"A new cocktail bar with tropical vibes hits Chelsea today, serving snacks that span several cuisines alongside its colorful drinks. Jungle Bird at 174 Eighth Ave., at West 19th Street comes from Krissy Harris, who previously served as head bartender at Gramercy Tavern and an opening partner at Bowery drinking spot the Wren. While her background is in fine dining, Harris tells Eater that with Jungle Bird she wanted to return to a throwback, 1950s-era when drinking cocktails was less buttoned up. Think high balls and funky garnishes and punch bowls. Though it’s tropical, the drinks are not tiki, which is its own specific style that is more ornate than what Harris says she’s doing at Jungle Bird. Here, the drinks will skew dryer and also feature few ingredients. Fruits like papaya, grapefruit, calamansi, passionfruit, and pineapple make appearances." - Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya
