Awesome. First time in the city, found this beautiful bar to have a drink:) Sunita was kind and chatty and made us feel very welcome. She mixed delicious cocktails for me and knew the best whisky for my husband. Very welcoming and I’d absolutely recommend going for a relaxed, chilled evening. Thank you Sunita. Read Less

This place is absolutely fabulous! The bartender and owner is amazing! She is the sweetest person and made me and my boyfriend delicious fresh drinks! I can't wait to come back here again. I had the confidently creative  cocktail. It is prosecco with passion fruit nectar! DELICIOUS! My boyfriend had a Brooklyn lager. Read Less

Super slow service, two different people had to get the bartender's attention before she same over to me which took about 20 minutes.  Then the bartender promptly told me she didn't have my card at all even though I had an opened tab. The bartender then proceeded to interrogate me about the conversation I had with my  credit card company demanding I pay for the drinks when she was the one who lost my card. I will never go back again. Read Less

Great neighborhood spot and wonderful changing of the art.   Sunita is warm and very welcoming.  The drinks are well made and Sunita is very attentive to customers.   One of our neighborhood favorites. Read Less

I came to Sunita on Friday night this weekend with my girlfriend. This was actually my second time to Sunita and it was just as good as I remembered. It's a cozy bar that's well appointed with an intimate feel. The owner is very friendly and welcoming. Great selection of custom house cocktails too! Read Less

I love Sunita's! I love the vibe here, always laid back. Also Sunita is such a doll. I love the idea of her being the sole employee and owner. Lots of regulars always chatting to her, which is a good sign. Any time I've come here we've had a great time- no pretentiousness or overcrowding. Always a good time! Read Less

My girls friends and I head here at lease once a year for cocktails. The place is managed by Sunita herself who makes the delicious concoctions. The bar is small and perfect for an intimate setting and small group of friends and close to some great restaurants Read Less

I cannot believe that I live in the area and never found out about this gem of a place until last night when a good friend brought me in here. Sunita is the best part of this place. She owns and runs this bar smoothly whether there are 4 clients or with the whole house filled up. She is quite skilled at entertaining and pours an excellent passion fruit jalapeno martini. You must try this drink when you stop through!The space is amazing. When I walked in at 7:30pm, immediately I liked the vibe. It was classy, with lots of red and lit beautifully. Classy, sexy and grown up. Just the way I like bars. She also carries El Dorado rum, which isn't the easiest to find in the city. And El Dorado rum is from Guyana,  which is a place so close and dear to my heart. After having a few martinis, I tried the 12-year old, which was slightly sweet and very smooth. And very easy to sip on. The 15-year old one was a bit more grown-up just as excellent. By the time my friend and I left Sunita's place at midnight, the place was swarming people having a good time and the best of all, Sunita was all smiles and the perfect hostess. I am so happy my friend tipped me off to this place. I have found a new watering hole and also a friend in the neighborhood who can make a mean cocktail! Read Less

I can't for the life of me understand the appeal of bars that blast music so you end up screaming at the people you came to the bar to have conversation with.  Unless there's a dance floor, what's the point of that?  (I suspect the point is to make you scream at your friends so that your throat gets raw and you order drinks more frequently...).  Sadly, more and more bars seem to have gone that route and they feel less like bars than slightly more grown-up versions of frat parties.   Given my quest to find bars that feel like bars, I was so happy to find Sunita a while back, and it remains my go-to in Manhattan.  It's a perfect bar: the drinks are great (especially, as everyone else has pointed out, the passionfruit jalapeno martini, which is extraordinary); Sunita (the owner) doesn't stint on the pours or swap out cheaper alcohol for whatever you've ordered; the bar is comfortable and has a nice "salon" kind of vibe; he music is good but doesn't overwhelm; and Sunita is gracious.  There's no fratty b.s., no screaming til you're hoarse, no pressure to order another drink or get out so someone more profitable can have your spot... basically, an old-fashioned bar with new-fashioned drinks.   This is what a bar should be. Read Less

