BARS & CLUBS: Antik opening party

The premise behind Antik, a new cocktail lounge on the Bowery opening this weekend is such a good idea, I wish I thought of it. Similar to an actual restaurant, patrons make reservations ahead to time and are seated at loungey tables, where they're served drinks by waitresses (all of which seemed to have passed a 5”10+ height requirement).

The best and most interesting part? There's no bar, it’s all seated service. Genius! Not only does that eliminate the utter chaos that going out can bring, but it also keeps out the riff-raff. And by riff-raff, I mean post-college transplanted kids who, a year or two ago, would never have dreamed of setting foot in the East Village, let alone on the Bowery (but that's another story for another post).  

Sound snotty? It's not. I'm 28 years old and spent my whole life in New York City and I feel entitled to going out with friends on the weekend and not have to worry about the circus-like fanfare that comes with it.

The decor of the semi-private, intimate lounge (it only holds 74) looks a bit like it was ripped off from nearby Bowery Hotel's lobby bar, with patterned scarlet wallpaper and under-lit palm trees, but it works. A full bar is on hand, but the specialty cocktail menu is fabulous, you'd be remiss not to try at least one (or, in this particular case, four). Standouts include the White Lotus,  a sweet blend of vodka, St. Germain, Negori sake, plum wine, lime juice and cloves and the Moscow Mule, a more straightforward mix of vodka, ginger beer and lime juice.  

I truly hope Antik does well. I got a good vibe, which almost never happens, since a good deal of New York nightlife has gone the way of a college campus (and one big Wall Street social, but who knows how long that'll continue). Hopefully, it'll mange to remain what it's setting out to be.

-Perrie Samotin