For Warmer Days: An Inside Look at NYC's New Tropical Rooftop Bar

 

Spring in NYC will be here before you know it... or maybe not. When spring does eventually hit (it has to at some point, right?), you'll want to make the most of the outdoors after being relegated to the indoors for the better part of four months. And we have just the spot for you: Roman and Williams (known for Le Coucou, Ace Hotel NOLA and NYC, to name a few) recently opened a rooftop bar at the newest Freehand Hotel in the Flatiron District. To say it's impressive is an understatement. Transportive in nature, the tropical indoor-outdoor space serves up an ever-changing collection of drinks aiming to take you straight to a remote island. Our account manager, Kimberly Motos, recently found herself at this new spot on a sunny day before winter settled in. Her and her fiancé sampled the cocktail menu and are reporting back to us on their favorites and even have a couple top secret tips to share.

We caught up with Kim about her full experience at the fourth installment of Broken Shaker, her tips on ordering, and even got her mini guide to NYC and activities that are easily accessible once you've finished your drink. Fun fact: The Broken Shaker location in Miami won Tales of the Cocktail's “Best American Hotel Bar” at their Annual Spirited Awards.

Photography by Kimberly Motos





First impressions of Broken Shaker?

I felt like I was transported to a tropical destination. It's a chill rooftop bar with a welcoming vibe serving delicious hand-crafted cocktails and Middle Eastern bites. They have a long outdoor patio perfect for warm nights with sweeping views of the city. You can see the Empire State Building from here!





Give us a rundown of the menu? Any standouts?

We were only there for the drinks so at the time, I tried The Smillie which is tequila with key lime and a golden beet cordial rim complete with fresh cilantro and ginger turmeric agave. My fiancé tried the Remington Steele which consisted of bourbon, Hennessey VS, Cardamaro, biscotti liqueur and baked apple bitters. It's probably one of my favorite cocktails to date. They have a seasonal menu so expect new concoctions every time you visit!





Time to dive into design - give us the inside scoop.

Designed by Roman & Williams, I expected nothing short of amazing and I was not disappointed! With wicker chairs matching the wood panels, lush plants and interesting tchotchkes, it's like you've entered someone's home who's traveled a lot and decided to open a tropical oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle.

 

Profile the perfect guest. 

Broken Shaker is a great spot for small groups and has a mellow atmosphere to grab cocktails with your friends and colleagues after work.





What is there to do in the area/what did your day's itinerary look like? 

Since the hotel is located in the Flatiron District, you can take a half-mile walk to a plethora of food options. From Eataly's Italian food hall, to Shake Shack's signature burgers, to Madison Square Eats' semi-annual culinary pop-up market, no matter where you choose, you'll be able to sit and take in the views of the Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park. Another mile walk from the hotel you'll see the New York Public Library which is also next to the Grand Central Station so you can definitely hit up a lot of the tourist spots! Everything's a train ride away so it's not that hard to go everywhere.





Final thoughts on this new bar?

I highly recommend it! They don't take reservations so come early if you want to skip the lines and secure a table! If you're a guest of the hotel, let the front desk know and they will have someone lead you to a secret door that will grant you early access before they open to the public.