NYC is already home to one of the best bars in North America, but when more than one bar to receive this title get together, now that’s where the magic happens. And, lucky for us, two of North America’s best bars are collaborating together for a one-night-only pop-up, and it’s happening in NYC this April!
Takuma Watanabe and the award-winning bar team from Martiny’s, named the #4 best bar in North America and the #24 best bar in the world, are hosting an exclusive pop-up along with San Francisco native Nicolas Torres from True Laurel, North America’s most sustainable cocktail bar and #30 best bar.
For those that are unfamiliar, Martiny’s is a three-floor Japanese-style cocktail lounge housed in a former 1800s carriage house in Gramercy. Martiny’s is Watanabe’s, a Tokyo native, first solo project, and here he has mastered the art of signature cocktails. Some cocktails feature ingredients from Japan, such as Nikka whisky and yuzu, while others are Watanabe’s takes on classics, like the Oriental Manhattan.
True Laurel, on the other hand, is a cozy yet buzzy cocktail destination nestled in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District. Here, bar director Nicolas Torres’ creative cocktail menu highlights a selection of complex drinks that incorporate local flora you didn’t know existed, whether we’re talking overgrown weeds and foraged conifers or root vegetables via local farmers.
Pair Watanabe’s homeland-driven flavors with Torres’ foraged ingredients and you’ve got a cocktail menu that we’re giddy at the thought of sipping.
The spirited pop-up will showcase premium, sustainably-minded cocktails from iichiko Shochu, Japan’s leading shochu brand. If you ask Google, “shochu is a Japanese distilled spirit, similar to vodka or brandy, made from various ingredients like rice, barley, sweet potatoes, and buckwheat, and is known for its versatile flavor and drinking styles.” If you ask us, shochu is straight up delicious.
Pop-up attendees will have the opportunity to experience the artistry of some of the country’s most celebrated bar teams in an intimate New York setting. And honestly, what more could you ask for?!
📍 Martiny’s – 121 E 17th Street
🗓 Tuesday, April 8th
⏰ 6 pm – 10:30 pm