Bemelmans Bar

Bemelmans Bar
Map
Restaurant information
Established1947 (1947)
Manager(s)Dimitrios Michalopoulos
Street address35 East 76th St., Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates40°46′28″N 73°57′47″W / 40.774448°N 73.963072°W / 40.774448; -73.963072
WebsiteOfficial website

Bemelmans Bar is a cocktail lounge and piano bar in the Carlyle Hotel, on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, New York City. The bar opened in the 1940s, serving wealthy Upper East Siders and numerous celebrities. Bemelmans has distinctive Art Deco decor, including murals of Madeline painted by Ludwig Bemelmans, author and illustrator of Madeline. It has been known for multiple drinks, though in recent years it is best known for its martinis, often served very dirty.

The bar opened in 1947, and has been a place for celebrities and socialites to frequent since that time. In the early 2000s, the bar was renovated and its cocktail program was remade by bartender Audrey Saunders. In the 2020s, the bar temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon reopening, Bemelmans has seen a surge in popularity, especially with younger New Yorkers, eager for an authentic New York experience.