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 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!

Best of Lounge - 2015



Loungerati and artist Dave Stolte donated the fee for this illustration
in Sasha's memory to the YouCaring fundraising site for his family.  

The Loungerati have voted via Survey Monkey for the 2015 Best of Lounge Awards and the results are in:

Lounge Scene Awards 

Best Burlesque Act or Performer: CALAMITY CHANG

Honorable Mention: Flatiron Follies - Grace Gotham, Hazel Honeysuckle

 

Diane L. Naegel Award for Best Lounge or Vintage Event: JAZZ AGE LAWN PARTY at Governor's Island

Honorable Mention: Playboy Swings Salon at the Players Club, Club Wit's End 7th Annual Black Cat Masquerade

 

Viva La Musica Award for Best Jazz, Lounge, or Swing Band: DANDY WELLINGTON AND HIS BAND

Honorable Mention: Queen Esther, Brian Newman Orchestra at the Rainbow Room

 

Most Sought After Ingredient for the Home Bar: DEAD RABBIT DRINKS MANUAL

Honorable Mention: Beach Bum Berry's Skull bar spoon, New York Distilling Company's Ragtime Rye

 

Best Dressed Lounger: DANDY WELLINGTON (Song and Dance man)

Honorable Mention: Queen Esther (Belle of the Ball), Eff Blangiardo (Scion of Sprezzatura)

 

Cocktail Bars and Lounges

Best New Cocktail Bar or Lounge: SLOWLY SHIRLEY (New York)

Honorable mention:  Mother of Pearl (New York), Dante (New York)

Best New York Cocktail Bar or Lounge: THE DEAD RABBIT GROCERY & GROG(New York)

Honorable Mention: Long Island Bar (Brooklyn), Dutch Kills (Queens)

 

Best Barfood: OYSTER HAPPY HOUR at THE DEAD RABBIT GROCERY & GROG (New York)

Honorable Mention: The Cheeseburger at The Happiest Hour (New York), Carrot Tartar at the Elephant Bar in NoMad Hotel (New York)

Best of the NY Hotel Bars: THE RUM HOUSE at EDISON HOTEL (New York)

Honorable Mention: Elephant Bar at NoMad Hotel (New York), King Kole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel (New York)

 

David A. Embury Award for Best Cocktail of 2015: SHADDOCK and SMOKE (Ardbeg scotch, grapefruit liqueur, Amaretto, lemon juice, and seltzer) at the UP & UP(New York)

Honorable Mention: The Garibaldi at Dante (New York), Noche Buena at Leyenda (Brooklyn)

 

Editor and Staff Picks:

Best Seat in the House: Bar Seat at SLOWLY SHIRLEY (New York)

Honorable mention: The "Regular" at Employees Only(New York), Seat F12 (aka F14) at Clover Club (Brooklyn), Dugout seats at Dante (New York)

 

Best Cocktail for the Road: DIRTY BIRD (scotch, Amaro Montenegro, sweet vermouth, coffee bitters at GOODNIGHT SONNY (New York)

Honorable Mention: Sakura Martini at Bar Goto (New York), Brancolada at Donna Cocktail Bar (Brooklyn), Beer and shot at Holiday Cocktail Lounge (New York)

Best Saloon: BAR X (Salt Lake City)

Honorable Mention: Daddy-O (New York), American Whiskey (New York)

*NEW* Best American Tiki Experience: A tie: LOST LAKE (Chicago) and LATITUDE 29 (New Orleans)
Honorable Mention: Tiki Mondays with Miller (New York), Smuggler's Cove (San Francisco), Mother of Pearl (New York)

Best of the Internationals: ARTESIAN BAR at LANGHAM HOTEL (London)

Honorable Mention:  American Bar at the Savoy Hotel (London), White Lyan (London)

Best Dive aka "The Gutter Award": MONTERO BAR & GRILL (Brooklyn)

Honorable Mention: Patriot Saloon (New York), American Trash (New York)

