307525 Fri Jul 07 16:08:03 -0700 2006 25 18 Manhattan 0 1731489 Any suggestions for taking a California guest for a fabulous, upscale place for cocktails. TIA Fri Jul 07 16:08:03 -0700 2006 17123 anndillman 1 1731498 If you're looking for trendy the roof of the Gansevoort has good cocktails, albeit expensive, and amazing views. Fri Jul 07 16:11:04 -0700 2006 1731489 15150 EVchickadee 1 1731696 I like the bar at the Thompson Hotel (aka Kittichai) - fun cocktails, people watching and in this lovely weather, you can sit outside. Fri Jul 07 17:26:43 -0700 2006 1731489 10985 MMRuth 1 1731715 In descending order: Pegu Club (serves food) Employees Only (serves food) Little Branch (oyster bar) and Milk and Honey (no food) both Sasha Petraske’s joints are great if they are open and you can get a reservation. All four of these places serve excellent painstakingly made cocktails. Fri Jul 07 17:31:16 -0700 2006 1731489 13094 chowcito 2 1731762 These are great suggestions and I am hoping to be drinking heavily at Pegu Club tonight. Fri Jul 07 17:45:42 -0700 2006 1731715 12328 ChrisZ 1 1732471 Pegu Club is definitely one of my favorites, but recently I've also started going to Flatiron Lounge, which also focuses on great cocktails (there is some connection - I think the owner of Pegu used to work there). Every night they have a "flight" of three tasting portions of similarly-themed cocktails that is a can't miss (and adds up to about 5 drinks or so - be careful...). Fri Jul 07 22:29:25 -0700 2006 1731489 13408 Phil E 1 1732540 I had great cocktails at Pegu when they first opened. I have however, not been back since the owner was nasty and rude to my wife when she was there with some friends. Have heard similar stories from others since, which is unfortunate. I know Soho House is member/guest thing, but they have great bar tenders, and mixology rules the day. Double 7 on 14th St. is also my pick for quiet, non-club like AAA+ cocktails without all the scene, get in early, as it is a small space. Fri Jul 07 23:08:44 -0700 2006 1731489 11149 noodles 2 1736499 Owner = Audrey Saunders? I'm a bit surprised to hear that... I've always had very good experiences with her. Mon Jul 10 20:00:37 -0700 2006 1732540 12436 danoots 2 1736956 Too bad about the Pegu experience...i've only been there once, but the cocktail i had was delicious... i can't say i agree about Soho House though...when it had just opened it was fun, but i was there a couple weeks ago and the atmosphere was so foul and the service awful (botched drink orders, gross errors on the bill, servers nowhere in sight, etc)... Mon Jul 10 22:36:37 -0700 2006 1732540 11077 Simon 1 1733407 How about the Brandy Library? Also, maybe the Campbell Apartment in Grand Central; it's touristy, but your guest is a tourist, right? Sat Jul 08 16:29:08 -0700 2006 1731489 17395 olfashiond 1 1736699 Thanks to all. It is now in her hands. Mon Jul 10 21:01:45 -0700 2006 1731489 17123 anndillman 1 1738178 I would rank top NYC cocktails (at least for innovative drinks) at: Milk & Honey (still number one IMHO) East Side Company Bar (same owners, lower prices, take credit cards) Flatiron Lounge Little Branch Employees Only I had several cocktails at Pegu Club and found them all disappointing. For atmosphere and more "traditional" cocktails I'd second Brandy Library and Campbell Apartment. Tue Jul 11 17:00:21 -0700 2006 1731489 12859 jonasblank 2 1744643 Well, personal taste I guess, but I find Pegu Club to be far and away the most serious cocktail-geek place in the city. Shame that you didn't have a great experience, but it can't be that bad if Dave Wondrich and all the other booze-nerds are there pretty much every time I visit. Plus, they have some of the most notable bartenders in NYC working there. I only tried East Side Company once, but I was actually pretty disappointed with all the drinks we ordered. The bartender seemed to have a very heavy hand with the simple syrup, so everything was way too sweet. Fri Jul 14 15:40:35 -0700 2006 1738178 12436 danoots 3 1763053 I was at Pegu on a Friday night-- it was 90 percent 23 year old investment bankers drinking beers. That might have made it harder to get a properly mixed drink. Just went back to ESCB - and you're right, they were very heavy on the simple syrup. I do still like M&H though. Mon Jul 24 14:25:35 -0700 2006 1744643 12859 jonasblank 4 1768572 You should know better than to go out on a Friday night in Manhattan! ;) It's much better Sunday-Wednesday, not during the amateur hour of Thursday-Saturday. (Who in their right mind would order beer at this lounge?) Wed Jul 26 16:34:33 -0700 2006 1763053 12006 lambretta76 2 1769241 I'm DYING to try Milk N' Honey! Could Jonas or someone else hook me up with the info so I can get in?? ibrereton@gmail.com Thanks in advance!! Wed Jul 26 20:15:01 -0700 2006 1738178 12546 YEMIan 1 1741559 Angel's Share is a very cool spot as well - not clubbish but maybe a place for your first drink of the night - the bar manager has the best "shake" I've ever seen. It's fun to go with an open mind and let him create a drink for you. Thu Jul 13 00:01:37 -0700 2006 1731489 18561 jona2325 2 1763252 Yes they do classics very well and they have some great cocktails using Japanese ingredients like yuzu and shiso. The back room somehow feels like you're on a train--love it. Much nicer experience up front now that there's no smoking! Mon Jul 24 15:58:45 -0700 2006 1741559 16728 kenito799 1 1741909 Milk N Honey is unlisted though right? How would one gain access ? Thu Jul 13 04:17:23 -0700 2006 1731489 12546 YEMIan 1 1749788 There's a very tiny bar at Scott Conant's Alto in midtown run by a serious cocktail geek who mixes some wickedly good drinks. Mon Jul 17 20:36:53 -0700 2006 1731489 19660 nicosian 1 1750143 i agree with pegu club, east side company bar, flatiron lounge and brandy library. for more of a restaurant, i'd also add 'public' -- not up to the level of the others mentionned -- but still very good. pomegranate and lychee mojito's and the like, with a good wine list. Mon Jul 17 22:38:29 -0700 2006 1731489 13695 thievery 1 1750431 A60 is your answer. Tue Jul 18 01:02:17 -0700 2006 1731489 14761 mstatt54 1 1758826 Angel's Share, Milk & Honey, Bed, Flatiron Lounge. Actually, there are so many... Fri Jul 21 16:10:06 -0700 2006 1731489 20700 Schveinhund 2 1758830 Bed? Really? Fri Jul 21 16:12:10 -0700 2006 1758826 12006 lambretta76 1 1759901 Yeah, they have some really fresh muddled fruity cocktails. Their head bartenders won a prestigious cocktail award this past May: http://www.museumoftheamericancocktail.org/Cocktail200 Fri Jul 21 23:14:12 -0700 2006 1731489 20700 Schveinhund 1 1770821 Wow - interesting - thanks for the info! Thu Jul 27 15:30:10 -0700 2006 1731489 12006 lambretta76