Bemelmans Bar

My favorite place in NYC. Hands down. Great music, great drinks, and covered in artwork from Ludwig Bemelmans. Had a great time. Check it out! You won’t be disappointed.

The bartenders here, I would really like to call them cocktail masters. What a big difference their expertise make! Yes, $ 20-​$ 25 per cocktail is pricey. But is it worth it? Yes, indeed.
Atmosphere: classy and jazzy. Live jazz music seems to be played almost every night. There is a $ 15 cover charge when there is a live music performance.
Drinks: honestly, just pick anything from their special cocktail list and you will be surprised. Light snacks — nuts and savory chips — come with any drink order and they refill it for you even before you ask.

It’s really a shame that you neither get what you pay for, nor does the bar live up to the ambiance. It’s a beautiful space, and the music was great but this may be one of the only places in NYC that we not only left or drinks but didn’t tip. The bar tender was incredibly rude and entitled, and wasn’t even good at bar tending. He forgot our garnishes and subsequently handed them to us in our hands. There was also a bug in my drink. Super unprofessional. After cover and drinks we paid $ 150 for disappointment. I wouldn’t recommend going for the bar. Go have a look at the art because it’s beautiful, and leave because it’s a hefty sum for disappointment.

Love the ambiance at this cozy little piano bar. Romantic, dimly lit and magical. Located in the Carlyle Hotel, Bemelmans is the perfect spot to cozy up with a date or a few good friends and take in the beautiful murals on the walls, a good cocktail and some beautiful piano music.
Great fruity cocktails, I loved the «whiskey smash» — delicious and strong. The piano player played old classics, Sinatra, Ella, etc. Murals on the walls are from the Madeline books. The crowd is a well-​behaved slightly older crowd earlier in the evening. We had no trouble getting a table at 6 pm on a Saturday evening. I recommend going earlier to avoid cover and to easily get a table. Better for smaller groups of 2 – 4, limited seating. The place is a lot smaller in person. A tad pricey, but well worth a visit.

What can be wrong with a bar that is surrounded by Ludwig Bemelmen’s precious Madeline illustrations? Not a thing! It’s convivial, great complimentary snacks, fine drinks, and the illustrations all around you, on the walls, little table lamps, behind the bar. And seeing that it’s located in Hotel Carlyle, one meets some very interesting and friendly people.

If you’re on the hunt for a hotel bar with live music, this is definitely the first place you should check out. Perhaps I’m just an old soul, but I absolutely adored the dimly lit room with a three-​piece band serenading us in classics. Drinks were great, but I have to point out the incredibly slow service. I promise I don’t drink quickly enough to usually be whiny about not getting a drink as soon as I finish the one I have… but I was empty handed for a little too long on a Friday night.

Murky! The drinks were great but, the staff stuffy. Lacking in hospitality and friendly service, which makes this place way overpriced. Kind of loud atmosphere; this was before the live music started. Not worth the price. The waiter took the table condiments as if to refill them: nuts, chips and crackers: then never returned. Way overpriced when lacking in attention to detail. Sorry will not be a patron.

We go to Bemelman’s regularly. Always a fun evening with great jazz music and great service. Carlos, the manager, is great and always finds us a nice table. The music is always first rate, and its an iconic NYC destination that always retains its charm and appeal.

Bemelman’s Bar is located at the Carlyle Hotel, just across from Café Carlyle. There is piano/​jazz music nightly, without a cover until after 9 pm most nights.
Limited menu (very expensive, though) and a full bar menu. In the evenings, the crowd generally is older, as the music is mostly old standards.
Afternoon tea is a must for young daughters. Murals on the wall were done by Ludwig Bemelman, who also drew the Madeline books.

I hate to have to say it, but this was one of the worst experiences I have ever had in all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world. So sad to have had such an experience in one of Manhattan’s historic, classic bars. Miserable experience. The server did not even bring out the drink I ordered. But to his credit, he was one man trying to serve a room of approximately 30 people. Obviously a major problem with the management. Ludwig Bemelman would be disappointed that his legacy is represented in such a dishonorable way.

