Bar Blondeau: the Manhattan skyline from the Wythe Hotel
A bar up high on the Williamsburg waterfront
The Wythe Hotel stands just steps from the East River in northern Williamsburg. Its top level, on the 6th floor, is home to Bar Blondeau: a room done in emerald-green tile and blond wood, with velvet banquettes and floor-to-ceiling windows facing Manhattan. Right next to it, a terrace filled with plants and shaded by striped umbrellas looks out on Midtown and the Empire State Building.
The building isn't a high-rise, but nothing gets in the way of the view of the river and the skyscrapers. At sunset, light floods the room and the skyline turns into a silhouette.
New York cocktails and French-inspired food
The cocktail menu changes with the seasons and spotlights spirits made in New York State: house martinis at around $22 to $23, cocktails from $19 to $21, natural wines and non-alcoholic drinks. Late in the day, “Sunset Hour” offers discounted cocktails. On the food side, the team from the brasserie Le Crocodile serves East Coast oysters, vegetable tempura, fried chicken or a petite steak au poivre. On Sunday afternoons, there's afternoon tea. The bar can be booked privately for groups of up to 150 people.
Practical information
Bar Blondeau is open Monday through Friday from 5pm to midnight, Saturday from 2pm to midnight and Sunday from 1pm to midnight. The outdoor terrace is seasonal and weather-dependent; the glassed-in room stays open year-round. Reservations (up to 6 people) open 28 days in advance on Resy. Subway: Bedford Avenue (L train), less than a ten-minute walk.
