34 Comments
User's avatar
Mary Kate Murray's avatar

I vote for the Oyster Bar in GCT!!

Robert Simonson's avatar

Warm Martinis, but great Martini-drinking atmosphere.

Alan Hyde's avatar

Mastic Martini at Iris

Cindy's avatar

Love this list and am especially happy anytime a Turf Club is mentioned. 🏆

Robert Simonson's avatar

Gage & Tollner makes the best Turf Club in the city. (Granted, not many bars put the drink on their menus.)

Cindy's avatar

Good to know! I’ve been but not recently.

Sonal Shah's avatar

Chateau Royale's martinis are great, though the cart in the dining room feels mildly unnecessary.

Robert Simonson's avatar

I’ll have to check it out!

Anthony's avatar

Interesting no Raouls and Lugers

Robert Simonson's avatar

I could see Raoul’s. Good call. My Lugers Martinis have been indifferent at best.

Mary Kate Murray's avatar

I love Raouls, they have been on his lists in the past. I had one of the worst Martinis ever at Lugers: bright lights in the bar, sloshing back and forth in the pint glasses and plop—Warm and watery!

Joshua Vissepo's avatar

So much homework to do this weekend for me! Incredible list. The Beefsteak martini is def one of the best.

Trying hard to snag a Le Veau d’Or “Our way” but I’m not having my way with a rsvp!

If you had to give me 3 from this list - what would you recommend?

50… Raines Law Room?

Great work!

Robert Simonson's avatar

Raines Law Room is a good call!

Just 3? I like to pick bars that are near each other to make for a gentle crawl. How about Hawksmoor, Martiny's and Dear Irving?

Joshua Vissepo's avatar

Thank you! Have had Hawksmoor but haven’t tried the others. Cheers

Steve's avatar

We recently lined up a 1/2 hour before opening at Le Veau d’Or to snag 2 of the 5 or so bar seats (someone mentioned it took them 2 years to get a table reservation) … the “Our Way” was worth the wait!

Robert Simonson's avatar

I'm glad it was worth it! And those bar stools are some of the best seats in the house. We've managed to snag them twice during late service.

Steve's avatar

The bar stool early line-up was a pro tip from a Martini Expo chat with Sarah 🍸

Amy Cavanaugh's avatar

So many of my favorites are here and I’ll be back in NYC next week to try some more!

Robert Simonson's avatar

Excellent! Look forward to seeing where you go.

Ethan's avatar

Highly recommend the 50/50 at Marlow East (Lex/74th). So happy to see Eddie featured, but he’s hardly gruff!!!

Curious given your experience in Venice why Cipriani doesn’t make the cut here.

Mary Kate Murray's avatar

Eddie is the best! 🍸

Ethan's avatar

I have tried, in vain, to convince Eddie that I really do want a lot of vermouth in my Martini. Requests for “wet”, 2:1, 50/50 have all resulted in the same thing—10oz of cold gin. I’ve given up.

Mary Kate Murray's avatar

But that is the beauty of that Martini. I miss it. Glass of ice on the side is a must for Robert and I —then we add as necessary throughout.

Ethan's avatar

Maybe I could get a glass over vermouth on the side? The joys of a uber-dry martini (Dukes, Harry’s Bar, etc) evade me. A martini or two should be an evening starter; one of Eddie’s is an evening finisher. The closest thing to a Pan Galactic Gargleblaster I have ever found!

Robert Simonson's avatar

Agreed on it beinv an evening starter.

Robert Simonson's avatar

I gave up, too! It was easier.

Robert Simonson's avatar

Thanks for recommendation!

Harry's Bar in Venice is the wellspring of the Cipriani empire. It's one of a kind. It has a soul. I afraid the NYC iterations pale in comparison. The quality isn't the same and they feel distinctly like a rip-off to be enjoyed only by the 1% and tourists.

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Jan 13
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Robert Simonson's avatar

Presentation can be very important! The Martini is a very ritualistic cocktail.