Review The Campbell - New York City

The Campbell is the quintessential speak-easy bar tucked away in a quiet corner of Grand Central Station. In fact, I have walked by the entrance countless times without realizing it was there. This is a place you go for the atmosphere over all other considerations. It is genuinely unique and interesting. The drinks are solid, but I did take a point off for their very expensive prices. The food choices are very basic and the menu is, honestly, a bit strange…. From olives to mini lobster rolls to chocolate chip cookies… huh? It is a small place, and it can get crowded, so best to make a reservation. It’s not an ‘everyday’ bar, but it’s worth checking out for the history.

You would think that the highlights in New York should be the sights... During our stay, it was the Campbell Bar. Apart from the incredible cocktails, the bartender Justin was simply the best in the whole bar! Someone who must also be mentioned is Fred, he has contributed significantly to our well-being! Thank you for everything! Everyone was so welcoming, we got surprise cocktails & on top of that local tips for restaurants to visit! We were in New York for 7 days, 4 of which we spent our evenings at the Campbell, once we were even there twice! (As you can see, we were thrilled) A big thank you to the whole team for giving us an unforgettable stay! We will definitely see you next year!

A wonderful place to grab a reservation for a drink and a bite in Grand Central with a dark, romantic, old school vibe. The menu prices reflect the location. I really enjoyed the Picante Conde. We asked for the cheese plate to be meat free and got a cheese plate with a huge amount of one type of cheese. Overall, it's a fun spot to check out but mostly for the location.

More than perfect, describes it best! Our expectations for the former Speak-Easy Bar were more than exceeded! The Campbell Bar combines elegance, charm, history, and excellent service at the highest level. Our deepest gratitude goes to bartender Justin, who could anticipate our every desire and visibly delighted us on each of the four evenings we were there! He is the one who defines the excellent service! Fred embodies the elegant charm and welcoming atmosphere as a person! What impressed us the most, besides the amazing cocktails, was that Fred and Justin genuinely took care of us. On the first night, when one of the guests seemed suspicious, Fred and Justin pointed it out to us, making us, as young ladies in an initially unfamiliar bar, feel truly secure! First stop as soon as we're back in town! Thank you so much for everything!

Stunner of a bar with perfect location to grab a cocktail before hopping on a train. The high-ceiling, low light space is downright beautiful and the staff are prompt and professional. Drinks are certainly pricey but they’re spectacular. Really enjoyed their Peachy Keen cocktail and espresso martini. And if you’re hitting Amtrak or metro north, consider using their lovely aromatic bathroom before entering the train station.

The interior of the place is incredibly inviting, with a cozy and fabulous atmosphere that transports you to another world filled with modern people. I enjoyed observing the bartenders skillfully prepare drinks, which was quite entertaining. The New York attitude was definitely present. I do have to mentioned that the waitress and hostess were both charming and delightful. I ordered the vesper cocktail, which was refreshingly clean and crisp, in other words, absolutely delicious. However, I was a bit disappointed with the mini lobster roll as it was overly salty and not the best I've had. I would recommend sticking to the charcuterie or olives instead. I would definitely come back for a drink!

If you want the best experience that combines class, top notch service, elevated ambiance, and an excellent liquor/cocktail selection, make your way to The Campbell as soon as you can. Bartenders like Scott will make sure you get exactly what you need, in a way that shows you why the classy crowd loves this place. Simply can’t rate it highly enough - I stopped by three times in one week because the quality and execution can’t be beat.

Magnificent bar conveniently located in the heart of midtown manhattan at Grand Central. Bar bites were tasty and the service behind the bar was good. Ambiance is great with high ceilings and business professionals always present.

