The Vault at Pfaff’s

Not one of the most discrete speakeasies, there is a sign right outside. large space downstairs. We had a corner table on the couch which was a great seat. Bar was separate from the seating so you weren’t able to watch the mixologists at work.
More of a lounge.

Went here on a weekday. Pretty empty at 9pm. Drinks were ok, not quite speakeasy material. The woman bartender I had was friendly and attentive.

CLOSED
I loved Vault when it was open but it’s closed now. Sad Sally.

Stopped here for a quick drink with some girl friends before a concert on Thursday. It’s fancy with rich wood and plush cushions. That’s about all I have to say that’s good about it. The service was pretty terrible considering we were three of the six people in the bar and I ordered the bruschetta from the menu only to get two completely different bruschettas. No idea what was even on them. They were good but sort of strange not to give me the right order. I dunno. It was fine. Don’t need to go back.

First time I stepped into this bar winter 2011/​spring 2012, I felt as if I was transformed back into the olden speakeasy days. The menus were disguised as newspapers, people were dressed well, but not sluttily.
Came back here a few weeks ago, and boy have things changed since they opened. The crowd is more yuppy and there to party. Not as much as the casual loungy place, pfaffs is rage with excitement and get your drink/​freak on. The menu hasn’t changed from the newspaper-​style and hopefully it never does.
Can’t say I blame pfaffs for getting more of a following and being a go-​to spot on weekend nights. It is a really cool place, just now with more people. I still like it and I still love their amazing cocktails.

The Vault at Pfaff’s is quite a hidden gem. Located in a basement by Broadway, I wouldn’t have expected to find a speakeasy-​esque bar here. The ambience of the place is dark with exposed brick walls and slightly threadbare but comfortable couches. An old-​fashioned living room, if you will. The menus were also really interesting; they were printed on newspaper in broadsheet format. There are several cocktails to choose from, and even one named after the occasional subway rumbles you’ll hear from the N or R running underneath you. They are a tad pricey, but the drinks are made with love and care, and the accessibility of The Vault helps.

Swanky vibe, dimly lit, with a long and interesting menu of libations. I liked the white negroni… it can get uncomfortably packed as the night wears on, so get there early to snag a seat at the bar or a banquette.

The drinks were good, the space is nice but my experience was miserable and they did a great job at getting our Valentines Night off to a less then stellar start.
First, the place is 75% empty upon our arrival, luckily I made that reservation over a month ago. We walk in and were asked by somebody upstairs if we had a reservation, I’m thinking it’s going to be packed! We get down to the hostess stand and see how empty it is, they proceed to seat us in Siberia! What a treat to look at a stone pillar tucked away somewhere in the back of a nearly empty space. I’m already annoyed and we had only been there for five minutes. My partner kindly requested that we be moved to someplace more open.
After arriving at our new seats, in an awkward but much better spot in the joint, I can’t help but notice this pre fixe menu sitting on the table. It was a good deal, $ 75 per couple for a four or so small plate and champagne pairing. However I had my reservations and this was the first I was hearing about it. I didn’t want the pre fixe because we already had dinner reservations somewhere else and we were just coming for cocktails before dinner. We had every intention of spending more then $ 75 anyway and reluctantly we did. The worst part about this was we were told we couldn’t order from our reserved table and that we had to sit at the bar. I agreed because I was so fed up being there for over 25 minutes and not having one drink!
It’s a lounge, not a restaurant, I know it’s Valentines day but if you wanted people to come and have champagne and small plates then let them know about it in advance. Mind you not one apology for the confusion. My favorite line throughout this experience was «every table in here is spoken for,» so was mine, I had reservations remember? They must have been spoken for by invisible people. If I wanted to sit at a bar, there are thousands of bars I could sit at in New York, why on earth would I come to this one?
Listen Pfaff’s you can’t dress smartly and have elegant décor to be classy — You have to act classy. Extremely disappointed in this place and I wanted to like it.

