upstate craft beer & oyster bar Introduce
For New Yorkers seeking a genuine taste of the sea paired with an impressive selection of craft brews, Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar stands out as a true neighborhood gem. Located in the heart of the East Village, this cozy and trendy spot has become a go-to destination for seafood lovers and beer enthusiasts alike. It’s the kind of place that feels both classic and current, offering a welcoming atmosphere where the focus is on fresh, high-quality ingredients and a carefully curated beverage list.
Upstate is more than just a restaurant; it’s an experience. The atmosphere is casual yet sophisticated, making it a perfect spot for everything from a quick, solo dinner to a lively night out with friends. Its reputation for having a usually wait is a testament to its popularity, but the wait is often worth it for the fresh oysters, which are a definite highlight. The establishment's commitment to quality is evident not only in its food offerings but also in its impressive wine list and great beer selection, catering to a wide range of tastes.
The restaurant is particularly popular for dinner, and it's a fantastic option for solo dining, offering a comfortable and engaging setting at the bar. The team at Upstate understands what makes a great dining experience, blending excellent service with a lively, trendy atmosphere. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick bite or settling in for a full meal, you can expect a dining experience that is both memorable and satisfying.
Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar is conveniently situated at 95 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA. This prime location in the East Village places it at the center of one of Manhattan's most dynamic and culturally rich neighborhoods. The area is known for its eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, and boutiques, making it a bustling hub for both locals and tourists.
The restaurant's accessibility is a key part of its appeal. It is easily reachable by public transportation, with several subway stations within a reasonable walking distance. The F train at 2nd Avenue, the 6 train at Astor Place, and the L train at 1st Avenue are all nearby, providing multiple options for commuters from various parts of the city. For those who prefer to drive, paid street parking is an option, though, as with most of Manhattan, it can be competitive.
Being in the East Village means Upstate is surrounded by a vibrant urban landscape. Walking to the restaurant allows you to soak in the unique character of the neighborhood, from its street art and community gardens to its lively nightlife. The proximity to other attractions makes it a great starting point or final destination for a full day or night out in New York City. The restaurant also has a wheelchair-accessible restroom, ensuring it can accommodate a diverse range of guests.
Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar provides a comprehensive range of services and dining options to meet the needs of its diverse clientele.
Services Offered:
- Takeout: For those nights when you prefer to enjoy their delicious food from the comfort of your home, Upstate offers a convenient takeout service. You can call ahead or order in person to pick up your meal.
- Dine-in: The full dining experience is available, allowing you to enjoy the lively atmosphere and table service. This is the best way to fully appreciate the fresh oysters and a carefully selected drink.
- Table service: The professional staff provides attentive and friendly service, ensuring your dining experience is smooth and enjoyable from the moment you sit down.
The menu is designed to highlight fresh seafood and complement it with a stellar beverage program.
Offerings:
- Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Hard liquor, Wine: A comprehensive drink menu is available, including a great beer selection, a fantastic wine list, and a variety of cocktails. Whether you're a beer enthusiast or a wine connoisseur, you'll find something to love.
- Happy hour drinks and food: The famous happy hour is a major draw, offering incredible deals like oysters and a beer or wine for a fantastic price. This is the perfect way to start your evening.
- Small plates: The menu features small plates, perfect for sharing and trying a variety of items.
- Oysters, uni, crudo & caviar: The star of the menu is undoubtedly the fresh oysters, but you can also find other delicious seafood starters like uni and crudo.
- Fettuccine with clams, mahi-mahi, seared scallops: For mains, you can indulge in a variety of delicious seafood pasta and entrées.
- Dessert: Don't forget to save room for dessert, which provides a perfect end to your meal.
Upstate has several features and highlights that make it a standout choice for dining in New York City.
Features / Highlights:
- Fast service: Despite being busy, the staff is known for their fast and efficient service, ensuring you are attended to promptly.
- Great beer selection and wine list: For beverage lovers, this is a major highlight. The curated list of beers and wines means there’s always something new and exciting to try.
- Casual, cozy, and trendy atmosphere: The ambiance is a perfect blend of relaxed and stylish, making it a great place to hang out. It's welcoming without being stuffy.
- Bar onsite: A bar area provides a perfect spot to enjoy a drink or a quick meal, especially for solo diners.
- Dinner reservations recommended and usually a wait: The popularity of the restaurant means it’s wise to plan ahead. Reservations are accepted and recommended, especially for dinner, but be prepared for a potential wait.
- Accepts various payment methods: For convenience, the restaurant accepts credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
- Wheelchair accessible restroom: This amenity ensures the restaurant is accessible to more guests.
For those planning to visit Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar, here is the essential contact information.
Contact Information:
Address: 95 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA
Phone: (646) 791-5400
You can use the phone number for inquiries, to make a reservation, or to place a takeout order. Given the restaurant’s popularity, it’s always a good idea to call ahead to secure your spot, particularly on weekends or for dinner. The address is easy to locate on any map application, placing you right in the heart of the East Village.
In a city with countless dining options, what makes Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar a truly worthwhile choice? The answer lies in its unique combination of quality, atmosphere, and value, particularly during its famous happy hour. This is a place that excels at what it does best: providing fresh seafood and a great drink selection in a setting that feels both lively and comfortable.
