BEMELMANS BAR

Remember the beloved Madeline series of children’s books? Ludwig Bemelmans was their creator, as well as the man behind the whimsical murals at Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel including even the illustrations on the table lamps. Look closely and you’ll see his pastel-colored animals celebrating Central Park. Listen closely and you’ll hear old show tunes from the live pianist and smooth pipes of Chris Gillespie.  Prohibition-era cocktails like the Old Cuban or Whiskey Smash dazzle, a brief menu with snacks like mini burgers and a shrimp cocktail satiate, yet keep you feeling light on your toes. A bastion of New York high society and the tip-top of every seasoned Gothamist’s list, Bemelmans has been frequented by politicians, movie stars, and moguls for five decades. Ludwig Bemelmans once joked he’d like his tombstone to read: “Tell Them It Was Wonderful.” Well, wonderful it was, and still is, at Bemelmans Bar.