In 2018, The NoMad Bar at the NoMad Hotel in midtown Manhattan was named the #1 bar in North America by the World's 50 Best Bars for the second year running, and it placed #4 worldwide.
The food and beverage program is run by Chef Daniel Humm and Will Guidara of Eleven Madison Park (ranked the #1 restaurant in North America and #4 worldwide by the World's Best Restaurants that year). I'd eaten an incredible dinner at Eleven Madison Park in 2014, so it was with excitement that I set my sights on this project.
Note: The NoMad Hotel, bar, and restaurant closed permanently in March 2021.
Following my morning stop at Dante, I headed for the luxurious NoMad Hotel a little after noon. I can't recall why I went so early in the day. Perhaps, thinking it was a hotel bar, I thought I could get a drink anytime.
Alas, I learned a few things on arrival. The glass-covered Atrium is a casual spot to enjoy lunch or dinner; during the week, it fills up with suits on business lunches. The small but elegant Elephant Bar is immediately off the Atrium.
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Friday Lunch at NoMad Hotel
You must walk through The Elephant Bar to get to The NoMad Bar; however, the latter doesn't open until 5 p.m. Since I was already there, I decided to stick around and soak up the atmosphere over lunch in the Atrium. The waiter confirmed that some of the restaurant's cocktails were from the NoMad Bar.
I ordered a Nod to Nothing:
- London Dry Gin
- Cocchi Americano (an aromatized wine)
- Lemon
- Jasmine Pearl Tea
- Apricot
- Yuzu
- Sage
I liked the drink and the presentation with ice that reminded me of a loosely packed snowball. A large piece of fresh house bread was brought out, but I set it aside.
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I ordered the chicken burger with Gruyere cheese and foie gras and black truffle mayonnaise. It was served with perfectly cooked fries, and my stomach was soon full of the rich offerings.
Next on my bar crawl agenda was a former #1 bar in North America, The Dead Rabbit in Lower Manhattan, but not before making plans to return to The NoMad Bar the following day.
Saturday Drinks at NoMad Bar
It was Saturday, a few minutes before 5 p.m., as I patiently waited in The Elephant Bar for The NoMad Bar to open. I wasn't the only one. There's also a direct entrance to NoMad Bar from the street at 10 West 28th Street, but waiting inside the hotel is certainly more comfortable.
When staff allowed me to enter The NoMad Bar, the seats had already been taken. I claimed space at a small counter opposite the bar and was soon joined by my brother and friend. I noticed a second floor, too, had we wanted a table, but I preferred to be in the center of the action. The atmosphere is that of a typical New York City tavern, so it doesn't have a unique feel.
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Venezuelan Bar Director Leo Robitschek previously worked at Eleven Madison Park for ten years and has brought his talent for mixology to the NoMad hotels. According to the hotel's website, Leo has "created a beverage program that celebrates classically-focused cocktails while delving into two new arenas: festive, large-format drinks and a selection of reserve cocktails crafted with rare spirits."
It was from the latter arena that I ordered a Paloma:
- Siembra Azul Ancestral Blanco (tequila)
- Del Maguey Chichicapa (mezcal)
- Grapefruit
- Lime
- Agave
- Sparkling mineral water
While I enjoyed the flavors and less common liquors, the presentation left me wanting more. As the bar continued to fill up, I didn't mind going after only one drink. Compared to some of the other cocktail bars I've visited from The World's 50 Best Bars list, the interior design and atmosphere at NoMad Bar didn't hold my attention. Certainly not in a city with as many bars to explore as New York.
See also: Speakeasies in Austin
