W New York—Times Square debuted a new design for its Living Room lobby and bar area in October following a $10 million renovation. Designed by Josh Held Design and Starwood’s internal design team, the space is an homage to its theater district home. The “stage drape” entrance is marked by a die-cut metal screen that gives way to a lounge-like space with banquettes inspired by theater skyboxes that include luxe materials such as smoked bronze glass, antiqued brass mirrors, and velvety fabrics. An ode to the neon lights of Times Square is an installation from Lite Brite Neon along the 40-foot bar that gradually becomes visible as day turns to night. The room also includes a DJ booth designed like the iconic New Year’s Eve ball and a photo booth that immediately uploads images to the hotel’s Instagram feed as well as displays them on mirrors in the bathroom. The cocktail menu has been updated by the New York-based culinary group IndieFork and incorporates homemade infused syrups and pickled fruits and vegetables.
Billed as a 12,500-square-foot “clubhouse,” the shared office space LMHQ offers several areas for meetings or events. The financial district space features sleek design with concrete floors, Eames stacking chairs, and Herman Miller tables and couches that gives it the feel of a tech start-up. It includes a 140-seat flexible event space and five meeting rooms that range from the five-person lounge-like Jennings room to the 16-person Tesla boardroom that comes with IdeaPaint writable walls and a webcam. Other amenities include audiovisual system with wireless microphones and projectors, a coffee shop, and a “living room” for informal gatherings. Through a grant from ConEdison, LMHQ will provide event space for free to qualified nonprofit organizations. It opened in June.
From chef Laurent Tourondel is L’Amico, an Italian-influenced restaurant that opened in the Eventi hotel in Chelsea in September. The menu offers wood-fired pizzas, pastas, main dishes, and side dishes and vegetables that rotate seasonally. The warm interior from Brooklyn-based Crème features an open kitchen, reclaimed wood, geometric floor tiling, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook Sixth Avenue. The space seats 90 and has a private dining room. L’Amico was one of three new food and beverage outlets to open at the property as part of a recent renovation.
The Señor Frog's chain of lively Mexican bars and restaurants has expanded to the Northeast. Señor Frog's Times Square is located in a 22,000-square-foot space spread over two floors. The decor carries over the Caribbean vibe of the original location in Cancun, Mexico, with vibrant colors and prints, nautical rope and netting, and irreverent signs that cover the ceiling. The menu includes Mexican staples along with gimmicky specialty dishes such a the “mousetrap quesadilla” that is served on an actual mousetrap. The cocktail list skews toward Caribbean favorites such as daiquiris and margaritas. The venue seats 420 at tables or holds 600 for receptions. It opened in September.
In time for its sixth anniversary, the ping-pong haven Spin New York updated its look with a renovation that debuted in September. Architectural and design firm the Rockwell Group handled the update to the 14,000-square-foot space. Five graffiti artists created custom wall art installations for the space, lending the Flatiron venue an authentic New York vibe. Lighting and seating also were updated. The space holds 500 guests for receptions and has a 60-person private room with its own bar, DJ booth, and two ping-pong courts.
With views of Brooklyn skyline, Kimoto Rooftop Beer Garden opened in September atop the Aloft New York Brooklyn hotel. Designed with a clean and modern aesthetic, the space features blond wood tables, stools, and curving benches as well as landscaping that combines some 100 species of plants. The menu from chef Brian Tsao features a mix of Asian and American comfort foods such as the Spam sushi dog—a Spam “hot dog” rolled in sushi rice and nori—and Shibuya disco fries topped with beef brisket, jalapeño, daikon chili, garlic sour cream, and sriracha. The beer list features of 20 craft brews that are either local, Asian, or made with Asian ingredients. The venue has 110 seats on the outdoor terrace and 115 seats indoors, including in a private dining room that seats 30 and adjoins a zen rock garden.
The bar Genuine Liquorette opened in late September in a space underneath sister restaurant Genuine Superette. A project of AvroKO Hospitality Group with design from AvroKO, the bar has a retro feel, with a black-and-white checkered floor, black lacquered chrome-rimmed high-top tables, and old newspaper and alcohol and tobacco advertisements on the walls. It offers an impressive 750 different bottles of spirits, and a select menu from Genuine Superette is available. Located in Little Italy, the bar has 38 seats or holds about 60 people standing and is available for buyout.
In September, Brother Jimmy’s Union Square relaunched as Brother Jimmy’s Live, a honky-tonk-like space with live country and Southern rock performances and a menu of barbecue and other Southern staples. The 7,500-square-foot space has a first-floor stage and a newly installed Americana sound system with plans to add a second stage on the lower level later this year. The venue holds 400.
Paige Hospitality Group installed a new location of its Ainsworth upscale sports bar brand in the former Chester Midtown space on East 33rd Street. Ainsworth Midtown opened in September following a renovation of the 8,500-square-foot space. The venue has three separate rooms, each with a number of HD TVs and other audiovisual equipment. The main dining room seats 50 or holds 80 for receptions; the semiprivate Back Lounge seats 40 or holds 60 for receptions, and the Back Bar seats 30 or holds 70 for receptions. A 2,500-square-foot terrace has a private bar as well as heat lamps and can hold 200 people for receptions. Full buyouts are available.
The East Hampton seafood restaurant Bay Kitchen Bar now has a sister restaurant, BKB, on the Upper East Side. The restaurant retains the seasonal seafood focus as well as its design sensibility (in part by calling on the Bay Kitchen Bar designer Scott Rominger to create BKB’s interiors). But neither is a carbon copy of the original and incorporates new dishes and design elements. The 1,430-square-foot space seats 44 in the dining room and has a 12-seat bar and lounge area. There is also an eight-seat private dining space. It opened in February.
