“ Japanese whisky, vinyl, and streetwear culture with a dash of speakeasy. Trust the Google Maps locator, and follow the (diminutive) signs to reach Bar Orai. Reservations recommended, but don't show up too early since your table might not be ready yet. There are three dining sections comprised of two main sitting areas separated by the bar. The larger seating area evokes a cozy retro living room, and where vibes are best, in my opinion. I was pleasantly surprised that my chair didn't just look luxurious, but was actually comfy to sit in. There's an air of quiet luxury in Orai, toeing the line between casual and sophisticated. Think tiny beanies and tucked T-shirts with the vintage J's. Supreme merch and Bearbricks line the walls dutifully amid carefully arranged bottles of whisky and hundreds of records. Music, obviously, is tasteful and the perfect volume to get lost in but also to have a conversation. I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of whisky, so my selections were limited to the Highball and wine section. And also the single beer - who else knew that Suntory makes a beer? For people with real taste, there's a very nicely curated selection of whisky, whiskeys, and bourbon, and cocktails involving the aforementioned. Let's not forget the kitchen either, which shells out some delicious Japanese and Korean tapas to pair with your drink. Portion sizes for the food are pretty small, but think of it as a vibe surcharge. Part of the lovely time we had was attributed to the great service - all the house staff were super polite and thoughtful, keeping our waters topped off and moving things around for our small table to accommodate the drinks and food. Several hours goes by in a flash, and if not for them closing for the evening, we probably could have stayed much longer. ”

“ Cool vibes and good drinks! Love the Japanese record bar aesthetic. There's communal seating and lounge areas. Cute, chill spot if you're in the area but also not blown away by the experience. ”

“ When people ask me for bar recs in the city - Bar Orai always comes to mind! Definitely one of my faves - with the causal couch seating, it feels more like a chill hangout at a friend's apartment with a top notch playlist full of jams :) I'm not a fan of whiskey but I still enjoyed my whisky highball here! Highly recommend getting food/dessert here as well - mentaiko mac & cheese is a must get! ”

“ Cool lowkey spot great for a date or small get-together. Whiskey only, but with varying levels of intensity so I'd say there's something for everyone if they're willing to try something new. Service was solid. Their food looked good, but we didn't try any. I'd definitely send friends here if they were visiting. ”

“ lord this place was so good! such a vibe apparently they only play records or something? pls get yourself a reservation though because even on a thursday it was so crowded you have yourself a mix of finannce bros coming from work and also young asians and the populus lol they only serve whisky cocktails and wine if you dont like japanese whisky that is something to know luckily most of it was pretty light the food was also really good the katsu is famous for a reason would recommend and would totally come back! ”

“ Bar Orai is one of my favorite bars in the city. The vibes are good for small groups or dates and it's a very lowkey spot. The menu is Asian-inspired and I've been here a couple times and you truly can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I got a yuzu highball, but all of their highballs are refreshing and tasty, even for those who aren't fans of whiskey. My personal food item is the Mentaiko Mac & Cheese, but the Truffle Tots and Kani Cream Croquettes were up there for me too. I'd recommend getting a reservation if you can as the space is a bit small with limited seating. ”

“ This might be my favorite cocktail bar I've been so far in nyc (in terms of how good the cocktails were). This was my first whiskey sour and... I was blown away. Service was great, vibes were great (very speakeasy vibes), and cocktails were great. Sad that I visited so late that I couldn't try out their other cocktails or food menus, but I will definitely be back! ”

“ Very cozy and intimate bar located in Midtown East specializing in Japanese whiskey. They also had some very yummy bites on their menu. The karaage was yummy but I would come again to try their other dishes. Service was also great! ”

“ My friends and I ended up coming here on a whim, but I was really pleased with our experience here. The entrance is rather unassuming, as you walk up a few flight of stairs before you open a door into the bar. We ended up getting drinks and food. For food, we tried the karage. The karage was good, but nothing spectacular, and I think I could have gone without it. We also got the mentaiko mac and cheese, which I really enjoyed. It was a bit spicy, but I enjoyed the flavor. For drinks, we tried their different cocktails, and I thought all of them were good. You can't go wrong with any of them! If you're in the area, this is a nice chill space to hang out and grab a drink or a bite. ”

“ A whiskey speakeasy in Midtown. We were trying to go to a Japanese jazz bar nearby, but after seeing the queue, stumbled into Bar Orai. I was kind of sketched-out with the entrance at first, but it was the textbook definition of "don't judge a book by its cover." Once entering the bar on the second floor, the vibe completely changes. It's filled with incense, low-lights, modern decor, and cozy music. This review is only for the drinks and the vibes, as we didn't get food here. Their whiskey selection is excellent. I loved how they presented their drinks, and had so much to offer. I've read and heard great things about their food, but I'll have to do that next time :) ”