The Cash Bar

I can’t really review this place as they didn’t honor their gift certificate. I bought an online deal through a website. The bar tells you that you need to email to make a reservation but no one ever answers the email (and theres no listed phone number). My friend and I showed up on the last day of the voucher and I was running late so she ordered a drink. There was room at the bar for us (without a reservation) but it is a very small intimate place. While the bartender was happy to serve us drinks and food he simply «could not possibly accept (our) voucher.»
If there was no room for us I could understand. The place only has a handful of small tables and a few stools at a very small bar. But, we both had seats and if we were willing to pay full price (after already paying $ 40 for their promotional voucher) we would’ve been served. We decided to leave and try again to email them. We were disappointed though (as we just picked out what we wanted to order)
I tried to email them again to use at a later date and no response. It’s been over a month and a half now (and three emails later). I know another friend had the exact same experience with Cash Bar.

Cash-​only bar (and no, the name didn’t derive from that, just a coincidence), although the secret entrance is pretty obvious… c’mon, does anyone actually think that is a real ATM machine? In Ronald McDonald land, the Hamburglar may try to steal what’s inside, but not here. Drinks were pretty standard, though clever with the president’s names. Inside is pretty cool except the big money box in the middle had a huge crack in it from someone trying to break into it the weekend before. The Peso is really strong, so make sure you drink water w/​it or have some food.

I went here on a Gilt deal from a friend. You have to reserve the deal, and even though we communicated all morning with the woman who does such, she stopped responding at 2pm and therefore, did not put our reservation in and the bartender could not honor it. He was nice enough and tried texting her to make it happen but come on, fix your system!
We stayed for one specialty cocktail anyway. It was ok. I’m not a big fan of overly crowded bars, but this place was so empty it was almost uncomfortable. There were two other patrons for most of our visit. It felt like we were intruding the entire time. Very unlikely I will go back.

You go inside a bar and then see an «out of order» ATM, which serves as a door to this bar! Hehe… I always like speakeasies… they’re just fun to discover: P
Anyways, this place is a bit small and intimate. They’ve got the usual mix of drinks, but it’s not as nice and fancy as other places.

Though the speakeasy trend is nothing new, I was excited about the «Out of Order» ATM twist here. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the door was already open. Kind of destroyed the façade.
The music was eclectic. And by eclectic I mean horrible — it was very trendy Top 40 hits from all genres and it was loud enough to be distracting.
I ordered 2 Old Fashioneds and 1 of their signature cocktails, the Jackie O. The Jackie O required grapefruit juice, which the bartender informed me he was out of, so I made it 3 Old Fashioneds.
They came in tall tumblr classes filled with ice and they tasted like cheap whiskey with fresh lemon squeezed in and two maraschino cherries plopped in at the end. It’s a drink that’s become exponentially more popular with every passing season of Mad Men, and the bartender didn’t have a clue. At least they were only $ 9?
Avoid this one. It’s not even kitschy or divey enough to be unique and fun. It just sucks. And it’s in Murray Hill because it’d never survive the likes of Brooklyn or the LES.
Side note: it is, indeed, a cash bar. But there is a functioning ATM downstairs in the bar beneath The Cash Bar.

I wasn’t a fan of the drinks… they were… interesting?
Cool concept but wee bit overpriced for subpar drinks.

I have a special place in my heart for hideously difficult-​to-​find speakeasies that pretend there’s something cute about the «¾» in their name or stationing a defunct ATM machine as their entrance. No, wait, that’s actually really adorable. Some guy was sitting outside while my friend and I were sputtering about where «¾» was, pointed us in the right direction, and checked our IDs. As soon as I step inside, this 300lb-​heavy guy in a suit marches up, barks to see our IDs, and then makes us recite our birthdays. Charming. This ain’t my first rodeo, you know.
Up a flight of stairs and you start noticing what the theme is: big olé dolla signs everywhere. As in the wallpaper is dollar bills taped over each other. As in the grand centerpiece of the room is this glass vault with stacks of bills inside. There isn’t a ton of seating upstairs but if you can, try to nab the table in the leftmost corner — it’s further away from the speakers, so you’re not trying to have that soul-​baring conversation while shouting over some weird French mix of «Levels.» My friend and I went on a Friday, and the cocktail menu was First Ladies and First Mistresses. My Marilyn Monroe was tasty.
Maybe we just went relatively early on in the evening but this place still seems undiscovered in comparison to Death & Co. or Angelshare. Place is dark and steamy and really sexy, and even if your date doesn’t pan out, there is just so much freaking money to stare at.

