King Cole Bar

This has got to be one of the most beautiful bars in America and one of the most expensive. If you keep these two factors in mind, you can have a good time. The justly famous mural is gorgeous and worth gazing upon before your vision gets blurry. My Manhattan was perfect, made by a bartender who was professional and fast but not personable.
The room is small and intimate and seems exclusive but of course it’s not. Anyone can enter. There are reserved tables for people who look like they belong there, but plenty of people look like tourists. In truth this bar is an upscale version of what Times Square would be like if it had any class.
Although the bar is crowded, there’s no problem getting a seat. Turnover is fast. No one spends all night here because people can’t afford more than one round of drinks. My Manhattan was $ 22.00 before tax and tip. Yes, it was worth it to cross Old King Cole off my to-​do list.

This has got to be one of the most beautiful bars in America and one of the most expensive. If you keep these two factors in mind, you can have a good time. The justly famous mural is gorgeous and worth gazing upon before your vision gets blurry. My Manhattan was perfect, made by a bartender who was professional and fast but not personable.
The room is small and intimate and seems exclusive but of course it’s not. There are reserved tables for people who look like they belong there, but plenty of people look like they are obviously tourists. In truth this bar is an upscale version of what Times Square would be like if it had any class.
Although the bar is crowded, there’s no problem getting a seat because turnover is fast. No one spends all night drinking here. Why? BECAUSE THEY WOULD GO BANKRUPT. No-​one can afford more than one round of drinks so people leave quickly. My Manhattan was $ 22.00 – before tax and tip. Yes, it was worth it to cross Old King Cole off the bucket list.

Loved the old world ambiance and the «proper» bartender decorum. The drinks are stiff, for sure.

History and the ambience of the King Cole Bar are fantastic. The original bloody Mary, the Red Snapper, should not be missed. The deviled eggs with caviar are also fantastic. The Knickerbocker Sunday is a sweet finish, as well. the

The King Cole Bar in the St Regis is a beautiful respite from the chaos that awaits you on 5^th avenue right outside. The bar is tiny and cozy, filled with a mix of tourists and hotel guests, or so it seemed. Everyone there appeared to be ordering the famous bloody mary, and at $ 25/​pop it better be good! And it was. I had the traditional one, allegedly invented in this very bar, and it was delightful and boozy. I felt a little silly paying so much for 1 drink, even if this is New York, but we had a long day and wanted to treat ourselves. So I would stop by, ignore the sticker shock, and transport yourself to another time and place in this classic New York haunt.

The vibe of this bar is worth the prices they charge for drinks.
It has a great New York vibe.
When you are ordering drinks they bring great bar snacks, the nuts being my favorite.
Service is what you expect from a St Regis.
It’s a little small, so it’s not always easy to find a seat.
The drinks are made to perfection.

The bar is beautiful, the ambiance is upscale, warm, very nice. The service was great, we got the right amount of attention, always got new bowl of snacks.
But, we payed $ 188 for 8 drink, what means $ 23.50 per drink. Our moscow mule came in glasses, not the copper mug, and was not the best one, I couldn’t taste the ginger beer in it.
I asked my husband about his drinks, he said it was ok, but not the best.
Also we sat below the ac, and I smelled disel gas coming in from some truck from the street. Not the best

Have an expensive drink in a cozy setting. Just make sure the drinks are mixed up right in front of you… I felt like the first drink that was poured for me had been premixed, which wasn’t cool. I like the porcini dusted popcorn here and I really like the ambience. Enjoy the Maxfield Parrish mural of Old King Cole behind the bar. The face of King Cole is supposed to be that of John Jacob Astor who had the painting commissioned. Google the mural to find out the secret behind the King’s wry smile. This piece of artwork is highlighted by the darkness of the bar and really is a lovely work. To be honest, it’s one of those places that I will always come back to because of the artwork as opposed to the drinks themselves.

