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Drinks Upper East Side, Midtown Manhattan

Bemelmans Bar

A place for a drink in Upper East Side, Midtown Manhattan, pricey ($$$) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Late evening.

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Bemelmans Bar in Upper East Side, Midtown Manhattan
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Why go

Piano bar in the Carlyle hotel, with murals by Madeline author Ludwig Bemelmans and live music every night.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Midtown Manhattan, alongside 3 places to eat, 3 sights and 1 activity. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Bemelmans Bar and Sant Ambroeus Madison Avenue.

Type
Drinks · Nightlife
Neighborhood
Upper East Side
Price
$$$
Time needed
1.5 hr
Best time
Late evening

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 5 beyond Midtown Manhattan. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Bemelmans Bar

    Old-school piano bar in The Carlyle with murals by Ludwig Bemelmans.

    Drinks · Museum Mile · 0.0 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Sant Ambroeus Madison Avenue

    Milanese cafe for espresso and pastries a few blocks from the Met.

    Drinks · Museum Mile · 0.1 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    The Metropolitan Museum of Art

    Five thousand years of art; the Temple of Dendur and the Roof Garden are standout stops.

    Sight · Museum Mile · 0.3 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    The Metropolitan Museum of Art

    Vast art museum on Central Park; the rooftop garden opens in summer.

    Sight · New York City · 0.3 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Bethesda Terrace

    Carved arcade and fountain at the heart of Central Park, a calm start before Midtown crowds.

    Outdoors · Manhattan · 0.4 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Central Park Midnight Run fireworks

    Fireworks over Central Park at midnight start the New York Road Runners' four-mile Midnight Run.

    Sight · 0.4 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Bemelmans Bar is a stop on our New York New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Midtown Manhattan

Bemelmans Bar is our only drinks pick in Midtown Manhattan; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Midtown Manhattan guide.

When to go: weather by month, based on New York City

Our climate figures for Midtown Manhattan come from nearby New York City. Average daily highs in New York City run from 38°F in January to 79°F in July; December is usually the wettest month. For Bemelmans Bar itself, we suggest: Late evening.

Modelled monthly averages for New York City from NASA POWER, not a forecast. New York City weather by month (covers Midtown Manhattan).

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Bemelmans Bar, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
40.77445, -73.96307
Destination
Midtown Manhattan, New York

Bemelmans Bar: quick answers

How much time do you need at Bemelmans Bar?

Plan on about 1.5 hours at Bemelmans Bar. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Bemelmans Bar?

Our pick: Late evening. Insider tip: Expect a cover charge once the music starts.

Which TripsCircle routes include Bemelmans Bar?

Bemelmans Bar appears on New York New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Bemelmans Bar to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Midtown Manhattan.

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Also in Midtown Manhattan

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.