The Owl's Tail Introduce
Tucked away on a quiet street in the heart of the Upper West Side, The Owl's Tail stands as a true neighborhood gem. This intimate cocktail bar and restaurant is a favorite among locals and a delightful discovery for those new to the area. With its warm, cozy, and trendy atmosphere, it provides a perfect escape from the bustling city streets. The Owl's Tail has quickly become renowned for its commitment to crafting well-balanced, high-quality cocktails and serving globally-inspired small plates that are anything but ordinary. It’s a place where attention to detail is paramount, from the carefully curated drink menu to the fantastic food and inviting decor. Whether you are looking for a sophisticated spot for a date night, a casual place to catch up with friends, or simply a place to unwind after a long day, The Owl's Tail offers an exceptional experience that feels both exclusive and welcoming.
The reputation of The Owl's Tail is built on its exceptional service and the quality of its offerings. One customer who had heard about the place for a while finally gave it a try and was "lucky enough to get a seat at the bar, since it is quite small." They found the service to be "welcoming" and the bartender "friendly and knowledgeable." This small, intimate setting is part of the bar's charm, creating a personal and attentive experience for every patron. The dedication to a great experience is also evident in the food. Another reviewer raved about the dishes, noting that despite a "limited" menu, the plates were "fantastic." The deviled eggs and the chicken thigh sliders were particularly praised, with the reviewer even ordering a second platter of the latter because they were "that good." This emphasis on quality over quantity is a key part of what makes The Owl's Tail so special.
Beyond the excellent cocktails and food, the atmosphere is a major draw. The decor shows a great "attention to detail," contributing to a cozy and inviting vibe that makes you want to stay for a while. It's a place that feels comfortable and relaxed, yet still has an upscale and trendy edge. The bar is a perfect fit for the Upper West Side's sophisticated yet laid-back character. It strikes a balance between being a great place for a casual happy hour and a venue for a more intimate occasion. The fact that the bar is a favorite for dates and for catching up with friends speaks to its versatility and appeal. The Owl's Tail is more than just a place to get a drink; it's a destination where the ambiance, service, and high-quality offerings come together to create a truly memorable outing.
The Owl's Tail is ideally situated at 215 W 75th St, New York, NY 10023, USA. This prime location in the Upper West Side makes it easily accessible for anyone in the neighborhood or those visiting from other parts of the city. The bar is just a short walk from major subway lines, including the 1, 2, and 3 trains at the 72nd Street and Broadway station, and the B and C trains at 81st Street. This excellent public transit access ensures that patrons can enjoy a night out without the stress of driving. For those who do choose to drive, there is paid street parking available, though it is always wise to plan ahead in this busy part of Manhattan. Its proximity to iconic landmarks like the Beacon Theatre and Central Park makes it a convenient stop for a pre-show drink or a post-walk cocktail.
The bar’s location on a quieter side street off the main avenues also adds to its intimate appeal. It’s a retreat from the commercial bustle, offering a more residential and relaxed feel. This makes it a true neighborhood spot, a place where you can feel like a regular even on your first visit. The combination of easy accessibility and a serene location is a major factor in its popularity. It’s a perfect meeting point for friends from different parts of the city and a cherished local haunt for those who live nearby.
The Owl's Tail offers a range of services designed to provide a comfortable and convenient experience for its customers.
Dine-in and Outdoor Seating: The bar provides both cozy indoor seating and outdoor seating options, allowing patrons to choose their preferred atmosphere depending on the weather and their mood.
Takeout: While it is primarily a dine-in establishment, some of their food and drinks may be available for takeout, catering to those who prefer to enjoy their delicious offerings at home.
Table Service: The bar offers full table service, ensuring a comfortable and attentive dining experience whether you are seated at a table or at the bar.
Happy Hour: The Owl's Tail features a happy hour, providing a great opportunity to enjoy their fantastic drinks and food at a special price.
Reservations: Given its small and intimate size, the bar accepts reservations, which is a key service for those planning a visit and wanting to ensure they get a seat. This is especially helpful for a date night or a small group outing.
These services collectively contribute to a seamless and enjoyable visit, making planning a trip to The Owl's Tail easy and stress-free.
The Owl's Tail is distinguished by several key features and highlights that make it a standout on the Upper West Side.
Great Cocktails: The bar is known for its "great cocktails" that are "tasty and well-balanced." The menu features a wide selection of classics like the Manhattan and Aperol Spritz, as well as unique creations, catering to a "vast clientele with different tastes."
