We are finally leaving for New York on Monday and thank you to anyone who has helped me through this forum. Now, I have on my very important list of things to do, is to have the best darned martini in New York. I love a cosmopolitan but many bars serve it too sweet. The best Cosmo I have had so far is at the Halimale General Store in Maui and I am looking for some competition with that one! Any ideas?

No recommendations, but agree that the best Cosmo is not sweet. If it comes out pink, Blah..

Wait a minute. Are you talking about a martini or a cosmo? Or are you one of those people who thinks "as long as they serve a liquid concoction in a martini glass, you can call it a martini"?

Meanwhile, mcheryl, do you mean pink or BRIGHT pink? I've never heard of a cosmo without cranberry juice and just a quarter teaspoon of that will turn a clear drink pink.

I don't like sweet drinks, but sure did like the "Pomegranate Martini" at Del Frisco's, even thought I'd personally call it a Cosmo.
"360 Vodka, PAMA Pomegranate liquor, splash of cranberry"

The martini is made with gin. For an all around fine martini experience I recommend the bar at the Four Seasons.

DRJ, you're even more traditional than I. For years I insisted a true martini can ONLY be gin, but I have finally softened to the point that I'm willing to accept (begrudgingly) that vodka with a tiny splash of dry vermouth CAN be called a martini. But that's as far as I'll budge. When they list a drink with ice cream, chocolate syrup and banana liqueur or whatever as a martini, I nearly go hysterical.

Thanks guys, I don't like gin so it has to be the vodka martini!

My favorite is a Lemon Drop at the View lounge at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square -
http://www.theviewnyc.com/
I usually go after a Broadway show.

Before the show, it's any martini at the West Bank Café with dinner.

Are they the best? Who knows? But they are good!

I'm with you re vodka and not gin.
And if it's not a sweet martini then a Ketel One, very dry, extra olives and a little bit dirty.

If you want a drink with a view, try the rooftop bar at Ink48 -
http://www.ink48.com/new-york-city-d...ss-lounge.html

Its about six parts Gordon's gin to one part Stock dry vermouth (and store the gin in the freezer). A pair make my very happy hour nightly since the year the Mets won the series ('69). You can do the math.

DRJ, oops, that's way too much vermouth for most of my friends. It's more like "put a few drops of vermouth in the glass, swirl it around, dump it out, then fill the glass with the chilled gin." Or in Naples, I have a little atomizer -- sprayer to spritz just a hint of vermouth over the gin stored in the freezer then poured into the chilled martini glass.

Neo: I was taught that straight gin was barbaric. Maybe I'll try it.

DRJ, you say that like that's a bad thing????

I can only vouch for the vodka and not cosmos, but there is the Russian Vodka Room on W 52 between 7th and 8th Ave.

Vodka martinis for me, as well. And I agree the name "martini" has been way over-used, like drinks with chocolate. They should just call those cocktails, not martinis.

A drink with sugar on the rim is not for me, like most Lemon Drops are. I prefer Absolut Citron on the rocks, or up.

Cosmos get a bad rap because of the whole Sex & the City hype. Just order one not too sweet, if you like them.

Here's the big question:
shaken or stirred??

As Mame would say, "shaking bruises the gin".
Personally I like them fine shaken, except for the new custom of bars using crushed ice. Shaking (or even stirring) room temperature gin or vodka (or Scotch for my dry Robroys) with crushed Ice leads to a very watery drink.

Good point, Patrick.

I love dirty vodka martinis but must say the vodka gimlet I had at the Algonquin was pretty yummy.

I keep vodka in the freezer.