Obsession of the Week: Lazy Bar Hopping

The bar at Resto

By James Mulcahy

This week, after finishing up dinner at meat-palace The Cannibal, we started pondering where our next stop would be. The bartenders overheard our conversation and motioned to a door in the back of the space. We got up, popped right through it and landed at the bar at Resto. Sweet - bar hoppping without having to walk outside is one of the best things that the New York restaurant scene has to offer. This lets you change up the vibe without having to get all bundled up and head back out onto the street, and then you'll have to get all set up at a new place that might be too crowded (or, even worse, too empty). Here are a few suggestions if you want to experience multiple environments without leaving the premises:


The Ace Hotel: Get there early and start at The Breslin with a few cocktails an a plate of charcuterie, when that starts to fill up, head through the hotel lobby and land in a cushy barstool at The John Dory for some oysters and a cocktail or two designed by Sasha Petraske. Bonus: if you are jonesing for a third drink, the cask beer at the lobby bar can really hit the spot.

Eataly: Start upstairs at Birreria and throw back a few Italian brews, and then head downstairs for some wine and crudo at one of the counters in the main space. Warning: while you can stuff your face with all sorts of grub while you bar hop on-site at this complex, it can get pretty crowded, so be prepared to use your elbows in the search for a stool.

Andaz Fifth Avenue: Assemble a meal at The Shop, the Hotel's restaurant that features a menu of New American cuisine utilizing many local ingredients. Then, head to the basement for a few cocktails at The Bar Downstairs - its a sultry den of communal tables and a large wooden bar with top-notch drinks to boot. Let us know about your favorite places where you can hop around between multiple environments in the comments.