Best of Lounge 2024

Veteran Loungers J. Walter Hawkes & David "GOH" Talaga at the Beefsteak Dinner.

2024, au revoir! Truth be told, was a mixed bag of a year. The Loungerati only visited a few new cocktail and food destinations like the outstanding Cafe Spaghetti in Brooklyn and Bartley Dunnes in NYC; however, more often, we tended to stick to classic New York City stalwarts like Walkers, Tom & Jerry's, Milano's Bar, Dutch Kills, Minetta Tavern, Clover Club, Bemelmans Bar, The Grand Central Oyster Bar, The Rum House, Jimmy's Corner, and without question, legit red sauce destinations like Sam's, Noodle Pudding, and Bamonte's. 

During our journey, we discovered plenty of new lounge worthy musicians, enjoyed sublime libations and food, dressed to impress, and met fellow travelers. On a somber note, we unfortunately had to say good bye to two wonderful people and bona fide lounge/bar scene all-stars - Cindy Rolenc-Worell and Francine Cohen - who passed away. They are truly missed and the Lounge remembers.

Please raise a glass of bubbles to Loungerati's 2024 Best of Lounge Awards:

Lounge Scene Awards 

Best Burlesque Act or Performer: PEARLS DAILY

Honorable Mention: Murray "The hardest-working middle-aged man in show business" Hill

Diane L. Naegel Award for Best Lounge or Vintage Event: LOUNGERATI 3RD ANNUAL RED SAUCE DINNER at BAMONTE'S, Williamsburg 

Honorable Mention:  Dandy Wellington's EASTER EGG STROLL 

Loungerati Annual Red Sauce Dinner at Bamonte's

Viva La Musica Award for Best Jazz, Lounge, or Swing Band: HARLEM SLIM at THE RUM HOUSE

Honorable Mention: CHARLIE ROMAN HOT CLUB

Viva La Musica Award winner Harlem Slim

Most Sought After Ingredient or Bar Tool for the Home Bar: HEAVEN HILL GRAIN TO GLASS KENTUCKY STRAIGHT WHISKEY

Honorable Mention: Haymans London Dry Gin  

Heaven Hill pulled out all the stops for this gem!

Best Dressed Lounger: MARLO GAMORA, Aperitivo Guy     

Honorable Mention: Tiki Adam Kolesar, Jungle Bird Extraordinaire

Marlo Gamora, Best Dressed Lounger 2024

Cocktail Bars and Lounges

Best New NYC Cocktail Bar or Lounge: MIDNIGHT BLUE, Gramercy 

Honorable mention: Dante West Village, West Village

Best NYC Cocktail Bar or Lounge: INGAS, Brooklyn Heights

Honorable Mention: Milady's, SoHo

Best Barfood: PORK BELLY BAO BUNS at BARTLEY DUNNES, Midtown

Honorable Mention: The Cheeseburger at WALKERS, Tribeca

Bartley Dunnes gets bar food and hospitality RIGHT!

Best of the NYC Hotel Bars: THE RUM HOUSE at HOTEL EDISON, Time Sq.

Honorable Mention: Bemelmans at the Carlyle Hotel, UES

Dale "King Cocktail" DeGroff hosted a special night of cocktails at the venerable Bemelmans

Best NYC Restaurant Bars: CAFE SPAGHETTI, Brooklyn

Honorable Mention: M. Wells (RIP), Long Island City (thanks for the memories!)

Best Cocktail of 2024:  OLIVE OIL MARTINI (EVOO washed gin, Cocchi extra dry vermouth, olives) at Cafe Spaghetti, Brooklyn

Honorable Mention: The Spaghett' (Miller High Life pony with an Aperol/lemon shakeratu back) at Bar Primi, Midtown

Editors and Staff Picks:

Best Seat in the House: "REGULAR" SEAT at THE RUM HOUSE, Times Square

Honorable mention: Any bar seat at Walkers, Tribeca

Best Drink for the Road: GUINNESS + POWERS at IRISH EXIT, Midtown

Honorable mention: 52nd Street Old Fashioned at Gallagher's Steak House, Midtown

Split the G at the Irish Exit!

Best Dive Bar aka "The Gutter Award": MILANO'S BAR, SoHo

Honorable Mention: Jimmy's Corner, Times Square

For 2025, the Loungerati continue our focus on quality over quantity and supporting establishments that are not a flash in the pan. 

The Loungerati non-negotiables: 

- We will not frequent any bar, restaurant, or lounge that requires reservations for bar seats or imposes a time limit on occupying a bar seat. Bar seats should always be for walk-ins and as long as we are paying, we can sit there. 

- We will keep supporting establishments that get hospitality right and treat their customers like actual guests.

