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Bar Contra, New York, NY
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Bar Contra

$30 and under
American
138 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002

Make a booking

A photo of Bar Contra restaurant

Bar Contra

4.7
$30 and under
American
Lower East Side

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 22 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Innovative
  • Romantic
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.

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2026

From the OpenTable editors: Fine dining is out and playful bar food is in at Bar Contra, a collaboration between Wildair’s Fabían von Hauske Valtierra and Jeremiah Stone and James Beard Award-winning bartender Dave Arnold. Go here for the centrifuge-spun cocktails and innovative, shareable snacks like sausage- and cheese-stuffed chicken wings. Grab a stool at the expanded front bar or nestle into a softly lit back corner for a dynamic, fun, and boundary-pushing Lower East Side night out.

Executive chef: Jeremiah Stone, Fabian Von hauske

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
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • 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. OpenTable Icons 2026
  • Area
    Lower East Side
  • Cross street
    Between Delancy and Rivington
  • Parking Details
    None
  • Public transport
    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

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Bar Contra.

4.7

4.7
(338)
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bar Contra offers a "creative drink menu" and "amazing service" in a cozy, dim-lit atmosphere perfect for intimate gatherings. The cocktails are "delicious and inventive," complemented by high-quality bites. Guests rave about the "fantastic" staff and the signature Contra sundae, making it a top NYC spot for celebratory nights.
338 Reviews
  1. Ramsey

    Dallas - Fort Worth2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 26 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of our fave spots for creative cocktails and shared bites - Jacob made our experience unforgettable. Thank you!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Manuel

    New York City1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 17 October 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Drinks are a bit overrated, food was alright, nice vibe.

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  3. Shawn

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 3 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great fun vibes to start the night. I recommend trying this place.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Jen

    New York City1 review

    4.0

    Dined on 2 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great spit for pre or post dinner drinks - dark and ambient. Creative drink menu, great quality food (though some portions were small even for bar snacks). Service wasn’t especially warm but quick without being rushed.

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  5. Ryan

    Chicago / Illinois1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 28 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing service, amazing drinks. These guys know what they are doing. 10/10

    Is this helpful?

  6. Matthew

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 27 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Contra sundae was amazing, cocktails were great, and our waitress Rachel was fantastic!

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  7. Jesse Gold

    Jacksonville / Northeast Florida11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 24 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Masters of craft cocktails as expected. Creative bites. Dim lit atmosphere for private conversations and time away from the busy outdoors.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Michelle Gold

    New York City8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 14 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Came for birthday drinks and bites with a few friends. Hadn't been back since the changeover from Restaurant to Bar with small plates. Inventive and delicious cocktails and not a bad mouthful of food (though could have used a few more "cheezits" in the snack mix - those things are addictive!) Only objection? With the walls painted black (dark green?) and low lighting, it's near impossible to see the menu without the dreaded flashlight app. I know I'm getting old, but....

    Is this helpful?

  9. Camilla Gold

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 11 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had such a great evening here, beautiful bar and cocktails (especially the Fantasy Island) and our server Jas was fantastic, really made the night for us.

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  10. Joseph

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 11 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an amazing experience celebrating my mother and I’s birthday. The cocktails were creative and delicious, extremely memorable. I’d tell anyone curious about food and cocktails to check out Contra Bar

    Is this helpful?

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
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • 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. OpenTable Icons 2026
  • Area
    Lower East Side
  • Cross street
    Between Delancy and Rivington
  • Parking Details
    None
  • Public transport
    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

FAQs

Bar Contra is at its liveliest at the bar on Friday nights, guests say they usually try to sit at the bar on Fridays when Theo and his colleague are working. For a quieter, midweek visit reviewers mention popping in on a Wednesday; the venue is open Tuesday–Saturday from 5:30 pm to midnight.

Casual Dress, comfortable, informal attire is appropriate; nothing formal is required.

Yes, Bar Contra is a popular date-night pick, with guests calling it their go-to spot for cozy, intimate evenings and reporting special-occasion visits like Valentine’s Day.

Bar Contra's bar counter is the liveliest spot, while the darker back dining room tends to be the quieter option; seating can feel quite tight during busy service.

Bar Contra centers on a front bar/counter with a main dining room tucked behind it, reviewers describe a bar counter up front and a darker sitting room in the back, with the bar being the spot for the best vibes.

Try Bar Contra on a Wednesday or Friday, a guest who popped in on a Wednesday had a fantastic time, and regulars note they often sit at the bar on Fridays to catch favourite bartenders.

Bar Contra feels warm and inviting, with the bar as the center of activity and a cozier, darker dining room tucked in the back; attentive service and carefully balanced music keep conversation easy.

How FAQ content is generated

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

Make a booking

A photo of Bar Contra restaurant

Bar Contra

4.7
$30 and under
American
Lower East Side

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 22 times today
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