King Cole Bar
Bar · Midtown East
Two E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
Highlights
Classic hotel bar serving Bloody Marys beneath Maxfield Parrish mural
Classic hotel bar serving Bloody Marys beneath Maxfield Parrish mural
"By the 1930s, New York City’s King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel had already helped make the Bloody Mary recipe more involved; Worcestershire sauce—a complex blend of vinegar, fermented anchovies, molasses, and seasonings—was identified as a vital early ingredient that contributed to the cocktail’s savory balance." - Prairie Rose
"A nearly century-old, intimate hotel cocktail bar that reopened after an eight-month renovation and remains famous for its venerated Bloody Mary, perfected here in 1934. The cozy 10-seat mahogany counter is dominated by an iconic Maxfield Parrish mural and has long attracted A-list visitors and served as a backdrop for films and television. Its storied history, classic service, and enduring atmosphere helped secure its top ranking in the 2025 Global Tastemakers Awards." - Brad Japhe
"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
"Operating since 1932 inside a historic midtown hotel founded by John Jacob Astor IV, this Gilded Age lobby bar is anchored by an oversized Maxfield Parrish mural and a reputation for refined, swanky service. Its signature cocktail is the Red Snapper — the original Bloody Mary conceived here by French barman Fernand Petiot — and the menu still highlights that bold vodka-and-tomato blend alongside several umami-rich variations that are regarded as must-tries." - Brad Japhe
"The iconic 30-foot-wide mural of Old King Cole is the main attraction at the St. Regis hotel bar, but there's also excellent free snack mix, top-tier people-watching, and a surprisingly welcoming atmosphere of fur coats and generational wealth. The Bloody Mary was supposedly invented here, and they make a good one—lightly spicy, smooth, and boozy." - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, will hartman, sonal shah, tiffany yannetta
