New York is a city with unparalleled sightseeing and shopping opportunities; activities that can build up a colossal thirst. To help quench your thirst, we’ve handpicked the five best cocktail bars in The Big Apple. To book your Gotham getaway, contact your personal travel manager.
The Clover Club in Brooklyn is definitely one of the more visually attractive bars in New York with antique furniture, exposed brickwork and expensive hardwood fittings. The twenties theme has been followed through to the finest detail, resulting in a watering hole reminiscent of the smoky bars seen on HBO’s hit series Boardwalk Empire.
At first glance the cocktail menu appears limited, but this is only because The Clover Club are quite specific in categorising their cocktails. Cocktails with Champagne are referred to as “Royales” and “Fizzes” are sours topped with soda. The Clover Club’s signature cocktail is the ‘Clover Club’ – a fusion of gin and dry vermouth mixed with lemon juice, raspberry syrup and egg whites.
The Little Branch bar lays claim to the best Manhattan in Manhattan, a claim not to be made lightly. Desp
ite the bold claim, the Manhattan doesn’t disappoint with a satisfying kick from generous amounts of rye whiskey, neutralised by fresh maraschino cherries and a squeeze of lemon juice.
The Penrose is a gastropub on the Upper East Side that knocks up breathtaking cocktails and delicious cuisine. The cocktail list changes seasonally, but the comprehensive selection of spirits means the experienced bartender can recreate exactly what you’re in the mood for. A signature of the restaurant cum cocktail bar is the Dirty Pickle Martini, made with spicy pickle brine.
The Sparrow Tavern, next to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in Queens, serves both delicious food and exciting cocktails making it an ideal dinner spot. Colloquially referred to as ‘The Sparrow’, the spacious bar benefits from an abundance of natural light, a clean minimalist interior and pretty fairy lights. The Sparrow specialises in refreshing and exotic cocktails championing the Purple Pie Man Bramble and Saffron Sour, a shaken blend of whiskey, lemon juice and saffron syrup.
The Dead Rabbit is housed within a listed 1820s building in Lower Manhattan and derives its name from an Irish gang of the same period. The bar sprawls over two floors, with exposed beams, hardwood flooring and satirical 19th century cartoons on the walls. Upstairs, known as ‘the parlour”, is reserved exclusively for cocktails, serving an extensive menu in delicate teacups. A favourite is the Byrrh Wine Daisy, a complex union of Quinquina, Ciociaro, raspberry brandy, angelica tincture, rhubarb soda, orange juice and lemon juice.
Enjoy the sophistication of Manhattan, its bustling night scene and dazzling array of cocktails. For more information, contact your local, personal travel manager about available options http://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm-search/