Bemelmans Bar — Restaurant in New York

The decoration, the history of the artist is all I will give a positive to. The wait to get in to this bar makes the experience so much less than it should be. They should consider making it reservation based, no one likes to wait in a line and by the time people get seated, they are frustrated and creates a tense energy. If you stay at the hotel it’s probably fine i don’t have that experience to tell you, but if you’re here to enjoy jazz and have a nice evening, you'll have to stand for 45 min at least, in a line like a child in a hallway looking through a glass door as others who chose to not sit at the jazz bar drink their drinks. I stood for an hour because I was really curious what the hype was about. After a long wait you expect to be seated but are directed to stand again near the bar awkwardly unless you are persistent and give off an annoyed, “‘entitled vibe”, in which case you may be eventually seated in a corner of the bar. The service understands this place is high demand so they don’t care to be nice or patient with you so be prepared with a quick order and don’t expect to be treated graciously if you have any questions about the cocktails. The first time coming here as a 29 year old woman who loves jazz and was genuinely interested in a good ambiance and music, I left before entering the bar because an 89 year old man came up to me and my friends sizing us as if we wanted to come sit at his table. He said something like turn around let me look at you to approve you getting in faster. We were dressed conservatively yet he had the audacity to address us as if we were working women. We ignored him and left the bar because his disgusting assumptions left us with a sour impression of the place. So I decided to return because a friend recommended this place and I came back to try it again with my mother dressing even more conservatively, making sure I would not give off the impression I was looking for a man just because I was either young or good looking. I was sized by every entitled 40year old woman who thought I was about to steal her husband or date. I have never felt so uncomfortable at an establishment where I am ready, willing and excited to give my money in order to have a nice classy night out. If I must be old blonde or a man to enjoy this bar, then I’m sorry but I’d like to try out some other places. What an entirely entitled bar. Maybe when I’m wrinkled or walking in with a man will I be treated better, because clearly kindness, patience, and class did not work for me two times in a row.though I’ll likely never come back and give my money to this...

Bemelmans is known for many things: the Ludwig Bemelman (creator of Madeline children’s books) murals that drape the walls, the live music, phenomenal cocktails, and being a hotbed for socialites, politicians, movie stars, and moguls.

To be honest I didn't really care about any of that because these Pigs in a Blanket single handedly changed my life. I've eaten my body weight in franks in blanks over the past few years (I'm 6'5 230 haha), and these stand alone at the 1 spot. The crown is heavy.

It is 5 pieces of Andouille sausage wrapped in pastry dough that has the perfect crisp on the outer layer, topped off with a meticulous dab of spicy mustard. I mean just look at that picture. It tastes better than it looks if you can believe that.

While the rest of our group was enjoying the live piano, looking for famous people, or scanning Ludwig's murals, I was staring at the lone little piggy left on the plate.

Between sips of my Vesper, my internal dialogue was going crazy: "I can't just take it, that would be rude... But I want it so bad. You can tell they cooked the sausage separately before wrapping it too... I NEED it... No I don't... You're with your girlfriend's family Johnny do NOT take it... But they know me well enough now..."

Just then my big bro said "J Novo that has your name on it, take it. I see you eyeing it." SEE! THAT'S WHY HE IS BIG BRO.

I also gotta shoutout the piano man, Roberto. He was taking request after request, just bodying EVERYTHING. His rendition of Vienna by Billy Joel got me a little emotional if we are being honest. He was way better than the live jazz trio that came on after him ($35 a person cover charge).

Roberto came over to our table after, in his full suit and tie, and started RIZZING up all the ladies at our table. It was inspirational. I had to put my arm around my girl cuz I was getting nervous... Roberto the Rizzler!

I actually loved this bar, even though it's damn near $30 a cocktail. You're paying for the vibe. I'm ecstatic to come back in the winter, as having a couple cocktails (and piggies) around Christmas time in a bar like this is what I think of when I think of New York City.

Ig @jnov_ Tiktok...

In a bar in Manhattan that is covered in art, lives the last public place Ludwig Bemelmans' whimsy plays a big part.

The story of the feisty literary heroine Madeline begins in Paris, but the girl with the red hair and big yellow hat travels all around the world in the books written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans. Much like his most famous character, Bemelmans’ life began in Europe, in the Austrian Tirol, but he emigrated to the United States when he was nearly 20 years old. After working in the hotel industry and serving in the army, he began writing and illustrating books for children. He found huge success with his Madelineseries, the first book of which came out in 1939.

He went on to write five books about the spunky seven-year-old and her adventures, and also produced popular artwork for publications like The New Yorker and Vogue. In the 1940s, Bemelmans took on a commission that combined two of his passions: hotels and painting. He was contracted to decorate the new bar that was built in The Carlyle, a luxury hotel in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

For this, he was paid not in cash, but received free board for himself and his family for a year and a half, the duration it took for the wall murals to be completed.

The dull yellow of the walls is enlivened by elephants, rabbits, and other animals frolicking around Central Park, all painted in Bemelmans’ trademark style. Madeline and her friends can also be spotted, alongside other typical park scenes like dogs sprinting with their owners and nurses taking babies for a stroll. The simplicity of the wall art is contrasted by the more luxurious Art Deco interiors of the bar. The ceilings are coated in gold leaf and leather banquettes line the walls, placed near glass-top tables.

The whimsical artwork adds to the New York City piano bar’s quiet appeal and it is the only remaining place where Bemelmans' work that is open to the public. It's all there is, and there...