New York, New York – the place where dreams are made of. As a visitor, it’s not often easy to find those secret little places in a new city – but don’t worry, we got you. Laura Itzkowitz and co-author Michelle Young scoured New York for “prohibition-era speakeasies, underground drinking dens, and restaurants concealed behind unmarked doors” and put them in their new book, New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants. Here are our top five:
Luksus
This is the world’s only Michelin-starred restaurant without a wine list. Oh Em Gee. Based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn Chef/owner Daniel Burns – an alum of Noma and Momofuku – curates beer pairings to go with his Nordic-inspired tasting menu. Guests can watch as chefs prepare and plate dishes like cod head on knackbrød or squab with salted plum puree.
Zenkichi
Sitting in private booths separated by bamboo shades – as in common in Tokyo – husband and wife team brought the highly prized aspect of privacy to New York. Instead of offering sushi, feast on dishes like oysters, monkfish liver, yuzu-glazed black cod, silky tofu, and Wagyu beef. Yum.
Campbell Apartment
You might actually recognise this one – that’s if you were a Gossip Girl fan. Serena used the Campbell Apartment – a public bar hidden inside Grand Central Terminal – to seduce two of the men in her life, the most raunchy scene being with Nate Archibald. Although not many people know about it, the bar is considered one of the most gorgeous spaces in New York City.
Originally outfitted as the office of tycoon John W. Campbell (a friend of Commodore Vanderbilt, who built the station), the space was restored to its former glory in 2007. A soaring ceiling, leaded glass window, huge stone fireplace, Oriental rugs, plush sofas, and porcelain vases add authenticity to the ambiance. Don’t miss the fishbowl-sized Prohibition Punch with rum, orange liqueur, passion fruit juice, and champagne.
Lantern’s Keep
44th Street is also known as ‘Club Row’ because of all the private clubs that line the block between 5th and 6th Avenues. If you’re walking down the stretch and see that the lantern on the hotel’s façade is lit, they can go inside and have a drink. Lantern’s Keep is a hidden gem resembling a Belle Époque salon, with powder blue Louis XIV chairs, Impressionist-style paintings of ballerinas, and a bar serving excellent cocktails.
The Back Room
This is one of the few of these bars that actually served as a Prohibition speakeasy and its only indication of it is the Lower East Side Toy Company sign on the street. Now, if you’re a Broad City fan, you might remember Val. This is that bar! In the scene you watch Abbi go through the metal gate, down the stairs into a dark alleyway, and on the other side, you’ll find another set of steps leading to a door.
Inside you’ll be amazed to find a gorgeous ‘20s-inspired bar with red wallpaper, portraits in gold frames, a fireplace, and velvet sofas. Bartenders serve cocktails in teacups and the place fills up on Monday nights for live jazz.
There you have it, folks. Next time you hit up New York City, be sure to check these spots out.
[source: travel&leisure]