Restaurant: Merchants East

1125 1st Ave
(between 61st St & 62nd St)
New York, NY 10021
(212) 832-1551
www.merchantsny.com/east

Once in a while(if you're like us here at Manifesto)you
get the urge to go to a restaurant that has an elegant
feel but still retains a mellow vibe once you walk in
the door. Merchants has that combination down pat.
This is the East Side location; the outdoor seating
gives you a pristine view of the 59th Street Bridge.
The sister restaurant is right down in Chelsea. The
prime appeal of Merchants is the fact that it is one
of the few licensed cigar bars left in New York City,
located downstairs. And when you walk in, it is as
if you've entered a drawing room straight out of
'The Great Gatsby'. The staff are extremely friendly,
the menu boasts good fare such as pan roasted
monkfish and rack of lamb. They provide a good
selection of spirits(on our last visit we enjoyed a
nice glass of Macallan 12 year) and on certain nights,
you can enjoy live music. If you want a place to
slip out of the hustle and bustle of NYC, Merchants
East is the way to go.