Best of Lounge - 2019

Don Spiro Lounger Number One 2019
 "Drinkify Me "Artwork by Dave Stolte

Aaaannnnd another decade down! 2020 used to sound like a distant future with flying cars and trips to Mars but all of a sudden it's next year! So let's get ready for a new Roaring 20s' only without that pesky Prohibition thing or sadly flying cars. Loungerati's 2019 Best of Lounge Awards go to:

Lounge Scene Awards 

Velvetina Taylor
Photo Credit: Richard Velasco

Best Burlesque Act or Performer*: Velvetina Taylor

Honorable Mention: Francine Dream (the 2018 winner), Sir Richard Castle's Wiggle Room, and the lovely Seedy Edie

* Editor's Note: We went out allot this year and saw many great performances. Velvetina Taylor was everywhere - from the Wiggle Room to private Art Deco apartment parties to The Salon events and everything in between! A super performer who has not even hit her peak yet. I am sure there is more to come from VT!

Dandy Dillinger holding court at the Shanty for Repeal Day!
Photo credit: Scott Stanger

Diane L. Naegel Award for Best Lounge or Vintage Event: Don Spiro & Dandy Dillinger's Repeal Day Triple Party at the Shanty, Red Room, & Barrow's Intense Ginger

Honorable Mention: Loungerati Beefsteak Dinner, Fancy Camp 2019, The Salon's New Year's Eve Eve

Viva La Musica Award for Best Jazz, Lounge, or Swing Band: Mike Davis & The New Wonders

Honorable Mention: Kate Curran & Rogues Gallery, Michael Arenella's Dreamland Orchestra

Most Sought After Ingredient or Bar Tool for the Home Bar: Tempus Fugit Creme de Banane

Honorable Mention: Bitter Truth Olive Bitters, De Soto Petit Cocktail Shaker

Kenny McCoy, Barman Extraordinaire &
True Yorker in Esquire Magazine
Photo Credit: Aaron Richter

Best Dressed Lounger: Kenny "I'm in Friggin' Esquire" McCoy

Honorable Mention: Toby "The Gent" Maloney, Ashton "Dandy Dillinger" Warren

Cocktail Bars and Lounges

Best New Cocktail Bar or Lounge: Osamil Upstairs (Midtown)

Honorable mention: Stayton Room (Midtown), Black Emperor (East Village), Bar Pisellino (West Village), Sugar Monk (Harlem)

Best New York Cocktail Bar or Lounge: Existing Conditions (Greenwich Village)

Honorable Mention: Long Island Bar (Cobble Hill), Dead Rabbit's Parlour Room (FiDi), Maison Premiere (Williamsburg)

Best Barfood: Sando at Katana Kitten (Midtown) 

Honorable Mention: Deviled Eggs at Ward III (Tribeca), Steak Tartare at Employees Only (West Village), Oysters at Blue Ribbon Sullivan Street (SoHo), Miso Wings at Bar Goto (LES)

Best of the New York Hotel Bars: The Rum House at The Hotel Edison(Times Square)

Honorable Mention:  The Sunken Lounge at the TWA Hotel (JFK Airport), Monkey Bar at Hotel Elysee (Midtown), Lost Hours at Hotel 3232 (Midtown)

Spumoni Cocktail with Espresso back at Bar Pisellino

Best Cocktail of 2019: Spumoni (Neversink gin, Campari, Pink Peppercorn syrup, Fever Tree Indian Tonic water, fresh Ruby Red grapefruit, cracked pink peppercorns)at Bar Pisellino(West Village)

Honorable Mention: Yellow Bird (Plantation 3 Star Rum, Galliano L'Autentico, Cointreau, fresh lime, acid lime cordial, saline, lime twist) at Existing Conditions, The Runnable Stag (Dalmore 12-Year Scotch, Suze, Sales, Star Anise, Orange Bitters) at Sugar Monk

Editors and Staff Picks:

Best Seat in the House: Dug Out seat at Ward III (Tribeca)

Honorable mention: Any seat at The Grill, The "Regular" seat at Rum House, & F14 at Clover Club when in Brooklyn (natch!)

Best Cocktail for the Road: Ichi-mas Boilermaker (Sapporo lager & Toki Japanese Whiskey) at Katana Kitten (West Village)

Honorable Mention: Irish Coffee at Dead Rabbit (FiDi), Old Pal at Dante (Greenwich Village)

Best Saloon: Hudson Malone (Midtown East) 

Honorable Mention: American Whiskey (Midtown), Ward III (Tribeca),The Gaf West (Hell's Kitchen)

Best NY Tiki Experience: Garret Richard's Exotica Night at Raines Law Room (Midtown)
Honorable Mention:Cellar 335 (Jersey City), Mother of Pearl (East Village), Polynesian (Midtown)

Best of the Internationals: Fifty Mils (Mexico D.F)

Honorable Mention: American Bar at Savoy Hotel (London), Dirty Dick (Paris)

ALIBI in SLC, bartender owned, Loungerati approved.

