Bemelmans Bar

Bemelmans Bar, nestled within The Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side, offers a quintessential New York experience that seamlessly blends elegance, history, and top-tier service. From the moment you step inside, you're enveloped in an ambiance that harks back to a bygone era, with the enchanting murals by Ludwig Bemelmans providing a whimsical backdrop to the sophisticated setting.Ambiance and Decor:The bar's interior is adorned with murals depicting scenes from Bemelmans' beloved "Madeline" series, creating a unique and charming atmosphere. The dim lighting and plush seating further enhance the intimate and cozy environment, making it an ideal spot for both quiet conversations and special occasions.Service:The staff at Bemelmans Bar exemplify professionalism and attentiveness. Despite occasional busyness, especially during peak hours, the bartenders and servers ensure that each guest feels welcomed and well-cared-for. Their knowledge of the menu and willingness to accommodate special requests contribute significantly to the overall positive experience.Drinks and Entertainment:Renowned for its expertly crafted cocktails, Bemelmans Bar offers a menu that caters to both classic and contemporary tastes. While the prices are on the higher side, with cocktails starting around $26, the quality and presentation justify the expense. Live piano music adds to the bar's charm, providing a sophisticated soundtrack that enhances the overall ambiance.Considerations:It's worth noting that the bar can become quite crowded during evening hours, and some patrons have mentioned that the noise level can rise, potentially affecting the enjoyment of the live music. Additionally, while the cover charge for live music is a modest $10, the overall cost can add up quickly when factoring in drinks and gratuities. For those seeking a quieter experience, visiting during off-peak hours may be advisable.Conclusion:Bemelmans Bar stands as a testament to timeless New York elegance, offering an experience that combines art, music, and mixology in a setting that is both luxurious and inviting. Whether you're a local or a visitor, an evening at Bemelmans is sure to be a memorable highlight.Bemelmans Bar is primarily known for its cocktails and ambiance rather than its food. The menu consists mainly of upscale bar snacks and light bites rather than full entrees. Some of the most popular options include: * Truffle Fries - A guest favorite, crispy and well-seasoned. * Cheese and Charcuterie Board - High-quality selection of cheeses and cured meats. * Mini Lobster Rolls - Often praised for their freshness and flavor. * Sliders - Small but well-executed, great for a quick bite. * Shrimp Cocktail - Fresh and nicely presented.While the food is ok, it's not the main draw. The focus here is on the experience, the live music, and the classic cocktails. If you're looking for a full meal, The Carlyle Restaurant next door would be a better option.Instagram: arkadian_knight

One of favorite bars in #NYC. Bartenders are super friendly and make some of the better cocktails. My personal favorites are the Old Fashioned or Manhattan. Warning, there is a bit of a dress code. But we'll worth visiting one of the more unique jazz bars/clubs in city

Fair warning: there's a $10 per person cover charge once you order a drink. This might not be mentioned at the door, but the bartender will certainly inform you. Unless you're a hotel guest or know someone like a regular or the manager, expect to wait at least over an hour to get in. And yes, the drinks are pricey--you'll likely spend around $50 for a single cocktail when you factor in the cover charge and gratuity.I visited on a Thursday around 4 PM and waited about an hour to get in. Once seated, we had to wait an additional 20 minutes for someone to clean our table, followed by another 30 minutes for a server to take our order.The drinks were good, but were they $30 good? Not really. I tried the Bobby's Manhattan and a regular Manhattan--both well-crafted, but not worth the steep price. On a positive note, they offered complimentary mixed nuts, chips, and cheese crackers, which was a nice touch.The dark, moody ambiance with live music was lovely, creating a sophisticated atmosphere. However, the service was frustratingly slow, and there were several empty, uncleared tables even though the place was busy. While the vibe was enjoyable, I wouldn't go out of my way to return given the service issues and overall value.

This is the epitome of the Upper East Side. Classy, elegant, beautiful live jazz music under a soft dim glow. It's the most charming bar and my absolute favourite, especially for a date night. The bar snacks are the best free bar snacks ever. So addicting and I could munch on them all night. Drinks are fabulous, but it's really al about the vibes here. Sip on your Jackie O cocktail whilst listening to the trio perform Frank Sinatra -- there's nothing more NY than that. And the service here is excellent. Not pretentious at all.

The classic spot for an old school, uptown NYC experience. You're likely to see a Real Housewife or a Broadway star here, but everyone will be behaving themselves and minding their own business while enjoying one of the city's most perfect martinis in a super classy environs. The entertainment and bartending is top notch, the vibe is classy but fun. It may be standing room only if you don't get here early enough but the drinks, service, and ambiance will be well worth it. Top notch.

I came here on a Saturday afternoon around 3:30PM and there were about 8 groups of people already waiting in line to get in. Overall my mom and I waited only about 30 mins and the line just kept getting longer. We were seated at the bar and ordered the guacamole (6/10 tastes fresh but not a lot of flavor but there was some nice seasoning on the chips) and the homemade pigs in a blanket (10/10 so good!)They also give you a small snack container of spiced nuts, chips, and cheese crisps which was good! I ordered the Serrano and the elevator ride (strong!) Live music started at 5:30 and there was a $10 cover. The music was fun and the staff was nice but the bartenders switched shifts twice in the 2.5 hours we were there which was odd. Overall such a fun jazz experience but be prepared to spend a lot of money!

