407829 Sun Jun 03 21:24:16 -0700 2007 19 18 Manhattan 0 2626652 lately i've grown tiresome of wine bars - there unneccesarily expensive and the pretense seems to have gotten worse with the rest of the world loving it. i'm sorry but drinking $16 quartinos of rioja isn't cutting it. i'm green when it comes to mixed drinks but when a bartender makes a good one it hits the spot! Does anyone know what bar makes a classic mixed drink that would make me feel like Cary Grant? Sun Jun 03 21:24:16 -0700 2007 102765 wheretherearewolves 1 2626714 Little Branch, Employees Only, Milk and Honey, Campbell Apartment. Sun Jun 03 22:03:53 -0700 2007 2626652 51795 zoeterry 2 2626738 I second Little Branch. Every drink I've had there has been great- if not something I never would have ordered at a "regular" bar. Sun Jun 03 22:20:17 -0700 2007 2626714 69487 nycchitownmix 2 2626789 I've had great drinks at Campbell, but I think it depends mostly on your bartender. One made me a sidecar so poorly that I've been afraid to go back since. Another didn't know what a French 75 was. Their special cocktails list is also a bit gimmicky IMO. I've never had a bad drink at Angel's Share. Sun Jun 03 23:05:19 -0700 2007 2626714 97069 mengathon 2 2626868 Milk and Honey is great and I'll add Death & Company, Pegu Club and PDT. Mon Jun 04 02:35:02 -0700 2007 2626714 84080 wlark 1 2627521 Flatiron Lounge Mon Jun 04 09:07:47 -0700 2007 2626652 10216 Lucia 2 2627595 I second this, but pay attn - I once ordered a Manhattan that had grand marnier in it, thinking it would be subtly good, but it was not at all right, and steer clear of some the more "innovative" infusions. That being said, I've had some excellent drinks there, mostly recently they were featuring rum drinks, and every one was very tasty and well mixed Mon Jun 04 09:27:12 -0700 2007 2627521 100441 elizabeththinks 1 2628174 I'll second Death & Company on 6th b/w 1st and A and also a new place that just opened a month or so ago called SB3 on 3rd and B makes some incredible mixed drinks, you know just by walking into the place and seeing th ingredients lined up on the bar. Oh, and their food is really cheap too. Mon Jun 04 11:45:44 -0700 2007 2626652 53850 kicks82 2 2628603 Is there some reason no one's mentioned Brandy Library? I'd been there at least 3-4 times by this time last year. For no particular reason, I haven't been there since. But it was always nice to go in at a less busy time and "consult" with the bartender, or let him/her decide what I'm going to have. Mon Jun 04 13:21:21 -0700 2007 2628174 94227 egit 3 2628625 I've been wanting to check that out, it's nice to hear some info on it! Thanks Mon Jun 04 13:26:29 -0700 2007 2628603 100441 elizabeththinks 4 2628743 I've been to both Little Branch and Brandy Library. Both places take their cocktail traditions very seriously which, if I'm in that kind of mood, is really nice. The downside of Little Branch is that it's very hard to find and it SERIOUSLY looks like a bomb shelter inside. Zero points for ambience. Sorry, if I want good cocktails, it means I don't want to go to a dive bar that reminds me of Siberia or the like. Mon Jun 04 13:48:07 -0700 2007 2628625 94227 egit 5 2630276 I second Angel Share - it's very classy and the world just seems to slow down when you go inside. It's a great place to sit and enjoy your drink and the drinks happen to be great. Mon Jun 04 22:11:39 -0700 2007 2628743 51795 zoeterry 6 2634738 Angel's Share is otherworldly as are the cocktails. Wed Jun 06 08:48:35 -0700 2007 2630276 16728 kenito799 3 2633166 I'll 2nd Brandy. It's tops in my book for quality cocktails. Unique, stong, nice atmosphere. Tue Jun 05 17:56:02 -0700 2007 2628603 64404 downtownstefanie 1 2630757 bemelman's bar at the carlyle. it is certainly no bargain but one can get a bullshot with real beef bullion, real whiskey sours (ie not a mix), manhattans, daiquiris as well as more innovative ones. it also has great homemade potato chips. Tue Jun 05 06:56:38 -0700 2007 2626652 66900 wryorwhite 2 2632190 Wow, does Bemelmans have potato chips again? I hadn't seen them after the renovations a few years back. If the poster wants to feel like a sophisticated movie star, I would certainly recommend a swanky hotel bar like Bemelmans (too bad the Plaza is closed) or a solid restaurant such as Keens. Angels Share is nice, too. Pegu Club is too trendy for me but maybe early in the evening would quiet. I didn't go for Campbell Apt at all and much prefer the saloon in the Oyster Bar for my Grand Central cocktails. Tue Jun 05 13:11:40 -0700 2007 2630757 13780 Up With Olives 3 2632202 They do have the potato chips - was there a couple of weeks ago - $19 cocktails - but v. tasty! And I agree about Campbell - went once and my reaction was "eh". Tue Jun 05 13:14:39 -0700 2007 2632190 10985 MMRuth 1 2632458 Milk and Honey, Pegu Club, Temple Bar, Employees Only Tue Jun 05 14:13:20 -0700 2007 2626652 10971 Nehna 2 2632544 Brandy Library is great.. but I always feel a bit limited with spirit selection there. Devin tavern also makes some great classic cocktails. Milk and Honey is by far my favorite..only draw back is you really can't decide to go there last minute. Tue Jun 05 14:39:10 -0700 2007 2632458 100578 lilly1114 1 2632715 Monkey Bar Tue Jun 05 15:19:40 -0700 2007 2626652 39974 lisette