Bemelmans Bar

"Martinis taste best with white tablecloths and someone playing the piano. You’ll get both at Bemelmans Bar inside the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side. Yes, this place has pricey cocktails, but you should go out of your way for a martini, because Bemelmans is just as iconic as the New Yorkers it attracts. If you’re lucky, Bill Murray might also be having a martini in the corner while someone plays the piano. Skip the food. The best thing to eat here is the free snack mix on every table." - bryan kim, kenny yang, neha talreja, carina finn koeppicus