With cameos in Gossip Girl, The Devil Wears Prada and Thee Godfather trilogy, it goes without saying that the King Cole bar is a hallmark of the Manhattan bar scene. I went here with a few friends for a birthday outing last week, but left a little disappointed. The bar is pretty, the staff is attentive and serves up some yummy bar snacks, but when it came to the actual drinks? Not so impressive. I order the Madison Avenue (which is said to be a tequila based drink with blood orange juice), but it tasted more like a bitter cocktail tinged with orange soda — not what my taste buds signed up for. And at $ 25 per glass, I would rather spend $ 14 at a less frilly craft cocktail bar.

I just love the concept of the hotel bars, so this place fits into the category: hidden, with a limited space, dim lighting and comfy sitting.
Feels like you are in the movie from 60’s or so.
Good strong drinks.

John Jacob Astor IV’s turn of the century Bar at the famed St. Regis hotel lives up to its reputation. Every detail speaks of a time before income taxes when luxury reigned supreme. Great selection of single malts and Cognacs. The most professional staff in the business. Every seat in the house is comfy and every person in the house is pickled. Worth the high prices.

Very cozy bar, surprisingly small. Great décor and finely appointed. Upscale place so keep a dress code. Pricey as would be expected of a St.Regis.
Nice staff. Wish our bartenders skills were as good as his manners. The cocktails were sadly disappointing. My Aviation had no Crème de violette and no Maraschino, but was made with Grenadine/​cherry juice? My friends Old Fashioned was just average. Not something you’d expect from a place that prouds itself on inventing the Red Snapper.

What can I say, phenomenal?
Came here with some family who live in the area. When we decided to check it for drink, I was skeptical. I’ve never heard of the bar or the hotel in fact. So glad we went. A very luxurious hotel, beautiful décor and that posh feeling that you’re a somebody. One of the best atmosphere I have ever experienced. From the beauty of the lobby, hallways, and the interesting mural behind the bar, extremely impressive. Friendly staff who obviously knows how to put you first and make you feel important. Had a couple martinis and the calamari, fantastic. The bar specializes in Bloody Mary’s or the Red Snapper as they call it. Such a deep rich history. Awesome place. Dress to impress and they’ll do the rest.

Delightful this has to be by far my favorite bar in Manhattan. 2 E. 55^th at the Sat Regis Hotel, swanky place walking through the front door hang a left past the salon to a semi circular ball.
The place is steeped in history with a curious mural painted on the wall behind the bar. Super classy so dress up.

I am a fiend for Bloody Marys. They’re probably my favorite thing to drink, for any reason and at any time of day. I’ve built travel plans around pictures of Bloody Marys – I’m a real sucker for the ones with bacon or elaborate pickles. That said, I also like a classic Bloody Mary, and when I heard the King Cole Bar was the birthplace of this hallowed cocktail, I knew I’d have to come by for a drink. This was doubly true as my husband and I were staying at the St. Regis for an anniversary getaway.
I’d already heard that the Bloody Mary was like $ 25, but that didn’t deter me. Hotel bars are always ridiculous, and we were already paying to stay at the St. Regis (in points, but still). Luckily, we got a voucher for a welcome drink when we checked in, and took that with us to halve the damage. Matt B. and I went in for a nightcap on our anniversary, which was a Monday, and had a very pleasant drink.
The venue was gorgeous – I think the King Cole encompasses both the moody dark bar with the famous mural and the plushy, opulent, purple-​and-​orange lounge finery just outside, closer to the lobby. The main bar area is the place to be. I knew what it looked like before I walked in – I think I must’ve seen it in a movie or two, but in any case, it felt quite iconic. The bar was very quiet just before midnight on a Monday, with just a few other patrons enjoying their drinks nearby. We sidled right up to the bar and ordered a round of drinks. The bartender Mike was super friendly – I formed this opinion even before he comped us both of our drinks.
The cocktails were good, not $ 25 good, but worthwhile and perfectly decent for a hotel bar. Matt got the Midtown Spice, an Old Fashioned variation made with Bulleit bourbon, apple liqueur, Canton ginger, Angostura bitters, and maraschino cherry. It was fine, nothing special, but easy enough to drink. I obviously got the Red Snapper, likely the first Bloody Mary in this country, possibly in the world. It was solid. Not amazing, I guess, but you know, this was like the Friendster of Bloody Marys and it’s survived all this time. My first sip was too strong on the vodka, but after another stir and maybe a bit of ice melt, it got pretty delicious.
We paid $ 10 total for this round (tip only – that’s 20% on what was technically $ 50 of cocktails), and that did feel like a steal. I’m not sure I’d come back too often at full price, even if I lived in New York, but I enjoyed King Cole for its ambiance and sense of history. I’d definitely recommend at least one visit, particularly if you’re into hotel bars and Bloody Marys.

