Top 9 Most Unique Places in NYC for a Drink this Spring
By Rob LeDonne
Cocktails are being poured and flowers are in bloom. That’s right, spring has gleefully descended and over in the Big Apple, there are plenty of places to celebrate its arrival.
From a new 70s-inspired bar from a fan-favorite Brooklyn team, a long-standing New York cabaret landmark, and even a ping pong hotspot, here are the most unique places to get a drink in the city this spring.
Paros
If you’re familiar with the idyllic Greek islands, you already know that Paros is a vacationer’s paradise. It’s those breezy vibes that this new Tribeca restaurant has based its concept around, all tied together by the effervescent ethos of the island. Its menu overflows with delectable native specialties, some favorites of the cuisine (tzatziki, hummus, grilled seafood) while others are a bit more hard to find (including Sanganki, a pan-fried Kefalograviera cheese). Throw in airy interiors that mimic a beach house, and perhaps it all adds up to the reason why Taylor Swift has already eaten at the restaurant twice since its fall opening.
Drink this: A Paros Martini, made with rosemary-infused Noilly Prat, caperberries and olive.
Tigre
One of the Big Apple’s most talked-about new bars, Tigre comes from the team behind Williamsburg’s absinthe-soaked legend Maison Premiere. From its dimly-lit but ultra-hip space in the Lower East Side, Tigre’s intricately designed cocktail menu reportedly pulled major inspiration from Playboy’s Host & Bar Book. It makes sense, considering the space mimics refined yet approachable 70s-era after-hour hideaway. And yes, velvet stools circle its horseshoe-shaped bar.
Drink this: One of Tigre’s many boozy specialties is a Martini by Ratio, which enables customers to order the classic exactly to their preference, from weak (4.1) to strong (16.1).
Cafe Carlyle
It’s been a haven for quintessential New York culture, and cocktails, for nearly a century. While CHILLED has previously covered its iconic bar Bemalman’s, right around the hall lies Cafe Carlyle. An intimate cabaret space, the popular space regularly hosts a litany of some of the most respected people in entertainment, whether jazz guitar great John Pizzarelli or Sex and the City creator Candice Bushnell, all for a sophisticated crowd. While it took a lengthy pandemic break, the Cafe recently came roaring back.
Drink this: Nothing pairs better at a cabaret night than a cocktail, and here the music is just as notable as the menu. Come early for a dinner menu of luxurious favorites (lobster seafood salad, anyone?), while well thought-out cocktail menu boasts a litany of favorites. Perhaps the most popular is the Jackie O, a cosmopolitan riff named after the former First Lady who used to frequent the place.
Resident
One of New York’s most nomadic, and fun, dining experiences is Resident which takes over a space in different luxury apartment buildings around the city and recruits some of the most celebrated chefs in the nation to coconct a highly-curated, limited-time menu. (They call ‘em Speakeasy Dinners). The result is an evening full of surprises, from the neighborhood you find yourself in to fun flair like a mariachi band hired during a Mexican-themed night.
Drink this: Imbibe on the custom libations served to drink in tandem with each course.
Hav & Mar
It’s one of the most celebrated new restaurants in New York City. The brainchild of acclaimed chef Marcus Samuelsson (who launched his career with the success of Harlem’s beloved Red Rooster,) his brand new Hav & Mar was recently included in the New York Times list of the Best Restaurants in 2024 this year. It all comes down to an expertly constructed food and cocktail menu which calls on African influences, bringing the culture to vibrant life while also rooting it in the present. That includes plenty of Berbere and jerk chicken.
Drink this: The restaurant is also known for an impressive bar menu that includes sustainably-made cocktails. In addition to black tea, Meyer lemon and Elderflower, The Seashore Spritz boasts juiced celery and apples bits, both of which would usually be discarded after making a stock. It’s also topped with a celery leaf; another usually tossed piece of the vegetable.
SPIN New York
Deep in the heart of Midtown is a ping-pong paradise. Since its October 2023 opening, SPIN has staked a claim as an oasis of fun steps from Times Square. Part-sports bar, the space boasts an array of ping pong tables, perfect for a date night or special occasion. Need practice? There’s even a robotic arm that can serve balls to you; you choose the speed. The offshoot of a downtown location (which was founded by actress Susan Sarandon), it’s been reported that none other than Prince was a fan. Other locations include Boston, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago.
Drink this: Since it’s a sports bar, you can’t go wrong with a beer from its curated menu.
Cucina 8 ½
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Interested in a power lunch? Steps from Central Park, Cucina 8 ½ is known for them. In a chic yet expansive lower-level space, the Art Deco design perfectly compliments the power players that regularly inhabit the popular Italian restaurant. Much like the movie 8 ½ from the Italian director Federeico Fellnii that the restaurant’s numerals come from, everything here is high class with a fun, approachable spin (they call it Refined Rustic Italian). Don’t sleep on the house made focaccia, while the Raviolo Al Uovo comes with egg, ricotta and truffle.
lizclayman.com
Drink this: Its wine list is as impressive, and classy, as the space itself.
Scarpetta
A longtime Italian-American staple in New York, while Cucina 8 ½ is a prime spot for a power lunch, saunter over to Scarpetta for a powerful dinner. Located in Nomad’s James Hotel, the restaurant prides itself on seasonal ingredients and combines the sensibilities of modern Italian with the wonders of the cuisine’s homestyle heritage. Case in point: a brand new Ala Carte menu dubbed Sunday Supper which boasts a set menu (think: veal milanese and gnocchi) paired with one of their copious glasses of excellent wine.
Drink this: If you’re not opting for a wine, their Peroini on tap or Negronis are always a solid complement to a La Dolce Vita-style meal.
POPULAR
Pisco, anyone? Tucked inside the ever-cool PUBLIC hotel lies this love letter to Peruvian cuisine. POPULAR boasts a wide menu of delicious dishes from the South American country, all served with Incan, Spanish, Moorish, African, Italian, Chinese and Japanese influences. That includes Ceviche (POPULAR’s is chock full of fluke and octopus) and a variety of other protein and vegetable-rich entrees, perfect for the lead-up to summer. Sit inside in its stylish space, or bask in the sun on its Instagram-worthy outdoor dining area.
Drink this: POPULAR’s Pisco Sour, made with 1615 Pisco Quebranta, lime, egg white, angostura bitters.
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