Behind the Scenes of Eleven Madison Park's New Clemente Bar

"Clemente Bar, a new establishment from the team behind Eleven Madison Park, is a dual-concept bar featuring a lounge and an eight-seat tasting counter. It's located above the Three Michelin Star dining room and pays tribute to Italian painter Francesco Clemente with dreamlike abstract murals. The bar, directed by Sebastian Tollius and managed by Richard Millwater, offers minimalist cocktails using techniques like clarification and ingredients such as pandan and umeboshi. The plant-based snacks include comfort foods like a Sichuan peppercorn-laced portobello mushroom burger. The adjacent space, The Studio, offers a five-course tasting menu with a focus on Japanese ingredients. The experience is designed to be casual yet refined, with a focus on artistic minimalism and refined flavors. The design merges art and drink, making Francesco Clemente's work a focal point. The culinary program includes nostalgic plant-based dishes with an elevated twist. The goal is for Clemente Bar to be a timeless space that offers an escape within New York City." - Kat Odell