Globally-Inspired Small Plates: The food menu, though concise, is highly praised. Dishes like the Deviled Eggs, Steamed Shrimp Dumplings, and the highly-recommended Chicken Thigh Sliders are noted for their fantastic flavor and quality. The focus on "globally-inspired small plates" provides a unique culinary experience.
Fast and Friendly Service: Customers consistently highlight the "welcoming," "friendly," and "knowledgeable" staff. The fast service ensures that you are never left waiting, which adds to the overall positive experience.
Cozy and Trendy Atmosphere: The bar’s interior is described as "casual," "cozy," and "trendy," with great attention to decor. This ambiance makes it an ideal setting for an intimate or relaxed evening.
Accessibility: With a wheelchair-accessible entrance and restroom, The Owl's Tail is a welcoming establishment for everyone in the community.
These highlights come together to create a dining and drinking experience that is both sophisticated and comfortably familiar.
For all inquiries and to make a reservation, here is the essential contact information for The Owl's Tail:
Address: 215 W 75th St, New York, NY 10023, USA
Phone: (646) 609-3906
The phone number is the same for mobile as listed. It is highly recommended to call ahead for a reservation, especially on a busy weekend night, to ensure you can get a seat in this small and popular establishment.
So, what is it about The Owl's Tail that makes it truly worth choosing? In a city filled with countless bars, this place stands out for its exceptional blend of high-quality offerings and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. It’s the kind of spot that feels like a hidden gem, where you can escape the noise of the city without sacrificing quality. The expertly crafted cocktails, praised for being "tasty and well-balanced," are a huge draw for cocktail enthusiasts. At the same time, the fantastic food menu, despite being limited, ensures that you can have a full dining experience with delicious, globally-inspired small plates. The fast and friendly service from knowledgeable bartenders and staff makes every visit a pleasant one. Its small, cozy, and trendy setting is perfect for a variety of occasions, from a first date to a catch-up with old friends. The fact that it accepts reservations is a huge plus, giving you peace of mind that you'll have a spot. For anyone in New York looking for a bar that offers an intimate, high-quality, and all-around great experience, The Owl's Tail is a definite must-visit and a place you'll likely want to come back to again and again.
The Owl's Tail Menu
Belly Talkin'
GLOBALLY INSPIRED SMALL PLATES
- Curry Nuts $9.00
mixed nuts, house-roasted, curry & spices
- Wellfleet Oysters
(MA)
- Deviled Eggs $9.00
2 classic & 2 truffle mushroom per order
- Fresh Mozzarella Crostini $18.00
fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, pesto, tomato, basil, multi grain toast
- Burrata Salad $16.00
arugula, sliced tomato, pistachio dressing
- 3 cheeses $19.00
piave, aged gouda, gorgonzonla dolce, apple
- 3 meats $19.00
prosciutto, hot coppa, bresaola, apple
- 3 cheese & 3 meat charcuterie board $29.00
oven roasted tuscan toast, apple
- Moroccan Spiced Olives $8.00
house marinated orange rind & rosemary
- Cornmeal Biscuits $11.00
hand-made, bite-sized, jalapeno butter, local honey, cooked to order
- Tuna Poké Bowl $22.00
edamame, radish, pickled ginger, cucumber, garlic sesame soy
- Steamed Shrimp Dumplings $16.00
scallions, garlic soy
- Butternut Squash Crostini $16.00
Fresh ricotta, roasted butternut squash, fresh pomegranates, pecorino, olive oil, black pepper
- Roasted Chicken Wings $16.00
house rubbed spice, roquefort dipping sauce
- Meatballs $19.00
white wine, lemon, pecorino, garlic crostini
Amari
ALL AMARI IS UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE
- Faccia Brutto Ferent $14.00
a unique version of Fernet, herbaceous with a hint of sea salt
- Fernet Branca $13.00
an Italian amaro made of 27 herbs, roots and spices.
- Branca Menta $14.00
Slightly sweeter than it's next of kin, Fernet, with a fresh mint forward flavor profile
- Amaro Braulio $14.00
In Italian Herbal Liqueur, named after one of the mountains above the town it is from. A balanced bitter digestif.
- Amaro Bilaro $14.00
Made in Northern California, this truly unique and robustly bitter amaro tastes like the region from which it came.
- Sfumato Amaro $14.00
An Italian staple, A bitter and balanced Rhubarb Amaro with hints of smoke and the forest.
