One of the Country’s Most Glamorous Bars Gets a Face Lift Without Losing Its Iconic, 90-Year Appeal

In a city renowned for its historic watering holes, King Cole Bar is perhaps the most fabled of them all. Since the early 20th century, this moody den at the edge of the St. Regis lobby has lured in some of New York City’s stateliest socialites. 

Perhaps it’s the hypnotizing Maxfield Parrish mural that lords over the back of the cozy 10-seat bar. Maybe it’s the mahogany-ensconced intimacy that reverberates the din of consequential Midtown gossip. Most likely, it’s the venerated Bloody Mary, which was conceived here in 1934.

Whatever the reason for its enduring appeal, King Cole has hosted A-listers from Salvador Dali and Marilyn Monroe to John Lennon. It’s also been the backdrop for scores of films and hit TV shows. If these walls could talk, you wouldn’t get a word in edgewise.

“King Cole is a time machine to a more glamorous era, assuming your time machine runs on $30 cocktails and a bit of swagger,” says Ewan Morgan, head of whisky outreach for Diageo and a longtime frequenter of the bar. “This is where nostalgia and luxury collide, with just enough pretension to remind you that you’re paying Manhattan prices for history.”

But this isn’t a place that rests on its laurels. Nor is its management content to focus all the bar’s attention on the classic cocktail that it made world-famous. In September, King Cole reopened after an eight-month renovation. The menu now includes modernized specialties alongside the time-tested signatures. You’re just as likely to find a patron enjoying a Vodka Soda infused with fresh strawberries and lemongrass as you are to see someone sip the beloved Red Snapper. 

Martinis and Manhattans are on regular rotation here — preferred up, by upstanding connoisseurs. In other words, you won’t feel left out if you happen to oppose tomato juice in your tipple. 

The bar’s signature Martini variation, the Old King Cole, is perhaps its most popular offering with in-the-know locals. It’s a sophisticated mix of Tanqueray gin, Martini Rosso vermouth, and amaro, topped with a burnt orange peel. “Slightly bitter, slightly sweet, and entirely appropriate for a room where your Martini feels like it’s being watched by centuries of aristocratic ghosts,” says Morgan.

It all arrives in a more vibe-filled interior, reimagined by Champalimaud Design, a New York City-based design firm with extensive experience in luxury hotels. 

The carpeting is now a darker midnight blue, and the seating is upholstered in plump purple velvet that dials up the closeness and yet preserves the classical tinge of the space. A glass entry was expanded from the adjoining lobby that affords an even more striking glimpse of the bar’s namesake monarch, painted sternly atop his throne.

“The new interior is elegant and comfortably plush,” says Battle Clayton, an interior designer and cocktail fan based in New York City. “Their use of lighting enhances dramatic ambiance and perfectly showcases the iconic mural. It’s the perfect place to spill your business, not your drinks.”

And at least some of that chatter is likely to land in the New York Post’s infamous Page Six, considering the clientele King Cole continues to attract. According to Morgan, those prized patrons might now feel more at home than ever before. 

“Post-renovation, the place is even more polished,” he says. “Like a Hollywood star after a subtle facelift: fresher but still unmistakably iconic.”

To uncover the best food and drink experiences for travelers, Food & Wine polled over 400 chefs, travel experts, food and travel writers, and wine pros from across the globe for their top culinary travel experiences. We then turned the results over to our Global Advisory Board, who ranked the top nominees in each category. For the full list of all 165 winners, visit foodandwine.com/globaltastemakers.