Can give you a sticker shock if you’re not prepared to pay $ for cover and more $ for their drinks. The ambiance is slightly old world but elegant. Service is good and looks exclusive with their white tux and black bowtie. The music is fine IF you’re there for the music.
We were there on a Tuesday before 10pm. $ 25/​person was the cover. I had a whiskey smash, which was a big size and tasted good but not amazing; and the other two had a straight scotch and a bourbon. The nuts and chips were fresh and delicious and plenty. But $ 152 check ($ 182 w/​tip) for 3 drinks was a bit of a sticker shock. After all, we were there for drinks and to have a comfortable place to talk instead of enjoying the music; but it was our fault. I think I saw tourists having their ‘special night out,’ which this place would be great for.

Live jazz, great craft cocktails, fun wallpapers, attentive service. What more could you ask for?
As a hobby musician myself, I personally enjoy when I get to not only hear live music performance but also see the sheer enthusiasm on the faces of the pianist, violinist and the rest of the band. You don’t need your phone, or TV– these guys will keep you amused.
The main bar area can get a tiny bit crowded, but it’s not any worse than most dive-​y, dimly lit jazz bars in Europe, for example.
It’s a blast coming here, and although my boyfriend and I probably bring down the mean age of the patrons, it’s a spot we enjoy quite a bit!

I mean — five stars if you want to be around trashy wasted entitled people. Not only do you feel like you are at an expensive dive bar, but the bartenders act just as entitled as the patrons. We asked our bartender several times for a drink without receiving. Perhaps we looked younger than the average age here, which is about 68, but trust me, we would have stayed and spent our money if you treated us equally.
Also — the bar is a hot mess. Chairs are everywhere, the back bar is untidy and the suits that the bartenders wear need to be tailored. No thanks — I’ll patron a bar where I can buy a $ 24 cocktail from a nice bartender and where the guests are calm, reserved and not falling over their own feet.

Bemelmans brings to mind old school NY contemporaries like the Monkey Bar and Russian Tea Room, but mostly for unflattering reasons. Specifically this is the sort of place that’s getting a pass on clout, along with how beautiful the bar itself is.
Unfortunately the cocktails are also middling and aggressively overpriced. Not that most of Bemelmans patrons would notice or care, considering they tend to skew toward the wealthy, older sect. I’m not sure how else you could explain a $ 23 drink featuring Stoli Raspberry vodka and Southern freakin’ comfort of all things. Come for the ambience, but leave for better drinks.

This place has everything a classy bar is all about – patrons that know HOW to dress, perfect martinis, an array of talented performers and the proper provenance of the incredible space that it is. Did I mention it’s so New York City? I love it !!

Perfect ambience, fantastic cocktails and food. If you want to impress the pants off your date, this is the place. But, try to keep the pants on. At least, until you get home.

The drinks and food are expensive and not terribly good, but everything else is about as good as it could possibly be. My girlfriend and I come here just about every time we’re in New York, because nothing in the city feels more timelessly, effortlessly, authentically sophisticated. If that’s what you’re looking for, this is the place.
The music is consistently great. Chris Gillespie and Champian Fulton in particular stand out for their chops and charm.

Bemelmans Bar is absolutely perfect. It is exactly what it is supposed to be. Properly made drinks, well heeled crowed, good jazz music. Some people complain it is pricey. If it is too pricey for you maybe reconsider having a drink at the Carlyle hotel.
Just go and enjoy.

Dim golden light, charming Ludwig Bemelmans murals, old-​school bartenders, purrfect cocktails, dangerous liaisons on comfy banquettes, and a cool jazz pianist… «‘S wonderful, ‘s mahvahlous…‘s awful nice, ‘s paradise, ‘s what I love to see…» It’s the tops, it’s the fat cat’s plush pajamas.

