BEST Cocktails in Manhattan?
Esteemed NY Hounds,
San Francisco Hound in town for a week (staying in Midtown) and would love some recommendations for really excellent cocktails, within decent cabbing distance from Midtown. I'm a big fan of those cocktails with fresh ingredients, housemade infusions, interesting combinations of ingredients, and all that good stuff. The "scene" is nowhere near as important as the craft (though in my experience oftentimes they are inseparable), but I'd prefer room to sit and low enough noise level to converse with companions. It can be attached to a restaurant, or not.
In San Francisco, some places like this that I love are Rye, Alembic, Nopa, Bourbon & Branch, etc.
Any advice for a neophyte is vastly appreciated! Thanks in advance....
By Maya
on Feb 2, 2008 03:44 PM
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The best mojitos in town can be found at Kittichai. Also, I love the fantastic martinis at The Gramercy Park Hotel (Wakiya, Rose Bar/Jade Bar).
www.thelunchbelle.com
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Flatiron Lounge, Little Branch, Pegu Club
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PDT, Death & Co. and Milk & Honey
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employees only
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Angel's Share, Little Branch and Employees Only have been uniformly perfect. I haven't been too fond of anything at Pegu Club and have found Flatiron Lounge spotty.
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I think the trick with Pegu is to go with the specialties, or off menu fizzy drinks like a Ramos Fizz.
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Little Branch--tell the waitress what ingredients you like and the bartender fixes up some interesting cocktails.
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This SF Hound and SO were in NYC over the holidays--we also like NOPA, Alembic, and B&B here. Our #1 place for drinks in NYC was Death & Co in the LES. Bartenders were really professional and had interesting drinks. We found the noise level to be fine for conversation. Reminds me a little of Alembic. Our second choice was Flatiron. They have cocktail flights--my wife had three different (small) rum cocktails for $20. It was fun.
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There are 3.5 best places for cocktails on my short list. In order of distance from midtown:
Grayz / Cafe Gray (both owned by Gray Kunz, both offering similar cocktails)
Little Branch
Pegu Club
The latter two are obnoxiously popular these days, so you'll have to wade through some crowds most likely.
All three serve up drinks with fresh ingredients, interesting infusions, some with lovely whipped eggwhite froth.
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Oh yes, the CH links:
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Cafe Gray
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10023
Little Branch
22 Seventh Ave South, New York, NY 10014
Grayz
13 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019
Pegu Club
77 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012
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