Came here with a few friends after a friend raved about this place and the drink called the Pound which she loved the last time she came.
It wasn’t difficult to find the entrance as the door was open (it’s a fake ATM door), however it was nice to walk up and see an intimate space with the walls covered in cash, the tables covered in coins, and a square box in the middle filled with cash (fitting for the name).
However what wasn’t fitting was the drink menu. From conversation with the bar tender, it seems as though they change their menu often so it was onto the first and famous ladies.
The drinks, as true to speakeasy drinks were served in «non glasses», and ours came in large mason jars, so the price of drinks were definitely worth the amount of drinks you end up getting. Unfortunately I had ordered a drink which had jalepeno in it, but I found the jalepeno overpowering the drink in not a good way.
The big downside is that when we walked in, we actually had to go up to the bartender who kind of ignored us for a while. When we asked for drink menus he said that they didn’t have any and they had a full bar we could choose from. Then finally he found the drink menus, but took a while to actually order the drinks. I could have understood if the place was packed, but it was only 3 of us.
Also they had a DJ was playing hip hop in a speakeasy. The music was a bit too loud for the size of the space, and I could have easily done without.

Of all the speakeasys this one was least impressive. The fake ATM was already open as if a regular door to a bar. It was hidden in plain sight. That being said the drinks were cool and served in tea pots.

First time here for a quick drink before I went out to dinner. Cool vibe in a speakeasy kind of way. I tried the Pound based on other Unilocal reviews. Thanks Valerie G! The pound (Gin, Cucumber, and Ginger Ale) is that summer refreshing gin concoction that I crave. The ATM door thing is cool to me. Cash only. I will be back for sure.

The experience was only… ok. The concept was great, but the experience left me desiring a bit more. I was a disappointed that it was so easy to find (the «ATM» door was open). I was also surprised at how small the space felt. The drinks were strong, the food was typical bar food (no surprises). I was expecting «Milk and Honey» and I got a ‘themed” Bar. Not bad, but not great. I would give it 3.5 stars. Disclosure: I used a GILT voucher for 4 drinks and 2 appetizers.

I’ve had Cash Bar bookmarked forever, and I finally got a chance to swing by after work Thursday with some friends.
It wasn’t difficult to find, mostly because the door leading to Cash Bar was already open.
The bartender was pretty friendly. He came over and took our drink orders and once in a while we’d go up to him and order.
The drinks however, were subpar and uneven. Our first round consisted of the Pound, the Peseta and the Franc. The Pound was OK (Fresh with lime and gin). The Peseta however, was horrible. It could easily be confused with cough syrup. The Franc with was light and fruity. Later I switched over to the Kennedy, which was probably my favorite drink (Bacardi, lime and sugar).
We ordered a few rounds, but what I noticed was the drinks were sometime strong and sometimes watered down, but never consist ant. It was really odd.
Kudos though to the bartender who let me and my friends wile out a bit when it cleared out, and letting us put on some dancehall tunes. I must apologize for my girlf who started grinding on the wall filled with dollar bills.
All in all, Cash Bar is a great place to stop by but until they get their signature cocktails consistent, I probably won’t be back.

