Sip 1960’s-inspired cocktails at the TWA Hotel’s restored retro bar, opening this May
Image of Sunken Lounge pre-construction in 2017, courtesy of MCR and Morse Development; Photo: Max Touhey
When its retro cocktail bar opens this May, TWA Hotel guests will be able to sip Sixties-style beverages in an expertly designed space. The Sunken Lounge will not only offer classic drinks like Old Fashioneds and Martinis but also views through its floor-to-ceiling windows of the 1958 Lockheed Constellation airplane parked outside. MCR and MORSE Development announced on Wednesday that Gerber Group, of Mr. Purple and The Campbell bar fame, will operate the restored Sunken Lounge, which will officially open on May 15, the same day the first guests will be welcomed to the hotel at John F. Kennedy Airport.
The Sunken Lounge via 1962; photo by Balthazar Korab
During the repurposing of Eero Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center into a 512-room hotel, the lounge was restored to include benches built into the floor and original carpet in a Chili Pepper Red color. Plus, a split flap departures board by Solari di Udine will display custom messages, giving the lounge an authentic mid-century vibe.
According to the developers, the original lounge witnessed many historic moments, including the arrival of the Beatles in the U.S. in 1965 and the record-breaking Tin Goose in 1962.
“Having a cocktail on these grounds will be like stepping back into 1962–without the cigarette smoke,” Tyler Morse, CEO of MCR and MORSE, said in a press release.
An original Royal Ambassador menu; via MCR and MORSE
Gerber Group will serve favorite drinks of the Sixties at the Sunken Lounge, including an official TWA Martini and a twist on the Royal Ambassador cocktail, a drink once served to passengers of Trans World Airlines.
In addition to wines and craft beers, other signature cocktails offered include the Come Fly With Me, a drink inspired by Frank Sinatra’s 1958 album and adorned with swizzle sticks.
As 6sqft reported last week, the TWA Hotel is now accepting reservations for its vintage-inspired guest rooms ahead of its May opening. The hotel sits in two low-rise winged buildings behind the TWA Flight Center, which will also serve as the hotel’s lobby.
TWA hotel includes a cafe by Jean-Georges, five other restaurants and eight bars, an Intelligentsia coffee bar with carts throughout the hotel, retail, and 50,000-square-foot event space.
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