Bar Openings: April 2015

Lazy Point brings the beach to New York and Repour offers approachable cocktails in Miami.

New York City Learns To Relax At Lazy Point

New York City’s Lazy Point evokes an urban beach house and boasts a tropically inspired cocktail list, as well as a raw bar, oysters and other upscale small plates–style dishes.
New York City’s Lazy Point evokes an urban beach house and boasts a tropically inspired cocktail list, as well as a raw bar, oysters and other upscale small plates–style dishes. (Photo by Destrie Boyer)

Known for its hustle and bustle, New York City reached a new level of calm in February with the opening of Lazy Point in Lower Manhattan’s Hudson Square neighborhood. The venue boasts an unfussy, relaxed vibe and is designed to evoke an urban beach house, complete with wooden floors, beach chair seating and a planked bar that runs nearly the entire length of the space, ending at a built-in DJ booth. Lazy Point offers a varied cocktail list, with some drinks following the coastal theme. Specialties include the Beaten Gypsy, comprising Fords gin, fresh beet, rosemary and lime; the Mainlining, a blend of Rittenhouse rye, Campari aperitif, grapefruit, ginger and cinnamon; and The Volstead, made with Reyka vodka, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, Valdo Prosecco, lemon and strawberry (cocktails are $13 to $14). To accompany the drinks, Lazy Point has a menu of upscale bar fare that’s geared toward cocktail pairing. Food highlights range from spicy pork belly and grilled cheese to oyster pot pie and raw bar offerings ($12 to $22). A selection of beer in cans and wine on tap is also available. Located in the historic Captain Dennison Wood House, Lazy Point is operated by Gunther Bilali and Jason LaGarenne, with former Death + Co. bartender Jeremy Strawn heading up the drinks program.

Miami Bar Goes Back To Basics

Repour Homemade Cocktails offers upscale drinks in a relaxed atmosphere in Miami.
Repour Homemade Cocktails offers upscale drinks in a relaxed atmosphere in Miami.

Isaac Grillo transitioned from bartender to bar owner in February with the opening of Repour Homemade Cocktails in Miami’s Albion Hotel. While Grillo is known for using molecular mixology techniques, his new venue aims to be more relaxed than many of its South Beach counterparts. Repour’s upscale yet approachable drinks feature house-grown produce and custom-made ice. Specialties include the Sitting Room, mixing Jim Beam Bourbon, Mandarine Napoléon orange liqueur, cassia-infused black tea and lemon, served over a frozen cube of tea and Bourbon, and My Little Kumquat, comprising Afrohead 7-year-old rum, Fever Tree ginger beer, lime, kumquats and ancho chili syrup (signature drinks are $12 to $15). The bar also offers alcohol-enhanced teas and jams. The indoor-outdoor space is furnished with mismatched couches and recycled tables and chairs.

Bar Briefs

  • London nightclub BonBonniere made its U.S. debut in January, opening a location in New York City’s Hotel Chantelle on the Lower East Side. The upscale venue is named after a type of Fabergé egg and features a design to match, complete with an egg-shaped DJ booth, myriad crystals, mirrored tiles and LED lights. The high-energy club emphasizes bottle service.
  • Tiki culture took over Chicago in January with the opening of Lost Lake in the city’s Logan Square neighborhood. Created by Lettuce Entertain You alumnus and bartender Paul McGee, the island-themed bar from hospitality company Land & Sea Dept. features rum-heavy specialty cocktails and punches.
  • The Japanese-inspired karaoke bar The Blind Dragon opened in January along the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, California. The bar has a large central area and several private rooms and serves a menu of pizza and dim sum, along with sake-based specialty drinks, punch bowls and bottle service.
  • The aptly named brewpub On Rotation opened in January in Dallas with a roster of draft beers that changes frequently. The venue features more than 40 tap handles that feature a mix of house-brewed beers, locally made labels and far-flung brands. The venue also offers growler service.