The Piano Bar Takes Manhattan
It’s no secret the piano bar is back. In recent years, Gen Z seemed to zero in on what had been overlooked by Millenials for so long: the glamor of classic New York. These days, people want to reconnect with the institutions that made the city what it is today. Both Bemelmans Bar and The Plaza Hotel experienced an unexpected resurgence, heavily motivated by TikTok culture. And with that influence in mind, piano bars started popping up in unexpected places—most notably among the downtown set.
Here, we explore the city’s best.
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The Nines
With its sexy decor and red velvet curtains evoking a certain Old Hollywood glamor, this is a place that encourages you to dress the part—to The Nines. But don’t be fooled by the aesthetic nostalgia: leopard print carpets and piano covers of today’s popular hits keep your feet firmly planted in the present day, Downtown-style.
9 Great Jones St, New York; T. (212) 421-5575
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Housed at the storied Carlyle Hotel, Bemelmans Bar is, undeniably, the classic NYC piano bar. In recent times, a wave of classic New York nostalgia has driven flocks of curious 20-somethings to the bar’s sophisticated doors—only to be turned away for not meeting the dress code requirements. You may find a line at this swanky establishment, but you’ll also get a taste of the iconic.
35 E 76th St, New York; T. (212) 744-1600
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Marie’s Crisis Café
Marie’s offers yet another piece of historic NYC, albeit one without a dress code. This sometimes-raucous West Village fixture dates back to the 1850s when it was originally used as a prostitution den. By the 1890s, it was well-known as a gay bar (then referred to as a “boy bar”) and eventually purchased in the 1920s by Marie Dumont who successfully ran the place through prohibition. Today, it’s a hotspot for Broadway performers and fans alike. Oh, and the “Crisis” in the name refers to Thomas Payne’s The American Crisis. Why? Because he died in this building. Voila, NYC history at its finest.
59 Grove St, New York; T. (212) 470-6040
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The Jazz Club at Amans
Manhattan’s legendary Crown Building was built in the 1920s, otherwise known as The Jazz Age. How fitting then that The Jazz Club at Aman New York–situated in the building–should call back to its historic roots with its modern-day equivalent of a prohibition-era supper club. With a 1962 Steinway Baby Grand, The Jazz Club puts emphasis on the quality of its nightly musical performances. And with its lush decor taking inspiration from the most decadent of speakeasies, The Jazz Club is undoubtedly bringing a sense of occasion back to Midtown Manhattan.
730 5th Ave, New York; T. (212) 970-2626
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Barretto at Fasano’s
Another Midtown piano bar, Barretto at Fasano’s takes its cues from a time when a glamorous night on the town was invariably accompanied by piano music. Calling back to the 1950s with its earthy decor and Frank Sinatra covers, you’ll find yourself in a luscious time capsule—one with sumptuous velvet booths and delectable Northern Italian dishes.
60 E 49th St, New York; T. (646) 869-5400
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And, yes, our very own Club Room also features live piano music. While the Old New York resurgence may be a bit of a breakthrough for some, we’ve always believed in blending the old with the new. Whether it be our gilded art deco-inspired bar or the iconic Terry O’Neill photography lining the walls, you’ll find retro touches alongside downtown grandeur wherever you might look. And while our sultry jazz nights capture that retro opulence, if you stay long enough you might even find vinyl DJs spinning disco. Either way, there is sure to be some dancing involved.
310 W Broadway, New York; T. (212) 965-3588
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Melody’s
Maybe it’s the off-the-beaten-path Upper East Side location—or maybe it’s the original tile flooring leftover from the shuttered Lexington Bar and Books—but Melody’s manages to retain a certain Old New York quality. And that is quite the feat when you consider the Versace palm tree wallpaper lining its walls alongside art deco influences that just scream Miami. Whether it’s piano or a live jazz trio, expect music seven nights a week and find yourself transported to the Magic City—or the Big Apple of yesteryear, whatever your poison.
1020 Lexington Ave, New York; T. (646) 559-2808
WORDS Hillary Sproul