Does Mid-Town have a good cocktail bar?

[TheSnowpea]

We're staying Mid-Town around Murray Hill for our next trip.

I'm a fan of PDT, Raines Law Room, etc. (10 Degrees is not in the same category but it's a sentimental fave) but sometimes, I just don't feel like ranging really far after a long and lovely but foot-sore day at the museum or a one spent walking around. Heading for a local lounge in the neighborhood has its appeal.

I'm thinking Flatiron Lounge, but wondered if I'd missed anything in the area that serves up cocktails with care and flair?

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Please Don't Tell
113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009

Flatiron Lounge
37 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011

10 Degrees
121 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009

Raines Law Room
48 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011

[kathryn]

There's not really anything of note in Murray Hill proper (between 34th and 40th).

But if you are headed south, stop into the bar at Eleven Madison Park. They were recently named best restaurant bar at Tales of the Cocktail. I find the drinks on par with PDT, etc.

In Midtown (low 40s):

Lamb's Club has drinks list by Sasha Petraske (Milk and Honey) but they are much pricier than comparable places nearby. The atmosphere is great (search for photos of the bar and of the hotel it's in).

Lantern's Keep in the Iroquois Hotel is excellent (run by same people as Raines Law Room, I met some Milk and Honey bartenders working there very recently). The list is great and the bartenders really know their stuff. It does close a little on the earlier side (midnight or so).

Bar Downstairs (cellar bar) at the Andaz Hotel has a list done by Toby Maloney's consulting company (the Violet Hour in Chicago).

44 at the Royalton Hotel has a cocktail list done by famous bartenders from all over -- Richard Boccato (Dutch Kills, Painkiller), John Lermayer (Florida Room, South Beach; Woodward, Boston), Simon Ford, Willy Shine, Misty Kalkofen (Drink, Boston), and Eric Alperin (Varnish, LA).

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Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010

Milk and Honey
134 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002

Raines Law Room
48 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011

The Lambs Club
132 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Forty Four
44 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Lantern's Keep
49 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

The Bar Downstairs
485 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

[orthorunner]

Bar Downstairs is an excellent option, has a varied menu and has not been super-busy when I've been. Note that it is in fact in Midtown, right by Bryant Park, as opposed to the location automatically picked up on the side map.

Another option is Campbell Apartment, in Grand Central, not quite on par with PDT/Milk & Honey, but a reasonable option for when you don't want to travel far.

JBird Lounge also just recently opened; kathryn, I think you've tried it out? I haven't been yet so can't comment on their style of cocktail, but it looks promising.

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Campbell Apartment
89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017

The Bar Downstairs
485 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

Jbird
251 W 48th St, New York, NY 10019

[TheSnowpea]

Thanks for the suggestions, Kathryn & Orthorunner!

Snowpea

[LeahBaila]

JBird is pretty cool. Great views, fantastic music (think old school rap and modern hip-hop), and strong, albeit outrageously pricey, drinks.

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Jbird
251 W 48th St, New York, NY 10019

[kathryn]

JBird is quite good but a bit too far to walk from Murray Hill-ish. I also find the 8pm opening to be a little late for me -- we often want pre-dinner drinks.