universitylad

I'll be headed to New York this weekend. I have tickets to shows on Friday and Saturday night near Broadway. Rather than head back to my hotel, I'd like to find something to do for a few hours afterwards. I'm eating dinner with a friend before the shows; does anyone have suggestions for a quiet bar or lounge for a drink or two afterwards?

I'd prefer someplace on the quiet side with other professionals. Gay or gay friendly would be fine too, but not necessary.

I'll be staying on the UWS but I'm not adverse to treking to another part of Manhattan for a few hours. In fact, it would be fun to explore different areas of the city.

Gekko

The Stone Rose in the Time Warner Center is a nice lounge/bar, and close to the theater district.

Call ahead, perhaps, and reserve a table in the window overlooking Columbus Circle and the Park.

bill_boy

As I'd much prefered establishments outside of the midtown area, and if you don't mind going south to the Village or Chelsea, then there are a few quiet bars that are a;so quite casua and some good wines by the glass, I haven't heard anything about these bars being unfriendly, gay or otherwise:

ino at the Village (italian tapas and wines)
Blue Ribbon Bar at Downing
Jules in the Village (normally has some cool jazz band playing)
Bar Jamon (a Mario Batali joint on Iriving towards the East with some taty tapas)
Cru (a very deep wine list for an oennophile marvel over)

Cheers.

starrs

My two favorites in walking distance are Don't Tell Mama and the View Lounge at the Marriott Marquis. I'm not sure if either are what you want.

Don't Tell Mama has the piano bar or caberet option -
http://www.donttellmamanyc.com/

And, the View Lounge has the rotating 360 degree view of the city -
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel...-times-square/

The next time I'm in the city I'm going to check out the Mini-Bar at the Muse Hotel -
http://www.themusehotel.com/mse_dining.html

lizziea06

Universitylad - I would suggest heading to either a cool hotel bar or a chilled out lounge downtown. All of the following are places that I would feel comfortable getting a drink by myself, and are quiet enough to carry on a conversation.

60 Thompson (Thombar)
http://www.60thompson.com/index.php?page=60thom

The Soho Grand
http://www.sohogrand.com/meetings/lounge.htm

The Room (love this place)
http://nymag.com/listings/bar/the_room/

Vig Bar
http://www.vigbar.com/-%20%20The%20Space/

escargot

we enjoyed dessert and drinks at Chez Josephine , light piano music and intermittent singing in a nice, warm environment and we could easily carry on a conversation - if you are a Josephine Baker fan there is plenty of memorabilia since I believe it is her adopted sons establishment -

NeoPatrick will know if he sees this - he is the one who originally sent us there -

www.chezjosephine.com

ChgoGal

Bar Centrale at 326 W 46th St -
(212) 581-3130 - is a nice place. There's no sign... you just walk up to the (high) first floor, and the entry is on the left.

GoTravel

At The Marriott Marquis I like The Broadway Bay on the eight floor because of the spectacular views of Times Square. It is literally suspended over Times Square.

Even better, the lobby bar at The Mandarin Oriental. On the 35th floor with stunning views of Manhattan and Central Park.

kealalani

Don't shoot the messenger, but....

Don't Tell Mama is a loud caberet
The View is a tourist trap

Niether fit the original query of Quiet lounge/bar with other professionals on the quiet side.

Good luck univeritylad. Plenty of other fine suggestions here!

starrs

Don't Tell Mama has a piano bar and a caberet. The website link takes you to a page that lets you view both options.

The View IS a tourist trap - in that a lot of tourists go there - and the drink prices are pretty steep. The View menu available at the website link given is very clear at the prices. It IS the only 360 degree view option in the city (that I know about anyway). Because it is a rotating lounge, it is not small and intimate, but is definitely a lounge and definitely quiet enough to carry a conversation. They make a mean Lemon Drop too.

The third option I gave I do not have first-hand personal experience with - and was clear to indicate that. But, it is in walking distance as are the other two options. It is a small lounge with after-theatre drink and food options.

IMO the information given in the 7:40 am post is informative enough for most people to take a look and determine if it meets their expectations.

I think the comment "I'm not sure if either are what you want." is clear enough to indicate neither is a small, intimate bar - but in my experience friends who have gone to either/ both have enjoyed the experiences. Given he has two after-theatre nights to fill, additional types of experiences may be appreciated. Maybe not. Only the OP can decide.

esd

Hi all! You've given me some ideas! I would love to stop somewhere after either of our 2 broadway shows (Legally Blonde..2/6 or Wicked..2/7) and I've made note of the above mentioned mini bar at the Muse and Bar Central since both must be near our hotel, the Comfort Inn Midtown which - like both of these places - is on W 46th St. (I think one of my english teachers would definately have frowned at the above 'sentence').

Thanks!

NeoPatrick

Thalia at the corner of 50th and 8th is a lovely and quiet bar where you can even do desserts or snacks at the table. It's practically just across the street from Wicked. It is quiet enough for conversation.

Also on 50th, almost directly across from Wicked is a trendy but pretty quiet place called Natsumi -- there is a separate Japanese restaurant from the bar. Check it out on your way into Wicked -- otherwise you might go to Thalia.

esd

Thanks..I will!

lp_nyc

Thalia is a great choice.

Hell's Kitchen is very gay friendly, just to let you know. Especially 9th Avenue.

I haven't been to Bar Centrale, but we have friends who love this place and are trying to get us to meet up there one night.

Other options in the area for after-show (not previously mentioned) are Angus McIndoe, Joe Allen's or Film Center Cafe. Film Center is laid back, not always quiet. Not a scene either.

On the UWS, a little further north, Wine and Roses, Bin 71 (can get overcrowded on the weekends a wee annoying).

GSTRDR

Bar Boulud is at 1900 Broadway and 64th st..... www.barboulud.com

Will

mclaurie

Dizzy's Coca Cola is a jazz place in the Time Warner building at Columbus Circle (same building as the Mandarin Oriental hotel and Stone Rose but they all use different entrances). Nice views and good jazz.

Carnegie club (north of theater district) has a Sinatra tribute on Sat. nights.

Bar Next door in Greenwich Village (next to La Lanterna restaurant) also has nice jazz in an attractive location.

universitylad

What is the secret to scoring a table at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel lobby bar? I tried on Friday night after a play around 10 pm and no tables were open and the bar was packed. On Sat. we saw _August: Osage County_ which was quite long and we arrived at the lobby bar around 11.45. There were a few open tables but the host said there was a wait....

Was it just a line? We were dressed in dress pants and jackets with overcoats.

NeoPatrick

university lad, yours is not the first story I've heard of people arriving at the bar and being told they'd need to wait even though it wasn't full, and supposedly there are no reservations. I guess you can just call it "attitude"?

mclaurie

A tip and a willingness to wait (a 10-20 min. wait often disappears to no wait) would have been one option.

universitylad

I'll be heading back to New York this weekend. Does anyone else have new suggestions?