Don't Bruise the Ice Award for Best Ice Program: BAR GOTO (New York)

 

Brian F. Paynter Award for Lounger Number One: SASHA PETRASKE (Cocktail Icon and Jazz lover)

Best of Lounge 2013 - Winners

And the 2013 Brian Paynter Award for Lounger Number One goes to ....
J. WALTER HAWKES,  Jazz Giant, Trombone man, and Ukulele Aficionado

The Loungerati readers have voted via Survey Monkey for the 2013 Best of Lounge Awards and the results are in:

Lounge Scene Awards 

Best Burlesque Act or Performer: DRUNKEN DRAGON FESTIVAL at MACAO (Calamity Chang, Minx Arcana, Gal Friday, and Perle Noire) 
Honorable Mention: Gotham Burlesque at the Triad Theatre, Nuit Blanche: Dolls After Dark at Beaumarchais, Take Back the 80s Burlesque (Francine The Lucid Dream and Minnie the Moocha), Coney Island's Enchanted Tiki Room (Left Lucy & Co.)

Diane L. Naegel Award for Best Lounge or Vintage Event: JAZZ AGE LAWN PARTY AT GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
Honorable Mention: Club Wit's End 5th Annual Black Cat Masquerade, Loungerati Staff Beefsteak Dinner, The Salon: New Year's Eve Eve Party at DL Lounge, Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala at NY Public Library

Viva La Musica Award for Best Jazz, Lounge, or Swing Band: TERRY WALDO, PIANO MAN
Honorable Mention: Michael Arenella & Dreamland orchestra, Dandy Wellington & His Band, JC Hopkins Biggish Band, Gelber & Manning

Most Sought After Ingredient for the Home Bar: DEAD RABBIT ORINOCO BITTERS by Dr. Adam Elmegirab

Honorable Mention: Leather Work Apron from Moore & Giles, Dale DeGroff's Pimento Aromatic Bitters, Home Bar Basics (and not so basics) manual by Dave Stolte, Tuthiltown Distillery Barrel Aging Kit

Best Dressed Lounger: EFF BLANGIARDO of Loungerati
Honorable Mention: Robert Kennedy (Tie Man), Michael Haar (Barber Extraordinaire), Dandy Wellington (Song and Dance man), Grace Gotham (Scintillating Chanteuse)

Cocktail Bars and Lounges

Best New Cocktail Bar or Lounge: THE DEAD RABBIT GROCERY & GROG (New York)
Honorable mention:  Attaboy (New York), Golden Cadillac (New York), Sweet Leaf (Queens), Long Island Bar (Brooklyn)

Best New York Cocktail Bar or Lounge: CLOVER CLUB (Brooklyn)
Honorable Mention: Employees Only (New York), Death & Company (New York), Dutch Kills (Queens)

Best Barfood: Oyster Happy Hour - MAISON PREMIERE (Brooklyn)
Honorable Mention: Charcuterie - Employees Only (New York),  Bill's Burger - Bill's Food & Drink (New York), Scotch Egg - Dead Rabbit (New York)

Best of the NY Hotel Bars: THE RUM HOUSE at EDISON HOTEL (New York)

Honorable Mention: Library Bar at NoMad Hotel (New York), Lantern's Keep at the Iroquois Hotel (New York), Bemelmans Bar at Carlyle Hotel (New York)

David A. Embury Award for Best Cocktail of 2013: THE MIDTOWN, Bryan Schneider for Quality Italian (New York)

Honorable Mention: Brancolada by Jeremy Ortel for Donna Cocktail Lounge (Brooklyn), Spanish Crown by Maxwell Britten for Maison Premiere (Brooklyn)

Editor and Staff Picks:
Best Seat in the House: Parlour Bar Seat at THE DEAD RABBIT (New York)
Honorable mention: Standing room at the bar - Prime Meats (Brooklyn), Seat F14 at Clover Club (Brooklyn), Corner bar seat at Attaboy (New York)

