Sweet and Vicious, NoLita | New York on Tap

Overview

By Chris Lukic

Depending on night and time changes from a chill lounge to a packed pick up joint, but then depending on the night and time maybe your preferences change as well.

Why you should go

Succssfuly straddles that thin line between a pick up joint and a comfortable place to hang out, as the night goes on it veers pretty heavily into meat market territory.
The garden is fantastic, one of the most beautiful in the city and complemented by the keen service.
The $5 draft Guinness is pretty decent.

What you should know

The vibe changes dramaticaly as it gets later. Before 10 it's a chill and relaxed lounge, but as the night goes on it picks up to the point of insanity. Go at 10 leave at midnight, or make sure you're too drunk to mind the crowds by then.
Bring a group early and take over the back garden it's worth it.
There's a $40 minimum on credit card tabs.

History

From party bar to upscale tavern, per the paperwork

Sweet and Vicious kept its own calendar. In September 2008 a bartender told Eater's correspondent that Wednesday had been the first night open after the bar's surprise summer vacation¹. It had been at 5 Spring Street since about 1998², and our old listing said it changed with the night and the hour, from a chill lounge to a packed pick-up joint.

In July 2022 New York's attorney general announced a $500,000 settlement for more than a dozen current and former employees of Sweet and Vicious, over sexual harassment³.

In February 2025 Delta Charlie NYC sought a new tavern license from the State Liquor Authority, to run an upscale tavern on the ground floor at 5 Spring Street². Thrillist now lists Sweet and Vicious as permanently closed⁴. Delta Charlie is there now^{5, 6}.

Sources

Researched October 2026.

Sweet and Vicious

In 2026