Grapevine: Enjoying a Holiday Celebration in the City With Cocktails

We’re officially in the holiday season. With Thanksgiving under our belt (hopefully with no additional notches), the Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s celebratory gatherings are in full swing.

Holiday festivities are typically focused on traditional gatherings in the homes of family and friends, sharing the religious spirit of our individual faiths. Many of us also participate in restaurant celebrations with family, friends or business associates.

Invariably, these plans evolve around an outing into New York City. What better way to enjoy the holiday spirit than to be immersed in an atmosphere charged with merriment and conviviality? And what better locale than “The City?”

Finding a dining venue in the city is never a challenge. The breadth of restaurants will satisfy a broad range of tastes and budgets. But a dilemma some face is where to continue the festivities after enjoying a great meal and conversation. Having made the trek from Westchester, visitors invariably seek out a post-dining venue to continue socializing. Sitting at-table as a restaurant is winding down its dinner service is not always a comfortable way to continue a group’s conviviality.

My choice for sustaining an evening of camaraderie is to head to a wine bar or a hotel bar, depending on one’s preferences. While these venues can be primary destinations for sharing good times and good spirits, I find them equally enjoyable as late night venues.

My wife and I and a group of friends have continued a tradition of a holiday trip into the city for a number of years. We typically focus on midtown for dinner, preceded and followed by a cocktail at a nearby wine or hotel bar.

Here are several of my recommendations for destinations we’ve enjoyed over the years. The list is not meant to be all-inclusive, or even near inclusive. Rather it is an eclectic list meant to accommodate those enjoying holiday outings in the city. There are many more establishments in the city, both downtown and in the burgeoning gentrified areas in Brooklyn. (If you’re interested in my recommendations, please e-mail me.)

Wine Bars

1. Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, 151 W. 51 St. Managed by the highly regarded sommelier at Le Bernadin restaurant, the elegant space is matched by the well-chosen wines.
2. Bar Boulud, 1900 Broadway (at West 64th Street). Across from Lincoln Center, come for an amazing array of predominantly French wines and a selection of charcuterie.
3. I Trulli, 122 E. 27 St. A broad and deep selection of Italian wines in an intimate bar, next door to a fine Apulian restaurant.
4. Flute Bar & Lounge, 205 W. 54 St. Nearly 20 sparkling wines by the glass set the mood; relaxing in cushioned chairs and couches enhances the intimate vibe.
5. Campbell Apartment, 15 Vanderbilt Ave. High above Grand Central Terminal, the former offices of a Wall Street maven beckon you to relax and enjoy wines and spirits in a clubby setting. Just missed your late night train home? Plop into a lounge chair and sip a favorite beverage while waiting for the next one.

Hotel Bars

(Be forewarned; the drink prices at hotel bars are exorbitant.)

1. Baccarat Hotel, 28 W. 53 St. Yes, the crystal company’s showcase; dazzling, swank and expensive drinks served in crystal glasses.
2. NoMad Bar at the NoMad Hotel, 1170 Broadway. The lush woods and elegant fixtures create a warm ambience. Try the more relaxing balcony area.
3. King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel, 2 E. 55 St. Whether in the outer lounge or the bar area, you’ll feel at home in royal elegance.
4. Mandarin Oriental, Columbus Circle at West 60^th Street in the Time Warner Building. Come for the cocktails and stay for the breathtaking views of Central Park from the 35^th floor.
5. Salon de Ning at the Peninsula Hotel, 700 Fifth Ave. An outdoor (heated) rooftop bar beckons with lounge chairs, overlooking the glitter of Fifth Avenue.

Tis the season of joy and merriment. Enjoy your holiday, but remember to drink – and eat – responsibly.

Nick Antonaccio is a 40-year Pleasantville resident. For over 20 years he has conducted wine tastings and lectures. He also offers personalized wine tastings and wine travel services. Nick’s credo: continuous experimenting results in instinctive behavior. You can reach him at nantonaccio@theexaminernews.com or on Twitter @sharingwine.

Nick Antonaccio