Classy, elegant, and chic sums up this little gem in Greenwich Village. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and so very sexy. Sexy chairs, sexy drinks, and sexy everything.
The staff is very professional, courteous, and smartly dressed.
Your concoctions can be ordered from the front page of their newspaper menu (quite original). I’ve sipped them all, and each one gets my two thumbs up. Pricey? Quite, but worth the hole in your wallet.
With the bar literally raised, it is quite surprising that the Vault at Pfaff’s is not more crowded during peak happy hour times or on the weekends. A true hidden gem, and I hope it stays that way!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
Husband threw a big birthday party for me last night, in «Blizzard 2013» aka Snopocalypse! Haha We had a decent turn out and it was great.
1. The staff — THE BEST! THE BEST! Really, they are. Ahead of time they worked so closely with my husband with such care to make this event what it was. Then, the day of… they were nothing short of ON POINT, sweet and amazing.
2. The décor/​ambiance — So unbelievably pretty. It’s so old school and perfect. Dark wood, leather, grommets — the perfect Burbon kind of place. Their menus by the way, are little newspapers! Such a great idea. The décor goes all the way down to the menu, they didn’t spare or cut corners. The space is laid out well and it’s just a Gem!
3. The drinks — I had this Rabbits Dilemma drink, it is served with a carrot and has butternut squash purée, sounds weird BUT it’s so refreshing and flavorful! We ordered some Birthday Cake Shots and the bartender was so cute, he said that was so ‘80s and no one is doing that anymore (it was hilarious) so he made us a modern day shot, it was muddled cucumbers with vodka and something else. It was also so fresh and tasty. Those were my drinks, everyone else got specialty drinks as well and they loved it.
4. The music was eclectic and great. It wasn’t overbearing but still left you wanting to dance.
Two thumbs up, you guys really have an amazing place. I LOVED IT!

Very nice atmosphere. If you are coming on a Saturday night, be sure to get a reservation!
Happy hour prices are ok. Def. try the mulled apple cider.
A little on the pricey side. But you are paying for a great selection and good atmosphere.

Came here for a friend’s bday and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. It has the feel of a speakeasy, but the space of a lounge. I’m a huge fan of huge leather couches and they are aplenty here, although you would probably have to come early to claim a spot.
As for the drinks, definitely an eclectic menu of interesting cocktails, but pricey ($ 14-​$ 17).
Do not get the Creole Lady (johnny drum bourbon, lustau oloroso sherry, luxardo maraschino liqueur, peychaud’s bitters), it left a bad aftertaste that was similar to how my mouth tastes after using Crest Whitestrips. Also, the Pfaffs Rusty Nail (monkey shoulder blended scotch, house-​made drambuie-​styled liqueur) tasted like black licorice. Alas, my last drink choice of Toots’ Rob Roy (famous grouse scotch, cocchi di torino sweet vermouth, marie brizard parfait d’amour, pernod, house-​made citrus bitters) was a winner. Third time was definitely the charm.

Came here for my boss’s birthday — very cool speakeasy.
I liked that this wasn’t a trapdoor-​in-​the-​sewage sort of place because it had all the charms of a speakeasy inside without the inconveniences of «exclusivity» that other speakeasies like to put its patrons to. Smart bartenders (with a heavy hand), neat drinks and great SoHo location.
Did notice that it was a bit hot (it was a chilly December night outside) as more people came. Also noticed a very definitive age group, about 90% of the patrons appeared to be of the 30 – 45 demographic.
Do check out for a drink!

If I could give 10 stars I would. This is my little secret and I can’t believe I’m giving it away! Keep it on the hush!
The Vault at Plaff is more than everything you can ask for: a bar/​lounge with an underground, classy speakeasy feel to it, beautiful décor and vintage furniture, spacious venue with ample seating, delicious & high quality cocktails and appetizers, happy hour deals, friendly management and staff. This is the perfect place to take your date or have a chill, conversational night with a group of friends.
To have happy hour deals and ample seating is unheard of for the typical speakeasy bar. But at The Vault it is the norm. The Arrivederci Drink, part of the happy hour deals, was such a perfect cocktail with a unique mix: blood orange sorbet, Alexander Grappa di Cabernet, and Averell Damsom gin liquor. And don’t forget to check-​in here on the Unilocal app to get a free cocktail, wine or beer :) They also have a good variety of snacks/​appetizers in the happy hour menu. The fries with chipotle guava, wasabi aioli, and prosciutto aioli were delicious. Enough said. I’ve already made my mind to have my birthday party here :)

