The Beekman Hotel is something out of a fairy tale. The elegant 1883 skylit building is a space in which the Duchess of Sussex would surely hang. Now, exit around its corner to the bordering alleyway with heavy construction and bags of garbage. This is where you should hang.
Don’t take that as an insult—the hotel’s underground lounge is located behind the door guarded by two suited bouncers and a blue-neon cat. Once inside, you’re immersed in restaurateur Serge Becker’s (the Box, La Esquina) space, which can only be described as performing arts meets Tokyo meets industrial chic. You know, that tired old theme. There are exposed pipes across the ceiling, puppets sitting atop a Tudor-style theater house, and Japanese-inspired cocktails and dishes (the latter from chef Tom Colicchio). “Siiick,” say all the future summer interns of Fidi.
And lucky for them, the strong drinks rarely miss. The Spaghetti Eastern, with miso-infused gin, coconut and shishito, is briny and delicate, as if it were an LaCroix: Ocean, while the Kosho Margarita, with tequila, yuzu and chili, is piquant and citrusy. But the essential order is the Lemon Sour: With bourbon, Manzanilla sherry and black-lemon shrub, it expertly balances a Rolodex of flavors: tartness, sweetness and umami. But be mindful of how many tipples you imbibe—you have to climb two flights of stairs to exit, and you wouldn’t want to, you know, break a leg.