

Rumor has it that the spirit of Campbell still haunts the space. He never lived in the apartment, but he and his wife used it to entertain parties.Īfter his death in 1957, the famous Persian carpet, which would have been worth $3.5 million today, and his other furnishings disappeared from his office. As a friend of the Vanderbilts who built the Terminal, he was given this apartment as his office. As a financier he should have had his office down on Wall Street, but rumor has it he was talking to his realtor saying he wanted something special in midtown and his realtor jokingly asked, “in Grand Central” and he said yes. He worked his way up to become president of the company and he was an important shareholder of the New York Central Railroad stock. John Campbell was born in Brooklyn, he never attended college but instead went to work for his fathers’ firm at the age of 18. Some believe the spacious apartment’s design, including the lotus flowers on the ceiling, was also inspired by Campbell’s Tomb or Chamber in Egypt. The 25-foot tall hand-painted ceiling steals the show. You can even see Campbell’s personal steel safe in the grand fireplace. Allen to design the space as a replica of a Florentine Palazzo, complete with a fireplace, piano, pipe organ and Roman Renaissance style ceiling. In the world’s largest train terminal, this was the largest ground floor office at the time. Fun fact: the bar was prominently featured in the Gossip Girl pilot episode!īefore being turned into the Campbell Apartment bar, this space was the private office of railroad executive and millionaire John Williams Campbell, who leased the space in 1923. Next time you’re waiting for a train in Grand Central grab a drink at this historic NYC jewel. It is one of my favorite NYC institutions and fittingly has been named one of the “Best bars in America” by World’s Best Bars. The saloon style digs make it feel as if you have stepped back in time, which is only further amplified by the classic decor details.Grand Central’s Campbell Apartment bar in NYC used to be a secret speakeasy that was hard to find but now after its 2017 renovations, the space boasts a new entrance and three separate bar experiences.

Serving an extensive list of Prohibition-era cocktails, Lantern’s Keep is a bit of a time warp. Location: 15 Vanderbilt Ave, Midtown, New York Lantern’s Keep The space is also known as the Campbell Apartment, and has long been a New York institution, tucked neatly away in otherwise chaotic midtown. But with the show long behind us, the bar has continued to fly under the radar as one of New York’s best secret bars. Located inside Grand Central Terminal, The Campbell bar became popular a few years back for being the bar that featured in Gossip Girl.

Location: 9 Doyers St, New York The Campbell The open space is large and inviting, but there is limited seating so be sure to arrive early to avoid disappointment. The cocktail bar – come – speakeasy is hiding away in Chinatown. Location: 113 St Marks Pl, New York ApothekeĪfter discovering Apotheke in Los Angeles, we were dying to find out where Apotheke New York was located. But for out of towners, the speakeasy experience is still an exciting one, so be sure to make your way over to Crif Dogs – the hot dog shop you’ll find the phone booth entrance inside of. Hidden behind a phone booth in the trendy East Village, Please Don’t Tell has easily become New York’s worst-kept secret. Granted, membership will guarantee you a handful of benefits like preferred seating, but the fact you won’t need a membership to enter is enough for us common folk to get in the front door.

Manhattan Cricket Club is the best private member’s club you don’t need a membership for. Location: 510 Hudson St, West Village, New York Manhattan Cricket Club And with so many bars to choose from in New York City, this is no easy feat! This unassuming little bar in the West Village has a reputation for crafting the best cocktails in the city. Whether you fancy a West Side (an inventive retake on the Southside classic) or a Ginger Smash (a zingy taste of Spring), the one thing you can be certain of when visiting Employees Only is a damn good drink. And so, with that, we present to you our favourite bars flying under the radar in New York City! Employees Only, West Village There certainly is no shortage of bars and speakeasies to enjoy a cocktail or two in New York City! But what about the best secret bars in New York City? Well, you’ll need to be in the know. As far as the best bars go in New York, the selection is endless.
