Little Bar — Restaurant in Hoboken

I made a reservation on a Thursday for a Saturday night. There was no cancellation fee to reserve and plenty of tables open. On that Saturday at 5pm I get a call from a random number and when I pick it up, it was the owner of the restaurant. She asked to confirm my reservation which I said yes to. She then asked how many round of drinks I would be staying for which shocked me. I’ve never been asked by any restaurant how long I plan on staying. This was weird but I brushed it off and highballed the number to 2 rounds because I figured if our tables wanted less, we would just leave after 1 round. She then tells me she needs, not asks, for my card number and then whispers to someone next to her to get her a piece of paper so she can write the card number down. That is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. YOU CANNOT WRITE CUSTOMERS CARD NUMBERS DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER . I asked her if she’s writing down the card number and she openly admitted to it. I told her that I am never comfortable with someone writing down my card number and if she needed a card for a cancellation fee, she needs to put that on google/resy/any reservation app bc a card is saved on file and the restaurant doesn’t have access to freely charge it. She then tells me that “as a business owner, I lose money if a party doesn’t show up”. That doesn’t cancel out the fact that you can’t write card numbers down on a piece of paper. Craziest thing I’ve ever experience with a restaurant. Writing down card numbers is how stealing and fraud occur. I cancelled the reservation and it’s not because I care about a cancellation fee, but because of how uncomfortable and disrespectful the entire conversation was. I won’t a support businesses like this. I ended up having to find a last minute reservation somewhere else, which thankfully worked out. Completely unprofessional and incompetent owner. Put a cancellation fee on your apps. Since every other restaurant is able to do it, it cannot be...

The Little Bar isn’t for everyone — and thank God for that.

Yes, the cocktails cost more than your usual Hoboken spot. But it’s refreshing to go somewhere that treats you like a person and doesn’t bow to entitlement.

No, they won’t move your seat because you’re “too close to the door.” Guess what? Everyone’s close to the door — the place is tiny on purpose. That’s the charm.

And if you’re upset about being “tricked” into bottled water… be serious. You can literally say, “Oh no thanks, I meant tap.” Paying $5,000 in rent and complaining about $8 water says more about you than it does about them.

This bar is tiny on purpose. Hard to get into on purpose. Good on purpose.

Every cocktail is crafted — not splashed together while someone yells over Pitbull. You come here for conversation, for the playlist, and for a martini that actually tastes like care.

So yeah — it’s not cheap. But neither is taste.

It’s basically a West Village bar that got tired of Manhattan and moved across the river to chill — and honestly, so did most of us.

And to Ethel — thank you Queen for taking this bar to NYC levels. Your regulars see the passion, the long nights, and the perfection...

This place is so freaking unique—and honestly, not everything should be accessible.⁣ Some places are built for people who understand value—and can afford it.⁣ ⁣ If you think $20 cocktails are “too much,” you’re not being overcharged.⁣ You’re just underexposed.⁣ It’s kind of embarrassing watching grown adults complain about prices at a bar they clearly weren’t ready for.⁣ ⁣ Why go somewhere you can’t afford?⁣ If you’re looking for beer and a bargain, there are plenty of places for that nearby.⁣ And if you’re still tipping under 20% in 2025… stay home. Order a pizza.⁣ ⁣ This place isn’t trying to please everyone. And that’s the point.⁣ Do you really want every bar in Hoboken to look the same? To feel the same? What are we even doing here?⁣ ⁣ If you flinch at the bill, that’s fine—there are places made for people like you.⁣ But I come here often.⁣ I see the work, the hospitality, the creativity.⁣ Book a reservation, come ready to spend, and enjoy something special for once.⁣ You live in Hoboken—you should have the means. So stop crying.⁣ ⁣ Pro tip: Google the menu before you go out—so your expectations don’t get embarrassed by...