49

Bar Snack

New York

Dressed-up classics and a dressed down vibe

Within the capital of cool that is New York City, Bar Snack gravitates towards a different value – comfort. The name Bar Snack is inspired by a popular insider drink, the snaquiri. Beloved by cocktail enthusiasts and industry, the snaquiri is essentially a miniature daiquiri typically ordered as a round shared in celebration. Likewise, the Lower East Side bar room prioritises a well-built drink, hospitality and that unique camaraderie found at a local watering hole.

The energetic crowd of young, hip locals complements the throwback look of the room. Wood-panelled walls and splashes of neon frame a curved bar and orange, vinyl barstools. The vintage aesthetic is rounded out by paper menus, but the easy drinking cocktails are quite modern. Founder Iain Griffiths built a programme that bills itself as 'dressed-up classics for dressed-down people'. Their list includes rotating frozens and martinis alongside funky originals like the Melonade, a symphony of cantaloupe, lemon, basil eau de vie and vodka, and High Tide, a gimlet riff with pops of kiwi and vetiver amid a blend of gins. Wine, beer, non-alcoholic drinks and (yes) snaquiris abound and, like any local, Bar Snack touts a serious happy hour.

Keeping with the neighbourhood concept, the kitchen's small menu offers playful takes on global pub classics. Deservedly, there's a cult following around the Spice Bag, a mix of French fries, chicken tenders, bell peppers, onions and curry sauce served in a brown paper bag. Like the Spice Bag, Bar Snack drops pretence in favour of flavour and joy.

Contact