09/29/06

Perfection

by freddy007

It's been a while since I've seen such a good scene in this city. The Rose Bar takes me back to my early years in NYC, when lounges ruled, people actually came to Manhattan from Park Slope instead of the other way around, and the superclubs had yet to highjack the nightlife.

• Pros: ambiance, crowd
• Cons: almost impossible to get in without a room at the hotel or a celebrity escort

08/21/06

Ian Schrager Redesign

by nyc_girl

Checked out the hotel renovations and dropped by the Rose Bar inside the hotel on a Saturday night. Hotel looks completely different than a year ago. Much darker, sexier and better art. Schnabels and Picassos line the lobby and bar areas, and I think I even spotted a Warhol. Although prices are a bit overdone at $15/drink, great place to sit back and soak it all in. Red velvet curtains, candlelight and a working fireplace adds to the ambiance. Bar turns velvet rope after 9pm so make sure you're on the list.

10/04/04

Though it's expanded, and spruced up a la Louis XIV, the vibe is, thankfully, still chill.

by Sandra Ramani

The Scene
For years, this low-rent lobby bar was something of an inside joke, with artists and media types drinking alongside ancient hotel residents, European travelers and the odd piano player. Then the management caught on, promising a major renovation that had regulars scared. The result is a happy medium: A casual front area, expanded standing room in the now TV-less bar section and a large, candlelit back lounge, in which Belle Epoque furnishings and red velvet curtains are tempered by a still-shabby carpet.

The Draw
Though the menu now offers dozens of beers, snazzy cocktails and an extensive by-the-bottle list (some choices cost more than a room at the hotel), the crowd remains mixed and casual. Usually there is ample seating for large parties and privacy-seeking couples, and even when packed, it's not impossible to converse. Alas, the Goldfish crackers have been replaced by bowls of fancy peanuts.