The 2020s are seeing a revival of the 1920s with the rise in popularity of speakeasies. While alcohol may be legal today, the charm of the speakeasies in Midtown East still enchants patrons. Several hidden bars in Midtown East will have you feeling like a local. So whether you take a short walk or taxi ride, you can easily visit these charming bars while staying at the Concorde Hotel New York.
The Campbell
Despite The Campbell being in Grand Central Terminal, it has a distinct speakeasy feel. It is less than a mile from the Concorde Hotel, making it a quick four-minute taxi ride or a 15-minute walk. This impressive room was once the private office of railroad financier John William Campbell. It has impressive hand-painted 25-foot ceilings, 13th-century Florentine-inspired design details, and a grand stone fireplace. Formally, it was the Campbell Apartment, a jazz institution hidden away in the terminal. However, renovations made it easier to find. You’ll find an extensive cocktail menu with familiar favorites and modern creations. There is also a bar bites menu with upscale fare.
Cocktails and Food
You’ll find an extensive cocktail menu with familiar favorites and modern creations. Popular cocktails on the menu include the Campbell dirty martini, negroni, and GG Manhattan. There are also more adventurous house cocktails, like the lychee martini or hibiscus lemonade. On the food menu, you will find light fair that is perfect for a quick bite. Nibble on salted nuts or marinated olives. Or elevate your experience with tuna tacos, mini lobster rolls, or the charcuterie board.
Ophelia
The Ophelia is in the heart of Midtown East, at the top of the Beekman Tower. It is about a mile away from the Concorde hotel, making it a 15-minute walk or a 7-minute taxi ride. You could easily miss it, as the building’s lobby looks like a standard office building. However, once you step through the doors of this rooftop bar, you are transported to the 1920s. Throughout the bar are vintage pieces from the 20s, giving the bar an authentic feel. Crowning the bar are restored vintage cathedral glass windows. An outdoor terrace gives you a bird’s eye view of the river and New York skyline. This intimate space is perfect for sipping creative cocktails and nibbling on elevated bar bites.
Cocktails and Food
The menus at Ophelia are raved about. They include a cuisine, sweets, cocktails, champagne experience, wine, and beer menu. The French onion sliders, burrata dragon fruit salad, and crispy pommes and caviar bites are all unique mouth-watering creations. However, there are also more traditional offerings such as the ribeye steak, grilled lamb chops, and truffle mushroom ravioli. For an unforgettable experience, book one of the three champagne experiences for two.
Sakagura
This hidden gem in Midtown is one of the world’s best sake bars. The extensive menu boasts over 260 varieties of sake. To find this Japanese-inspired bar, you can make the 15-minute walk or a 5-minute car ride from the Concorde Hotel. You will then enter a nondescript office building, head down the stairs, make several turns, and find yourself deep in the subterranean Midtown East. In addition to an extensive safe menu, there is a food menu that will have your tastebuds watering. It includes sashimi, soba, Japanese fried chicken, and udon plates.
Cocktails and Food
In addition to the extensive sake menu, the lunch and dinner menus will have your tastebuds watering. They include sashimi, soba, Japanese fried chicken, and udon plates. Many of the dishes are served tapas style, allowing you to try several different creations in a single visit. You will find familiar favorites like seaweed salad and edamame. There are also more unique offerings for the more adventurous diners. Try ordering the kawari tofu or kishu umeboshi. There is also an extensive list of warm and cold seafood plates.
Book your stay at the Concorde Hotel and uncover these hidden speakeasies in Midtown East.