Black Tail
Located in the Pier A Harbor House in New York’s Battery Park City and brought to you by the makers of Dead Rabbit, Grocery and Grog (also in Lower Manhattan), is Black Tail, a Cuban-esque restaurant and bar inspired by the days of Prohibition when privileged Americans would flee the United States and jet set to Cuba for the weekend in pursuit of drinking pleasures.
Enter the downstairs lobby of this venue and immediately transport to a speakeasy era when access was not always granted, but the promise of a good time was worth the gamble. Once vetted, ascend a stairwell lined with nostalgic black and white photographs evocative of Old Cuba and enter a welcoming main lounge filled with lively crowds and the sound of glasses clinking. Choose to wait for a table or sit at the bar for a more interactive experience (these bartenders can really shake a drink.) Enjoy the piano bar feels and let the leafy greens and rich, dark oak of the space begin to work their magic on you as you begin to ‘embrace the lush life.’ Imagine yourself a socialite or debutante in 1920s Cuba escaping the dry laws of the United States, if even for a few hours, and rubbing elbows with both the military and literary elite… think daiquiris, Hemingway, pearls and cigars. If you fancy a bit more privacy with your rat pack, sit in the cigar lounge (décor only; please see New York smoking laws) where you can chit chat the night away or think up the next big work of literature or revolution.
If décor is not your thing (hmm?), no worries, as there is plenty to drink and eat. Try the Pink Elephant! A bright elixir with hints of vanilla and bitters or become undone with the Handmade Woman a shy, yet robust cocktail infused with dandelion and chamomile. Whatever you do, try the Crispy Cuban Fries because it’s not really Cuba until you’ve had some yucca or plantain (mmm, starchy vegetables.)
Yep, the team behind Dead Rabbit hits another one out of the ball park. This ‘American bar with a Cuban soul’ hits all the right marks with its ability to transport you to early mid-century Cuba with the convenience of never leaving New York or going through TSA and delivering tasty eats you can snack on all night long. For many reasons, it’s no surprise Black Tail was voted best new American bar in 2017 — it’s sister establishment Dead Rabbit has been voted Best Bar in the World multiple times. It’s only natural Black Tail would follow in its footsteps. Go pay both spots a visit; indulge in the leafy green décor at Black Tail and then try the early Irish-American experience in New York at Dead Rabbit. We promise, neither place will disappoint.
