This is strictly a bar review. We did not eat dinner at The Parlor inside the InterContinental Barclay lobby, though the complimentary spread of nuts and popcorn that arrived alongside our drinks deserves an honorable mention. They were fresh, crisp, and considerably more welcome than the usual bowls of stale bar mix that feel as though they were put out during the Coolidge administration. The cocktails are the main attraction, as are the standard Midtown prices. A stay at the Barclay includes a daily destination fee that comes with a $30 food and beverage credit. That sounds generous until you discover that after tax and an automatic 18 percent gratuity, $30 covers precisely one specialty cocktail. Welcome to New York real estate math. The standout drink is the Bee's Knees, mixed with Tanqueray, lemon juice, and Barclay honey. The honey comes directly from the hotel's own rooftop apiary, which is a genuinely clever local touch. Anyone can throw sweetener into a shaker, but keeping hives on a Midtown roof and serving their honey in a twenty-dollar drink downstairs takes a distinct level of Manhattan confidence. It pays off. The drink is bright, well balanced, and smooth. I also tried their Penicillin, constructed with Toki Japanese Whisky, Talisker, lemon, and that same rooftop honey syrup. It was less successful. The ingredients sound impressive on paper and the execution was technically precise, but the flavors simply failed to click. Sometimes a cocktail is made completely correctly and still leaves you wondering why you ordered it. The bartenders ranged from quiet to conversational, but every drink was crafted with care rather than dumped into a glass. The bar itself is comfortable and upscale, matching the classic 1920s grandeur of the Barclay lobby without trying to feel like a high-volume nightclub. If you are staying at the hotel, using your daily credit on the Bee's Knees is an easy call. The drinks are expensive, but in Midtown Manhattan, a cocktail and a small bowl of fresh nuts now count as a minor financial transaction anyway. read more

The Parlour - Penicillin - Toki Japanese Whisky, Talisker, Lemon Juice, and Barclay Honey Syrup made from beehives on the roof of the hotel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Vibe/ambiance: hotel restaurant Service: standard Reservation: walked in Items ordered: beef sliders: 7/10, classic white pizza: honey drizzled on top added a good sweetness nourish bowl: standard salad read more

Made a reservation here for a weekend dinner, given I was already staying at the hotel. The restaurant was not busy, and we were easily seated by the staff. We ordered the itameshi risotto and Barclay burger, along with a limited time appletini. The burger patty was very good, rich, and the cheese was perfectly melted with the burger along with a healthy serving of fries. The risotto was an Asian fusion, with tempura enoki and shiitake mushrooms. However, while good for the first few bites, it did get quite salty. At around $40 for each of the entrees, it did feel steep from a price perspective. Our host was very friendly and always checked on us, which was appreciated. If you're staying at the hotel already and have some perks, do consider this restaurant. However, if you are just planning to come in for a meal, there are probably better and more affordable options around. read more

See all

We were staying in the Barclay hotel for a work meeting and picked their lobby bar as a rally point before heading out to dinner (how original). We settled into some comfy cozy seats and ordered some drinks. The staff were efficient and the drinks were nicely strong. I doubt this place is a destination bar, but it absolutely does the job as a lobby bar for a couple of drinks to meet up and head out to dinner, a quick work meeting, etc. read more

We stayed at the InterContinental Barclay during the recent blizzard, when the governor had declared a state of emergency in NYC. With very limited dining options nearby, we decided to come here for dinner as it is the hotel's in-house restaurant. Unfortunately, the restaurant appeared severely understaffed. It seemed there was only one server covering a completely full dining room, and he looked very overwhelmed. We waited about 20 minutes just to place our order, and then another ~45 minutes for the food to arrive. When it came, the fries were already cold (no, not warm, it was cold as if it had been out for at least 20-30mins). They also did not offer a kids' menu (not sure if this was storm-related), and nothing on the main menu really suited a 4-year-old's taste -- the burger was probably the closest option but was quite large for a young child. Service felt rushed and chaotic, we weren't asked whether we wanted fries or a side salad with our orders (I guess they just chose for us) our water was never refilled, and items like napkins, utensils, and ketchup were literally tossed onto our table in the hurry. We also overheard other tables being told their orders were lost and had to reorder. For additional context, we ordered in-room dining the night before and found the food noticeably too salty across multiple items. We truly sympathize with the overwhelmed staff given the storm, but for a hotel of this caliber and the price, better staffing and coordination during emergencies would make a big difference. :( read more