Best Cocktail for the Road: Toronto Cocktail from Jillian Vose of DEATH & COMPANY (New York)
Honorable Mention: Manhattan on Tap at Saxon & Parole (New York), Cynar Julep, Sable Kitchen & Bar (Chicago), Daiquiri shots at Berkshire Room (Chicago)

Best Saloon: BAR X (Salt Lake City)
Honorable Mention: Daddy-O(New York), Grace 365 (New York), Ward III (New York), Alewife (Queens)

Best of the Internationals: ARTESIAN BAR at LANGHAM HOTEL (London)
Honorable Mention:  American Bar at the Savoy Hotel (London), Kelvin Grove Cafe (Edinburgh),White Lyan (London), Night Jar (London)

Best Dive aka "The Gutter Award": TRACKS in Penn Station (New York)

Honorable Mention: Jimmy's Corner (New York), Montero Bar & Grill (Brooklyn), Arthur's Tavern (New York)

Don't Bruise the Ice Award for Best Ice Program: SAXON & PAROLE (New York)

Honorable Mention: Dutch Kills Bar (Queens), Booker & Dax (New York), Little Branch (New York), Violet Hour (Chicago)

Brian F. Paynter Award for Lounger Number One: J. WALTER HAWKES - Jazz Giant
Honorable Mention: Robert Kennedy (OcTIEBer), Patrick Soluri (The Salon), Fredo Ceraso (Loungerati)

A Trifecta of NYC Kentucky Derby Viewing Parties

Saturday May 4th will be the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The "most famous two minutes in sport" unites classic fashion style, 19th century cocktails, gambling, and an age-old sport of kings in a quintessentially American event. The fellows suited up in seersucker, ladies in elegant straw hats, bourbon mint juleps in icy tins, and wagers on a long shot to win are a tradition. For loungers, it is a friggin' national holiday and expect us to be celebrating in full regalia, julep chalice in hand, at our favorite watering holes!

This Derby Day we recommend the grand daddy of mint julep variations adapted by historian David Wondrich from a recipe in an 1857 edition of Harper's Weekly and trifecta of authentic Derby viewing parties in New York City for the win!

Prescription Julep

1 1/2 oz of Cognac (VSOP or better)

1/2 oz Rye Whisky

1/4 oz of rich simple syrup

8-10 mint leaves

Tools: Julep chalice, jigger, bar spoon

Gently rub the mint leaves on the inside of the julep tin and discard. Add cognac, rye and rich simple and stir mixture gently. Fill cup with crushed ice and garnish with mint sprigs. Insert sterling silver straw in between mint sprigs.

Maison Premiere - 2nd Annual Derby Party featuring Four Roses Bourbon

12pm-8pm

Julep master Maxwell Britten and his crew of dapper drink slingers will be throwing one hell of a pre-race BBQ in Maison Premiere's backyard. Icy platters of oysters will be plentiful and an extensive menu of mint juleps served in silver beaded tins will be available. The Maison Premiere House Band starts at 3pm and goes to 7pm. This year there will be a fashion contest for the most Derby outfit. Prizes range from booze (hurrah!) to $100 gift certificates! The Derby will also be broadcast live on the cocktail den’s famous old-fashioned radio from 6:28 to 6:30.

Maison Premiere - 298 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn - 347-335-0446

Clover Club - 4th Annual Kentucky Derby Party featuring Bulleit Bourbon

4:30pm-8pm

Bulleit Bourbon will provide complementary passed hors d' oeuvres and mint juleps. Mixtresses Elayne Duke and Julie Reiner set up shop in the front of Clover Club with their julep bar again this year. They encourage guests to sport fancy hats, seersucker suits, and crank out juleps for all. Oh yeah, there will be a very short horse race shown;) Don't miss it!

