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.

Barfly's Beat: Eating at the Bar

The bar ain't just for drinks!

Most people think of the restaurant bar as a place to grab a pre-dinner drink or lounge post dessert. Casual diners do not realize that in New York, bar seats in many establishments are as coveted as Manhattan real estate. The cognoscenti, who actually enjoy the camaraderie and directness of a bar meal, know that eating at the bar is much more that a pit stop. It is the destination. In premium eateries that have a bar scene, you need a virtual (and sometimes literal) reservation or at least know the bar staff to acquire a seat. Once you get that seat, you stay for a while ...a long while.

Last week I was eating at the bar in The Waverly Inn in New York's Greenwich Village. The snarky Douglas S. was behind the counter and as unspoken decorum demands, I signaled that I would like a Michter’s Straight Rye Manhattan (up) and a bar seat when one became available. The place was Thursday night crowded but the thought of John DeLucie’s perfectly cooked pork chop or Hudson Valley free-range chicken potpie and the general atmosphere of the place beckoned. I waited very patiently - like a “Saint” they would later say - cocktail in right hand, trench coat over left arm, felt fedora in free hand – for the other diners and drinkers to finish up and vacate the occupied seats. But I wasn't hurried or nervous about fighting for a spot, I know the drill. Though the place was filling up fast the next one would be mine. Some new patrons (who seemed a bit tipsy) "asked" already sat customers if they could get their seat but Douglas advised them in his signature direct manner that "this gentleman" (meaning moi)was next one on line. Now, there is no line at WI per se. It is more like a mob of folks sipping drinks waiting for their impossible to get table reservations and hoping to get a seat while they wait. But there are unwritten rules that transcend the specific establishment. In addition to first come, first serve - there are three simple rules I follow in restaurant bars – especially the good ones - that always get me in.

1. If you want a seat, kindly ask the bartender when they think one will be available for dinner and ask to be seated next. (Respect and courtesy can go far, even in this town)

2. Order a drink and keep the tab open. (This lets them know you are serious about sitting for a while)

3. Do not hover behind and upset seated customers. (First it is rude, second it will not get you the seat any faster)

My bar dinner at The Waverly Inn actually lead to another one this past weekend which I have to say was one of the best. While I was enjoying an after dinner Fernet Branca I recognized Igor, one of the superb bartenders and a proprietor of Employees Only. Since EO opened, Igor has made me countless cocktails and always made our crew feel first class when we walked through the door. He knows me as one of those guys who is serious about cocktails and invariably ends up having chicken soup late night. So I decided to buy him a drink and we got to chatting. I told him about my eating at the bar philosophy and he asked if I had ever had dinner at EO’s bar. To his amazement I told I had not and only sampled their killer Serbian chartucerie platter on occasion. Well he insisted I stop by the next time I had a chance and try it out.

Well the opportunity came the Saturday before Christmas. I figured the place would not be so crowded what with half of Manhattan heading back to see their families and I was spot on. Igor was outside having a smoke and welcomed me in with open arms. I got my usual seat (I like to occupy the "dugout" area of a bar for a sweeping view of the room). Starting out with a Negroni aperitif, I followed with a robust Super Tuscan when dinner arrived. The dinner menu was actually quite diverse but as soon as I saw Juniper Braised Rabbit I knew I was sold.

I began with crispy sweet breads over red globe grapes and fried capers.

For my entrée, I had no choice but to take the braised rabbit over creamy polenta and roasted veggies.

I topped the meal off with the dark chocolate cheesecake with banana whipped crème paired with a double espresso caffe corretto with Jacopo Poli grappa.

More grappa followed and then few other custom crafted cocktails such as the Ramos Gin Fizz and an Aviation. The conversation flowed with other bar patrons while Igor and fellow principal bartender Jose made sure my glass was never empty until I called it a night. The experience was exceptional because I felt as if I discovered a gem that had been under my nose the whole time. EO had outstanding food, impeccable and sincere service, and the experience was perfect way to kick off the holiday weekend.

Other Loungerati eating at the bar favorites:

1.Freemans – go for the seasonal cocktails, stay for the Venison Stew.

2.Balthazar – simply stop in for a plateaux des fruits de mer and a carafe of Sancerre on a lazy Saturday afternoon and you will understand.

3.Blue Ribbon – Brooklyn or Sullivan Street locations are winners. The attention to detail, raw bar, bone marrow, plus potent nightcaps make it a crowd pleaser year after year.

4.Bar Tabac – Sunday brunch with soccer on the flat screen and Michael Arenella jazz next to the bar. Throw in their Eggs Bar Tabac (baked eggs, ratatouille, and merguez sausage) and you stay for dinner!

So next time you consider a meal at the bar, remember that it is much more than chicken wings or nachos on a Sunday afternoon. Nor is it simply tapas or small plates before a sit down dinner. Whether you go solo or with a friend or on a date, the bar eating experience is communal and hardly ever solitary. Good bartenders are engaging and as long as you respect the unwritten code of securing a seat, you will be rewarded with a great dining and drinking experience … and heck a shot of Fernet may suddenly appear in front of you on the house.

- Fredo