36 Postcards
Step into Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel for a luxe cocktail experience surrounded by whimsical murals and live jazz, where old New York charm meets modern elegance.
"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
"Bemelmans [at the Carlyle Hotel]—it is the best old-fashioned jazz bar on the Upper East Side." - The MICHELIN Guide US Editorial Team
"Serves amazing vodka martinis and is known as the best place for a perfect cocktail." - The MICHELIN Guide US Editorial Team
"At Bemelmans, Ludwig Bemelman's illustrations—you might remember them from the Madeline books—adorn the walls. In one panel, a bunny smokes a cigar in Central Park; in another, a man hands a boy a clutch of balloons. This is a bar where gawking is permissible. The cocktails here very much depend on who’s making them: an Old Fashioned might be a bit watery, a whiskey sour too tart. But often a dirty gin Martini is just perfectly executed. Everything is expensive—it’s clear why you’re here—so take the edge off that sensation by digging into the free, hearty snacks that float your way." - Emily Saladino, Devra Ferst
"From Bemelmans at The Carlyle to the King Cole bar at The St. Regis, there are certain storied cocktail bars that are as beloved as the hotels." - The MICHELIN Guide
