The Campbell Apartment

Popular as it's become, this vast lounge inside a corner of Grand Central Terminal always feels like a secret. The 25-foot-high room, which in the 1920s housed the office and reception hall of John W. Campbell, recreates the connoisseur owner's decor with wall-to-wall, Florentine-inspired rugs, tapestry sofas and the original, colorfully painted wooden ceiling. Subtle lighting and jazz and swing tunes stir a carefree, after-work mood. Most disarming of all are the house cocktails, like "A Flapper's Delight," made with champagne, papaya juice and amaretto; it's a cookie of a drink, served in a…

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Editor's Tips

What to Drink:: The bar mixes up basics with fantastic results. Try the sweet-sour Gimlet.
When to Go:: For something special, a live jazz trio plays on Saturday nights from 9pm to midnight.
Where to Sit:: For a quieter setting and a view of the room, try the small balcony area that holds a pool table and can be reserved for parties.
Look Good:: The bar tactfully but firmly enforces a dress code, so jeans and sneakers are a no-go.
What to Drink:: Try the sweet-sour Gimlet, or for heartier types, there's Prohibition Punch--Appleton Estate VX rum, passion fruit juice and Grand Marnier, topped off at the table with champagne--which holds the knockout power of about three drinks.

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User Reviews (40)

ambiance	91.66999816894531% positive	“Even if the place is misguidedly trying to create some kind of club vibe (ridiculous given the location and demographic), no responsible and/or decent owner would allow doorpeople to behave like that.” “Enjoy the decor, don't order anything” “Intimate, low lit place with the best 20s atmosphere - staff, music and drinks fit the bill too.” “The decor is beautiful, the vibe low key and romantic, and the drinks good.” “Great architecture and location” “We had a comfy seat in front of the fireplace with a great view of the room.” “Great decor.” “The location makes it a good place to rendezvous with friends, but then it is best to move on to another place.” “The atmosphere was great, and it has an air of exclusivity since it is semi-hidden from the rest of Grand Central!” “The drinks are stiff and the crowd is fun, and the little bowls of snack mix are delightful!” “great atmosphere” “The decor is nice.”
drinks	80.95000267028809% positive	“The service here is the worst of any bar I've been to in the past 10 years.” “One wouldn't go on a bargain hunt, but then that's not the purpose of this most beautiful treasure of a bar.” “The drinks are stiff and the crowd is fun, and the little bowls of snack mix are delightful!” “The drinks on their menu aren't too expensive, basically same as most places.” “The drinks are well made, the waitresses are cute and the bartenders are nice.” “First of all the drinks are excellent and unique.” “One more thing: The drinks are pricey but worth it!” “Elegant surroundings, great drinks,” “The owners would probably like to see it develop as a "velvet rope" place, the patrons would rather see it as an inviting place to relax with a drink after work.” “The drinks are decent, but they are certainly not the best place to get drinks in the city.” “The drinks are extremely expensive.” “Can the owner of this beautiful bar please deal with the door issue!” “came the other night with my husband and the sweet hostess explained they were finishing up with a private event and would be opening shortly and if we liked we could start with a glass of wine at the Parlor bar and move inside once the bar was clean.” “The prices, smoke, bad bar snacks and limited space made this a very unenjoyable experience.” “The specialty cocktails are wonderful and the service truly is exceptional.” “Beautiful bar” “We enjoy it most in the Winter months, the drinks along with the friendly staff will warm your spirit.” “Fast bar service despite the crowd.” “The wine is decent and the drink concoctions are to be applauded.” “Intimate, low lit place with the best 20s atmosphere - staff, music and drinks fit the bill too.” “The drinks are ridiculously expensive-$5 for a coke?” “The drinks were amazing, the people watching was worth it (there is no eye candy better than a man in a suit who knows how to wear it!)” “The decor is beautiful, the vibe low key and romantic, and the drinks good.” “There are a good number of bars that will make good tasting classic cocktails.” “Sure, the place is beautiful, but the draw to me was the over exuberant greetings and service (and tasty drinks) that made me come back.” “Bartenders are helpful and mix a good drink.” “It is so nice to find a lounge with great drinks that is nice and relaxing without being overly trendy.” “The service was very attentive and the drinks were great, but VERY expensive.”
food quality	100.0% positive	“The waitress was quick to help me pick out a delicious concoction to suit my tastes and she was right.” “Sure, the place is beautiful, but the draw to me was the over exuberant greetings and service (and tasty drinks) that made me come back.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“The drinks on their menu aren't too expensive, basically same as most places.”
overall	87.5% positive	“It's found now, and what a great place for a cocktail.” “appreciate a place with good service but this place has the RUDEST and the most OBNOXIOUS hostesses you'll ever come across.” “The location makes it a good place to rendezvous with friends, but then it is best to move on to another place.” “The drinks are decent, but they are certainly not the best place to get drinks in the city.”
return potential	100.0% positive	“Sure, the place is beautiful, but the draw to me was the over exuberant greetings and service (and tasty drinks) that made me come back.” “We will not return despite the beautiful surroundings.” “We loved the Campbell Apartment and will definitely be back soon”
service	66.66999816894531% positive	“The drinks are well made, the waitresses are cute and the bartenders are nice.” “The drinks were amazing, the people watching was worth it (there is no eye candy better than a man in a suit who knows how to wear it!)” “don't know what is going on with the place but the poor service that I received the last two times I was there, will strongly make me think twice about revisiting ever again.” “Nice space, poor service” “The worst service.” “The waitress was quick to help me pick out a delicious concoction to suit my tastes and she was right.” “The specialty cocktails are wonderful and the service truly is exceptional.” “love cool bars, but good service is paramount.” “When my wife got to the door she was greeted by a very rude, very snooty hostess named Lisa who flat out refused to let her in,.” “We enjoy it most in the Winter months, the drinks along with the friendly staff will warm your spirit.” “The servers looked so pretentious in their black dresses and pearls and were very slow at paying us attention.” “Sure, the place is beautiful, but the draw to me was the over exuberant greetings and service (and tasty drinks) that made me come back.” “big con is that even if half the tables are empty the hostess will not seat you until ur party arrives.” “Drinks were always great, staff very friendly.” “Although the space is great and very convenient, the hideous door staff are a real turn off - to the extent that I have stopped coming here and have steered my friends away.” “The service here is the worst of any bar I've been to in the past 10 years.” “came the other night with my husband and the sweet hostess explained they were finishing up with a private event and would be opening shortly and if we liked we could start with a glass of wine at the Parlor bar and move inside once the bar was clean.” “Rude at the door, rude waiters.” “Not only was the staff absolutely stunning in their expensive uniforms, but the were welcoming, gracious, and friendly.” “The service was very attentive and the drinks were great, but VERY expensive.” “Intimate, low lit place with the best 20s atmosphere - staff, music and drinks fit the bill too.” “appreciate a place with good service but this place has the RUDEST and the most OBNOXIOUS hostesses you'll ever come across.” “Fast bar service despite the crowd.”
value	42.42000102996826% positive	“The service was very attentive and the drinks were great, but VERY expensive.” “The drinks on their menu aren't too expensive, basically same as most places.” “The prices, smoke, bad bar snacks and limited space made this a very unenjoyable experience.” “Not only was the staff absolutely stunning in their expensive uniforms, but the were welcoming, gracious, and friendly.” “Very expensive and fills up quickly.” “and what good fortune that across the hallway, is Chipriani's where we were quickly seated and could actually carry on a conversation without yelling which we'd have to do at The Campbell Apartment, a very over rated, loud, expensive and unfriendly establ” “One more thing: The drinks are pricey but worth it!” “Crowded, rip-off prices, snooty.” “The drinks are ridiculously expensive-$5 for a coke?” “The drinks were amazing, the people watching was worth it (there is no eye candy better than a man in a suit who knows how to wear it!)” “The drinks are extremely expensive.”
wait time	50.0% positive	“The servers looked so pretentious in their black dresses and pearls and were very slow at paying us attention.” “The waitress was quick to help me pick out a delicious concoction to suit my tastes and she was right.”

