Bemelmans Bar
Bar · Upper East Side
35 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021
Highlights
Walls adorned with Ludwig Bemelmans' murals, live piano music
Walls adorned with Ludwig Bemelmans' murals, live piano music
"A swanky, long-running piano lounge perched just off a hotel lobby that has served Upper East Side sippers for nearly 80 years; classic martinis are a specialty, traditionally backed by an iced-down sidecar, while nightly live jazz and the signature mural-lined walls create an elegant, music-forward ambiance. The space has enjoyed a recent resurgence in popularity—drawing a younger crowd—and now often levies a $10–$35 cover charge." - Brad Japhe
"On the hours-long line outside this piano bar at the Carlyle, a fresh-blood influx of Gen Z influencers mingles with monied, Upper East Side old-timers in bespoke suits. Inside both groups find common ground in Bemelman’s martinis. The bar serves up to 900 of them on a weekend night, and they're so good you won't mind when your neighbor stabs you in the ribs with her Louboutin shopping bag. Bill Murray, who may or may not crash the pianist’s set" - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman
"An iconic hotel bar that supplied classic martinis for the event and contributed to the evening’s elegant atmosphere; the venue is also associated with live piano music, as its resident pianist performed during the dinner, underscoring the bar’s reputation for refined cocktails and musical ambiance." - BySam Stone
"A new generation of customers has claimed this swanky Upper East Side bar at the Carlyle as their own, says the New York Post, but if you’re craving Old New York, there’s no better place than Bemelmans no matter your age. The place is known for its great drinks and service in a space with live music and murals by Ludwig Bemelmans. There’s a cover charge that starts at $10 per person. And yes, cocktail prices can tower above $28." - Emma Orlow
"Martinis taste best while someone is playing the piano in the background. That's what you'll get at Bemelmans Bar inside the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side. Yes, this place has pricey cocktails, but you should go out of your way for a martini, because Bemelmans is just as iconic as the New Yorkers it attracts. If you’re lucky, Bill Murray might also be having a martini in the corner. Skip the food. The best thing to eat here is the free snack mix on every table." - bryan kim, willa moore, kenny yang, neha talreja, carina finn koeppicus