Bemelman's is a NY institution. I had never been before, so we stopped by around 5PM the evening before Thanksgiving. There was already a line to get in. Bemelman's does not take reservations. The line had about 10-15 people in it but we decided to wait any way. Some people ahead of us eventually gave up and left, which helped our chances of getting in.If you are a guest of the hotel (we weren't), you can skip the line and go right in. In total, we waited 90 minutes to get a table for 2 people. My friend who has been before said she has shown up other times when there hasn't been a line, earlier and not around the holidays. I mentally prepared myself to wait and also took a break to run and get snacks while my friend waited in line. There is no place to sit while you wait, so you are standing the full time you are waiting. After 90 minutes, we were ushered into the dimly lit, lively bar. The bar is not that large and tables are pretty crammed together. The noise level was loud. We sat by the piano player so we had no trouble hearing him thankfully! After 6PM, every table in the bar is subject to a $10 per person cover charge for the entertainment. Happy to pay it, as the pianist that night was wonderful, playing some Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. He was also happy to take requests. My friend and I had the Mr Carlyle drink which is basically a gin and tonic. It was great. Every table receives potato chips and a snack mix upon arrival. That was tasty.We also ordered a cheese plate and olives. The server forgot about the olives but we didn't bother asking for them as we got pretty full with the cheese plate served. Cheese plate was good and had these yummy crisps served with it. Table service was very good as well as the service from the host who seated us. Obviously the decor in the bar is fascinating, with intricate drawings from the creator of the Madeline story book. Even the lamps have the drawings on it. Prices were average to upper range. But not surprising given the reputation and caliber of the bar.I did not see an accessible entrance to the bar. There are about 4 stairs leading into the entrance. The bar overall has a jovial, New York kind of energy that made the wait worth it. I'm so glad I got to experience Bemelman's finally. I'll definitely come back, hopefully at a time when there's no wait.There are not many vegetarian options sadly outside of olives and the cheese plate.

My girlfriends and I came here on a whim after going to the Salon Art & Design show in the UES. So we decided - "when in UES..."My friend had mentioned this place was featured in some tv shows and films at the Carlyle Hotel. We arrived just as Bemelmans opened, and got a nice small table next to the bar. It was intimate and warm, with that Old New York feel. Apparently, they have a piano player on some nights which I would love to experience one day. We ordered wine all around and were served bar snacks, which were actually very delicious. As a creative, the details of the place really added a nice touch - from the branded cloth cocktail napkins to the menu design. Have yourself a Gossip Girl day and stop by The Carlyle! xoxo

These Pigs in a Blanket single handedly changed my life. I've eaten my body weight in franks in blanks over the past few years (I'm 6'5 230 haha), and these stand alone at the 1 spot. The crown is heavy.It is 5 pieces of Andouille sausage wrapped in pastry dough that has the perfect crisp on the outer layer, topped off with a meticulous dab of spicy mustard. I mean just look at that picture. It tastes better than it looks if you can believe that.While the rest of our group was enjoying the live piano, looking for famous people, or scanning the Ludwig Bemelman murals that drape the walls, I was staring at the lone little piggy left on the plate.Between sips of my Vesper, my internal dialogue was going crazy: "I can't just take it, that would be rude... But I want it so bad. You can tell they cooked the sausage separately before wrapping it too... I NEED it... No I don't... You're with your girlfriend's family Johnny do NOT take it... But they know me well enough now..."Just then my big bro said "J Novo that has your name on it, take it. I see you eyeing it." SEE! THAT'S WHY HE IS BIG BRO.I also gotta shoutout the piano man, Roberto. He was taking request after request, just bodying EVERYTHING. His rendition of Vienna by Billy Joel got me a little emotional if we are being honest. He was way better than the live jazz trio that came on after him ($35 a person cover charge).Roberto came over to our table after, in his full suit and tie, and started RIZZING up all the ladies at our table. It was inspirational. I had to put my arm around my girl cuz I was getting nervous... Roberto the Rizzler!I actually loved this bar, even though it's damn near $30 a cocktail. You're paying for the vibe. I'm ecstatic to come back in the winter, as having a couple cocktails (and piggies) around Christmas time in a bar like this is what I think of when I think of New York City. Ig @jnov_Tiktok @jnov_reviews

Bad, just all around bad. If you can skip this place, don't just skip. Run away!!! We started with a one and a half hour wait. Of course the expectations were high given the great reviews. When we walked in the atmosphere did not disappoint. It was like an old fashioned bar you would see in the movies from the 1960s. However, everything after that just plain old stunk.The food was absolutely horrible. Dry, stale, oversalted, embarrassing. The drinks were nothing to write home about, and the waiter was not only half asleep when he served us, he didn't smile nor give a darn about providing even remotely basic service. It was a garbage show (eplace the word "garbage" was any euphemism you want). All in all, besides the nice decor, this is a one and never again stop. Oh yes, did I mention that for this wonderful pleasure of being disappointed it was hundreds of dollars for two people? So overpriced it's truly sickening. Just awful.