The star of the show is, without a doubt, the oysters. Their reputation for freshness and variety, particularly with East Coast oysters, is a major draw. While some menu items may vary in quality based on individual taste, the core offerings—the oysters and clams—are consistently praised. The happy hour deal is a fantastic incentive, making fresh oysters and a quality drink accessible at an unbeatable price.
Furthermore, the atmosphere is a significant reason to choose Upstate. It's a place that manages to be both cozy and trendy, attracting a diverse crowd. Whether you're a long-time resident or just exploring the city, you'll feel right at home. The professional and friendly service, often described as “amazing” and “helpful,” enhances the entire experience. While there may be a wait, it speaks to the restaurant’s popularity and worth. Upstate is the perfect spot for a casual dinner, a solo outing, or a fun happy hour with friends, making it a must-visit for anyone looking for a genuine taste of New York’s vibrant dining scene.
upstate craft beer & oyster bar Menu
Starters
- oysters
daily selection of east & west coast varieties
- uni
maine sea urchin with salmon roe & raw egg, served over carrot puree with toast points
- crudo & caviar
line caught hawaiian marlin paired with sturgeon caviar & creme fraiche
Mains
- fettuccine with clams
the house favorite, al dente pasta tossed lightly with parmesan cheese & olive oil
- mahi-mahi
grilled hawaiian steak with horseradish mashed potatoes & broccoli topped with romesco
- seared scallops
served on a bed of capellini pasta, tossed with arugula, shallots, garlic & bottarga garnish
upstate craft beer & oyster bar Details
Service options
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
Popular for
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Happy hour drinks
- Happy hour food
- Hard liquor
- Small plates
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Table service
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Trendy
Planning
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
- Usually a wait
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Parking
- Paid street parking
- Parking
upstate craft beer & oyster bar Photos










upstate craft beer & oyster bar Location
upstate craft beer & oyster bar
95 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA
upstate craft beer & oyster bar Reviews
happy hourscallopsfettuccinecrab cakeslinguinebone marrowsquid ink pastasurf and turfsmall plateseast coast oysters
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1We love this place. It is always great to come. The happy hour deal 5-7 pm is amazing. 6oysters and a beer or wine for12 bucks. Fresh oyster, delicious food, and amazing service - friendly, funny, and very helpful. If you like oysters, escargot, and / or bone marrow... this is the place to come and enjoy!
June 23 · J PMy friend was craving some oysters after an early Saturday night dinner. We found Upstate and it was still pretty packed at around 8. We were able to put our names down for 9 PM for three seats at the bar. We ordered:-Oysters (Sea Kist, Wellfleet, Wave Lengths, Upstate's Own, Blue Whale) - these were all east coast oyster because the west coast ones were sold out. East coast oysters are priced at $2.85 each, which is reasonable IMO for regular pricing. There are some types of oysters that are plumper than others, so you can always ask for recommendations. All of the oysters were pretty good but I did get a few that weren't properly shucked-Little neck clams - I love a good clam, and these were nice and fresh. I might have liked them even more than the oysters-Escargot (snails slow cooked in basil and parsley butter) - this was probably one of the worst escargot I've ever eaten. It didn't really have much flavor, and the butter tasted like movie theater popcorn butter-Uni (Maine uni, quail egg, salmon roe with toast points) - this wasn't what I was expecting. It served on some sort of cauliflower puree (?), which masked the flavor of everything else. The bread also tasted a bit staleFor drinks, I had the dragon stout, which reminded me of a Guinness Extra Stout. It was pretty good. They also have a nice variety of other beers on draft. If that's not your thing, they've got some wine and a few cocktails, but none of the cocktails appealed to me that night.The food menu sounds really good but if it's similar to the two dishes we ordered, I probably wouldn't try it. I would come back for more oysters/clams though!
April 10 · Melanie TamUpstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar has a welcoming vibe and great NY food & drink offerings! The staff was warm & welcoming and although it was busy we felt valued and everything moved at a comfortable pace. We felt the prices were very reasonable and liked the ability to make a reservation (which was a good call for Saturday evening). They have a great oyster selection and we started with a delicious platter. I got the seafood risotto, which was great, and my wife got the Scallop Special which really stood out and we’d definitely repeat. Their craft beer selection is a good mix of varieties and we especially loved Old Man Winter from Southern Tier Brewing Company. Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar is now on our neighborhood-favorite list, we recommend it and will certainly be back!Date visited: 3/29/25
May 17 · Travis ShepherdThis place is small but cozy. I love the waiter as I felt so welcome by his passionate service. Oyster is so fresh and cheap. They have a happy hour price, so if you order oyster before 7pm. You will get a great price with the drink. We ordered 2 rounds and we just loving it!!!! Will definitly visit again for sure!!!
April 12 · CC BlueIncredible oyster/beer Happy Hour - quality selection of rotating taps, and their crab cakes, East Coast oysters, and roadted bone marrow were all delicious. Smaller spot, so ideal for groups of 2-4.
August 30 · Marcus Reid
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