Ophelia: a lounge at the top of the Beekman Tower
A 1928 tower on the East River
In the small residential enclave of Beekman, at the corner of 49th Street and First Avenue, the Beekman Tower opened in 1928 as the Panhellenic Tower. Its 26th floor is now home to Ophelia, a lounge with carefully styled decor: black-and-white checkerboard floors, midnight-blue walls, velvet banquettes and, behind the bar, tall cathedral-style windows.
A narrow terrace, also tiled in a checkerboard pattern, runs along the facade and overlooks the East River, Roosevelt Island and the Queensboro Bridge, with Long Island City on the opposite shore. Inside, the windows frame the towers of Midtown East. It's more a place for conversation than for partying.
Signature cocktails and special packages
Signature cocktails run about $22 to $24, like the Far East Side (shiso shochu, gin, yuzu, yellow Chartreuse) or the El Paso Old Fashioned, which blends rum and tequila. Monday through Friday, from 5pm to 7pm, “Social Hour” brings $15 classics and $10 bites at the bar. Ophelia also serves a $60 three-course dinner, a date-night package with champagne, and a guided tasting of seven mini cocktails paired with bites. Packages are available for groups and companies.
Practical information
Ophelia is open Monday through Wednesday from 5pm to 11pm, Thursday from 5pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 2am, and Sunday from noon to 11pm. Reservations can be made online. Take the 6 train to 51st Street or the E or M train to Lexington Avenue–53rd Street, then walk about ten minutes east.
