Crawling Bars in New York City with Oskar Proctor

Time Again, 105 Canal Street

The vibe: No frills, all edge. On a corner, a few blocks up Canal from the Bacaro-Cervo’s-Clandestino hub, this bar draws the people for whom the original Dimes Square has become an over-analysed tourist attraction. Channeling the anarchic spirit into a new corner, it offers affordable drinks, a field of plastic stools and regular takeovers to keep things fresh. The place to meet the next big thing? After a few $9 wines, you’ll definitely think so. 

The drink: Specials, like the briny Gilda Martini served at the recent Rita’s takeover. Or, when in doubt: an orange natural wine.

Perfect for: Increasing your Instagram ‘following’ list. 

Look out for: Collector and Ghetto Gastro-cofounder Jon Gray, Naomi Fry, Joe Jonas, Issy Wood.

Bemelmans Bar, The Carlyle, 35 East 76th Street

The vibe: The grand old man of New York hotel bars, known for its casual refinement, perfect acoustics (there are regular piano performances) and the elegant murals painted by Ludwig Bemelmans, creator of the ‘Madeline’ series of children’s books. A staple for generations of Upper East Side habitués, the bar gained a new fanbase post-pandemic, when a young crowd started to flock here for Espresso Martinis and ‘old-money aesthetics.’

The drink: If you’re going to do one very Dirty Martini in Manhattan, this is the place.

Perfect for: Toasting a successful Frieze Week or an in­timate drink after a late-night visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (which is open until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays).

Look out for: Diehard fans and Nota Bene hosts Nate Freeman and Benjamin Godsill, while insiders will spot veteran in-house pianist Earl Rose.

Clemente Bar, Eleven Madison Park, 11 Madison Avenue

The vibe: Bohemian, but elevated. Carsten Höller-designed lamps set the tone for the main draw: the dreamlike paintings by the bar’s name­sake, Italian artist Francesco Clemente. Inspired by the artist’s and chef Daniel Humm’s mutual affection for the legendary Kronenhalle in Zurich, it’s an effortlessly stylish love affair between art and hospitality. 

The drink: The Negroni Colada combines coconut rum, vermouth and fresh pineapple juice for a herby, surprising marriage of two classics.

Perfect for: An entirely plant-based menu is ideal for hosting any vegans or visiting Angelenos.

Look out for: The new power set: Artnet’s Annie Armstrong, Clemente-fanboy Nicolas Party, dealers Bill Powers and Vito Schnabel (who introduced Clemente and Humm).

 

The Blue Room at Corner Bar, Nine Orchard, 10 Allen Street

The vibe: As if a breeze has blown in from the Amalfi Coast, carrying salt air and the smell of ripening lemons. In the more formal dining area of the all-day bistro Corner Bar, mirrors, mosaics and a swirling scallop of a light fitting make the Blue Room feel like a playful marine environment in which to enjoy a great Chardonnay with a plate of trout carpaccio, or something from the compelling list of recherché digestifs. (Cherry eau de vie, anyone?)

The drink: With carrot, lemon and espelette peppers, the Golden Hour Sour is a zingy happy hour pick-me-up.

Perfect for: An indulgent finale to a visit of the Chinatown and Lower East Side galleries.

Look out for: María Berrío (whose commissioned work hangs in the hotel lounge) and Zendaya (fiancé Tom Holland launched his zero-alcohol beer here last year). 

Nine Orchard is a Frieze New York Partner Hotel.

Lobby Bar, Hotel Chelsea, 226 West 23rd Street

The vibe: When the iconic one-time home of everyone from Leonard Cohen to Robert Mapplethorpe to Edie Sedgwick reopened as a full-service hotel and dining destination in 2022, refreshing its gothic architecture and maintaining its offbeat chic were key. Though not part of the hotel’s original offerings, the Lobby Bar feels like it’s always been there: a comfortably ornate confection of red velvet, gilt inlay and potted plants. Like an eccentric great aunt, it feels louche and stately — and simply demands gossip.

The drink: Part of a list paying tribute to creations from the world’s most iconic bars, Arnaud’s French 75 is an electrifying blend of cognac and Champagne.

Perfect for: Comparing notes on the Chelsea galleries with your spikiest friend (knowing that the dealers will be safely out of earshot at Cookshop).

Look out for: Zak Kitnick, Natasha Lyonne and closet Swifties (the hotel was besieged by fans after a namecheck on “The Tortured Poets Department”).

This article first appeared in Frieze Week New York magazine with the title ‘The Perfect Manhattan’.

 

Further Information

Frieze New York, The Shed, 7 – 11 May, 2025. Tickets are on sale – don’t miss out, buy yours now. Alternatively, become a member to enjoy premier access, exclusive guided tours and more.

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^{Main image: Photograph: Oskar Proctor}