Best American Cocktail Bar (ex-NYC) Visited in 2019: Alibi (Salt Lake City)

Honorable Mention: Cafe La Trova (Miami), Better Days(Miami), The Man Behind the Curtain at Platform 18 (Phoenix), Raised by Wolves (San Diego)

Best Dive aka "The Gutter Award": Jimmy's Corner (Times Square)

Honorable Mention: Patriot Bar  (Tribeca), Tracks in Penn Station - RIP (Midtown)

Brian F. Paynter Award for Lounger Number One: Don "Sazarac" Spiro

Honorable mention: Ashton "Dandy Dillinger" Warren, David "Grumpy Old Hepcat" Talaga

Last year we lamented the closing of many New York cocktail favorites, like the venerable Flatiron Lounge. This year we look forward to a new decade and what seems to be many eagerly awaited new bars on the horizon. These include two new Brooklyn additions -  Bar Goto Niban (from the Bar Goto team) coming to Park Slope and St. John Frizzel's The Sunken Harbor at the newly renovated Gage & Tollner on Fulton Street in downtown Brooklyn. Tis' a new decade with new possibilities and adventures to come! The Loungerati look forward to more great times, the friendships to be made, and superb hospitality.

Til' the next Manhattans!

- The Loungerati

Beefsteak Dinner 2019

Barfly's Beat: Ward III

The welcoming team at Ward III in Tribeca

At some saloons, one can attempt to become a regular because you think it is brightest new joint or have some sort of historical pedigree. Maybe you sat there one night and saw some regulars walk in, get the royal treatment, and said to yourself, "I wanna be that guy one day. I'll start coming here often and tipping well." Let me stop you right there.  In my opinion, you should never "try" to be a regular, you should only frequent places that make you feel at home and the rest will come. Ward III bar in the TriBeCa section of New York City's downtown is one of those bars where becoming a regular comes naturally because of the culture crafted by its owners.


Proprietors Michael Neff, Kenneth McCoy, and Abdul Tabini greet you with a smile, a handshake, and sincerity whether you are stopping by for your first drink or a nightcap. They execute quality drinks with fresh ingredients in a high volume environment and somehow make time to engage in conversation. They are true barmen and I call them friends. These guys care about their customers, the neighborhood, and take service seriously. This culture does not end with the owners,  their bar staff (I'd like to give the nod to Wes, Max, Shaun, and Danny) keep the drinks and food flowing with seamless ease and same attention to client service. And do you know what? This translates into you becoming a regular without trying.

The Baby Eveline Cocktail and a Whiskey Sour

What Ward III does right, in addition to service and top notch libations,  is provide an atmosphere that is welcoming and that lacks pretension. One can show up in a cuffs and buttons or t-shirt and jeans, in a celebratory group or solo with a book, and one can order beer on tap or a delicious signature cocktail. It is your call. Then there is the bar food menu, which is key when having a tipple or two of Ward III's potent combinations.  Our favorites include the mini-pulled pork or duck sliders ( Loungerati's  winner of Best Bar Food of 2010 ), the Moroccan Chicken Pot Pie, and Smoked Gouda and Caramelized Onion Quesedillas.  Top shelf booze, craft beers, come as you are attitude, and delicious bar food equates to catering to a wide audience without any compromises to quality. In true egalitarian fashion, there are no secret phone numbers or buzzers to ring. Just roll in.


Some Background:
Ward III was opened in June 2009 by three experienced barkeeps whose pedigree includes Grace Bar, Odeon, Macao Trading Company, and Ella. The back bar is constructed from vintage Singer sewing machines, the walls exposed brick, and the long hand crafted oak bar is a beauty. The liquor selection is absolutely stellar and they are known for their whiskeys. Every Monday is Whiskey Monday at Ward III, a special event that features a complimentary tasting of various distillers products that range from local producers like New York's Tuthilltown Spirits to Auchentoshan single malt scotch.


Ward III were the standout winners of Loungerati's Best Saloon of 2009  and in our humble opinion, they were robbed when it came to Time Out NY's 2010 Eat Out Awards - Most Democratic Bar. Bespoke Cocktails that you help create, what is more democratic than having it your way? On a recent night, out I suggested a friend try the bespoke list and she went with a Basil Gimlet made with Plymouth Gin, muddled basil, fresh lime, and simple syrup.  Not only was her cocktail made to order without delay but I believe the proprietors were impressed with its uniqueness. If the bespoke drink is a hit, it is added to their records for the next time you arrive. It is no wonder that that Loungerati has partnered with Ward III to hold our 3rd Annual Holiday Repeal Day party and will continue to make it a cocktail destination. 

Dress up or Dress down. Up or on the rocks. We will see you at your new regular joint.

Ward III
111 Reade Street
@ West Broadway
TriBeCa section of NYC
Phone: (212) 240-9194