The Summit Bar in Manhattan
[Flickr/Live The Lush Life]
Looking for love in all the wrong places? Below is a list of some NYC bars that not only attract singles, but the sort of people you may actually want to date for longer than a New York minute. And hey, if it doesn’t work out this Valentine’s Day, at least you can enjoy the scenery and lick your wounds with some delicious drinks.
Kingswood: This Aussie-owned West Village restaurant is known for its attractive staff at both its main level restaurant and downstairs lounge. For a relaxed scene, sit under the skylight at the U-shaped main bar where you can easily make eye contact with other singles, or for a more scandalous vibe, head to the dark, sexy basement, furnished with plenty of nooks for impromptu makeout sessions. Great for guests staying at the Washington Square Hotel. 121 W. 10th St.
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Lobby at The Bowery Hotel
The weather in New York can be unforgiving this time of year–windy, chilly, and downright bitter. One of the best ways to escape the cold streets is to pop into a cozy bar, preferably with a roaring fireplace, and settle into an intimate nook with a warming cocktail. Here are a few suggestions:
Lobby Bar at The Bowery Hotel: Although the ornate, charming lounge inside Bowery Hotel’s main entrance is preferred seating for hotel guests, the Lobby Bar in the rear is open to the public. Past the antique fireplace is an intimate zinc-topped bar lined with plush velvet stools. In the winter, this dimly-lit retreat serves hot mulled wine featuring Cabernet, brandy, orange peel, and spices such as cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. There’s also a full cocktail menu and a variety of scotches. 335 Bowery
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The High Line and The Standard New York
When you think of romantic walks in New York, the Meatpacking District — bustling with hipper-than-thou nightclubs and high fashion boutiques — might not be the first neighborhood that comes to mind. But look a little closer, and you’ll find an impressive array of beautiful scenery along the district’s cobblestone streets. Whether you are staying nearby at Hotel Gansevoort, The Standard Hotel, or The Maritime Hotel, or you just happen to be visiting the neighborhood, here’s a suggested itinerary that’s sure to make you both swoon.
The High Line: The first section of the High Line opened in June 2009, converting an elevated freight rail into a lush, extraordinary public walkway. Offering uninterrupted views of the Hudson River, the High Line stretches from Gansevoort Street, tunnels underneath The Standard Hotel, and ends at 20th Street. Planted with wildflowers and lit by energy-efficient LED lights at night, the park makes for one of the most impressive free date spots in the city. Enter at Gansevoort and Washington Streets.
The Park’s garden atrium: This multi-level American restaurant, bar, and penthouse nightclub on 10th Avenue features a unique indoor garden complete with a glass roof and an atrium with a fireplace and redwood tree bench. Cozy up under heat lamps during chilly weather and imagine you’re in a European courtyard. Late-night, the space fills with attractive party-goers mingling under glowing trees. 118 10th Ave. Read More »
Bar Pleiades at the Surrey Hotel
Swanky hotel bars are having a renaissance on the New York nightlife scene, perhaps due to the success of Gramercy Park Hotel’s Rose Bar as a destination for VIPs, or thanks to the resurgance in speakeasy-style cocktail settings. Here are six of New York’s newest hotel bars where you can get cozy with a sophisticated tipple or two:
Bar Pleiades at the Surrey Hotel: Brand new following a $60 million renovation, this Upper East Side gem features a black and white Coco Chanel-inspired bar adjacent to Daniel Boulud’s Cafe Boulud. Toast a “Beijing Mule” (roasted Asian pear-infused vodka, yuzu juice, saffron-infused simple syrup, and house-made ginger beer, $15) in a white-quilted private booth. 20 E. 76th St.
Ace Hotel’s Breslin Lobby Bar: The West Coast hipster hotel chain brings its trademark understated cool to a corner of Flatiron otherwise lacking in style. Lounge on velvet couches and plaid chairs while sipping on the Ace Old Fashioned (Partida reposada tequila, agave nectar, Regan’s bitters and brandied cherries, $14) and munch on caramel popcorn. The warm wood interior mixed with taxidermy and antiques offers a library vibe, but the grafitti-inspired mural maintains an urban edge. 20 W. 29th St.
The Standard Hotel’s Living Room: Unless you are a celebrity, a model, or well-connected, you probably won’t be getting into the Bon Bon (formerly the Boom Boom Room), the so-called penthouse of this architectural marvel. But don’t fret, The Standard Hotel offers the Living Room cocktail lounge for the rest of us, and it’s a good spot for an early evening drink. The lounge is filled with ultra-modern furnishings and features DJs Tuesday-Saturdays, overlooks The Standard’s grand plaza. The people-watching is excellent. 848 Washington St.
The Crosby Bar at The Crosby Street Hotel: One of Manhattan’s newest hotels, The Crosby oozes with good taste. Although cocktails here are expensive, starting at $18, the vibrant, luxe decor–especially in the art-filled Drawing Room–justifies the splurge. Enjoy the “Crosby” (muddled raspberries, Granny Smith apple, Chopin vodka, Framboise liqueur, honey, lemon juice, and fresh-pressed apple juice) while you sit in the lap of British elegance. 79 Crosby St.
Ground Floor & Second Floor Bars at the Cooper Square Hotel: This sleek glass behemouth features not one, but two sophisticated bars–a lounge on the ground floor with a sloping black ceiling and an intimate, 30-seat indoor/outdoor enclave on the second floor complete with a fireplace. Drinks include a variety of sangrias and specialty cocktails, like the “Basil 8″ (Ketel One vodka, muddled white grapes, basil, lime juice, and ginger ale). 25 Cooper Sq.
–Selena Ricks of The Dizzy Fizz.
