Alan L.
Yelp
After spending most of the day roaming Manhattan with a co-worker, we decided it was time to grab a drink somewhere and relax before dinner. My original plan was to visit the Lantern's Keep - but I quickly discovered that we were too early (they weren't open until 6pm). Apparently my happy hour clock is out of sync.
A nearby hotel doorman recommended Blue Bar to us, so off we went! If you like classic cocktails and you enjoy a little history, this place is for you.
The interior is very cool with the blue lighting and I really like the booths where you can relax with a small group of people. Upon entering, one of the servers let us choose where we wanted to sit and took our drink order within minutes.
I will warn you in advance that the prices here are steep - but you will also find this at other places around Manhattan that are in the same caliber as Blue Bar. A cocktail will set you back $16 and a glass of wine will run you between $16-19. Beers run between $8-12, depending on what you ask for.
Take a minute to flip through the cocktail menu. This is the little cloth-bound book that is sitting at your table. There is some interesting reading in there that will tell you all about the history of the bar, as well as the Algonquin Hotel. Being a fan of classic cocktails, I went with the "44th Street Manhattan", and it did not disappoint - excellent choice if this is one of your favorites.
A small cup of popcorn goes on every table, but if you find this snack to be too light, they also have a small menu of miscellaneous snacks you can choose from. Calamari, pork sliders, shrimp cocktail and crab cakes, to name a few.
Since we were heading off to dinner next, we tried out the herb steak fries, seasoned with garlic and served with a spicy ketchup that will have you asking for more. They were the perfect choice to hold off our appetite - and tasty, too...
Blue Bar is a great place to relax with a drink in a comfortable setting and meet some really nice people. It's pricey here, but the service is good and the atmosphere is both classy and cozy. If you are ever in this part of Manhattan, I really recommend giving this place a try - I don't think you will be disappointed.