Midtown has received its newest cocktail bar, and considering it’s backed by the international restaurant group that collectively holds five Michelin stars, we absolutely think you’ll want to head on over there asap.
Above Midtown’s fine dining, Michelin-starred restaurant Le Jardinier now sits Bar Bastion, a 38-seat cocktail bar with floor-to-ceiling windows, seamlessly blending modern style with Art Deco glamor.
Once ascending the marble staircase from Le Jardinier, guests are greeted with moody lighting, dark woods, velvet seating, and a gorgeous back-lit bar.
And sophistication meets playfulness in more ways than one here (hint: we’re talking about their insanely attractive menu).
The cocktail menu features five classic cocktails and five rotating ones.
Go-to offerings such as an Old Fashioned and Martini, of course, can be found on the menu, alongside seasonal options including the Carrot Me Away, made with carrot juice, honey syrup, chamomile infused scotch, and the Off Beet, made with beet juice, lemon oleo saccharum, caraway seed–infused dry vermouth, shochu, and nigori sake.
Creative mocktails come in equally as mouthwatering combinations, and include the Blood Type made with Seedlip 42 Grove, blood orange syrup, basil lemon and tonic, and Over-Cuked with lime, cucumber, mint, pineapple and ginger beer.
The accompanying food menu, though considered to be bar food, seems anything but–especially with Maine lobster tartlets topped with curry aioli and royal kaluga caviar on the menu.
Grass-fed beef tartare with sourdough toast as well as a charred avocado mousse served with sweet potato chips are also options.
The food takes on an art form though when it comes to dessert, so be sure to save room (we know we will)!
We’re eyeing the mini version of Le Jardinier’s gorgeous butterfly dessert, which features a delicate yuzu mousse, raspberry compote, and a pistachio sable. Plus the mini ice cream cones are too cute and fun to pass up on, and who wouldn’t want their own ice cream tasting flight?!
As for us, we’ll be ordering both.
“We are thrilled to introduce Bar Bastion to Midtown Manhattan, and launch a new curated cocktail program in a striking setting,” says Deleon Pinto, Chief Operating Officer of The Bastion Collection. “Bar Bastion marks the growth of The Bastion Collection which includes Michelin-starred restaurants in Houston, Miami and Geneva.”
Bar Bastion is now open on the second level at 610 Lexington Avenue at 53rd Street, and (thankfully) reservations are not required. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30p.m. – 10:30p.m.
Learn more on their website here.