Ophelia lounge opened in February atop New York’s historic Beekman Tower. Sitting 26 stories high, the greenhouse terrace offers 360-degree views of the city skyline and the East River. With its 1920s architectural details and 1930s-inspired design, the cocktail lounge highlights the rich history of the Beekman Tower, which was built in 1928 as a residence for working women. The venue is composed of the Grand Terrace, the Outer Terrace, and a private dining room. The 4,500-square-foot space, which seats 100 guests in all, combines modern design and historical elements. The menu offers reinventions of classic cocktails, and the lounge features unique curios such as 1930s tarot cards and antique photography.
Union Square Hospitality Group opened its first dedicated event space, Bay Room, in Lower Manhattan. Towering over lower Manhattan on the 60th floor of a Liberty Street skyscraper, the space has sweeping views of New York Harbor from the East to the Hudson rivers, including the Statue of Liberty. The venue seats 520 guests or holds 580 for receptions. Catering is by Union Square Events, and the space's amenities include access to audiovisual equipment, Ketra intelligent lighting, automatic shades on windows, and Wi-Fi.
Pilot, a seasonal oyster bar in New York from the team behind Grand Banks, opened in August. The bar, which is located aboard an American schooner in Brooklyn Bridge Park, serves nautical-theme cocktails and oysters from New York and across the country. The bar’s commitment to sustainability includes a zero-waste policy and a partnership with the Billion Oyster Project, a citizen science project coordinated by the New York Harbor School that aims to restore one billion live oysters to the New York Harbor by 2030. The 150-foot-long boat offers three event options: the Captain's Table for private dining for as many as 12 guests, cocktail parties on the foredeck for 30 guests, and full buyouts for reception-style events for as many as 150 guests.
Located in the recently opened Kimpton Nine Zero Hotel, Better Sorts Social Club is a glamorous hideaway that opened in October. The 2,017-square-foot venue, which features black walnut wood walls, custom European oak flooring, and moody dark green accents, features a 14-seat bar and 62-seat lounge. There's also the intimate Gardner Room, a 204-square-foot private space, which can accommodate eight seated guests or 15 cocktail-style. The Gardner Room is equipped with two flat screen LED televisions and has full audiovisual capabilities.
