Peacock Alley

The Best Hotel Bars in NYC, From Classic Martini Haunts to Rooftops With Central Park Views | Condé Nast Traveler

"Upon my check-in to the Waldorf Astoria New York, liveried valets addressed me by name, whisked away my luggage, and accompanied me up a flight of stairs to the signature bar and lobby lounge, Peacock Alley. In the center of the room were a Steinway piano that once belonged to the American composer Cole Porter, and the iconic Waldorf Astoria Clock, crafted for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair (“Meet me at the clock” was a once common phrase among the city’s well-heeled). Both objects, as well as the cavernous space’s marble columns, rich wood paneling, and silver-leafed ceilings, have been scrupulously restored to their original splendor. It was not difficult to imagine the bygone multitudes who have passed through these hallways over a near-century, nor a new generation of New Yorkers—be they brides or grooms, debutantes or dames—who will soon be draped across Peacock Alley’s couches and barstools, feting the good life in New York City. While the menu is limited to light bites like turkey club sandwiches (other options, such as a lobster roll topped with caviar and salmon roe, are also available at Lex Yard), what you’re really there for is the extensive drinks menu, featuring delicious signature cocktails. I loved the Father Time, a nutty concoction of Cognac, vin santo, and nocino, a walnut liqueur." - CNT Editors