Hi, hello – ‘γεια σου’ – and welcome to this week’s column of Exploring NYC with Eva, my weekly (or I guess every-other-week) piece that guides you to the best that New York has to offer in its incredible and ever-growing Greek scene.
Now, I have a question for you – has this unpredictable weather got you down?
If so, don’t worry, you’re not alone! And remember, it’s nothing that a good cocktail…or two, can’t fix, as well as help in keeping you nice and warm ahead of winter. But more specifically, a Greek-inspired one.
I have spent the last couple of weekends visiting some of the nicest Greek restaurants and bars to track down the best Greek-themed cocktails, and I’ve got some delicious recommendations I want to share with you.
After visiting four unique restaurants in Manhattan and Astoria, here are eight of my favorite cocktails I came across, tried, and loved, that I think you will too! (or at least, try them out, and let us know yourselves!)
Anemi Modern Greek
Located at 30-17 31st street in Astoria, inside the Voco Hotel, is the newly-opened Greek dining establishment, Anemi Modern Greek. It feels like a classy, Greek speakeasy, and the decor and ambient setting just speaks for itself + the service was incredible. Anemi’s menu was fresh, fun, colorful, and full of interesting flavor combinations. It was a tough decision to pick which cocktails to try, so let me tell you about three of them that I fell in love with on their menu – the ‘Thea’, the ‘Fou Fou’, and the ‘Brigitte Bardot’. They were priced at $15 per drink, and all unique and appetizing in their own way.
The Thea was my favorite of all. It was deliciously sweet and tasted like candy! It was slightly citrusy, not-overpowering on the alcohol, and also had a beautiful, classy presentation. I loved the fig vodka too, and honestly, I didn’t even know that existed!
The Fou Fou was something like I’d never tasted before. Who would have thought mango puree and jalapeno would work so well together? It was smokey, a little sweet, and had strong notes of mango. I found this one quite strong, but refreshing, and the aftertaste had a strong kick…probably because it contained spicy jalapeno tequila, but still, I enjoyed tasting something a little different.
The Bridgitte Bardot was also strong on the citrus, but still very sweet. I liked how colorful it was, as well as its attention to detail in its decor. It contained vanilla vodka and tropical puree, which was the perfect blend of flavors, honestly.
Kyma
If you’ve been to Kyma, you would know they’re known for contributing to New York’s Greek nightlife scene, so it’s no surprise that they would also have a great cocktail list too, to keep the crowds happy and dancing all night. I went on a Friday evening, to their Flatiron location, at 15 West 18th Street, which was actually on my birthday too, and they had a DJ who played the best and latest Greek hits, and it instantly took me back to my summer in Limnos.
The atmosphere was so vibrant and fun – everyone was dancing, and the drinks were SO good. I personally got the Amita Motion cocktail, cause, come on, who doesn’t love a classic Greek juice-infused drink! It was sweet, tangy, and refreshing. I loved the combination of the gin, grapefruit soda, and pomegranate. It was so tasty, and felt like an elevated childhood favorite – I’d definitely re-order!
I also tried the Pistachio Old Fashioned, and it tasted JUST like pistachio gelato. It was sweet, smooth, and rich from the pistachio, and reminded me of eating Dubai chocolate. The whiskey in it wasn’t very strong either…so this one could definitely be dangerous!
Avenue Restobar
Now Avenue Restobar was a place I’d walked by at least a dozen times while on my hunt for the best Greek coffees and sweets over the last few months, yet I’d never walked in ‘till now – and I am so glad I did! They’re known for serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, and serve as an all-day dining business – and I loved how versatile the space was. There was Greek music playing in the background, tables both inside and out, and the menu was extensive and detailed.
Upon visiting, I decided to order a few different things such as kolokithokeftethes, grilled halloumi, and a chicken club sandwich, which I paired with a Mastiha Mule cocktail. I hadn’t found anything like this here before, only in Greece, specifically in Chios, and wow, was it so different, and full of flavor! I would describe it as a little tangy, yet sweet, and it had notes of mint and ginger, which I loved. It felt kind of like a spiced cocktail, and the mastiha wasn’t overpowering either. I think it’s perfect for the colder weather.
Ovelia
I went to Ovelia in Astoria, at 34-01 30th Avenue, with my colleague Christina, and we decided to order two different cocktails, both completely different, mind you, catering to our different and eclectic tastes. Christina ordered the ‘Rodanthe’ cocktail, and I had a sip of it too, and it was a very unique and acquired taste, in my opinion anyways, but I did like it. It featured a very prominent rose flavor, and it was very citrusy and tangy. I liked it, but it definitely wasn’t my usual go-to for a cocktail.
For myself, I ordered ‘The Sage’. The Sage was a very sweet cocktail that contained vodka, Greek Mountain tea, sage-infused vodka, honey, lemon juice and soda. Honestly, it felt like I was drinking an iced ‘Τσαι του βουνού’(mountain tea)! I think this one takes the cake as the best cocktail to have during the winter, especially when you’re under the weather, as it’s lemony, it’s sweet, AND it also kind of tastes like a honey-flavored Halls candy/cough drop – perfect to keep you nice and warm.
Although there were many other places on my list to visit, these were the places I managed to make it to for now. If you have any recommendations for other great, Greek-inspired cocktails you think I need to try in New York, please email me at [email protected], and maybe I’ll do a part two!
I hope you all love this list and are inspired to check out some places you may not have even heard of before – happy sipping!
