Le Rock’s Bijou Blanc.
• The house Martinis, or “Martinis Maison,” as they are labeled on the menu, are all freezer Martinis and each of exceptional quality. The L’Alaska, in particular, shines with its genius dilution hack.
• Le Rock hosts a Christmas tree lighting event to watch the famous Rockefeller tree become illuminated, but for the duration of the winter holiday season, the tree can be glimpsed while sitting at the bar, drink in hand and, crucially, without the crowds.
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Lodi, an Italian-style cafe from Ignacio Mattos, is located directly across the plaza from Le Rock and offers a classic selection of aperitivo cocktails to be enjoyed at the standing bar or alfresco.
NOTABLE AND NEARBY
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Since opening in 2022, Le Rock has managed to make Midtown, a neighborhood plagued by mediocrity, a destination—for even the most jaded New Yorker. Rockefeller Plaza, with its stately limestone façade, nearly 200 flagpoles and carved Art Deco hieroglyphs by architectural sculptor Lee Lawrie, sets the stage for Le Rock before guests even enter its doors. Visitors are reminded of an old New York, and the grandiosity and optimism that came with it. Inside, the offerings of the bar—
separated from the restaurant with sculptural floor-to-ceiling dividers—live up to the caliber of the space. The drinks are among the best in the city, with a backbar centered around French spirits and producers, often deployed in familiar blueprints, like the Pineau Colada, made with Pineau des Charentes, for instance, or the Bijou Blanc, a spin on the Bijou starring Chartreuse alongside an additional gentian kick from Salers aperitif. To stop into the bar at Le Rock comes with a sense of occasion, even if the occasion is simply after-work drinks.
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Around the corner on Grand Street, Fresh Kills (from Richie Boccato) has been quietly serving some of the best cocktails in Brooklyn for nearly a decade.
NOTABLE AND NEARBY
• When outdoor seating is available, the wisteria-draped garden (book ahead on Resy) might fool you into thinking you’re somewhere between Louisiana and Provence.
• While Maison excels at the A-list classics, look closely and you’ll find lovingly executed takes on B-side hits, like the Yellow Parrot and the Obituary, that make the case for revival.
NICE TO KNOW
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If you’re looking to make out on a dance floor, this no-frills, tropical-themed queer bar is the spot for you. —Irina Groushevaia, senior social media manager
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Sunny’s
This outer fringe of Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood is not easily accessible, but it’s worth a trip to experience a bar that’s been resurrected from the brink of closure several times. Live music starts most nights at 8 p.m., and there’s plenty of outdoor space for loitering. Don’t forget to bring cash. —Allison Hamlin, director of network development
An essential guide to the bars and retailers that have turned Oakland into an epicenter of progressive wine culture.
Le Rock’s Bijou Blanc.
The bar’s Pineau Colada is made with Pineau des Charentes.
The drinks at Le Rock are among the best in the city, with a backbar centered around French spirits and producers.
The bar’s house Martinis, including the L’Alaska, are of exceptional quality.