05/21/10

Quite lovely

by makiss

The space is great. End of story.

Now I understand that people will be upset at the hostess for her "discretion" however, I am extremely thankful for this so I am not sitting there enjoying my drink with business partners and have Hank and Peggy Hill sporting their Birkenstock open toe - thank god for the white socks- mosey on up beside us taking pics for facebook. This is still Manhattan - even if it is in Grand Central Terminal.

Pros: The space
Cons: None really except it's north of 14th street ;)

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02/03/10

Surprised by the poor reviews--I was impressed!

by jprobus

Some friends and I took a trip to NYC in April 2009 and The Campbell Apartment was the first place we went for a cocktail. Not only had a friend who used to live in NYC recommend it, another friend from CT suggested it as well and even met us there. When we got to the lounge, we were promptly seated (at 6:30 on a Friday night when it was starting to fill up with the afterwork crowd) by a hostess as pleasant as she was beautiful. Our waitress was even better--professional, prompt, friendly--just a doll! She even offered to take a picture of us before we left, which we loved even if we did look like tourists. The drinks were amazing, the people watching was worth it (there is no eye candy better than a man in a suit who knows how to wear it!) and the service was spectacular. Perhaps they've changed the dresscode since then (which I happily welcome and will dress accordingly when I visit again), but I have the picture to prove that everyone in my party was in jeans (except for my CT friend who was coming from work) and the staff did not even blink. I am returning to NYC next week, this time with my husband for a Valentine's Day weekend trip. The Campbell Apartment will be our first stop.

Pros: Beautiful, charming, pleasant staff
Cons: Not a one

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01/19/10

Teste

by Pygors

<b>TESTE</b>

Pros: Teste
Cons: TESTE

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01/13/10

The worst service.

by davidlogan

The service here is the worst of any bar I've been to in the past 10 years. Rude at the door, rude waiters. I love cool bars, but good service is paramount. You won't get it here. Go somewhere else.

Pros: I can't get past the bad service
Cons: Service is awful

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11/23/09

Great Space, But Look and Leave Quickly!!!!!

by laver2

Overpriced, rude, really rude, never had anyone be more rude. I could go on, but. life is too short and hopefully management of this gem will be too.

The Campbell Apartment

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What People Are Saying About The Campbell Apartment

Karen Hudes

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Editor's Tips

05/21/10

Quite lovely

by makiss

02/03/10

Surprised by the poor reviews--I was impressed!

by jprobus

01/19/10

Teste

by Pygors

01/13/10

The worst service.

by davidlogan

11/23/09

Great Space, But Look and Leave Quickly!!!!!

by laver2

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