Lumos Bar

Orson Salicetti really did an amazing job with these cocktails and infusions. One of the most original experiences you’ll find in manhattan and you won’t run out of new things to try. Cool as hell!!!

I just came back to this place again and everybody is. So friendly I love this little spot

First baijiu bar west of China. I went into it not having any knowledge of the liquor but the bartender was very helpful. He worked with me on a recommendation for a cocktail and even let me sample the baijiu by itself. The liquor is very different (similar maybe to a floral grappa?) but works so so well with the cocktails. The staff is great, the drinks are amazing, and it’s one of a kind in the Western Hemisphere. Go try it !

Drinks are good. pretty novel to drink chinese baiju but honeslty– they kind of all taste the same with a minor 5% variation depending on the added sweetness or spicyness. The sesame drink had more of a pronounced difference given it’s creamy texture. The eggplant and the crab buns were tasty side dishes loaded with sweet potatoes.

What a unique bar! The cocktails were so interesting. In total we tried 6 drinks but my one favorite was the Sesame Colada — a must try!!! Bartenders were super friendly and other drinks were pretty good too. Definitely visit if your interested in trying something new.

A drink adventure!
This place is one of a kind
Must try the Baijiu!

3.5 stars. Friendly staff, excellent service. I liked the place but not the baijiu drinks. If you like baijiu it’s worth checking it out.

Tucked away on Houston, we found this bar on a random occasion — had no idea it was a Baijiu — based bar. I found the service to be pleasant and informative, particularly for newcomers to the drink. I’ll say a few things, Baijiu is a very powerful drink so making cocktails out of this spirit seems very difficult — every drink I had, had the same Baijiu taste. For those unaware Baijiu is China’s drink of choice that I can’t say resembles anything else. It has a very strong, floral/​funky taste, with an aftertaste that reminds me of a «barn-​like» flavor. I don’t think its for everyone, but people should give it a try. The only other feedback I would add is the place seems to have an odd identity — towards the back it felt like a club/​lounge (loud music, extremely dark, etc) and the front felt like a normal, experimental cocktail bar. If you get placed in the back as a table, the experience is completely different and the «education» factor did not feel as pronounced. I hope this place succeeds because the vision seems pretty ambitious, but hey that’s why I sit behind a desk…

Fantastic concept. I grew up in China and baijiu is not something that I’ve terribly missed since I moved to the US. However this bar has a creative baijiu-​based cocktail menu, with interesting Asian ingredients including some familiar flavors such as sesame paste, goji berry, cilantro, saffron… Tried the almond cocktail — as yummy as a dessert. The simple food menu is also enticing — traditional Chinese snacks with a western twist — not bad at all. Try the crab cake and the eggplant — not the healthier food in the world but you wouldn’t regret ;)

This place is amazing– It’s a frequent stop for me as I work around the corner.
I’ve tried almost every drink there and each has a unique taste that’s amazing! Nothing like I’ve had before. The small plated food is also really yummy– my favorites are the «mitten» crab cakes and the sticky rice. Definitely a must try if you’re there to grab a bite and a few drinks!
The staff is extremely attentive as well as the owner, Qifan. I threw a small get together there one night and she made sure everything went smoothly.
I highly suggest you go for a visit!

A brief primer for those unfamiliar with the Chinese spirit known as Baijiu:
Most commonly a grain-​based alcohol that can be distilled from sorghum, wheat, barley, or millet, much like vodka, Baijiu is a strong alcohol usually residing in the 40−60% alcohol-​by-​volume range. It smells like flowers and tastes like fire. The Scots may have whisky, the Japanese – sake, and the Americans – bourbon, but the Chinese will always have the strongest liquor there is.
Baijiu is extremely potent and especially strong in comparison to vodka/​rum/​tequila and for the longest time I thought it impossible to mask the strong fiery taste that I often associate with China’s most popular liquor. Yet, on a quiet Thursday night, I finally had the chance to check out Lumos Bar in the west village and I was pretty blown away by the concoctions that they came up with to highlight this little-​known liquor. Fundamentally, each drink here equates to three at your average bar. That is DEFINITELY the best bang for your buck right there. If you want to feel a nice buzz to start off your night, I suggest grabbing two drinks here before you head off into the night. I had the vanilladew (essentially Baijiu and honeydew juice) and the seven other people with me tried an assortment of fruity cocktails and every single one of them did a masterful job of masking the sharp sting of Baijiu. The only remnant left was actually the strong flowery smell that many Baijiu liquors give off. I was thoroughly impressed and will definitely be coming back in the future. The space is split into two: front room and back room area with a spotlight, which I imagine would be good for standup or small shows. The bar staff was extremely friendly and welcoming.
I will definitely be back in the near future.

As a Chinese, I would say the cocktails there are perfectly merged with Baijiu, and what impressed me is that baijiu is traditionally super strong alcohol, but you wont feel that way in lumos. it taste like fruit, flower, milk… pretty boss and cute bartenders are even PLUS. it was fun weekend.

Special ingredients to get special drinks. A bar on its rise. Join from the start to witness the growth!
Nice place I frequent after work. Very nice bartenders and live music on Friday.

Great amazing place for drinks after dinner or to grand a bite accompanied by delicious cocktails.
Everything is handmade, all juices are freshly squeezed which is very important for me.
The staff is extremely friendly and on point and the owner Qifan is a doll, extremely caring to her customer. We’ll definitely be back.

First the good: The drinks are unique and delicious, the bar does a great job of balancing out the Baiju with other ingredients without overwhelming the taste of the liquor.
And the not-​so-​good: Drinks are made with pre-​mixed ingredients — none of the showmanship /​craftsmanship that you expect from a $ 15/​cocktail speakeasy.
The space: — little decoration, absolutely nothing that makes it stand out.
The music is all over the place (Sweet Home Alabama… Ice Ice Baby) Shuffle on Spotify would have fared better. It did improve a bit as the night wore on. Was there at midnight on Saturday and the place was near-​empty.
All in all — Lumos can’t quite decide whether it’s a nightclub, a speakeasy, a performance space, or a dive bar. As a result… it misses the mark from every angle. I’m amazed at the positive reviews… but I personally won’t be back here again.

A great new cocktail bar for downtown with a one-​of-​a-​kind concept around Baijui, really love the taste and they have a perfect drink and food menu to fit the mood. I’ve been here many times and its just keeps getting better, highly recommend!

What a fun place !! Really sexy speak easy the cocktails are amazing and it’s really fun on the weekends! The lavender sour kicks ass !!!

Trendy new speak easy spot. Amazing new drinks I have never had before. Cool atmosphere to chill after work. Low key, dim lighting and chilled out music. I will definitely be coming here throughout the summer.

Very unique experience. Baijou bar, and cool people. The drinks taste good and are real

First BaiJiu bar in U.S. BaiJiu is a Chinese traditional liquor when it mixed into the cocktails it gives the drink more depth and an unforgettable unique taste!