When the average watering hole won’t do — whether you want to impress clients or just luxuriate in fabulous environs — a hotel bar is the place to go. New York is full of boutique and iconic hotels, but these five have something more. It’s that “it” factor that just can’t be replicated. They’re the spots to go when you really want to feel glamorous or partake in some “see-and-be-seen” scenery.
Rose Bar in The Gramercy Park Hotel
You’re sure to find the city’s glitterati and at least one canoodling celebrity couple behind these notoriously tight doors. If you can make it inside (calling ahead for a reservation is a must), there’s nothing like the subtly perfumed interior with its functioning fireplace, lush velvet couches and priceless artwork adorning the walls.
2 Lexington Avenue
Lobby Bar in The Bowery Hotel
I call this one “old faithful” because it never lets you down. Open to guests and non-guests alike, the lobby bar is a laid-back but still stylish retreat for those in need of a drink and social ambiance. In the summer, the garden terrace opens which makes for warm romantic evenings over a cold glass of champagne.
335 Bowery
Lobby of The Ace Hotel
The newly opened Ace Hotel is a bastion of British culture, with the Breslin Bar & Dining Room, as well as the happening Lobby Bar, under the direction of famed English restaurateur April Bloomfield. At the Lobby Bar, worn-in leather couches create a cozy ambiance, and imported beers as well as, yes, pig’s feet, are all on the menu.
20 West 29th Street
Bemelman’s Bar at The Carlyle
The classic against which everything else is compared. The live piano performances are best served with a cold martini and healthy heaping of people watching. The hotel attracts an older, sophisticated clientele and its bar is a reflection of its moneyed guests. Make sure you bring out the mink stole when heading uptown!
35 E 76th St
The Atrium Bar at The Tribeca Grand Hotel
This trendy downtown spot has been attracting a younger set for a couple years with their DJed soirées. The actual bar is a sleek, sexy place to hang out with dim lighting and an expansive cocktail list.
2 Avenue of the Americas
–Adrien Field of The Field Notes
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