After an 8-Month Renovation, One of the Country’s Most Iconic Bars Ushers in a New Era of Luxury

"Perched at the edge of the St. Regis lobby, this moody den — a cozy, ten-seat mahogany bar crowned by a hypnotizing Maxfield Parrish mural — has drawn New York’s social set since the early 20th century. Credited with conceiving the venerated Bloody Mary in 1934, it has hosted A‑list figures from Salvador Dali and Marilyn Monroe to John Lennon and has been the backdrop for numerous films and TV shows. After an eight-month renovation completed in September, the menu pairs time-tested signatures (including the beloved Red Snapper, Martinis, and Manhattans) with modernized specialties such as a vodka soda infused with fresh strawberries and lemongrass; the bar’s signature Martini variation mixes Tanqueray gin, Martini Rosso vermouth, and amaro, finished with a burnt orange peel. Reimagined by Champalimaud Design, the interior now features midnight-blue carpeting, plump purple-velvet seating, enhanced lighting, and an expanded glass entry that frames the stern painted monarch above the bar, creating a plush, nostalgic luxury where decades of Midtown gossip and $30 cocktails collide. The venue remains a polished magnet for high-profile patrons and social chatter, equally glamorous and gently pretentious." - Brad Japhe