BEST NEW LOUNGE 2019: SUGAR MONK ON FDB

Harlem Bespoke:  Heading towards the last few weeks of 2019, HB will be reviewing some of the best Harlem has to offer for the year.  There has been an uptick in new openings this year and those establishments did shine with overall concept, design, quality of offerings and service.  Places to grab a cool drink at night has always been part of Harlem's history and the next up is Best New Lounge 2019:

It is no secret that uptowners for decades have gone downtown to get a fancy bite or cocktail at higher prices and have mentioned that they would spend the same locally if similar establishments existed north of 110th Street.  That sentiment has pretty much changed in the past decades since higher end spots have been proliferating locally and even become leaders within the New York City dining scene.  Crafted cocktails is a word that has been loosely thrown around but back in 2016, a little spot call ROKC in Hamilton Height garnered national attention with exotically infused drinks that were literally fire or emanated smokey ambiance to delighted guests.

Most of the hip new lounges or bars nowadays that have taken after ROKC's lead in the artisanal cocktail trend tend to feel less grown-up even though the prices are extremely mature.  With that said, Sugar Monk on FDB by 123rd Street started something new in Spring of 2019 when a sophisticated lounge was introduced with a dramatic tropical mural making visual splash as a backdrop along with soft music in the background.  We especially enjoy that the new address on 8th Avenue has a no standing policy so all guests either have a spot at the bar or seated within one of the rich Art Deco velvet chairs that furnish the well appointed interior.

The fancy drinks are at the same level as ROKC and are worth the price but both of these bars tend have guests waiting in lines especially on busy weekends.  Sugar Monk often have folks waiting outside if all the seats are taken so be prepared if you want to venture out on a cold Friday or Saturday night.  A nondescript door out front has a buzzer to ring to get in and if there is room, arriving guests will be either told to to come in quickly or that there is a wait.  We prefer going earlier in the week and before 9:00PM to get in quickly and soak in the soft ambiance within that feels more like a trip to Paris then a speakeasy in Upper Manhattan.   Read more about the arrival of Sugar Monk in our past post: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019