Clemente Bar

This bar is tucked upstairs at Eleven Madison park and is a super chic location. The cocktails are delicious and they think about presentation all the way down to the stamped ice. The food however was just okay. The avocado spring rolls were very good but the play on caviar didnt have a ton of flavor and was very acidic.

Really wanted to like this place but the drinks were not to my liking. We tried five different drinks and I only somewhat liked 1 (Negroni colada 7/10 ). The rest were unimpressive. Yes there are a lot of very good cocktail bars in NYC but I had high expectations for Clemente bar. Unfortunately they did not deliver. We tried the apples to oranges (very fall vibes but unoriginal 6/10), the army brat (5/10), fifth leaf (1/10 this one was just plain awful. Tasted like licorice. Could barely stomach this one.) and doctors orders (6/10 - this one was very weak and had tasted like it no alcohol in it not only that it barely tasted like anything with a small hint of medicinal flavors). I am a lightweight so this was great in the sense I could have 2.5 cocktails and not feel a thing when normally my max is 1.5 cocktails : read weak cocktails. They were also rushing us out on a Sunday evening (server came to our table twice - one time to ask if we want to sneak another drink in and after we ordered they dropped the check on the table). Very surprisingly because there were 3 other tables which came before us and they were still seated and did not seem rushed. The service was the worst part, especially being part of EMP, one would think you can expect more. Overall, the experience did not meet my expectations.

Review of The Studio, not the lounge.Fantastic service and great food and cocktail pairing. The chefs and bartender were warm and inviting. Pace of service was also noteworthy. I recommend reserving for the studio experience. It was intimate and fun, as we were able to freely talk to the chefs, bartenders, and fellow patrons during and between courses. Not pretentious at all. Make the resy!

The food and cocktails were amazing and all vegan. The servers were friendly and attentive. The spirits list had a few rare whiskeys at reasonable prices. Some of the more allocated/coveted bourbons were still up there but a few were deals. It’s not an everyday stop but worth it when you’re splashing out.

Love love loved everything we got! the drinks were fantastic, and the agedashi dogg was to die for. The service was impeccable, i will definitely be back!

Come here for the cocktails and art! Gorgeous space, attentive staff and delicious cocktails. The space is intimate, like a private living room/gallery. Highly recommend!

Whenever I go to NYC, I always splurge on at least one meal. 10 years ago, that was Nomad. When I started researching for my current trip I decided it was time to try Madison Park Avenue since Nomad had closed and I can afford a bit more. But the I saw Clemente Bar was opening and decided to give it a chance.This was my favorite dining experience to date. The tasting menu was 5 courses with 5 cocktails to match, each with a non alcoholic option as well.This is what I want in a dining experience. An intimate atmosphere speaking to the bartender and chefs. Tonight I must have been lucky to get 2 chefs from Brazil who I enjoyed connecting with in Portuguese. The food was amazing and the drinks were a perfect match.I love engaging with the staff as they put together both the drinks and the dishes. Thank you to the staff and Chef Humm, can’t wait to come back. Full review to come at HoneymoonAlways.com

