Recommendations

Enjoy some of the best cocktails in town at this classic bar inside the Carlyle Hotel.

Strengths

• The classic bar inside the Carlyle Hotel looks camera ready for a scene in a Woody Allen movie. A pianist plays on a shiny black grand piano in the corner, and the clientele is made up of moneyed East Siders. Check out that Tony Bennett look-alike at the end of the bar.

Shortcomings

• If you pony up to the bar you better have deep pockets — drinks start at $15 and you will have to pay a cover just to sit in the room.

Insider tips

• Come on Sunday and Monday to avoid paying a cover charge. If you want live piano music, stick to Tuesday through Saturday.
• Some of the best cocktails in town are prepared here, so don’t stick to your usual vodka tonic. Be adventurous and try something that interests you, like The Old Cuban blends: champagne with aged rum, bitters and fresh mint.
• Ludwig Bemelmans, who wrote the Madeleline series of children's books, painted the cartoons on the walls in exchange for free rent. He painted himself as a waiter holding a bill a few feet to the right as you face the cash register.
• Bemelmans also serves excellent bar food, albeit a bit on the pricy side. Don’t miss the Black Angus cheeseburger sliders and the addicitive cheese gourgères.

Anecdotes

• A night out at Bemelmans is like stepping back in time, yet somehow it feels timeless.
• The lighting casts a warm glow on the crowd, so everyone looks classy, even if they aren’t dressed as such.

Perfect for

• It’s a great place to entertain older clients who appreciate the grand history of the bar and hotel.

Credentials

• Master mixologists Audrey Sanders and Dale Degroff are considered masters of their trade, and have gone on to create their own cocktail bars and consult on drink lists around the city