I’ve had the classiest, most fantastic date night here. This is old New York at its finest. We danced by the entrance after a night of live jazz. I passed by the Carlyle today and reminisced. Must go back soon. So very lovely… magic. If you’d like to charm, it’s worth the splurge.

I came here with my girlfriend for drinks in the afternoon. The interesting thing about this bar is that Ludwig Bemelmans was commissioned to decorate the wallpaper, lamps, etc. He was the illustrator of the Madeline children’s books, and it is a very unique touch to the bar. The service was nice, and they brought over really tasty snack nuts. It is definitely an old school bar, with clientele that skews older, and it definitely feels a little stiff.
This is a hotel bar, and like most hotel bars, they are overly expensive and don’t make very good drinks. There are so many other great cocktail bars in the city (a la Little Branch, Attaboy), but these drinks I imagine are intended for businessmen expensing their cocktails on the company tab, and appreciate the convenience of a decent bar in the hotel.

Exceptional! Bemelmans is the Carlyle Hotel’s sophisticated, upscale piano bar, decorated with Ludwig Bemelmans’ famed murals from the classic Madeline children’s books. Bemelmans is described as «timeless,» and I think no word could describe it better. Staff and service are exceptional! The nightly music is soothing. The décor is an Art Deco dream with ‘chocolate-​brown leather banquettes, nickel-​trimmed black glass tabletops, a dramatic black granite bar and a 24-​karat gold leaf-​covered ceiling.’ The bar menu is just right, and, I think reasonably priced for what you experience here. There really isn’t a place like this in NY — maybe in Europe. You feel like you’re in a classy Hollywood classic when people actually made an effort to dress up. The manager gave me a tour of Bemelmans and the hotel, and was warm and welcoming. The server and bartender were professional and polite. Food was great. Live jazz was a treat.

Jazz, drinks, beautiful crowd! That what my soul needed! Me and my boyfriend fell in love with this place. Spent our anniversary here)))

A truly lovely bar that feels very old New York. And I can’t say good enough things about the host… my girlfriend and I came in last night (10÷23÷15, our first time) and he made sure we felt welcomed and got us a table almost immediately. We had two more girlfriends joining, so he invited us to larger table when it opened up, so we would have more space and be more comfortable. I was so impressed!
So often in NYC, if you’re not rich or a celebrity, the hosts (hostesses) make you feel like you don’t belong. He couldn’t have been more different. We felt like the most important people in the room. (We weren’t, ha!) I would love to come back often and enjoy a delicious cocktail.

Bold statement: one of the best martinis we have ever had. I went with the Cosmo and hubby went with Ketel One straight up.
First, I don’t usually order the Cosmo because I don’t like sweet drinks. This Cosmo tasted so perfect, lots of flavor and not sweet. Perfectly made and the extra sits in a mini carafe on the side gently resting over ice.
Ordered half dozen Long Island oysters. Delicious! Highly recommend them.
Then the piano player started, perfect experience for Friday happy hour.
Tip: We arrived right before 5 so we snagged a sweet spot at the bar. It got very busy and we were sitting pretty with a view of the bartenders, piano player and plenty of people watching available.
Service: the bar service is amazing. Friendly, personable, they were busy but never appeared stressed out. They made excellent drinks & fast.
Check out the murals on the wall. They are originals from Ludwig Bemelmans. Very cool. He painted the murals on the walls in exchange for free nights at the Carlyle.
To find the bar, go inside the hotel turn left in hallway, go up stairs to find bar. They also have plenty of seating and couches too.
One more thing, all this comes at a price and worth every penny!

Must go!!!
The classiest bar I have ever been to in the seediest sort of way.
Nobody there are what they seem. My personal favorite was the guy in the expensive suit, ordering CRAZY Expensive martinis… with a flip phone… wait, that’s not a flip phone, it’s a burner phone… here comes his mistress!
The Cole Porter themed band was amazing.
We’re not New Yorkers, but if you want to imagine the big city night life I high style, you must go here!

