Jaylena P.
Yelp
Some of the best experiences in life are those that are unplanned. In this case it turned out to be an excellent shift in plans. My friend and I had planned to meet for coffee so I searched on Yelp for a swank coffeehouse. Iron Horse Cafe popped up.
The coffeehouse really isn't a coffee house as much as it is a coffee stand inside of another establishment. The two are separated by an accordion-style gate until the bar opens in the afternoon. At the time, I didn't know about the bar so when I saw the bartender removing a sign out front, I thought the cafe was closing. Instead, she told me the bar was opening. Wait, there's a bar? Quick change of plans!
Here's how we went from having coffee to having cocktails. Direction. My friend walked the wrong direction (thanks Google maps) which made her late and walk further than anticipated from FiDi. I said to her, "well, if it's any consolation there's also a bar here." Any woman that has to walk extra blocks in high heels, can understand my friend's frustration. So, coffee turned into a cocktail.
* Alice In Wonderland Gin Infused with Orange Peels | Fresh Citrus | Simple Syrup | Angostura & Peychaud's Bitters | Orange Twist
It sounds like gin and juice but let me tell you, this drink was far more than simply orange juice and gin. Even on a chilly, winter afternoon, it was refreshing, naturally fragrant and had an appropriate amount of alcohol. I forgot to take a photo but it was served in a trumpet-shaped martini glass. It was delicious and for a mid-day cocktail, it was all I needed to wrap up my afternoon.
Iron Horse is located on Maiden Lane, a small ally-street tucked away in downtown, blocks from Chanel, Valentino and Dior. A few of my favorite guilty pleasures in the area. There are about 3-4 tables + chairs out front. Since the street is closed to vehicles, you can sit and sip in safety.
We opted to sit upstairs in the balcony area. The lighting is fairly dim upstairs so if you have difficulty seeing in dark places, I wouldn't recommend it. We stayed because it was warmer than downstairs. Service was nice, although no one came to check on us while we were upstairs. There was only 1 server but still, that would have been nice. I would absolutely return for a coffee or cocktail. I