Harry's New York Bar
Berlin-Tiergarten
May 11, 2018
Sister bar to the famous Harry’s in Paris (birthplace of the Bloody Mary), this is a modern version with a Cold War twist, set in the Grand Hotel Esplanade. Opened in 1988, near the end of the freeze, the venue has mixologists building martinis under portraits of US presidents while a jazzman tinkles on the piano. Glamorous when the communist east was just over the wall, now it’s more frivolous and fun. A firm fixture on the tourist map, it’s not hard to see why: there’s a glass roofed terrace that comes into its own when the stars come out and live music most nights from 9.30 all in a stylish, contemporary setting. But let’s talk about the drinks, shall we? With over 200 choices on offer, this place caters for even the fussiest cocktail enthusiast. Why not try the Harry’s Pick Me Up, a mix of Remy Martin and Cointreau, or order off the extensive martini menu (we got to 10 and stopped counting, distracted by the idea of the delicious sounding Ginger Martini). The classics are all well-represented and well-done, but there’s plenty of originality on display too: new to the menu are the ‘Liquid Kitchen’ drinks, spiced up with culinary ingredients like paprika, pepper and rosemary. There’s also an extensive selection of spirits and champagne on offer, along with a reasonable choice of wines and beers. If you’re peckish, you can order bar snacks from the Midnight Snack menu. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the place isn’t cheap by Berlin standards, but one look at that cocktail menu and you probably won’t care.
