It's on 2 of my lists. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Address1155 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10065
- From my guide, updated September 2026.
Festival Cafe has given the farm-to-table movement a twist, instead opting to go farm-to-bar. As one of the best bars on the Upper East Side it also doubles as one of the best happy hour spots. Every drink here is crafted using natural, responsibly sourced ingredients.
The bar even takes it a step further by publishing a list of the farms and businesses they work with, which adds an admirable level of transparency. It’s easy to enjoy a drink that you know was made using clean ingredients.
The same high-quality standard translates to the food too. Both the drink and food menus rotate frequently to utilize ingredients that are in season, so popping into this UES happy hour spot is always a treat.
Festival Cafe has given the farm-to-table movement a twist, instead opting to go farm-to-bar. As one of the best cocktail bars in the Upper East Side, every drink is crafted using natural, responsibly sourced ingredients.
The bar even takes it a step further by publishing a list of the farms and businesses they work with, which adds an admirable level of transparency. It’s easy to enjoy a drink that you know was made using clean ingredients.
The same high-quality standard translates to the food too. Both the drink and food menus rotate frequently to utilize ingredients that are in season, so popping into this UES bar is always a treat.