Ivan Ottavian

a week ago

"Madame George is a true hidden gem in New York. Tucked away like a speakeasy on 45th Street, it instantly pulls you into another world. The cozy basement atmosphere, with low lighting, velvety chairs and couches, feels intimate and elegant, completely detached from the chaos of the city outside. I went for a jazz evening featuring incredible improv performances by off-Broadway singers and performers, and it was just amazing. The music, the people, and the overall vibe create a real, authentic New York experience, beautiful sounds, refined energy, and a sense of being somewhere special. Cocktails are on the pricier side, as well as the food is kinda pricey and the service is not always attentive, one girl in particular seemed to have that “against at all cost/rebel without a cause” attitude but this won’t affect the overall quality of this place. Being hidden underground, away from traffic and noise, makes it all worth it and sort of exclusive. Reservations are highly recommended. I loved it and will definitely be back!"

Berele

a week ago

"This one of those places that actually delivers on the word “lounge”. The space is stunning, dim and stylish in a way that feels grown-up, not try-hard. The service was a big part of why the night worked: present and professional, but never pushy. No one doing the annoying “everything good?” drive-by every two minutes or nudging you to reorder. The music, though, is the reason to go. It was genuinely amazing and set the whole tone. The room feels alive without being chaotic, and the overall atmosphere is just… right. Food was okay. The meatballs and the bread that came with them leaned too salty for my taste, and nothing we tried was the standout compared to the rest of the experience. Bottom line: go for the vibe and the music, stay because the place makes you want to linger."

William Mooney Sloneker

3 weeks ago

"This bar has personality. The interior is simultaneously kitschy and classic. You enter into a plain dark room, proceed down a fluorescently lit stairwell decorated like a subway station, and finally into a sumptuous space with velvet seating and a well stocked and well stacked bar. The drinks are creative and evidently wrought and worthy of their loftier price. The food also trades on novelty, although with slightly worse execution than the drinks and atmosphere."

Ivanna Kaleniuk

3 months ago

"Went here on a Friday night with friends (reservation for 4, highly recommend booking ahead). We got there around 9pm and they had live music playing almost the whole night — such a fun vibe. The interior design and overall atmosphere really give you that speakeasy feel, stylish and unique. We ordered the appetizer “tower” to share (mini burgers and snacks, solid but nothing mind-blowing) and a couple of oyster plates (just okay). Drinks were great, though most leaned on the stronger/earthy side — not many sweet cocktail options if that’s your thing. Still, the menu is creative and well-curated. Price-wise, it adds up quickly — with the apps, oysters, and a couple drinks each, the bill was over $300 for four people. Definitely on the expensive side, but it felt worth it for the experience. Service was attentive without being pushy. They checked in often at first, but later gave us space to relax and enjoy, which I really appreciated — no rushing to finish or leave. Overall, a great place for a chill but classy evening with friends. Would absolutely recommend if you’re looking for a fun speakeasy experience in Manhattan."

Graham A

4 months ago

"Wow, amazing cocktail bar vibes. Loved the decor. Opulent Victorian. Great seats. Cocktails were innovative. Service was extremely pushy and unpleasant. I would still go out of my way to visit Madame George. Walk downstairs and into an amazing underground bar. Lots of great comfortable seats. We had a nice booth. Super interesting cocktail menu - very innovative. Generally super amazing but we rolled our dice on a mushroom infused gin and it was a bit much (we were warned!) Could spend hours there in those seats and that cocktail list. They had $1.50 oysters from 5pm to 8pm. So good. The 4 of us had a dozen each. Brought us some extra horse radish. My only complaint was the service. They were great explaining the drinks (and warning us about mushroom infused gin!) but damn, they kept pushing us to order more drinks. We’d be having a great conversation and they’d cut in. A few times, fine. But it felt like it happened 10+ times. It happens and I’d still return but gosh. There was a band coming at 9:30 but we didn’t wait…. Clean but just okay bathrooms."