Dessert - Sweet Tooth
HOUSE-MADE SWEET TREATS
- Citrus Almond Pound Cake $13.00
served with our Vanilla Ice Cream
- Panini Dolce $8.00
Two Shortbread cookie sandwiches filled with Nutella
- Boozy Affogato $13.00
espresso, Branca Menta, Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, vanilla ice cream
Classics - Owl Classics
ALL DRINKS ARE UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE
- Hot Toddy $17.00
your choice: Bourbon, Aged Rum or Calvados, fresh squeezed OJ, Lemon, Honey, Cinnamon
- Manhattan $17.00
Rye, Carpano antica, angostura bitters
- Aperol Spritz $15.00
Aperol, Cava, Seltzer
- Campari Spritz $15.00
Campari, Cava, Seltzer
- El Capitán $17.00
Pisco, Method Sweet Vermouth, Angostura bitters
- Aviation $16.00
Piucinque Gin, crème de violette, maraschino liqueur
- NY Negroni $17.00
Branchwater Gin, Method Sweet Vermouth, Faccia Brutto Bitter Liqueur
- Old Fashioned $18.00
bourbon, demerara, angostura bitters, house-made orange bitters
- Corpse Reviver no 1 $16.00
Cognac, Carpano Antica, Calvados, Absinthe
- Last Word $16.00
ford's gin, green chartreuse, luxando maraschino liqueur, lime
- Sidecar $16.00
h vsop, orange curacao, lemon, demerara, lavender
- Boulevardier $17.00
bourbon, method sweet vermouth, Campari
- Sazerac $17.00
absinthe, lot 40 rye, H vsop, demerara, peychaud’s bitters, angostura bitters
- Hanky Panky $17.00
Gin, Method Sweet Vermouth, Fernet Branca
- Naked and Famous $16.00
Mezcal, Aperol, Yellow Chartreuse, lime
- Espresso Guinness Martini $16.00
Vodka, Guinness, Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, espresso, walnut liqueur, mole bitters
The Owl's Tail Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great cocktails
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Food
- Food at bar
- Happy hour drinks
- Hard liquor
- Wine
Dining options
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Trendy
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Parking
- Paid street parking
The Owl's Tail Photos










The Owl's Tail Location
The Owl's Tail Reviews
atmospherepricedeviled eggsmeatballsteamthe menuareaselectionsweetshrimp dumplings
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1I have been hearing about this place for a while now and decided to give it a try. After a long walk on the Upper West Side, I was lucky enough to get a seat at the bar, since it is quite small. Service was welcoming; I liked the design of the menu. A great selection of cocktails that caters to a vast clientele with different tastes. My cocktails were pretty tasty and well-balanced. The bartender was friendly and seemed knowledgeable. I had the shrimp dumplings, and they were tasty as well. Overall, this place did not disappoint. I had a great time and will likely come back with a date.
May 27 · David DiazI love the atmosphere here, the attention to detail in the decor, the drinks and the food! The menu is limited, which I thought would be a problem, but the dishes that they do have were fantastic! The deviled Eggs, both originaland the truffle&mushroom were especially good. My favorite, by far though, was the Chicken Thigh sliders. They have coleslaw on them and the blend of flavors was spot-on. I had to order a second platter, they were that good 👍 The seasonal cocktails are a great touch as well.
April 24 · Chris AldrichConner is an amazing craft to the cocktail world and his personality is one in a million. Brad the server is very sweet and attentive. Cynthia the host was super sweet and very on top of it. Watched an interaction happen with a guest where the guest was very out of line saying to the host some inappropriate things that no guest should say to an employee of any establishment. And Cynthia handled it beyond well. This bar is doing the absolute best when it comes to hospitality. Also the food is damn good.
January 18 · Maranda MaddoxI have been here twice with my family while they were visiting, a year apart. We ordered the meatballs, the olives, tuna tartar and the pesto crostini. The food is delicious. So so good. The drinks are also amazing. “She’s a Scorpio” was such a good margarita style cocktail and they didn’t mind subbing the mezcal for a different tequila. Both times we’ve gone, we have had the pleasure of being serviced by John (by accident!). He has amazing energy and made terrific recommendations. John is amazing. Please support your local business and try this spot. And The Owl’s Tail, give John a RAISE!
June 09 · nicolina veneziaEspresso Martini - 3/5Good coffee flavor, OK foam that wasn't super smooth. Not a super smooth Espresso Martini in general. 3 beans. Not a bad Espresso Martini to order.Guinness version Espresso Martini - 1.5/5Contains walnut for those with nut allergies. Guinness overpowers the espresso flavor.
July 27 · Espresso Martini Ratings
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