Coole Bar, echt schönes Konzept mit dem versteckt sein :) Die Drinks waren kreativ bezeichnet und hatten gute Geschichten dazu insgesamt also ein wirklich gut durchdachtes Konzept. Einziges Manko: nur 1 Drink, den ich wirklich interessant fand (heißt: fruchtig und süß). Aber sonst gerade für Männer echt zu empfehlen;)

Coole Bar, echt schönes Konzept mit dem versteckt sein :) Die Drinks waren kreativ bezeichnet und hatten gute Geschichten dazu — insgesamt also ein wirklich gut durchdachtes Konzept. Einziges Manko: nur 1 Drink, den ich wirklich interessant fand (heißt: fruchtig und süß). Aber sonst gerade für Männer echt zu empfehlen;)

Cash Bar is along my walk to/​from work + I had it bookmarked in a while = me trying to find the fake «ATM» every single day. I finally realized that the fake ATM is located INSIDE Murray Bar! WAHOOOOO (:
I took 2 of my close gfs here for intimate drinks to start off our Friday night. I found it hilarious how a bunch of people were standing right outside the ATM and asking «Is this where it is?» before we opened the door behind it and went upstairs ;)
The bar was not packed at all for about 10pm — a great treat for people who actually want to hear each other’s conversations over cocktails. There was the requisite giant box of «cash monays» in the center of the room, surrounded by about 6 or 7 little tables. The tables don’t sit a group of more than 3, so if you come in a large group feel free to sit at the bar!
We started off with a few cocktails each — I had the Pound (Gin, Cucumber, Ginger Ale) and the Franc (Bubbly, Chambord, Pineapple). The Pound was pretty forgettable but I enjoyed the Franc. The cocktails are all $ 12 each and CASH ONLY, obvs :)
Definitely a cute place to bring a date. The soft cushiony chair in the north-​west corner is really as plush as it seems!
PS — You should go up the bar to order drinks before returning to your seats. They don’t really serve you here! Case in point: the gals next to us waited in their seats for about 15 mins before one of them went up to order at the bar. She sat back down and had the bartender bring it to them, which I suppose is not something they typically do. The result? He stood around awkwardly lurking for what seemed like forever for them to pay the bill. Save the bartender the awkwardness & order your own drinks ASAP!

A yay for happy hour! I came here on a quiet Wednesday night for a few drinks, and it was the perfect place to catch up with a girlfriend. Not too many seats, so I can imagine it being loud and crowded on the weekends, but the weekday evening environment was pleasant and intimate. Bartender was nice and made some good strong cocktails.
The environment isn’t very «speakeasy”-like, but definitely a nice get-​away from the typical bars in the area.

An actual speakeasy that was challenging to find. So I have to admit that my stars are not based on customer service or drinks since we didn’t stay. I give this place props for finding a good hiding spot. The entrance is an «Out of Order» ATM. Unfortunately it took a while to find because the ATM door was open. It wasn’t until we closed the door that we said, «Ohhhhh. here it is!» The door opens to a stairway that leads up to Cash Bar. It’s a small bar. dimly lit and intimate. Too bad there wasn’t any room to sit, then we probably would have stayed for a drink. It’s not really that type of place to drink and stand. Instead, we headed down to Experimental cocktail club in the lower east side that was definitely super fun and didn’t make me feel bad for traveling to Murray hill and not having drink. I’d come back to try this place out. 4 stars for cool.

I’d been looking forward to trying The Cash Bar for a while — it sounded like such a hip place to have in Murray Hill! It wasn’t bad, but definitely wasn’t anything special. It was a little hard to find (it’s upstairs behind a sign outdoors that says «DRINKS UPSTAIRS for all gamblers & fancy ladies» — my friend and I were very happy to be the fancy ladies).
The whole place smelled overwhelmingly of chocolate due to a scented candle, and the décor cracked us up — walls covered in money, $ 1 million in a box in the center of the room, and giant portraits of past presidents. Our cocktails were just okay, but they were priced better than they are elsewhere (I think $ 9 and $ 10).
I probably won’t be running back, but we had a great time having a makeshift photo shoot with all of the money!

