Cocktail bar
Unclaimed profileBar Goto
New York, NY · $$$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Bar Goto's cocktail program is anchored by the Sakura Martini, a sake-gin-maraschino blend with cherry blossom salinity that The Times calls a modern classic. The menu leans Japanese: shochu-driven Shiso Chuha, Hojicha Old Fashioned with roasted green tea, and a Bar Goto Vesper with pickled shallot. Shochu and sake lists run deep, with a private-label Junmai Daiginjo. Non-alcoholic options are equally considered, from Shiso Collins N/A to Suze Tonic Zero.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Sakura Martini, then the Shiso Chuha for a dry, herbaceous sparkler. The Hojicha Old Fashioned offers toasty depth, while the Yuzu Margarita delivers bright citrus. For spirits, try the 10-year aged Mugon shochu.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail enthusiasts seeking Japanese-inspired craftsmanship, sake and shochu novices wanting guided exploration, and anyone wanting a well-made non-alcoholic drink in a moody, intimate setting.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails $12-$19; shochu pours $14-$21; non-alcoholic drinks $9-$15; Prosecco (375 ml) $16-$45; private label sake $17-$90.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- A Japanese-inspired cocktail bar with a private-label Junmai Daiginjo from Koimari Sake Brewery, a deep shochu and awamori selection, and a whisky reserve list—backed by James Beard and Tales of the Cocktail recognition.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Japanese-inspired cocktail menu with unique ingredients like shochu, yuzu, and shiso. Signature drinks include Sakura Martini, Yuzu Margarita, and Hojicha Old Fashioned. Praised as elegant and creative.
Menu strengths
- — Sakura Martini described as an undisputed classic by The Times.
- — Use of Japanese ingredients like shochu, yuzu, and shiso throughout.
- — Recognition from James Beard, Tales of the Cocktail, and World's 50 Best Bars.
Standout selections
- — Sakura Martini: sake, gin, maraschino, cherry blossom—elegant, lightly floral with gentle salinity.
- — Shiso Chuha: red shiso shochu, gin, soda with pickled pearl onion—dry and herbaceous.
- — Hojicha Old Fashioned: cognac, aged rum, Kyoto roasted green tea, mole bitters—toasty and rich.
- — Yuzu Margarita: tequila, yuzu, lime, sea salt—bright and citrusy at $19.
Pricing: Cocktails range from $12 to $19.
Wine
Limited wine selection: one Prosecco (Adami Bosco di Gica) in 375 ml bottles. Sake fills the wine-like role with a private label Junmai Daiginjo.
Menu strengths
- — Private label Junmai Daiginjo offers a unique sake alternative.
Standout selections
- — Adami Bosco di Gica Prosecco (375 ml) available at $16-$45.
- — Bar Goto Private Label Sake: Junmai Daiginjo with melon aroma and effervescence, $17-$90.
Pricing: Prosecco (375 ml) priced $16-$45.
Beer
Small but on-theme beer list: Asahi Super Dry and Orion Japanese Rice Lager. Asahi Super Dry 0.0 available. Limited variety, but fits the Japanese focus.
Menu strengths
- — Japanese rice lagers complement the bar's theme.; Non-alcoholic beer option included.
Standout selections
- — Asahi Super Dry: Japanese rice lager.
- — Asahi Super Dry 0.0: non-alcoholic version at $9.
Pricing: Asahi Super Dry 0.0 priced at $9.
Nonalcoholic
Thoughtful non-alcoholic program with three N/A cocktails and a N/A beer. Shiso Collins N/A and Negroni Spritz N/A are citrusy and herbaceous; Suze Tonic Zero is gentian-based.
Menu strengths
- — Ingredients mirror the main cocktail menu's Japanese style.
Standout selections
- — Shiso Collins N/A: yuzu, lime, green shiso, soda—citrusy and herbaceous at $13.
- — Negroni Spritz N/A: N/A negroni and soda—bracing and bubbly at $12.
- — Suze Tonic Zero: gentian root with tonic water at $15.
Pricing: Non-alcoholic drinks range from $9 to $15.
Spirits
Extensive shochu and awamori selection with detailed tasting notes, plus a rotating Japanese whisky reserve list. Sake also prominent with private label.
Menu strengths
- — Deep shochu and awamori list with educational descriptions.
- — Private label sake partnership with Koimari Sake Brewery.
Standout selections
- — Hyaku shochu: Kumamoto, 23%—crisp, clean, gentle at $14.
- — Mugon 10yr Aged: Kumamoto, 40%—silky, nutty, evergreen oak aged at $20.
- — Tenshi no Yuwaku: Kagoshima, 40%—creamy, elegant, caramel at $21.
Pricing: Shochu pours range from $14 to $21.
How it sits with the food
Food menu is concise but well-received; okonomiyaki and miso wings pair with the savory umami of the Bar Goto Vesper or the roasted tea notes of the Hojicha Old Fashioned.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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