Exquisite. - I've left my written review with just this word since posting it to Google Maps in June 2023 up for a week because if there is only one word to describe The Campbell, exquisite would be it. In more detail, the 1923 private office and reception hall built for the renowned financier John W. Campbell inside the Grand Central Terminal is something to behold. Love every detail that was fully restored keeping the original architecture while adding modern elements of design. John Campbell chose the lavish look of 13th century Florentine style which is very ornate and elaborate in its use of gold paints and expensive materials whether glass, stone or upholstery, and its grand spaces. Here the 25 foot ceilings showcase laboriously hand painted wood beams with a multitude of colored symbols and patterns. The fireplace has a griffin carved into its stone overmantel and Campbell's personal safe in the firebox. Stained glass windows are illuminated but the overall feel to the room is private and dark. There is a balcony in the bar near the front, and two other rooms other than the bar. One is the Palm Court, with views of the GCT concourse and tall palm trees, and the other is the Terrace, which naturally is outside with its own bar and street views plus cushioned sectionals giving it a more lounge-like feel. We ordered two drinks from their cocktail menu, the French 75 which was actually made with the Ford gin I was going to request seeing it in their stock, and the GG Manhattan. A family member ordered a glass of ice tea. Our wait staff told us they no longer had the meatball sliders on the menu but now had lobster sliders instead. We agreed to share these and an order of hummus with warm pita and crudite. Both dishes were finely prepared and enjoyable. I guess this magnificent space can be intimidating for some people as we saw two women in sundresses and sandals come in the doorway to quickly snap a photo and then turn and run back down the stairs. Biding our time before heading downtown for a walking tour in NoHo (which I'll also be reviewing) we can't think of a better place we could have done this soaking in every minute. Arriving soon after their opening hour of noon, we were able to be seated without a reservation on a Sunday. The bartender said their really busy hours start on Thursday. It's best to book a table during this time especially for dinner.

I had a great time, live jazz is played every week on Saturdays at 9 so I made reservations for 8:30. Good thing I did too cause it gets crowded. The band plays kinda loud so I suggest sitting towards the back if you decide to go there so you can hear the music but also talk to whoever is across the table from you. Drinks were alright. I got the GG Manhattan and it was a solid Manhattan.

A hidden gem of midtown! Feels like a golden art of art deco lounge. Cocktails were lovely and snacks were better than you’d expect for bar food. Pretzels were a 10/10! Heads up can get very loud especially after work hours. For more than 2 or 3 definitely call for a reservation! Entrance is a bit hidden. Enter from 42nd and walk up Vanderbilt Ave. Entrance is to the right. Enter the first door and the interior area up the carpeted stairs to the right.

Photos don’t do this place justice. Beautiful bar and lounge with a dark but warm atmosphere. Stopped in on a Monday after work and it was busy but still with space at the bar and a couple of tables open. I highly recommend stopping in and having a drink if you’re passing by Grand Central, however be prepared to pay $20 for a cocktail. Though I will say I had an Old Fashioned and it was worth the price.

Cool bar but what’s with the soundtrack? The Jackson five. Really? It’s 2024, let’s get with the program. 😎

Unique bar in NYC that only so many know. Atmosphere was good. Cocktails were average. Prices are above average.

Justin and Scott are professionals of the highest caliber. Their drinks are phenomenal and their recommendations are always spot on. They go above and beyond to create a wonderful atmosphere. My only regret is that time passes too quickly when they’re behind the bar!

Very good cocktail 🍸 bar! We were party of 4 and we were limited to 1hr and 30min. Which I think is not enough time, especially people come and spend decent $, let them enjoy. But nyc changed with covid and they started enforcement of time slots and just kept it. Still 5 starts overall!:) very good cocktails and jazz music 🎷!

I love this place! First time, the Staff was amazing. But let’s talk about the ambiance, the decor and the layout…. 5 stars! This is a hidden gem. Absolutely stunning venue. We had just finished a tour at the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and wasn’t ready to call it a night, glad I was able to find this place using google maps, the drinks were delicious, presentation was great. The music wasn’t too load and you could have a conversation. Everyone was in business attire so it made it very elegant and classy. This was around 10:30pm and we stayed til 1am.