one of the booths, you can nestle in and enjoy a good cocktail.
Supposedly, some of the bartenders are Freeman's Alley alumni - so the drinks are made well. But, they dont have a sophisticated drink list like PDT or Death and Co. We kept it simple and had margaritas that were perfectly made and not overly sweet. They were also $10 (but served in smaller glasses).
It was recession Wednesday and the bar crowd was pretty thin. The bartender was extremely nice and brought over a surprise round of tequilla shots. Just the cue we needed to make it a new local. Definitely the kind of place where you can sit and have a conversation (during the week anyway).
Replacing the divey Hanger Bar, Elsa is relaxed and mellow. Perfectly lit, accentuated by antique sewing machines, mannequins, mirrors, and other retro paraphernalia (beginning with the iron scissors at the entrance), this place feels like the ideal cross between an oyster bar from the 1920s and cocktail lounge. Drinks are $6-12, but don't expect a huge serving for wine or martinis. Great place for a date or a group of old friends. I plan on going back again and again!
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: NoHo
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Bars
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