Harlem Bespoke: Sugar Monk by the corner of 123rd Street and FDB quietly opened over the holiday weekend and we were able to drop by the sophisticated lounge this week. There uptown does not have a lot of low-key bars with soft jazz playing in the background so the dark and sexy newcomer with a retro edge is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Velvet midnight blue banquets, smokey walls, fresh cut flowers and a huge tropical mural greets those arriving at the 40-seater which has a Deco vibe mixed in with more updated contemporary elements. Knockout cocktails are all listed within a compact leather-bound menu with crafted drinks priced within the expected mid-teen range. One of our favorite offerings for the evening was The Jesuit (pictured) which had a head of foamy egg whites and poppy seed garnish to balance off a mix of Barsol Pisco, Yellow Chartreuse with a touch of Angostura Bitters.
We do not mind spending a little extra uptown if the quality, ambiance and service is apropos and Sugar Monk definitely hits the mark. The owners who live in neighborhood have a background with downtown bars and also brought the same sensibilities to this space which used to be Serengeti Teas until that business relocated last year. Charcuterie, liver pate, artisanal cheeses and other bar bights will be arriving soon but right now it is pretty much just drinks at the destination spot currently opened form Tuesdays through Saturdays, 6:00PM-2:00AM. Read more about Sugar Monk in our past post:
LINK
HarlemBespoke.com 2019
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