New York | Drank 8 Cocktails and Still Didn't Want to Leave 🫠
📍 Bar Contra - Where every cocktail is ridiculously good We originally went in with the plan to *"have some bites and a couple drinks"*—after all, this spot used to be Michelin-starred Contra in the Lower East Side, so expectations were high. But the moment the first round of drinks arrived, who even cared about food? 😂 We had EIGHT drinks between two people —started at our table, got *"politely relocated"* to the bar, and kept going. Not a single miss all night 👇 - Saltair 🍒 *Salty plum but in the most delicate way*, served with a tiny beer—an unexpectedly perfect combo. - Piscola 🥤 *Smooth with a hint of bitterness*—like a "serious but fun" short drink. - Fantasy Island � Tastes like *strawberry jam sneaked in some tomato juice* with a whisper of smoke—weird but addictive . - R&D rye whiskey + damson plum 🍸 The *fruit sweetness tames the whiskey's spice*—one sip and we were nodding in approval. - Candarin Orange 🍊 A *floral, tequila-based martini*—bright, clean, and dangerously easy to drink. - SLY Stone 🥃 I ordered this, and after one taste, my friend said: *"I’m getting another."* *Salty, citrusy, lightly fermented*—the kind of drink that makes you want to cancel your plans and stay forever . - The Dropoff 🥂 By this round, we’d been *"encouraged"* to move to the bar. Friend reordered SLY Stone; I tried this crisp finisher. 🍽 Food Notes We tried the *prawns, wings, tomatoes, and mushroom tart*—dishes looked creative but tasted *"almost there?"* Only standout: The Potato Ice Cream Sundae (sounds weird, tastes *magical*). *Creamy potato ice cream + blueberry jam*—light, subtly sweet, and the happiest bite of the night . Honest take? Should’ve grabbed a *$10 Spicy Village hand-pulled noodle bowl* in Chinatown first, then spent *all our money here on drinks*. 📍 Fun Fact: Bar Contra’s cocktail program is led by Dave Arnold (yes, the *Liquid Intelligence* legend). No wonder every drink felt like a *masterclass*. ✅ Final Verdict Bar Contra isn’t where you go to *eat*—it’s where you go to drink stupidly well . The kind of night where the *bartenders are geniuses* and the *chef might’ve called in sick*. Left grinning like fools, slurring: *"Every. Single. Drink."* #VibeBar #HiddenGems #CocktailLover #NYCBars #OneMoreRound