Clover Club - 210 Smith Street, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn - 718-855-7939

Rum House - Derby Day Party featuring Larceny bourbon specials

5pm-7pm

The gang at Rum House breaks out the julep cups, crushed ice, and copious amounts of mint and partner with Heaven Hill  Distilleries' new Larceny Bourbon for $8 Julep and Old Fashioned drink specials. Come watch the race live on the big screen with Larceny bourbon cocktails. There will be food. There will be fancy hats. And there will be ponies.

The Rum House at the Edison Hotel - 228 West 47th Street, New York, NY  - 646-490-6924

Our trifecta picks for the 139th Kentucky Derby are All Other Three Ye (5:1) to win, Verrazano (6:1) to place, and Goldencents (7:1) to show!

This Week in Lounge: May 21st - 27th

Doppelgänger Alert at the Pink Room!

There are lots of great events happening around town this week but we hard boiled them down to our top three lounge picks. First, take a surreal trip into the double vision world of David Lynch's Twin Peaks curated by burlesque temptress Francine The Lucid Dream. Then sport your finest vintage inspired threads and get your jazz fix on at a double header of Jazz Age Harlem and Dorothy Parker Wit's End madness! Make sure a gin martini is in your mix.

Tuesday, May 22nd
The Pink Room David Lynch Burlesque: Donuts & Doppelgängers
at Parkside Lounge
 
“She's my cousin... but doesn't she look almost exactly like Laura Palmer?” – The Man From Another Place

Hosted by: Schaffer the Darklord and his doppelgänger
Performances by: Amelia Bareparts, Apathy Angel, Bettina May, Gemini Rising, Legs Malone & Francine “The Lucid Dream”
Go-Go by doppelgängers: Foxy Vermouth & Satanica

Those who have been following the adventures of Francine “The Lucid Dream” this past year will know that she is no stranger to sweet treats or dual-identities. While everyone is familiar with the tasty donuts that often frequent Francine’s David Lynch Burlesque shows, not everyone has faced their own doppelgänger. This is not a celebrity Facebook profile picture, this is a double walker of a paranormal and spiritual nature with a very Lynchian twist on it. Come meet Agent Cooper – both of them! If Laura Palmer won’t talk to you, maybe her brunette cousin, Madeline, will!

If you bring your own doppelgänger, he or she gets in free! (This applies to actual identical twins or people in convincing Lynchian costume. If a dwarf brings in an arm, they both get in free!)

Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston Street 
$10 advanced tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/246701
$15 at the door
21+, 2 drink minimum 


Friday, May 25th
The Esquire Room with Dandy Wellington and His Band
at The Rum House


Step into the era of elegance and class where fancy was in fashion and fantasies began with the pop of a cork. Enter a place where the crowd is sophisticated and melodies float through the room like bubbles in a glass of champagne. Dandy Wellington and His Band invite you... to engage in a night of sartorial splendor, majestic music and lavish libations, where the sounds of Jazz Age Harlem come alive under the lights of Broadway. 

The Rum House
at the Edison Hotel
47th btw Broadway and 8th Ave
9:30pm-12:30am
Free
 
Saturday, May 26th
Wit’s End and the Dorothy Parker Society invite you to celebrate the social life of the Jazz Age with Gelber and Manning!

Come in your finest 1920s & 1930s vintage or vintage inspired evening attire and celebrate in style with live hot jazz, vintage cocktails and good times!

Free dance lesson at 8:30 with instructors Jeri Lynn Astra and Neal Groothuis

Live jazz from Wit’s End regulars Gelber and Manning! Playing traditional jazz, vaudeville music and new songs from the turn of the century, Gelber and Manning are a Brooklyn-based musical vaudeville duo, comprised of Jesse Gelber on piano and Kate Manning on vocals.

Kimberly Fay Greenberg (One Night With Fanny Brice) will be a special guest in our salute to vaudeville!

Dress code:  Coat and tie for gents, cocktail/evening attire for ladies. 1920s, 30s and 40s vintage is encouraged!

Flute Midtown
205 West 54th Street (near Broadway)
$12 at the door

7pm-Midnight