Walk into the St. Regis on 55th and 5th, and you’ll feel it immediately. It’s that heavy, gilded silence of old Manhattan wealth. You turn right, past the lobby’s marble gleam, and there it is: the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel NYC. It isn’t just a place to get a drink. Honestly, it’s more like a secular cathedral for people who think a tie is mandatory for a Tuesday afternoon.
The room is dark. It smells like expensive leather and wood polish.
But the first thing you’ll actually notice—the thing that defines the whole vibe—is the mural. It’s massive. Maxfield Parrish painted it in 1906, and it depicts Old King Cole himself. He’s sitting there, looking rather smug, surrounded by his court. Legend has it Parrish included a bit of a "bathroom" joke in the King’s expression, but the staff will usually just give you a knowing wink if you ask about it.
The Bloody Mary Myth and the Red Snapper Reality
Most people think the Bloody Mary was born in some dusty London pub or a Parisian cafe. They’re wrong. Well, mostly wrong. Fernand Petiot is the guy you need to know. He brought the recipe from Harry’s New York Bar in Paris over to the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel NYC in the 1930s.
But here’s the kicker. The name "Bloody Mary" was considered way too vulgar for the St. Regis crowd back then. Imagine some socialite in 1934 clutching her pearls at the mention of "bloody." So, they renamed it the Red Snapper.
If you order a Bloody Mary here today, they’ll know what you mean, but the menu still honors that "Red Snapper" branding. It’s spicy. Like, actually spicy. They use a specific blend of black pepper, cayenne, lemon, and Worcestershire sauce that hasn't changed much in nearly a century. Is it the best one in the city? That’s subjective, but it’s definitely the most historic. You’re drinking liquid history for about $30 a pop.
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Why the Seating Policy Feels Like a Secret Society
Getting a table here is a nightmare. There, I said it.
The bar is tiny. It’s much smaller than the photos make it look online. Because they don’t take reservations for the general public, you basically have to hover like a vulture or time your arrival perfectly at 4:00 PM when the doors open. If you’re staying at the hotel, you might have a slight edge, but even then, the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel NYC treats everyone with a sort of polite, egalitarian coldness until you actually have a seat.
Once you’re in, the rules change. The service is impeccably slow in that "we want you to linger" kind of way. You aren't being ignored; you're being given space to conspire.
I’ve sat there and watched deals happen. Real ones. Not the "I’m an influencer" kind of deals, but the "let’s buy this building" kind. It’s one of the few places left in New York where the lighting is dim enough to hide your identity but the mirrors are positioned well enough to see who just walked in behind you.
The Dress Code Isn't a Suggestion
If you show up in flip-flops and a hoodie, you’re going to have a bad time. They describe the dress code as "smart casual," but in St. Regis language, that means "wear a blazer or at least a very expensive sweater."
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You’ll see tourists occasionally sneak in wearing sneakers, but they usually look uncomfortable. The room itself demands a certain level of effort. It’s about respect for the architecture, the Parrish mural, and the ghost of John Jacob Astor IV, who founded the hotel and then unfortunately went down with the Titanic.
The Mural That Almost Didn't Stay
Let’s talk about Maxfield Parrish again. That mural wasn't even supposed to be here. It was originally commissioned for the Knickerbocker Hotel. When that place folded, the painting bounced around a bit before landing at the St. Regis in 1932.
The cleaning process for a painting that size, in a room where people have been smoking cigars and cigarettes for decades, is an absolute feat of engineering. In 2007, they spent something like $100,000 just to clean it. If you look closely at the King’s face, you can see the detail—the richness of the oils. It’s a 30-foot masterpiece that survives despite thousands of people breathing gin fumes on it every night.
What to Order Besides the Red Snapper
If tomato juice isn't your thing, don't panic. The martini service here is elite. They don't just hand you a glass; they bring a sidecar on ice so your second half stays cold. It’s a small touch, but for the price, it’s the kind of thing that makes the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel NYC feel worth it.
- The Dirty Martini: Extra olives, obviously. They use high-quality vermouth that actually tastes like something.
- The Old Fashioned: Heavy on the rye, light on the muddled fruit. This isn't a salad; it's a drink.
- Bar Snacks: They usually give you these little bowls of nuts and crackers. They are dangerously salty and seemingly bottomless.
Realities of the 21st Century St. Regis
Is it "touristy"? Sometimes. Between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM, you’ll get the crowd that just wants to check it off their bucket list. They take a photo of the mural, sip one drink, and leave.
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But stay past 9:00 PM. That’s when the vibe shifts. The lighting drops another notch. The hotel guests return from their Broadway shows. The room starts to feel like the set of a movie that doesn't exist anymore. You realize that while the rest of New York is turning into a giant glass-and-steel shopping mall, this one corner of 5th Avenue is refusing to change.
It’s expensive. It’s stiff. It’s arguably a bit snobbish. But honestly? That’s exactly why people go. You don’t go to the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel NYC for a "chill" night. You go because you want to feel like you’re part of the New York that exists in black-and-white movies.
How to Actually Enjoy Your Visit
If you want to do this right, don't just wing it.
First, check the time. If it’s a holiday weekend, forget about it. The line will be out the door. Try a random Tuesday. Go around 3:45 PM and stand near the entrance. You’ll feel like a dork, but you’ll get the corner table under the mural.
Second, put your phone away. Seriously. Taking a quick photo of the King is fine, but scrolling through Instagram while sitting in one of the most historic bars in the world is a waste of a $30 seat. Talk to the person next to you. Or better yet, talk to the bartender. Some of these guys have been there for decades. They’ve seen everything. They won't tell you the best secrets—client confidentiality is a religion there—but they can tell you some incredible stories about the building itself.
Lastly, acknowledge the bill before it arrives. Expect to pay about $100 for two people, even if you only have one round and a snack. You aren't paying for the alcohol; you're paying the "rent" for a seat in a room that has hosted everyone from Salvador Dalí to Marilyn Monroe.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
- Dress the Part: Wear a dark jacket or a structured dress. It changes how the staff treats you—sad but true.
- Order the "Red Snapper": Even if you hate Bloody Marys, try a sip of your partner's. It’s the ritual of the house.
- Look for the "Flatulence" Clue: Look at the guards' faces in the mural. Then look at the King. Once you see the "joke" Maxfield Parrish hid in there, you can't unsee it.
- Explore the Lobby: After your drink, walk through the St. Regis lobby and look up at the ceilings. The craftsmanship is some of the best remaining in Manhattan.