It is a truth universally acknowledged that a weekend (or weekday, I’m not judging) brunch-goer in possession of a hangover must be in want of a bloody mary.
This all-around champ of daytime cocktails has it all: the revitalizing and replenishing properties of your yoga teacher’s green smoothie, the wild and fun side of your sorority sister’s mimosas, the sophisticated charm of a bellini, and the versatility of a margarita.
It comes as no surprise that New York City is home to some fantastic bloodies. The city did, after all, play a crucial role in the drink’s history. It was first concocted in the New York-style bars of Paris during prohibition. After prohibition, “Pete” Petiot, the French bartender who invented it, moved to NYC and worked in the St. Regis Hotel’s King Cole Bar, where the tomato and vodka based cocktail we now call a bloody mary was popularized.
From simple yet perfect classics to flights to bloody marys topped with mini cheeseburgers or an entire slice of pizza, once again, the city of dreams offers quite the variety, as always. Here are our favorites.
King Cole Bar at The St. Region New York (Midtown)
Your bloody mary tour de force must start here. King Cole Bar in the St. Regis Hotel is effectively the birthplace of the bloody mary, although they still call it by its original name, the “Red Snapper.” No fancy flavors or crazy toppings – just the standard, but perfected. A bloody mary against which to judge all future bloody marys.
Twitter: @KingColeBarNY
Prune (East Village)
Prune has an entire menu just for its bloody marys, and it’s considered by many to be the definitive bloody mary spot. Their classic, made with Tito’s vodka, is about as good as it gets, but they’ve got about a dozen other varieties worth trying as well. For a meal in a glass, the Bullshot incorporates beef bouillon, while the Chicago Matchbox is made with homemade lemon vodka and topped with an entire pickled garden, including brussel sprouts, baby white turnips, caperberries, green beans, and radishes.
Speedy Romeo’s (Lower East Side)
Not only is this one of the best pizza joints in lower Manhattan, but Speedy Romeo’s also has a phenomenal brunch complete with a Pizza Bloody Mary. Yep, you read that right. An expertly crafted bloody is topped with a teetering tower of fried stuffed peppers, a tasty pickle, and an entire slice of their white pizza. It’s a secret off-menu item, so ask for the “Speedy Rambo First Blood,” or, more simply put, the “Pizza Bloody Mary.”
Twitter: @SpeedyRomeoNY
The Dutch (SoHo)
This chic SoHo restaurant is a favorite for bloody mary lovers. The Dutch’s bloody —complete with okra, olives, pickles, and chorizo— is smokey and spicy, great if you’re looking for an extra morning kick. It pairs well with their fantastic oysters, but if you’re looking for a hangover cure, you’ll want to go for their cheesy double bacon brunch burger.
Twitter: @TheDutchNYC
Bar Sardine (West Village)
For a unique spin on this classic drink, Bar Sardine serves up a green bloody mary. Their mix is homemade with tomatillos, tomato’s sour cousin, giving the drink its verdant hue. Green chile vodka and housemade serrano hot sauce is added for some serious spice, but the cucumber water will help cool your tongue.
Twitter: @barsardinenyc
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Saxon + Parole (East Village)
The DIY customize-it-yourself bloody mary bar trend is perfected at Saxon + Parole, where they serve up a basic bloody mary and let you go to town on a huge spread of sauces, toppings, and mix-ins. Best when enjoyed alongside their raw or fried Puget Sound oysters, or with a mezcal oyster shooter to follow.
Twitter: @SaxonandParole
If it’s a light, sober breakfast you’re after, NYC also has some of the world’s tastiest bakeries and cafes, too.