- We will embrace the fellowship of true friends and invest our time wisely with them. 

- We will be on the lookout for individuals displaying outstanding hospitality at authentic establishments. The gold pineapple pin is awarded to the best of the best.

Til' the next Manhattans!

- The Loungerati

 Loungerati Capos Fredo & Eff.

Best of Lounge 2023

And just like that, 2023 is a wrap. This past year, the Loungerati visited several outstanding new joints like the Press Club Grill and Albert's Bar in addition to seasoned NYC haunts like Old Town Bar, Hudson Malone's, Minetta Tavern, The Rum House, Jimmy's Corner, and of course the venerable  red sauce destination - Bamonte's. 

We also visited many noteworthy bars in other cities like Mac's Club Deuce in Miami, Best Intentions in Chicago, Copper Shaker in Tampa, Shore Leave and Bar Volpe in Boston, and The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel in London. 

During our journey, we discovered plenty of new lounge worthy bands, enjoyed sublime libations, dressed to impress, met new friends, and said good bye to several legendary New York bartenders. It really was a terrific year! 

So, please raise a glass of bubbles to Loungerati's 2023 Best of Lounge Awards:

Lounge Scene Awards 

Loungerati's Annual Red Sauce Dinner at Bamonte's

Diane L. Naegel Award for Best Lounge or Vintage Event: LOUNGERATI 2ND ANNUAL RED SAUCE DINNER at BAMONTE'S, Williamsburg 

Honorable Mention:  GREEN FAIRY at RED ROOM, East Village

Charlie Roman Hot Club performing at The Rum House

Viva La Musica Award for Best Jazz, Lounge, or Swing Band: CHARLIE ROMAN HOT CLUB 

Honorable Mention: ISAAK JAMES & THE BAND

Most Sought After Ingredient or Bar Tool for the Home Bar: HEAVEN HILL Bottle in Bond 7yr Bourbon 

Honorable Mention: Foraged Ramps for Gibson cocktails - IYKYK

Best Dressed Lounger: NEAL "EFF" BLANGIARDO, Proprietor of Fine Haberdashery at Eff's Style Emporium    

Honorable Mention: Tiki Adam Kolesar, Jungle Bird Extraordinaire

Cocktail Bars and Lounges

Best New NYC Cocktail Bar or Lounge: THE PRESS CLUB GRILL, Herald Square

Honorable mention: ALBERT'S BAR, Midtown East

Barman  Extraordinaire Troy serving up Mojitos
with a side of panache at The Rum House in NYC

Best NYC Cocktail Bar or Lounge: THE RUM HOUSE, Times Square

Honorable Mention: DUTCH KILLS BAR, Long Island City, Queens

The  delicious French Dip at Minetta Tavern
is only available during lunch service on Thursday & Fridays!

Best Barfood: THE FRENCH DIP at MINETTA TAVERN, Greenwich Village

Honorable Mention: Grilled Alligator Sausage at ALLIGATOR PEAR, Midtown

Best of the NYC Hotel Bars: LOBBY BAR at the Hotel Chelsea, Chelsea

Honorable Mention: King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel, Midtown

Best NYC Restaurant Bars: HAWKSMOOR NYC, Gramercy

Honorable Mention: SARDI's 2nd Floor Bar, Midtown

Best Cocktail of 2023:  DUKES MARTINI at LOBBY BAR, Hotel Chelsea

Honorable Mention: THE MARTINIQUE at THE PRESS CLUB GRILL, Herald Square

Editors and Staff Picks:

Best Seat in the House: "REGULAR" SEAT at THE RUM HOUSE, Times Square

Honorable mention: Any bar seat at OLD TOWN BAR, Union Square

No better way to spend waiting for your train
 than at the Irish Exit in Moynihan Hall at NY's Penn Station.
Pint and a shot will do!!

Best Drink for the Road: GUINNESS + POWERS at IRISH EXIT, Midtown

Honorable mention: HANKY PANKY, AMERICAN BAR at SAVOY Hotel, London

Best Dive Bar aka "The Gutter Award": JIMMY'S CORNER, Times Square

Honorable Mention: MAC's CLUB DEUCE, South Beach, Miami

For 2024, the Loungerati are focusing on quality over quantity: 

- We will not frequent any bar, restaurant, or lounge that requires reservations for bar seats or imposes a time limit on occupying a bar seat. Bar seats should always be for walk-ins and as long as we are paying, we can sit there. 

- We will keep supporting establishments that get it right

- We will embrace the fellowship of true friends and invest our time wisely 

- We will be on the lookout for outstanding hospitality at authentic establishments that are not flash in the pan. The pineapple pin is awarded to the best.

Til' the next Manhattans!

- The Loungerati

Wishing legendary Sardi's bartender Joe Petrsoric
the best in retirement! End of an era!!

Best of Lounge 2022

                                                               

Mark " The Senator" Vasto

 Lounger Number One 2022
 "Drinkify Me "Artwork by Dave Stolte

Its been two long years since we handed out the Best of Lounge awards. The global pandemic pulled the rug out from all of us and sadly, we lost many friends, family, & yes, even some of our favorite watering holes. We thought it would be the new Roaring Twenties but the decade got stalled in the starting gates. So 2022, a year when COVID was still taking its toll but, fully boosted, we started venturing out more. New joints began to pop up and a limited sense of normalcy began to take root. 

In the spirit of new beginnings, we went out on the town in many cities across the country with old and new friends. In NYC, the Loungerati revisited some classic dining and drinking stalwarts like Balthazar, Minetta Tavern, Gallagher's Steakhouse, Blue Ribbon, Grand Central Oyster Bar, Bemelmans, Heidelberg Restaurant, El Quijote at Chelsea Hotel, Smith & Wollensky, and of course the venerable Bamonte's. So please raise a freezer cold Martini to Loungerati's 2022 Best of Lounge Awards:

Lounge Scene Awards 

Tansy Tandora
The Elizabeth Taylor of Burlesque

Best Burlesque Act or Performer: TANSY TANDORA

Honorable Mention: GIN MINSKY

Diane L. Naegel Award for Best Lounge or Vintage Event: GREEN FAIRY at the Red Room, East Village 

Honorable Mention:  LOUNGERATI RED SAUCE DINNER at Bamonte's, Williamsburg

Viva La Musica Award for Best Jazz, Lounge, or Swing Band: GEORGE GEE SWING ORCHESTRA at Swing 46, NYC

Honorable Mention: ALAN GRESIK'S SWING ORCHESTRA at Green Mill, Chicago

Most Sought After Ingredient or Bar Tool for the Home Bar: AMARO SAN SIMONE aka "Sansi"

Honorable Mention: FORD'S SLOE GIN

Marlo Gamora
Best Dressed Lounger 2022

Best Dressed Lounger: MARLO GAMORA, Rum Ambassador & Gentleman      

Honorable Mention: DAVID "GOH" TALAGA, Scotch Connoisseur

Cocktail Bars and Lounges

Best New NYC Cocktail Bar or Lounge: MILADY'S, SoHo

Honorable mention: Sunken Harbor, Brooklyn

Fredo @ The Rum House in NYC

Best NYC Cocktail Bar or Lounge: THE RUM HOUSE, Times Sq.

Honorable Mention: EMPLOYEES ONLY, West Village

Best Barfood: MOROCCAN FRIED CHICKEN at Zou Zou, Hudson Yards

Honorable Mention: Deviled Eggs, Clover Club, Brooklyn

Best of the NYC Hotel Bars: BEMELMANS BAR at the Carlyle Hotel, UES

Honorable Mention: Lantern's Keep at the Iroquois Hotel, Midtown

Best NYC Restaurant Bars: MINETTA TAVERN, Greenwich Village

Honorable Mention: THE BAR at KEENS STEAKHOUSE, Midtown

Best Cocktail of 2022: RHYME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER at Sunken Harbor 

Honorable Mention: PINCH HITTER (Japanese Whiskey, Koji, Apricot, Honey, bitters) at Chez Zou

Editors and Staff Picks:

Best Seat in the House: "REGULAR" SEAT at THE RUM HOUSE, Times Sq.

Honorable mention: Any BAR SEAT at Jimmy's Corner

Best Cocktail for the Road: MILLER HIGH LIFE & BUFFALO TRACE SHOT at MILADY'S, SoHo

Honorable mention: GUINNESS & POWERS SHOT at MOLLY WEE PUB, Midtown

Best NYC Tiki Experience: ROCKAWAY TIKI BAR, Rockaway Beach, Queens

Honorable Mention: ZOMBIE HUT, Carroll Gardens 

Best Dive aka "The Gutter Award": JIMMY'S CORNER, Times Sq.

Honorable Mention: MILANO'S BAR, Little Italy

Brian F. Paynter Award for Lounger Number One: MARK "THE SENATOR" VASTO (Awarded Posthumously)

For 2023, we have a laundry list of joints to visit, shows to see, bands to hear, & rugs to cut. These include -  Gus's Chophouse in Brooklyn, Hawksmoor NYC in Gramercy, and Albert's Bar in Midtown, among many more in NYC. We hope to travel to other cities and visit old friends and new joints. The Loungerati keep looking forward to new adventures, the fellowship of true friends, and outstanding hospitality.

Til' the next Manhattans!

- The Loungerati

Enjoy the Lounge Life, baby!