Sometimes my boyfriend likes to be fancy. I’m more of a $ or $$ kind of lady, but places like this are definitely helping me get used to $$$!
We had reservations for 7pm and it wasn’t too busy (which I like). The service was excellent. It took a little while for the food to come out but I believe that’s because we ordered four dishes, and they all came out at the same time.
Food-​wise we chose the truffle french fries, truffle mac and cheese, heirloom tomatoes, and spinach dip. Whoooa nelly were we full after sharing all of that. It was all very tasty but I would recommend eating the mac and cheese early on, as it is very rich, so you might be pretty full by the time you dig into it (as we were). At one point I started eating the spinach dip with my fork, so, there’s also that.
We also had the «fancy of the day» cocktails which were wonderful and we couldn’t even figure out what kind of alcohol was added, because it was masked by delicious citrus flavors. We weren’t offered anything for «Spirited Tuesdays» but I guess the rest made up for it.
The atmosphere was very dimly-​lit and swanky. However, the music ranged from Al Green to The Smiths, and the people ranged from sweater-​on-​shoulders to bearded hipster.
If you want to feel fancy but still want to fit in, I’d say this is the spot!

I really liked this place! My friends and I came here after we decided we needed some nicer drinking hole. Points for being easily accessible unlike other hot spots. We came around midnight and was able to get in and have a table right away.
The décor and atmosphere is old school wonderful. The space has been restored and the furnishings all convey the late 1800 era. The menu is printed on news paper. And the drinks are potent. Although, for $ 16 a drink they ought to be! I tried the boozy Bleecker and Sazerac seasonal cocktail. The Leaves of Grass was also really good.
I would recommend this place for a date spot or for folks who want a serious drink in NoHo.

Oh, hey roaring twenties. I should’ve worn my knickerbockers.
Aside from the music (which they really should consider changing), this place is a nice quick step back several decades. The ambiance is amazing, the space is comfortable for a long conversation with friends or a date (maybe 3^rd or 4^th?). It’s dark, sexy, and lovely.
Michael, the manager, runs a tight ship. He checked on us several times.
The cocktails are divine and the bartenders have some mad skills. We ordered off the menu, but on my next trip I’m going to challenge the bartenders to something off-​the-​menu.
Long, long wine list.
One piece of feedback — they need more AC. We were here in early spring when it was still cool outside, and we all were sweating. In the summer, I fear it would be even worse.

The Vault at Pfaff’s is filled with amazing drinks, great ambience, and high prices. Upon walking in on a Friday night, I thought the vibe was great and the crowd was really friendly. My fiancé and I sat at the end of the bar and were handed 2 menus disguised as newspapers. Brilliant!
I had the pleasure of trying:
Champagne Charles — delicious. If you like cherry and champagne, this drink is for you. I don’t really like bitters but they tasted good in this drink.
The Pfapple — If apple pie and an apple martini had a love child, it is in this glass. I loved it! A perfect mix of fruity and boozy.
Subway Rambles — YUM. I love egg white drinks… I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but the consistency gets just a bit frothier/​tastier. Again, a very well rounded drink.
My favorite drink of the night was actually my fiancé’s Ada Clare. It was just made with a lot of love and had the perfect mix of amaretto and cinnamon. Perfection!
Love it and I will be back. Now if only they could lower some of those prices…

