Entry No. 41 — the New York City file — filed under: speakeasy
Attaboy
There is no sign and no menu. You ring the buzzer at an unmarked metal door with a small "AB" where a peephole would be, and inside bartenders build a custom cocktail around whatever spirits and flavors you name. It occupies the original Milk & Honey space, the legendary speakeasy where Sam Ross created modern classics like the Penicillin and Paper Plane before he and Michael McIlroy turned the room into Attaboy in 2012.
The story
You didn't hear it from us, but 134 Eldridge Street is ground zero for modern cocktail canon. Before co-owners Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy converted this narrow Lower East Side space into Attaboy in 2012, the room housed Milk & Honey—the birthplace where Ross created ubiquitous modern classics like the Penicillin and the Paper Plane.
When Ross and McIlroy took over, they discarded Milk & Honey's rigid, dial-in reservation system but kept the defining trick: there is no printed menu or QR code on the bar. You take a stool, state your spirit of choice or whatever bitter, herbal, or sour craving you brought in off the pavement, and the bartenders build a custom cocktail on the spot around your parameters.
Despite consistently placing on lists like The World's 50 Best Bars, the bar refuses to put up signage. Outside, the storefront remains an unadorned metal door with only two small letters stamped where a peephole used to be.
What it's like
Find the unmarked metal door at 134 Eldridge Street, locate the small 'AB' stamped where the peephole belonged, and press the buzzer. The inside is tight and seating fills fast, so expect to wait on the sidewalk during peak hours unless you arrive right around the 5 PM opening. Door staff strictly enforce a maximum party size of six and require a valid physical ID for entry. Once seated, surrender control to the bartender—just speak up about what flavors you like and let them handle the rest.
The move: Ring the unmarked bell, squeeze into the tiny room, and challenge the bartender to invent two off-menu cocktails based on your moods.
📍 Before you go No menu; tell the bartender your preferences. Cash-friendly, small space, expect a wait. Open daily 5pm-3am.
- 📍 Lower East Side
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 134 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Back Room — Pair Attaboy's menu-less custom drinks with another Lower East Side hideaway entered through an alley marked for a toy company.
- Apothéke — Walk five minutes south into Chinatown to trade Attaboy's stripped-back room for absinthe cocktails in a former apothecary on Doyers Street.
- Hua Mei Bird Garden — If you are out late on Eldridge Street, head right across the park the next morning to see songbird owners gather at the edge of Sara D. Roosevelt Park.
- Please Don't Tell (PDT) — Compare two foundational NYC speakeasy lineages by heading north to PDT, accessed through a phone booth inside a hot dog shop.
Good to know
Is there a menu at Attaboy?
No. There are no paper or digital menus. Bartenders consult with you individually on your preferred base spirits, flavor profiles, or mood to build a tailored drink on the fly.
How do you get inside and do you need reservations?
Attaboy does not accept reservations. You walk up to the unmarked door at 134 Eldridge Street, ring the bell next to the 'AB' mark, and wait for staff to clear space inside. Groups are strictly limited to six people or under.
What famous drinks were invented in this building?
When the room operated as Milk & Honey prior to becoming Attaboy in 2012, bartender Sam Ross created both the Penicillin and the Paper Plane behind this counter.
What are Attaboy's operating hours?
Attaboy opens daily from 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site · Time Out · theworlds50best.com
last checked: 2026-06-23