My boyfriend and I went to Bemelmans a few months ago for afternoon drinks. Hidden in the Carlyle Hotel, Bemelmans is a beautiful bar; however, I don’t foresee us going again anytime soon.
The bar was adorned with works of Ludwig Bemelmans, illustrator of the Madeline series, which was lovely. While I appreciated the thoughtful touches of the room, I left unimpressed by the cocktails we received. The drinks were expensive — I believe each cocktail will set you back $ 25. They were good, but otherwise unmemorable. While I’m happy to shell out some money for a good cocktail, $ 25 for an average cocktail felt like a disservice.
I would recommend this spot for a first date or a place to grab one (yes, ONE) drink, but I wouldn’t center a whole night or a second outing there.

If you want an Upper East Side experience, you’ve got to come to Bemelmans Bar for jazz night. It has an affluent vibe without being snooty and the live music here is just on point. We were here on a Thursday night to hear/​see the Chris Gillespie Trio, and they did not disappoint. Chris Gillespie’s Sinatra-​esque crooner style and virtuosic piano playing combined with the guitarist’s killer improvs and the upright bassist’s solid and playful walking bass lines were just phenomenal. As other reviewers have pointed out, yes the prices are steep. Drinks are a bit under $ 30 (but very strong), the cover on a Thursday night was $ 25/​person, and let’s not even talk about the food prices (I think $ 40 for a salad?). But just go for the music, the ambiance, and grab a drink (or two). Make sure you go when there’s live jazz, because that’s the best experience.
Personally, another reason I loved the place was because of the history. As a longtime fan of the children’s books «Madeline,» I reveled in the fact that «Madeline» author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans, a frequent patron of the bar’s hotel, actually painted the murals that envelop you in the bar, transporting you to the romance of the roaring 20’s Art Deco scene. You can even spot Miss Clavel and the 12 girls on one of the walls. Truly a gem, to be able to be surrounded by Bemelman’s only surviving commission open to the public.
Apparently, Bemelmans is a place to see and be seen, as socialites, politicians, and celebrities such as Woody Allen are frequently spotted. But Bemelmans can be intimate and exciting, good for two or for a small group. If you’re there for the live jazz, don’t expect to carry on conversations with larger groups of people. Anyways, if nothing else, the atmosphere and the live music combine to provide a magical experience and I will definitely be back.
As the Chris Gillespie Trio guitarist told me on his way out, «make it a bad habit». And you know I will.

I was in the area for some window shopping and had some time to kill. Most of the reviews were great and I felt like having a drink at a classic NY bar, so I stopped in. I ordered a Cosmo and sat at the bar. The Cosmo was kind of small-​they only filled my glass ¹⁄₃ of the way and gave me a small glass on ice with the rest of it so it stays cool. I poured in the remainder and it didn’t even fill my cup to the top!
The bartender was fine but standoffish. It was certainly dim and dark but did not seem interesting or special. The drink itself tasted mediocre. I stayed for 45 minutes, had a drink and then a $ 23 tab plus tip for one undersized mediocre Cosmo! I guess overall I’m glad I checked it out and know I will probably not be back anytime soon.

How lucky for my boyfriend and myself that we live just blocks away from the iconic Bemelman’s Bar located in the Carlyle Hotel. We go on average once every 4 – 8 weeks.
Upon entering you are transported back in time when cocktail lounges ruled. Fabulous drinks, a piano player and great snacks and light bites. if you arrive before 8pm, there is no cover charge.
Our favorite time is around 5:30−6 when you can score a table, enjoy the music and cocktails with no one rushing you out.
It does get crowded and is a very intimate space so after a day touring, shopping or just after a hard day’s work, this is an iconic place to spend a few hours relaxing.