Note # 1 — The Vault is closed Monday to Wednesdays. I didn’t know this, and I showed up here on Monday night to a chained fence over the door. Dum dum pops.
The Vault is a subterrean lounge off Broadway. It’s an unassuming door and the doorman actually knows what your zodiac sign is just by looking at your birthday.
«You’re a saggitarius.» That’s correct!
You take a flight of stairs down and you’ll be greeted by a wide open space of sofa couches and one seaters. It’s dim, and there’s an audible buzz on a Saturday night. It’s a chill spot really to hang out, I sat at the bar with a few lady friends and we chugged away at the Unilocal drinks.
Ada Clare — A cinnamony concoction, quite tasty with lots of actual cinnamon powder on the lip of the rim. Didn’t really tickle my fancy but I thought it was quite enjoyable.
Leaves of Grass — This had an interesting taste to it, and actually did come with a blade of grass… which was much too long and just got in the way.
Subway Rumbles — My favorite, a concoction based on scotch with grenadine and lime juice. It’s probably the highlight of the Unilocal drinks.
At $ 16 a pop these drinks are on the high end of the sliding scale, I don’t think they’re all quite that good and the atmosphere while chil wasn’t exactly Angel’s Share. It’s a nice place to hang out though and I never had a moment where I had to shout in someone’s ear going «WHAT. YEA. «If you can’t get into an actual speak easy, Vault at Pfaffs will certainly do. It’s spacious and conducive to conversations with very good drinks. That makes it better than 95% of the establishments in the city.

Out of all the hidden bars and speakeasies with the city, this one definitely stands out. I met one of my friends here last night, having been wanting to try this place out for a while and the Unilocal Drinks event presented to perfect opportunity to try a few of their cocktails for 50% off.
The Vault is not difficult to find. Just look for the awning with the number 643 on it, very near to the corner of Bleecker & Broadway. There’s a doorman standing either just inside or right outside the door. Upon entering, you walk down a wooden staircase that looks quite old, with brick walls surrounding you. As you reach the bottom and turn the corner, a leather door awaits you and opening it is like stepping back in time. You walk on to a landing, greeted by a dimly lit atmosphere that has leather couches, plush furniture, wooden arches, exposed brick, nooks and crannies with lit candles inside them and a beautiful bar with a mural behind it that reminds me of Angel’s Share.
After descending the next small set of stairs after the landing, you’re greeted by the beautiful, extremely friendly, polite and well dressed hostess. It was a Thursday night so, the place wasn’t too packed, but I had a reservation nonetheless. She confirmed my reservation, gathered up all the menus (there were three) and led us to a table. Directly behind our table was a window that displayed a wine cellar, complete with lit candles. There was probably a cask of Amontillado in there too.
Our waitress soon came over to take our first order. Upon looking at our menus, we were also given a Cocktail Hour menu, which runs daily from 6 – 9. Off that menu, my friend had the Barman’s Drink of the day, which was a Spicy Margarita and I opted for the Subway Rumbles off the Unilocal specials menu. While waiting for our drinks to return, I checked out the regular menu and noticed how it unfolds like a newspaper and is done up in such fashion. Pretty nifty. The hostess also stopped by around this point to ask us if it was our first time here, which it was and noted how she hoped we enjoy ourselves.
Our drinks were soon returned and while I didn’t taste my friends margarita, the Subway Rumbles was delicious. The egg whites made it frothy and fluffy on top but don’t be fooled by things like grenadine or lemon juice. This is a strong drink, but its strength doesn’t overpower you. Just don’t except something too sweet.
As we just about finished our first round, our waitress returned and asked if she could get a second round started. For our second round, again off the Unilocal special menu, I chose the Ada Clare, while my friend went with the Subway Rumbles. The manager also came up to us shortly after we ordered and asked how everything was. Definitely no complaints from our end. I also ordered, from the cocktail hour menu, the Mini Burger with cheese, caramelized onions and a pickle. The order was both taken and served by the manager. After he returned the burger, he also took some time to speak with us about the history of Pfaff’s and whatnot. They really want everyone to have a good time and don’t turn people away at the door or force them into buying bottles to secure entry. He did say that it gets a bit packed on weekends, but doesn’t everyplace?
After he finished talking, our waitress brought our second round. A minute later, the manager returned with two shots of Jefferson 10 year Rye, which they use in their Midnight Manhattan. He said these were on the house for our first visit. They were definitely larger than your average shot, but bottoms up, right? Good rye. My sinuses were definitely cleared after that.
Ok, the second round. The Ada Clare was good, but a bit too sweet for my liking. It’s certainly not a bad drink and if you like Amaretto Sours, you will definitely like the Ada Clare. Just be prepared for something that’s definitely on the sweeter side. As for the Subway Rumbles, my friend loved it as much as I did. The burger I ordered was also yummy, tho didn’t stand out as something that I couldn’t make at home. Still tho, it was good bar fare.
So, for the price of $ 8, we couldn’t not finish out the Unilocal menu, so for round three, we had the Leaves of Grass. Probably my least favorite, but at this point, I had to catch a train and drive home, so the drink may have been a bit strong for me. It was still tasty and the lemon juice and honey syrup shine through.
When we asked for our check, which the manager brought. He also gave us his card, saying to call him for anything in the future. Our bill, before tax and tip, was $ 52.
So, what does this place have going for it?
a) Cool underground location that transports you back 150 years
b) Great drinks that I haven’t seen on menus elsewhere around the city
c) Friendly, attentive, non-​pretentious and non-​snotty service
d) Hot, sexy waitresses
If you have a list of places to go, put The Vault at Pfaff’s on it. Now, let’s see if they can mix drinks that aren’t on the menu.

