The last time I was in NYC, PKNY was still around but it was called Painkiller. Looking forward to visiting PKNY’s Giuseppe Gonzalez at his new bar, Golden Cadillac.
So excited! Tomorrow I’m heading out to New York City after having been away for four years. Not surprisingly a lot has changed since that visit with even more must-do bars to add to my list, like this year’s Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award winner Dead Rabbit. Sam Ross also opened up a new bar, Attaboy, and I’m hoping Golden Cadillac with Giuseppe Gonzalez (formerly of PKNY) will be soft opened at least so I can sneak a peek.
Anyhoo, since I only will have three nights and a lot of ground to cover, much to my liver’s chagrin, I mapped out my drinking to-dos on Google Map. But here’s my plan of attack for easier reference. What do you think? Anything I’m missing?
Wednesday
Eleven Madison Park: I don’t care how fancy pants this is or how much it costs. I want to check out that Manhattan cart, “Tableside presentation of The Manhattan Cocktail and its many iterations.” Yes, please!
Mother’s Ruin: Bummed that I won’t be in New York for Brian Miller’s Tiki Mondays with Miller at Mother’s Ruin. But wanted to check it out anyway. It sounds like a chill place for some pre-gaming.
Attaboy: Sam Ross’ Attaboy took the spot formerly occupied by Milk & Honey. It’s been described as a speakeasy but you don’t need a reservation or a membership. No actual cocktail menu but apparently you don’t need one with bartenders that good.
Experimental Cocktail Club: A bar that’s part of a chain that started in Paris but the cocktail menu seems to have been redone recently in an effort to move away from clubby toward more cocktail bar. And it looks/sounds good.
Golden Cadillac: This is still up in the air but fingers crossed I’ll be able to get a look and taste of the long-awaited bar by Giuseppe Gonzalez and cocktail historian Greg Boehm. Chef Miguel Trinidad of Maharlika and Jeepney is the man behind the food which is described as being inspired by “vintage editions of Gourmet magazine.”
Thursday
After Kamayan Night dinner at Jeepney, I’m going to want to walk off all that good Filipino food. Fortunately Jeepney is within walking distance of all these great bars.
Pouring Ribbons: When I asked those in the know where I should imbibe in NYC, Pouring Ribbons was on the top of everyone’s list. After all, it’s the creation of guys who worked at Death & Company and The Violet Hour and has been named by Time Out as “Best New Cocktail Bar.”
Booker & Dax: A bar known for red-hot poker mixology also apparently makes the best martini, according to Thrillist, and that’s worth checking out. The highly respected bar manager Tristan Willey, who helped open B&D last year left the venue earlier this month but I’m sure everything’s just fine.
Angel’s Share: My friend LA/OC Foodventures recommended Angel’s Share. Apparently they have an impressive whiskey selection. Only issue of concern is that it doesn’t allow groups larger than four.
Mayahuel: Phil Ward (Pegu Club, Death & Co) helped open Ebanos Crossing in Downtown LA this year but before LA he had opened this mezcal and tequila haven, which is the place for contemplative drinking, not sports bar debauchery.
Friday
Dead Rabbit: As the big winner of this past Tale of the Cocktails Spirited Awards (winner of World’s Best New Cocktail Bar, World’s Best Cocktail Menu and International Bartender of the Year), I’d say my NYC trip isn’t complete without a trip way down the tip of Manhattan to this bar. Since this bar opens at 11am, I’m basically looking to spend all day there. Kidding, sorta.
Employees Only: I had the chance to see Dushan Zaric, the owner of Employees Only, tonight when he was guest ending at The Eveleigh, and he said that although his bar has suffered a closure recently that he believes it will be open again by Friday. So fingers crossed that’s the case. As the subject of this year’s bartender documentary, Hey Bartender, and a former big winner at Tales, it’s a destination I don’t want to miss.