This is not a great cocktail bar. HOWEVER - and this is a big however - it is an adequate cocktail bar with a fantastic, laid-back vibe. It is an adequate cocktail bar where you can actually find a table take a breath while decompressing from attempting to squeeze yourself into the Back Room or some other packed LES establishment. So it is just okay. But considering we got a text from Attaboy on this same night at 3:30 AM - THAT IS "AM" PEOPLE - the combination of chill/relaxing/warm/friendly on the LES is something I need to commend. I'm very into cocktails/mixology. Look at my cocktail list. You'll see what I mean. I'm giving Sunita Bar three stars because these cocktails are A-OK. Yes, Jalapeno martini is great. Far better than anything else offered here. Read every review of this place and that's clearly everyone's highlight. But even this drink, when comparing it to others I've had in the city, is no better than three stars. I'm just trying to bring the expectations for *drinks only* down a bit. Again, I will repeat, the jalapeno martini is thoroughly enjoyable. It's well-balanced. It's spicy. It's sweet. It's colorful! It's the signature here, clearly. We argued over who won the rights to drinking more of it. I think we did a decent job of sharing. But that's besides the point. Nothing else is worth getting, so let the jalapeno martinis flow free.You come here for that martini (or if Nurse Bettie and/or the Back Room are/is too packed), you stay for the vibe. Sunita Bar is fortunate to be sandwiched in between two very popular LES bars. Honestly, I'm not convinced it would stay in business if it was located elsewhere. That said, if plotted into a different neighborhood (UWS, perhaps), it would probably be thought of us one of the best cocktail spots in the neighborhood. Clearly the point of this review is: it's alllllllllll relative. So about that vibe. You've got a wonderfully sweet bartender, the ACTUAL Sunita of Sunita bar, which is just lovely. Having that personal touch is so rare in the city and I have to give her tons of credit in that regard. The place itself is pretty small, yet it doesn't ever seem to be crowded. There were a few small groups here when we came, but it took no effort to plop ourselves down at a table. Back to that point about everything being relative: compared literally everything else around it, Sunita Bar is calm, quite, intimate and relaxing. I'm aware that I'm being redundant. Just felt the need to hammer that point home. While we left here promptly after finishing our single round of drinks to find some more - okay, okay, call it pretentious - elegant cocktails, this was still an enjoyable experience. Read Less

Great place for specialty cocktails, low key small comfortable space. I was here in January but it looks like they can open the front doors and bring the outside in. I'm definitely headed backs when it warms up. Read Less

Sandwiched between Nurse Bettie and The Back Room, this spot was a great find. It's cozy, intimate but casual, not too dimly lit to the point where you have to hold up a candle to see your friend's face. I'm not a fan of jalapeno-infused vodka (tried it before and didn't like it), but the passion fruit jalapeno martini was surprisingly delicious and I would definitely return just to get another one. The ambience is very chill, with some lounge chairs and small sofas in addition to high chairs lining the bar. It was nowhere close to crowded at 9pm on a Saturday night, which made it the perfect substitute for two other bars in the area that we had to give up on because they were packed to the brims. The only thing was that there are no prices listed on the cocktail menu, which runs a relatively short selection of about 5-6 drinks. Still, it's the perfect (not just good) spot for dates. Not as loud as Nurse Bettie either. Read Less

Amazing.. Came to this place many years ago .. Came back tonight ..Been traveling the country due to military and never have found great drinks like this.. The owner/ jack of all trades is a chemist and does the best concussions in her lab i meant to say-- bar.. Hats off to the chemist/ bartender best martini bar in Northern hemisphere!!! Read Less

I never say this, but this bar is PERFECT! The owner/bartender/welcoming host Sunita is so friendly and a great conversationalist. She has a fascinating personal history. This 12 year old bar is a refreshing throwback to early 2000's New York, when this city used to be a little more interesting; when there were more family owned establishments and fewer Chase banks and Duane Reade's. Located on a quiet block in a busy area, this is the best hidden date spot around, or a great place to catch up with friends on the comfy couches or patio tables. At this bar, you can actually hear the other person talk! The drinks are stellar and Sunita is an expert mixologist. Best jalepeno martini I've ever had. Not too spicy, not too sweet, and had lots of flavor. Best kept secret in the city! Read Less

I never say this, but this bar is PERFECT!  The owner/bartender/welcoming host Sunita is so friendly and a great conversationalist.  She has a fascinating personal history.This 12 year old bar is a refreshing throwback to early 2000's New York, when this city used to be a little more interesting; when there were more family owned establishments and fewer Chase banks and Duane Reade's.Located on a quiet block in a busy area, this is the best hidden date spot around, or a great place to catch up with friends on the comfy couches or patio tables.  At this bar, you can actually hear the other person talk! The drinks are stellar and Sunita is an expert mixologist. Best jalepeno martini I've ever had. Not too spicy, not too sweet, and had lots of flavor. Best kept secret in the city! Read Less

Up close and personal drinking spot.  Great place to kick off the night and launch off your LES adventures! Note: it is small so if you have a large crowd go early, this will allow you to lock the place down all to your own! Read Less

Sunita is more than accommodating. She is an extremely talented mixologist, and has a sixth sense for flavors that mix well. Sunita is so personable and will remember you, as well as your favorite drink. Exposed brick wall, sexy lounge vibe, delicious drinks and mostly Sunita herself, will keep you coming back for more. Read Less

Loved this bar - based on yelp reviews we came here and it was well worth the trip!  Hung with great friends and loved the cocktails.  Had the jalapeño martini - yummers and really strong.   The wimps among us had the passion fruit jalapeño martinis and they were awesome!!!Love this place and will definitelyCome again!!!!!!! Read Less

Sunita is a lovely and intimate bar. The bartender, Sunita, makes one heck of a jalapeno passion fruit martini. The sweetness goes down nicely, and the spicy creeps up slowly. You would think its an odd combination, but drinking it is the first step to believing this drink makes sense. Nevertheless, her menu of drinks is exceptional and I will definitely go back for that passion fruit martini again.Read Less

I have not found another place like this in the Lower East Side. The cocktails are incredible and the jalapeno passion martini is unlike anything I have ever tasted. They call it the 'Perfect Affair' because it is hot, juicy, sensual, intoxicating and addicting. The drink is truly hot and the bartender/owner is even hotter, yet she is stylish, very classy and extremely friendly and unpretentious. Where else can you find that? The place is very romantic and beautiful. Service is great and the crowd is good. It's my favorite spot! Read Less

I went to Sunita on a Wednesday night and absolutely loved it! It's a super cozy place that makes you feel right at home. The drinks were very unique and tasty. Although I opted for a ginger saketini, which was very good, I was really impressed by another martini my friend ordered that had jalapeno infused vodka in it----that is a must have!! Also, this place is an excellent date venue! Try this place out, you will love it. Read Less

I love this little spot for its great cocktails, impeccable service and hand picked spirits, but now the beautiful new loungy look matches the beautiful bartender/owner. Since I found this spot, I've always been drawn to it because I absolutely love Sunita's cocktails and the fact that I always meet interesting people there. It actually feels like her living room instead of a bar. I also have to admit that a big draw to the place is Sunita herself! She is friendly, fun, classy and one look at the endless line of admirers explains that the cocktails are not the only addiction in this place! Read Less

I had been to Sunita's a few times, but was happily surprised to see a new, revamped place. The tables have been swapped for comfy couches, attracting a mixed crowd in addition to the locals. Definitely worth checking out. Read Less

We found this place on the internet and decided to try it because we read that they had amazing cocktails, similiar to Milk and Honey. Well, we certainly found amazing, addicting cocktails, but we also found much more. The cocktails are made with lots of care and attention with fresh juices, fruits and exotic ingredients. Watching Sunita, a former chemist, make her potions was like watching a chef cook food. She definitely takes pride in what she does. There is something very hypnotic about the whole place, it's warm, cozy and sultry, but you also feel special, like you were invited. I'm glad we found this little hidden gem, but I'm afraid it will be discovered and everyone will know this secret. Read Less

I love this place! The service is incredible and the cocktails are addicting because they are so good and made with such care. Jalapeno Passion Martini, Ginger Splash and Mango Mojito are my favorite. My friends and I stumbled on the place on our way to another bar and it seemed so inviting that we had to stop in. We ended up spending the rest of the evening sitting outside this beautiful bar and sipping cocktails one after another. I can't wait to go again! Read Less

I actually shouldn't write a review because I hope this place never gets too popular. I love it because it is intimate, romantic, and definitely very sexy. This is my date place. It has the feel of a very expensive place, but it's not. My dates are always impressed with the incredible cocktails and very special service. When I'm there on a date I feel like I've made reservations and special accommodations. When I'm there with my friends we enjoy single malts or great imported beers and conversation with Sunita. Read Less

Class, style and quality without attitude on the Lower East Side! A place ahead of its time. This is a place for anyone of any age looking for a fun, friendly, laid back place where everyone is special. The cocktails are also the best in town. Read Less

Sunita's has become my local, regardless of the fact that it's located nowhere near where I live or work. It's relaxing, but never dull. It's classy, but never snobbish. It's where I go if I'm looking for a drink and a chance conversation. Something about the layout of the bar lends to welcomed discussions with virtually everyone that finds themselves within the brick walls of Sunita's. Behind the bar, expect to find high-quality beers on tap, as well as a full liquor and wine stock. Although she is best known for her Mojitos, it's her Passion Martini that has everyone asking ""what is that and how do i make it at home?"". Read Less

This place has character, style, elegance, yet it's warm, friendly, inviting, down to earth and comfortable. It's feels like someone's home instead of a public place. Everyone feels at home there, especially the regulars who sometimes even pour their own drinks. This is a true neighborhood place. They have a great selection of spirits, wines, beers and the cocktails are fabulous. A great fun place! Read Less

For once a place for adults amidst all the other screaming kiddie joints down here. The music is sultry, the atmosphere seductive, and Sunita herself makes killer drinks (including a special take on the saketini and a jalepeno margarita with just enough heat), and fabulous sangria! A very romantic place but also good for a solo drink -- and Sunita's ever-sympathetic ear. A winner and classic. Read Less

I've been going to Sunitas for quite a while. It's a perfect place to chill before or after going crazy around town, or enjoy a conversation with a date. It's nice and quiet, not packed, and the drinks are good. Sunita assures me (Sunita is almost always there bartending) that when the right chef comes along, there'll be a small menu. Still, for now, the drinks and the atmosphere are enough for me. Sometimes there's live music during the week. Oh, and if you're really hungry, and you don't want to leave, you can order some delivery or take-out and eat it there. Read Less