My friends and I went here in August for a trivia night. It was a lot of fun! It was still happy hour until 8 which is a plus. Not much room to sit and relax but that’s what makes it so intimate. We ordered fried mac and cheese and buffalo wings. Fried mac and cheese was delicious! The buffalo wings were good but the first time we ordered they were so tiny! Sooo… tiny…We ordered more wings and they were HUGE! That was a little strange but at least we got our moneys worth the second time around.
My favorite though was the teapot «drinks with the first lady.» I can’t remember which ones we ordered but one had wine and the other had champagne and they both were delicious. They were $ 20 each and came with two teacups. Very cute. I would come back for those alone!
Also, for you Harry Potter fans… the address alone makes it exciting to go there.

Yay a speakeasy type place in murray hill (will be going to middle branch soon). Finally I don’t have to trek out of my hood for some kind of a chiller atmosphere. Murray hill is plagued with sports bars and this is just what is needed, a little diversity and maybe a touch of class. Less sports and bud light and more presidents and cocktails!
Really not hard to find the door and get in. Atm looks ghetto but good enough to fool some people apparently (referring to people here and some of my friend who waited outside a bit while I was sipping on my glass). But upstairs is like transforming into a different world. its quite refreshing. It’s dark but not so dark you can’t read the menu but enough that it adds to the ambiance and lends itself to the paintings they have up with it’s own light showcasing it. Also I like the fireplace thing but I am not sure how I feel about it if I want to go there and really enjoy myself. It is pleasant but can get boring. Maybe have like a old black and white silent film or something.
The furniture is a mix of outdoor metal fancy patio set and chairs and couches that look like they belong in the a Victorian castle or something (dig it).
And then there is a big stack of cold hard cash (which imo looks fake) in the middle of the room. Just kinda there (still digging it).
The drinks. Been trying their presidential drinks like the George Washington and the FDR. Both not bad but I think I have yet to find a drink that I really love. Hopefully I will.
Will be getting familiar with this place in the near future.

I’m such a fan! It used to be called TheCashBar but now it’s Shhh bar, just another speakeasy, but it’s in Murray Hill, wahoo!
The drinks are great and the themes are fun — ie. drinks having to do with presidents and such. The décor is old fashioned, and the music is too.
The waitress– Bobbie– was very friendly and got us free shots on the house.
This is a place for drinks with a friend or a date — happy hour until 8pm everyday when the drinks are $ 8 instead of $ 12, for example.

First review for this place? Holler!
Found out about this new establishment via a Thrillest email last week. I work in the area, and thought it was really cool a speakeasy was opening up in an area that doesn’t have a lot of unique bars.
Went with three other friends after downing a couple drinks at a bar near Penn station. I have to admit, I did get a thrill opening up the false ATM and climbing the stars to The Cash Bar.
The Cash Bar had an old school romantic vibe, with soft lighting, chaise lounges, and a glass case holding «a million dollars» in the center of the room. It was busy, but not uncomfortably so. After standing at the bar for about ten minutes, we were able to sit near the window and lounge on all the old fashioned furniture. The tables are covered in laquared coins, and the walls are plastered with bills. The main decorations are antiques and huge portraits of our Founding Fathers. I am embarrassed to say that I swore one was John Quincy Adams, when it was really Hamilton. I’ll blame it on the beer goggles.
Drinks were president or money-​themed, with catchy recipes and names. Honestly, the flavor of my drink was not really memorable. It was a bit too sweet and tart for my liking. Not even close to being on the same par as Please Don’t Tell, or other speakeasies with «mixologists».
So, the music here was freaking AWESOME. They played slow down covers of rap songs. Picture «Back that Ass Up» but with violins, serenading you while you sip from a martini glass. Hilarious. One of those moments where you say…“Could this be? Is this… Back that Ass Up?“
There’s still room for improvement. The bartender explained that they’ve only been open a couple of weeks. Our drinks were on the expensive side ($ 10 or more), and they were far from being filled to the brim. The bartender said they only took cash, but then asked us to close our tab, showing us a credit card, when we were leaving. Wait, I thought you only took cash? Strange.
All in all, loved the vibe of this place. It’s hard to be unique in NYC, but The Cash Bar does it! My experience had a few hiccups, but nothing abnormal in a brand new business. I’ll be back soon!