TL;DR - If you want fancy creative cocktails in a classy minimalistic space just go here and say hi to Wilmer and Lily. Worth it!As part of the EMP empire, you expect the finest quality beverages, master bartenders, and unparalleled professionalism at Clemente Bar. What you also get is genuine customer service from EVERYONE. I went to the upstairs bar by myself, and I admit, sometimes I have a certain hesitation going to such prestigious and pricey places in the city because there tends to be an air of unnecessary pretentiousness. But like I said, every single person I interacted with demonstrated fine examples of what humans should be to each other. Enough philosophy; on to the review.I was guided to a specific seat at the bar and even though it’s a cozy fit and you may get to know your seat mate very well, I was thrilled because I love watching the show vs. being seated at a faraway couch. I expected to see how drinks are made, how glasses are arranged, how bottles are organized… it was even more fascinating because the bar is clean and minimal: there is no massive liquor wall with under lit shelving but an eye-catching, almost biblical mural from Francesco Clemente himself with bottles expertly hidden in cabinets and mixers at sub counter level. It’s mesmerizing to watch the fluid and efficient artistry; I’m pretty sure the bartenders could do this blindfolded and still hold a great conversation with the guests. Fun times.I flipped through the Asian ingredient-inspired cocktail program from Sebastian Tollius and immediately picked a whisky-based drink called Three Boxes. The description includes a medley of items that sound completely random: tahini and pandan and miso and cacao and cardamom, but the cocktail is so balanced and delicious. I savored this while chatting with my seat mate, who happened to be a bar expert at another well-regarded establishment, and thoroughly enjoyed observing the beverage show. Wilmer and Lily are humble but super talented legends in their field, and they knew just how and when to engage with their guests and knew exactly what to make to please everyone’s palate. What amazing energy and vibes. Wilmer asked what my liquor of choice was (I’m a Macallan girl, thank you very much) and suggested the Harvest Highball for my second drink since I said I liked whisky but wanted something lighter. Again, the description sounded intimidating and like something I wouldn’t have picked with pale cream, coffee and tonka, but just trust the bar masters. What came out was totally clarified and light and clean with a hint of nuttiness and sweetness and fall flavors; NOT a basic, watered down whisky and soda that most highballs tend to be. I also ordered the sake infused pickles, which were a great savory, earthy bar snack that paired nicely with the cocktails. For my last tasting, I tried the Negroni Colada, which again, messed with my head since it was neither a negroni and a pina colada; it was clear and lighter than pineapple juice, had the slightest hint of salty bitterness, and was definitely not milky/creamy or cloyingly sweet. I’m glad I tried it and it would have been more to my liking for the summertime, but since it’s getting chilly now, the other two drinks were clear winners for me.The fancy emulsions and filters and washes and foams in the drinks make sense at Clemente because of EMP, but the genuine knowledge and pride of the process and how ingredients are used and application of creativity in the cocktails makes it fun and enjoyable (unlike some places that snidely announce: “these are yesterday afternoon’s peas handpicked from chef’s personal garden and triple washed with distilled well water” and I have to try my damndest to control my face and not burst out laughing). I can’t thank you enough for being nice and chill mind readers. Enough about the wonderful bartenders, but the host saw me and smiled and sweetly said, “The rest rooms are over this way. Amazing. She just knew. Everyone here is my new best friend. I’ll be back soon!

Celemente Bar, located upstairs at EMP, offers a fantastic atmosphere and a classy vibe. The service is top-notch, just as youd expect from such a venue. Our waiter, Louis, was exceptional. I particularly enjoyed the avocado inari pockets and the burger—both were highlights of my meal. I highly recommend this place.

Some of the best drinks in the city. All the drinks are very interesting and well balanced, and the tahini manhattan and tomato highball are mind blowing.But, service was very weird and rude. We ordered more than average food and drinks and had a lovely time, but noticed that they’re giving everyone free drinks when the tables got their checks. When we asked for the check we got nothing, which was a bit strange. I asked out of curiosity and the waitress gave a very suspicious and rude answer and said “oh yeah that’s our highball tasting and they get it because maybe they know someone or something”, but it was obviously not the case judging from the interactions from tables around us.

Met a friend at Clemente bar last Thursday night. We were welcomed by soft music and a hushed atmosphere in a dim-lit room with a beautiful decor. We each had a cocktail (the army brat and Clemente Martini) and shared small bites (not pictured, the avo inari sushi, and fries). Everything was good, but not extraordinary (especially considering the price points).Note that all food options are vegetarian, and reservations are for 2 hours max (we did feel rushed to finish by the expected time).Overall recommend if you come to have a drink before/after dinner and are not expecting to linger.

We snagged bar seats on the 1st day it opened to the public. We were super excited to try this spot from the same folks who brought us Eleven Madison Park. They have a reputation for quality and excellent service so you know the drinks were going to be unique with different flavor profiles and that the service would be top notch.We were genuinely surprised by their MARTINI. I generally wouldnt order one at a cocktail bar, those are reserved for restaurants or lesser qualified bars. However, this one was different than any others i tasted. There were hints of Asian flavors (the kind is escaping me), it was refreshing but still had umami undertones.AGAINST THE GRAIN - was a riff on an old fashion and just superb.I know it was day one but i was surprised by the service, and not in a good way. Yes the staff was friendly and the bartenders attentive. However, it was a little chaotic at times which it happens (dropped/ forgotten utensils, finished plates left behind) BUT the amount of bare hands that touched the ice to get it perfect, were too many for my liking!I would definitely go back once they settle into a groove. They also have a tasting menu (Vegan) with paired cocktails that is served in a private room next to the the bar/lounge.

We loved the ambience and the decor, but the food and the drinks were outstanding!!!

An overall amazing experience. We did both the counter and lounge, both were fantastic. Sean, our bartender, was great. We cant wait to go back.

Unbelievable! Still dreaming about this meal.

Great staff and very classy bar. Had a catch up with some friends and learn a few things from the bar staff as well as some life motivation. A lot goes into the drinks in terms of detail. My negroni was great as it wasn’t too sweet. Had about three of them. Will defo be coming back.

Great cocktails and food.

Top tier experience! We tried the Negroni Colada, Clemente Martini, 5th Leaf, and Apples to Oranges. Every sip was perfectly balanced and had a beginning, middle, and end. The a la carte food is so good it’ll make you wish you booked the tasting.The service and atmosphere are exactly what you’d expect. Every detail from the woodwork to the art to the staff was 10/10.

Beautiful but a bit too forced.

We just popped in for a cocktail before our dinner. The saffron and green curry martini was the best cocktail I’ve ever had haha it was absurd.

Good? Yes. The best? Most likely. Leverages audaciously good parts of 11 Madison Park while being uniquely itself, accessible. Outsized cultural impact, probably. Smaller than you think. (The barside window looking down at the dining room!!)

Amazing spot with delicious food, great cocktails and very cosy and easygoing vibe!

The counter experience is wonderfully intimate and intriguing, with on point flavor pairings and a great progression throughout the 4 courses. Views down into the dining room of Eleven Madison Park are interesting as well if the action across the counter isnt enough.I hope to return for the lounge soon; gorgeous art and looked to be an incredibly welcoming and cozy space.

Outside of the drinks that you know are going to be amazing, the space feels like your classy living room. Casual enough to break comfortable but nice enough to know you’re somewhere special. I could have stayed for days.

I made a reservation and realized I had made it to the wrong date. I canceled within 20 minutes of making the reservation and the restaurant charged me $50. I totally understand and respect this policy to avoid no-shows and abusers of the booking system. However, I emailed them the proof of the reservation and cancellation within 20 minutes and got no response. I called and they said they would talk to their management team. Its been two weeks and no response. For a bar attached to a 3 Michelin star restaurant I expected much more respect, diligence and better service. They finally got back to me today after almost 1 month chasing

They have a great manager at the bar, Sebastian, if you see this text I send you a hug brother, you are the best, your friend Yuriel...

Clemente overall 9/10, very cute, cozy, beautiful space, excellent service.Clemente Martini: 9/10 great, smoothNegroni colada: 8/10 good not remarkableNegroni (normal): 8/10 good not remarkableEndive: 9/10 great, shareableFocaccia: 8/10 - for 2 people, also very goodTofu hotdog: 8/10 - yummy but maybe not worth $$$$. We split 4 ways and each had one bite.Veg Burger: 10/10 - sooooo goood don’t miss this!Vibes: 10/10– beautiful interior

Exceptional space, amazing drinks, great bites, and solid service.

Right above 11 madison. immaculate in every way.

A combination of a non friendly attitude with generic wannbe drinks.

Great cocktails!

Snobby attitude and mediocre drinks

The bar is above the main dining hall of Eleven Madison. Very glad to come here. Absolutely top bar ambience, services and great cocktail! It can definitely make it to Michelin star bar in the city!