Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. New York City
  4. Manhattan
  5. Lower East Side
Bar Contra, New York, NY
Award-winning

Bar Contra

4.4
4.4
271 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 26 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Hot spot
  • Neighborhood gem
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.

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
  • Phone number
    (212) 466-4633
  • Website
    http://www.barcontra.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Jeremiah, Fabian & Dave
  • 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
  • Location
    138 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2022
  • Neighborhood
    Lower East Side
  • Cross street
    Between Delancy and Rivington
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    JMZ or F to Delancey St - Essex St. Alternatively B/D to Grand St.
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Bar Contra Party

    $85.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Looking to throw a little party at Bar Contra? We would love to have you with us, with our small space we can only take one large group of up to 12 guests each night - all we ask is a $85 per person minimum spend agreement as well as a $25 a person deposit that will count toward your minimum the night of your your event. You are welcome to hit your minimum spend however you wish as long as you are having a good time!

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 271 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bar Contra shines with "amazingly creative cocktails" and "fantastic, friendly service" in a lively atmosphere. The bar's "nuanced, tasty cocktails" and small plates are a hit, especially the wagyu carpaccio. While prices may be high, the "excellent, creative" drinks and bites offer a unique experience worth trying.

271 Reviews

  1. Joshua

    New York City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible drinks, good bites. Perfect for pre-dinner/night out drinks.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Ciara

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    It was such a great night. Drinks, food, ambience were perfection!!! That carpaccio!!! I die. In love with this spot. This team does immaculate work.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Rhea

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    loved all the drinks!!! madeline was so sweet : ) def coming back to try the food

    Is this helpful?

  4. Hugo

    New York City

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a reservation for dinner on Valentine’s Day. We were greeted and sat immediately by staff and Theo. The drinks here are always great! The scallop and tartlet were outstanding. Got the Valentine’s Day drink special with a freeze dried rose incorporated in which was awesome

    Is this helpful?

  5. Nick

    New York City

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 12, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    Made a reservation to celebrate an engagement to my partner and was really excited to try this place. Ive heard nothing but great things. Server messed up our order then made sarcastic comments belittling our experience and saying “you got it mamma” as a response 💀

    Is this helpful?

  6. Iris

    New York City

    19 reviews

    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on February 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Drinks to die for. So creative, delicious and unusual. Food equally special.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Nicole

    Austin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing service and incredible food. Did not feel rushed at all which never happens in the city!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Katherine

    VIP

    New York City

    96 reviews

    3.0

    96 reviews

    Dined on January 17, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The drinks were absolutely excellent. Food was a mixed bag. Carpaccio and tuna were excellent, roast potato ice cream was a surprising hit. The crumpet was overly oily and disappointing and the mushroom tartlett also didn't deliver. Service was very nice but wish they'd driven the experience more - run us through the menu, make recommendations - it was a bit too casual.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Ben

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Contra is your favorite bartender's favorite bar right now. Excellent, nuanced, tasty cocktails and similarly great small bites. Come with 2-4 people, have a couple rounds and snacks (get the wagyu tartar), and then walk to dinner in the neighborhood. Or the other way around!

    Is this helpful?

  10. OpenTable Diner

    New York City

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 19, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Food and drinks were great but our server was not good. Expected better hospitality

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bar Contra is rated 4.4 stars by 271 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 26 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Bar Contra

138 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2022
  • Cross street
    Between Delancy and Rivington
  • Neighborhood
    Lower East Side
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 5:30 pm–12:00 am
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Cocktail Bar, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    JMZ or F to Delancey St - Essex St. Alternatively B/D to Grand St.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Jeremiah, Fabian & Dave
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.barcontra.com/
  • Phone number
    (212) 466-4633
  • 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
Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Delight more diners
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo