Sunday, December 31, 2023

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 MentionGREEN 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 LoungerNEAL "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 GRILLHerald 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 LoungeTHE 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 RoadGUINNESS + 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!!







Saturday, December 31, 2022

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, 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 LoungerMARLO GAMORA, Rum Ambassador & Gentleman      
Honorable Mention: GARRET RICHARD, Barman Extraordinaire

Cocktail Bars and Lounges
Best New NYC Cocktail Bar or LoungeSUNKEN HARBOR, Brooklyn
Honorable mention: MILADY'S, SoHo 

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: PORK POT PIE, Gage & Tollner, 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: GAGE & TOLLNER, Brooklyn
Honorable Mention: THE BAR at KEENS STEAKHOUSE, Midtown

Garret Richard's Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner
(photo credit: Star Chefs)

Best Cocktail of 2022: RHYME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER (Demerara Rum, Kola Nut, Allspice, Grapefruit, Grog Syrup, Bitters) 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!





Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Lounge 2020: In Memoriam


There will be no Best of Lounge Awards for 2020. Instead, we raise a glass in a somber mood to the memory of some of our favorite New York City haunts & watering holes that permanently closed in 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic. The Lounge remembers:

  • Pegu Club
  • Lucky Strike
  • Daddy-O
  • Existing Conditions
  • Monkey Bar
  • Maloney & Porcelli
  • Ward III
  • 21 Club
  • Donna
  • Grand Havana Room
  • Grand Central Oyster Bar*
  • Nightcap
  • Rye House
  • Jack the Horse Tavern
  • Black Emperor
  • Ghost Donkey
  • Mermaid Inn
  • Bar Veloce (East Village)*
  • Saxon & Parole
  • Otto Enoteca & Pizzeria
  • The Good Fork
  • Blue Ribbon (Brooklyn)
  • Jules Bistro
  • Augustine
  • Bar Sardine
  • Fedora
  • Black & White
  • Copacabana
  • Porsena
  • Blue Quarter
  • Honeybee
  • Mother of Pearl

* Closed temporarily with no announced return date

Last but certainly not least, we remember Mr. Jimmy Glenn, a true NYC legend who passed from COVID-19 on May 7, 2020. Jimmy was a consummate barman, proprietor of Jimmy's Corner & a veteran prizefighter. He always met you with a welcoming hand, a smile, and a story. Rest easy Jimmy, you are missed.

- The Loungerati