Tales of a hidden cocktail bar fanatic, part 3,987,778,4765.
I love me some dimly lit bars from another era. It’s pretty much the only type of haunt I’ll be a patron of. My friends are a little sick of me. Some of them love my love of hidden spaces and expertly mixed beverages. Others squirm at my willingness to pay upwards of $ 14 for just one drink.
So.
It was a weeknight, and because, well, what else is there to do with oneself on a drizzly Tuesday, other than drink somewhere cozy? I had read Britton’s review and honestly, that guy seems to have some decent taste, so I thought it sounded like a good little destination.
I roped some co-​workers into joining me all downtown. They are good sports, those guys.
Now, this bar has a doorman, which I guess is relatively typical, but he didn’t do such a great job of hiding himself, and I guess that’s okay, since I wasn’t really sure where the entrance was. After descending down a long set of steps, we entered The Vault at Pfaff’s. I wonder if the people upstairs even knew what was going on down there. Just sitting there, eating their dinner, not knowing there is this rather large sleepy subterranean space just asking you to sidle up in one of their leather upholstered booths and order something awesome from their comprehensive menu.
Once again, like a child in a puppy store, I was sold immediately. Why am I such a sucker for this type of speakeasy vibe?
We were seated in a gorgeous leather pin-​tucked booth, and a waitress came right over to take our order. I went for some sort of apple cinnamon clove thingy, with a brown sugar rim. Noms.
I settled into my seat and looked around, trying to take in every single aspect of the space. Arched brick ceilings and walls, some big antique-​looking glass windows that look out into… what? I forgot to look in my buzzed haze when we left. I mean the space is underground, there can’t be much of anything out those windows… it was weird. And intriguing. I like.
The staff was incredibly friendly, there was some sort of tiny tequila tasting at the bar, there was almost no one else in the bar except us and the 5 people sitting on the heavy barstools, downing tequila. I applaud you, tequila drinkers.
Subdude, friendly, manly, gorgeous. I wish the drink menu was a little less gimicky and a little more classic, but I’m okay with that. And, I will try it again. Because once I find a nice little spot like this that I can get into, get seated, and a drink rather quickly… I will never stop coming back.
Thank you, Pfaff’s, for being a little awesome and a little empty.

Previous Unilocaler says it all, this place is great.
It has that new car smell too it that’s irresistable and makes you want to come back before it fades away.
The service is great, the waitress are very knowledgable about the cocktails, and the coctails isnt your usual sweet mix drink. They’re AWESOME, you’re good after 2 drinks, they’re well made and brings back the pre — prohibition days. I didnt try the food, but if you’re looking for a unpretentious speakeasy try this place before it gets crowded!