We went here twice on our NY trip. The lady bartender who looks like Anna gastayer was 1000 times better than they black gentleman who took car of us the other time. Classic décor great snacks good bartender. Depending on who you get. Nice to be able to drink at noon, great food &tunes after 5:30.
Pricey but nicey

This review is only for drinks as I did not have the opportunity to sample their menu.
Bemelmans Bar has a lot of history and is an icon of New York City. Located in the Carlyle Hotel on the UES, it’s a bit of out of the way from my usual stomping grounds so it’s taken me awhile to make my first visit.
The bar is dark and fairly intimate. There are booths along the walls, small tables and seats along the bar. The walls and lamp shades are covered by artwork from Ludwig Bemelmans, the author of the Madeline books. The artwork is beautiful and a close examination of the scene behind my booth revealed some interesting displays of daily life in Central Park.
My friend and I both ordered cocktails from their menu and were served a trio of salty nibbles to snack on. The cocktails are expensive and really strong. Our waiter was attentive and friendly and kindly kept refilling our water glasses (did I mention that the drinks were strong?).
The crowd consisted of locals with a few tourists sprinkled in. We saw people both young and old on that Friday afternoon during Happy Hour. All patrons were well dressed and well mannered. A gentlemen came in to play classic tunes on the piano. Unfortunately, the chatter in the room was really loud and no one seemed to be paying any attention to the live music, which was a shame as he was quite good. There is live jazz later in the evening, which comes with a cover charge.

Sure, the prices are steep, but you really are getting a lot out of the experience.
Picture a quintessential dark, Manhattan bar filled with all walks on New York life — from classy and stoic to funky and fresh. This bar welcomes all but remains that timeless class act that the Upper East Side is known for. With the cocktail waiters donned in white dinner jackets and a featured piano musical act each night — it’s no wonder Bemelman’s seems to be a New York staple.
The people watching is, indeed, a reason to visit, but what I found the most memorable were the ‘Madeline’ illustrations adorning every inch of the walls. The dimly lit room only illuminated by candlelight creates a warm and romantic glow upon the illustrations. As if you aren’t meant to see them, but merely stumbled upon them. There are tiny stories being told throughout the ongoing mural that makes it hard not to get lost in the whimsy.
And the plus side of ordering a $ 19 martini? The extra vodka they give you on the side to freshen your drink. It’s essentially two martinis at a reasonable price. This is definitely going down as one of my favorites… and not just for New York.

Great little bar. Bring a special friend. Out of the way on East 76^th Street in the Carlyle Hotel. It is not a bar for a business meeting.
BTW, use the entrance on Madison rather than going thru the main lobby of the Carlyle.

Ein Sprung in die späten 60er, frühen 70er Jahre.
Ältere Herren mit knapp sitzenden weißen Kellnerjacken tragen schnaufend Drinks mit antiquierter Grandezza an die Tische, servieren Häppchen und auch kostenlose Knabberschälchen und plaudern mit einem gereiften Publikum.
Der Raum ist dekoriert mit alten Zeichnungen aus dem Central Park für die Kinderbücher von Ludwig Bemelman aus der Zeit um 1947 herum. Es wird Live-​Jazz gespielt. Die Atmosphäre ist eine großartige Zeitreise.
Eine drittel Seite des Drink Menu ist dem Vesper Martini mit Bond Zitaten aus Ian Flemings «Casino Royale» gewidmet, der den Mixologen (ein Brian van Flandern hat die Karte unterzeichnet) am meisten am Herzen liegt. Was soll man also bestellen? Mein Vorschlag: Wein!
Der Vesper Martini war sowas von warm. Zwei Versuche der Reklamation brachten die souverän nickenden Barmanschen dazu, Eiswürfel in das Martini-​Glas zu geben. Für einen derart verwässerten Martini möchte ich keine 19 Dollar zahlen. Niemals. (Plus NYC Tax, versteht sich.)
Der Raum mit seiner Atmosphäre ist bemerkenswert. Einen Cocktail würde ich nicht mehr bestellen.