The Campbell

"This place is semi-hidden in Grand Central and can get packed with commuters on weeknights. But it’s still a pretty swanky place for a pricey drink. The ceilings are high, there are nice leather chairs, and we especially like the seats on the balcony overlooking the bar. There’s also a little outdoor area." - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, will hartman, sonal shah, tiffany yannetta

"Maybe your parents are staying at a hotel in the East 50′s, or maybe they live in Westchester and hate getting too far from Grand Central. If, for whatever reason, they want to grab a drink with you in Midtown, know that The Campbell is a surprisingly good option. The space looks like a fancy old bank vault, and while it’s kind of pricey, your parents will probably prefer it to all the sports bars in the area that smell like a combination of Clorox and sweaty beer." - bryan kim

"Yes, you can probably find a better and cheaper cocktail elsewhere. But you come to the legendary Campbell Apartment, which is located literally within Grand Central, for the history. If you’re waiting for a train or are in the area and looking for a fancy-ish cocktail bar, this is a great option. Just don’t wear sneakers. This is an old school spot and they have a (somewhat arbitrary) dress code." - katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg

"Spooky score: ???????? With an enormous mahogany balcony and coffered ceiling, the Campbell looks more like a place of worship than a place to get drunk. (Does the trick, though.) This extravagantly beautiful cocktail bar inside Grand Central was once the office of a financier in the 1920s, but was also used by police for gun storage—and even as a jail—before being restored to its former glory in 1999. According to the former owner, staff have felt like they were pushed, experienced gusts of cold air, and even seen apparitions in period dress. We like stopping in for a well-crafted drink, but the Campbell's popularity (and unbeatable convenience for MetroNorth riders) means that it gets so crowded and noisy with the living, there’s no hope of noticing the dead. We’ve observed nothing resembling a ghost here, though we have seen a toddler wearing oversized pink headphones and watching something on an iPad." - molly fitzpatrick

"Yes, you can probably find a better and cheaper cocktail elsewhere. But you come to the legendary Campbell Apartment, which is located literally within Grand Central, for the history. If you’re waiting for a train or are in the area and looking for a fancy-ish cocktail bar, this is a great option. Just don’t wear sneakers. This is an old school spot and they have a (somewhat arbitrary) dress code. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Team Infatuation