This article was updated on October 29, 2025.
The King Cole Bar in NYC is one of my favorite haunts.
The King Cole Bar in The St. Regis New York might be one of the most beautiful bars in New York City, if not the world. Since Manhattan has few of these legendary haunts remaining, when I have a chance to stop by one for an evening, I can’t resist.
If you’re at all curious about this storied tavern and think you might like to indulge yourself, here’s what you should know as well as some King Cole Bar photos.
{My hotel picks in the Times Square area}
The King Cole Bar is not inexpensive….
Let’s get one thing straight –– the King Cole Bar is not a drinking establishment that you frequent every week (unless, of course, you have unlimited resources). I like to think of it as a special occasion place because it is very classy and very expensive, but it’s a one-of-a-kind spot in the St. Regis New York, so expect an exceptional experience.
{Experience The St. Regis New York, if only for one night}
If you live in NYC, you know how crucial it is to stick to a budget. And if you’re visiting, you don’t want to spend all your vacation money in one night out on the town. I recommend stopping by the King Cole for a pre-dinner cocktail, or an after-dinner drink since the bar opens at 4 p.m. and stays open until 11 p.m. seven nights a week.
{Looking for the perfect travel tote and city bag rolled into one?
I love my Le Pliage.}
You can drink awesome cocktails….
Now, speaking of cocktails –– what should you drink? The King Cole Bar mixes specialty cocktails as well as the classics. The barmen also pour some lovely wines and there’s a Champagne list. Beer drinkers also have options.
If you like a pretty cocktail, go with the “Jazz Me Blues,” (Stolichnaya raspberry vodka, St-Germain and Prosecco).
Or, if you take your drinking seriously, try “The Business,” (Bombay Sapphire, fresh lime, honey).
And a timeless drink such as a Manhattan or Martini is almost never a bad idea. Because I was going to drink wine for dinner, I kept things simple and went with a glass of Sancerre. :)
And now, about that Bloody Mary….
I must mention the King Cole Bar’s signature cocktail––the drink that has made the salon so well known. In 1934, bartender Fernand Petiot refined the vodka and tomato juice beverage and named it “The Bloody Mary.” That name wasn’t appropriate for the upscale clientele, so the drink was renamed “The Red Snapper.” Apparently, that name didn’t stand the test of time like the original, but the drink did. If you’ve ever wondered about the history of the famed brunch libation that we know today, there you have it.
Needless to say, the King Cole Bar has a selection of Bloody Marys to choose from, and St. Regis Hotels around the world continue to feature this signature cocktail on their bar menus.
The King Cole Bar has an amazing atmosphere….
The seating is comfortable, the vibe is chic and somewhat subdued (depending on the crowd, of course), and the bar snacks are fantastic. Few bars put out snacks any longer, but the King Cole does, and they do them well. And with the Maxfield Parrish mural decorating the bar wall, you immediately feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Fun fact: The Old King Cole mural contains a secret that The St. Regis bartenders know and can tell you, so be sure to ask when you stop by the bar.
Plus, the bar is open to the hotel, so you get to see all that loveliness as well.
The rules….
No minors are permitted at the bar after 5 p.m. Obviously, this bar caters to an adult crowd, so if you have children or teenagers, you won’t be able to sit with them at the bar like you can in a lot of other NYC drinking dens.
The King Cole is a sophisticated place and the hotel wants to keep it that way. Leave the shorts, t-shirts, and athletic wear at home. Dress business casual (nice jeans should be okay), or better yet a pair of nice pants and a crisp shirt for the guys, and something fashionable for the ladies. Don’t be surprised if you see black tie in this bar, but you’ll also see people dressed casually.
The bar does not accept reservations.
Read it and weep….
How much will a stop in this bar set you back? The specialty cocktails range from $30 to $90 for Caroline’s Whisper with Belvedere 10 and Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, (yes $90, not a typo!), beers start at $15, and glasses of wine are from $25. A glass of Champagne ranges from $62-$70.
Yes, it’s a one-drink kind of place, but if you sip and savor, take in the history and think about all that’s transpired in that room over the years, then you might be able to justify the steep prices….
Have fun at the King Cole Bar….
Don’t think because the bar is upscale that you can’t let a little loose and have fun. You can! Savor this slice of Old New York and enjoy every minute.
King Cole Bar
2 E 55th St
New York, NY 10022
Also on my New York blog: great bars near Times Square.
Plus on my lifestyle and travel blog: white wine. And incredible rosé.
For a splurge, I recommend spending a night or two at The St. Regis New York.
TIP: Heading to New York but not sure where to begin? I recommend starting with a tour.
David Martinous says
I’m David Martinous, my wife name is Cynthia, We came to New York 43 years ago not properly dress, we we there for our honeymoon. We promised ourselves that some day we would return probably dresses. So, this Saturday night we would like to drop in properly dresses. Hope to see you around 7 to 7:30 pm.
Tracy Kaler says
Hi David,
Have a fabulous time at the King Cole Bar. It’s one of my favorites!
Hugh says
My grandparents would stay at the St. Regis when visiting from North Carolina. I had my first eggs benedict as a kid in The King Cole Room, as my grandfather explained to me why the King’s men and jesters are holding their fingers to their noses in the Maxfield Parrish mural.
The last time they came would have been Christmas 1982 when I was 18, because I remember driving into the City from our home in Montclair, NJ to pick them up.
Back around 1994 I took a date to Lespinasse, Gray Kunz’s fine dining establishment at the St. Regis, wight after Ruth Reichl gave it a 4th star in the NY Times..
I have been a couple of times maybe in the last 20 years for a cocktail, and once stopped in just to use the hotel restroom.. My drinking buddy Carlos (often found enjoying a pint at City Swiggers) is one of the chefs/cooks in the current kitchen.
Just to bring it full circle, my mother, now a widow and living in the City,, is looking to downsize and I recently looked at an apartment for her at 136 E. 55th Street, just off Lex. As I walked west afterwards there was the St. Regis and the King Cole Bar, about a block away. I hope mom likes that apartment. I can have a cocktail when I visit.
Tracy Kaler says
Hi Hugh,
Wow that’s quite a history with that bar. There’s probably plenty of stories like yours.
The King Cole Bar is one of New York’s jewels. And the cocktails are strong. :)
Cheers!
Hugh says
Thank you for bringing back the memories.. Looks like it’s still going strong. Nice blog!
George McNiff says
We can never get a seat at the bar, even though staying at the hotel 😔
Mike James says
Gee, too bad. One New Years in the early ’90’s we came into Manhattan for a dinner at one of Reichl’s favorite restaurants–forget the name. On the spur of the moment we decided to have a pre-dinner drink at King Cole. Walked in. Sat at the bar. No problem.!
Tracy Kaler says
Hi Mike,
You might be able to walk in on weeknights and early in the evening. It’s hit or miss.
The good news is there are other hotel bars nearby. While they might not be as storied as the King Cole Bar, they still pour a good drink!
You might try The Bar at Clement in The Peninsula or The Grand Salon in Baccarat Hotel. I also love The Whitby Bar in The Whitby Hotel for a touch of Britain in NYC.
KENNETH KEOWN says
Way back in the mid 60’s you could imbibe at age 18 in NYC. As a college student at the time, this was my favorite place to hang out in the City.