Outstanding breakfast service. The restaurant portion caters to the St Regis hotel crowd. The menu is diversified and the food top notch. I like that they’re trying to be hip with a stab at flaxseed pancake, protein salads, and the like, while keeping it high-​end dining with an emphasis on very fresh ingredients and especially excellent preparation.
Silverware is all real silver, place settings are quickly removed and refreshed, and yet there’s a easy going, «would you like some juice?» vibe as well. They even have a smoothies menu, although the more popular items such as Regis French Toast are stand out. I’d also recommend the granola parfait for the health conscious crowd. This is the best stuff.

This is one of my favorite hotel bars in NYC up there with Campbell apartment and the Blue Bar at the Algonquinn hotel. The St. Regis. is steeped in history! When you enter the lobby off 55^th St., turn left until you run into the semi-​circular bar under the big mural of the king.
It’s pricey, particularly the food, I recommend the cheese plate or the crab cakes, but this is one of those places where I feel like the price is really worth it.

I LOVE the St Regis hotel chain especially the SF and NY locations.
This restaurant isn’t a good reflection of the hotel.
Two of us had dinner here on my arrival night, and I was almost frustrated with the service.
The food was good. but it was difficult to get the attention of our waiter each time we needed something.
For the price tag – I’d say go across the street to Clement or some place else nearby.

How to make a $ 25 bloody mary:
1. Call it a «red snapper» instead of «bloody mary»
2. Use a wine glass instead of a regular glass
3. Pour vodka over ice, add pre-​made mix, throw in a lemon wedge as garnish.
The bloody mary itself was good (but not spectacular). So I’ll give it a second star.

When I die, this will be my heaven. (Like I have any shot of that, ha! I’m destined for warmer climes.) But seriously, this is my favorite hotel bar in NYC and probably my favorite urban hotel bar in the US. It’s absolutely steeped in history inside the magnificent St. Regis. When you enter the lobby off 55^th St., just hang a left and keep going through the dining salon until you run into the semi-​circular bar under the big mural of the king doing something inelegant.
It’s a small, intimate space with that curved bar and several tables. I recommend it for getting a mid-​afternoon buzz going. They open at noon and stay open until late, but late afternoon starts to get very crowded. I prefer earlier when the bartenders are chatty and you’ll often have some very interesting and well-​traveled folks at the bar with you. I’ve had some great conversations there. In the afternoons, there’s really no stuffy feel at all. The last time I was there, I saw someone wearing Dockers. Horrors! Evenings do tend to be pretty dressy, as they should.
Yes, it’s expensive, particularly the food (but try the cheese plate or the crab cakes), but this is a classic bar in the heart of Manhattan with impeccable service. So turn loose of that AmEx – it’s worth it.

Met a friend near her job; ended up here bc I wanted a Bloody Mary. She asks around and someone said to go here; apparently where the Bloody Mary was born? created? When we asked the maître d’hôtel about it. he gave us a brief history and an assignment (something about looking for clues in the mural and from the sound of how the birth of the Bloody Mary came about; it kinda sounded like it was just reinterpreted, revised, tweaked but fancy hotels can’t use words like tweaked… so after one Bloody each, we ask for bill… um, 54 dollars… sigh… oh midtown, you’re too rich for me. (and bc I have been obsess with BM’s for yrs; I’d stay this one was quite unforgettable and we never did figure out the mural clue.