This modern-day speakeasy from owner; J. Ashley Smith. features classic cocktails, a refined yet spirited vibe that channels the smooth sophistication of the Roaring Twenties, nightly DJs and a plush, warm design to ensure guests feel instantly at ease.
Located downstairs at 196 Second Avenue (between 12th and 13th Streets), Blue Owl is a nightlife destination for those in search of good times and creative cocktails. The bar features top-shelf spirits, house-infused vodkas, fresh squeezed juices, and a cocktail list developed by veteran mixologist Charles Hardwick, who made a name for himself at such restaurants and nightspots as Pravda, Mercer Kitchen and The Odeon.
In honor of its namesake, Blue Owl is identifiable by a piercing image of the nocturnal bird standing guard by the door. But don’t be fooled; once inside, the welcoming, sultry atmosphere will seem anything but fierce. Hand-sewn, floor-to-ceiling jade silk curtains help shield guests from the ever-present city sounds on Second Avenue, creating an intimate environment for entertaining. Plush banquette seating, conceived and constructed by Blue Owl designer Sari Mass, lines the rustically exposed brick and stone walls, while gentle amber light floods the room from all angles.
An oversized copper bar fills Blue Owl’s main room, where amiable and knowledgeable bartenders create cocktails using the finest spirits and mixers, focusing on gin, rum and whiskey-inspired drinks. Among the selections on the cocktail menu are the Roosevelt Martini, a classic which combines premium gin with dry vermouth and fresh Castle Vetrano olives; the Fireman’s Sour, a lively blend of white and dark rum, lime juice, grenadine and simple syrup; and the Bobby Burns, named after the Scottish poet and featuring a heady mix of blended scotch, dry and sweet vermouth and Benedictine. In addition to the cocktails, a variety of wines by the glass and local and microbrew beers will be available.
Guests can enjoy their cocktails at the bar, or at any of the marble-topped tables that dot the room’s interior. Blue Owl’s small plates menu features a variety of artisanal cheeses, imported smoked meats and various crudités and is served all night.
Blue Owl also features nightly DJs spinning everything from jazz standards to rock, world, dance and hip-hop. Both Smith and Bulgatz have strong musical histories and are firm believers in the notion that music elevates a night owl’s experience. In order to ensure the pulsing beats permeate the entire joint, Blue Owl features a state of the art sound system with Denon CD changers and mixers in the DJ booth and 17 individually designed and hand-crafted speakers throughout.
For those who prefer to drink and dine in private, Blue Owl’s secluded Cocktail Room is just the place. Hidden from the main lounge by a two-way mirror, this area features ambient lighting and is decorated in metallic greens and blues. In order to reach the Cocktail Room, guests enter via their own private entrance around the corner on 12th Street, using their own unique password. Once through the gate, they travel through a courtyard until they see a stairway lit by a single blue light (shades of Prohibition-era speakeasies) signifying the back entrance to Blue Owl. They will then gain access to the Cocktail Room and be privy to a dedicated server, special menus, personal Ipod and music selections, bottle service and powder room.
Owner Ashley Smith puts it best when he says “Blue Owl is about a whole lot of love. A love of good people, good cocktails and good times. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel; we just want to show our friends and guests the best possible time.â€
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