Now that hotel lobbies aren't buzzing with bumbling tourists, you're free to enjoy the peace and quiet of some of the city's poshest places. Take advantage of the post-holiday lull and settle into your favorite hotel bar. The drinks may be pricey, but the atmosphere will make you feel like you’ve taken a mini vacay without leaving town.
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| Star Lounge |
Star Lounge at the Ritz
50 Central Park South (@ Aves. of the Americas)
Midtown 212.308.9100
We discovered the bar at the Ritz by accident while waiting for a table at the adjoining
BLT Market. Wood-paneled walls, plush couches, and even a guy tickling the ivories create a fancy yet relaxing ambiance, and the bartender makes an excellent Manhattan. Ritzy!
Lobby Lounge at the Essex House
160 Central Park South (@ 7th Ave.)
Midtown 212.247.0300
Around the corner the Lobby Lounge at the Essex House has been recently refurbished with white leather seating and 1920s details. This place feels tucked away from it all, and unlike many hotel bars, the Lobby Lounge actually serves food.
Bar 44 at the Royalton
44 W. 44th St. (5th & 6th Aves.)
Midtown 212.869.4400
There are so many bars at the new Royalton that it may be hard to figure out where to settle down. The long, narrow lobby has been stripped of its blinding white and redone with dark colors, brown leather couches, and glass fireplaces. Continue on and you’ll find Bar 44, the old Round Bar as reimagined by John McDonald (
Lure Fishbar).
Lobby Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental
80 Columbus Circle (@ 60th St.)
Midtown 212.805.8800
The Mandarin Oriental Bar (
MOBar) might have gotten all the hype at the beginning, but for a room with a view, head on up to the Lobby Lounge. One of the swankest hotel bars in town, the Mandarin has floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of Central Park, and they serve lobster rolls and a trio of mini burgers—in case you needed another excuse to get high.
Bar Mark at the Mark Hotel
992 Madison Ave. (77th & 78th Sts.)
Upper East Side 212.772.1600
Settle into Upper East Side exclusivity at Bar Mark at the Mark Hotel. The cozy but chic design is conducive to both conversation and spying on your neighbors. And you’re liable to find just as many locals as tourists here, so get your air-kissing skills ready.
~Marcy Swingle