We LOVED our bartenders the week we spent with you guys!!! I really would sooo appreciate the recipes for the truffle popcorn oh my that stuff was too addictive!!! read more

My colleagues and I had some time to spare before our educational dinner so we decided to grab a drink at the Gin Parlour. There are a lot of spots to choose from in the Midtown area in terms of bars (well, everything), but this place seemed like a classier spot so off we went. The Parlour? The Gin Parlour? I'm not too sure of the actual name; I didn't notice a reference to "gin" in any of the nomenclature while I was there. In any case, it's located in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel - upon entry we made our way to the back where the lounge was. The aesthetics match that of the lobby, kinda high-end with a darkish color scheme and furniture to give off a lounge aesthetic. While they offer food, we were only there for drinks. I didn't see any specialty cocktails, only the tried and true. I went with a French 75 which was pretty good - smooth with true to form flavor. We were given complementary mixed nuts; they had a sweet glaze on them which provided a welcome flavor addition. Service was good, and overall I had a fine experience here. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to come here again - this is best for hotel guests and not much of a destination spot. However, for what it provides the Gin Parlour is a solid choice. read more

Made a reservation for four here on a Friday night. It was the only nice bar that took New Years Eve reservations without having to pay for a package of some sort. I love gin, so of course I can't complain about the menu, but best of all were the friendly staff. Our host easily changed our table when I requested a booth and our waitress spent a full minute taking photos of us when someone asked. It's definitely not a "hip" bar. I think we were the youngest group in there, but sometimes I prefer that to a super loud and crowded it spot. Just letting you all know! Expect lots of basic, old, rich tourist vibe folks around you. read more

It's the hotel bar in The Barclay. Nice quiet spot, and they do have a really nice gin selection. Excellent place to go for a quiet drink - or someone you want to actually talk with. Great service, very nice bar snax as well. read more

Solid gin bar in the Intercontinental lobby. This place has all the makings of a memorable bar. A wide selection of gin from all over the world, a friendly and knowledgeable bartender to talk to you about each gin and cocktail, and an innovative cocktail program using a lot of homemade ingredients. $18 is steep even for NYC prices, however both cocktails I had were fine. The Singapore Sling was well balanced and not too sweet. The Hong Kong Soda? was very tasty with homemade Szechuan peppercorn cola, yuzu, and a gin from Asia. The bartender had some great recommendations for cool cocktail bars around the city. Thanks Alessandro! read more

The Parlour - Page 1 of Menu May 2017 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Awesome all around! I would go again. Waiter was attentive Food was great! Everyone enjoyed their meal. read more

I desperately needed a martini a la Blake Lively in, "A Simple Favor" and as such found a place that's known for their gin selection. The bar is right in the lobby of the Intercontinental. It's good, but it'll cost you...my one martini was $25. Pro tip: gratuity is included! read more

The Parlour - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

This is the lobby restaurant inside the Intercontinental Hotel. I came for restaurant week based on the menu I saw on the Restaurant week website. When I got there the menu was different. The food is nicely presented. The apps were really good. Calamari and the Sausage delicious The Skate entree was ok. It was slightly over seasoned. The Pork Lion was so so. It came with crackling that was so old it was like chewing leather. The deserts werenok. The sorbet was very tasty. The service was hit and miss. It took forever just to get bread and despite a empty restaurant it took a while to get food. read more

See all

A hidden gem in midtown. I'm surprised that this place doesn't have more reviews! I really liked the theme: cocktails, whether new or classic, made with gin as the base spirit. Try a new twist on traditional gin drinks, like the G&T, Singapore Sling, or Gimlet. Better yet, try a whiskey cocktail, such as the Manhattan, with gin substituted for your usual bourbon or rye. Why not? If I'd only tried the incredible gin old fashioned (Two James Old Cockney Gin, Cocktail & Sons Spiced Demerera Syrup, House Made Bitters) I'd definitely have given Gin Parlour four stars. This concoction allowed the complexities of the gin to shine, and the syrup added just the right amount of sweetness. As a lover of old fashioneds, I really appreciated this cocktail. The rest of the drinks I tried ranged from quite good to meh to kind of horrible. The other drink that I actually ordered rather than just tasted was the Midtown Apothecary (Uncle Val's Peppered Gin, Yellow Chartreuse, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Lime). It was tasty and refreshing and mostly tasted like slightly peppery Chartreuse. You'd think that with so many interested ingredients, the cocktail would be a little more complex. For $18 (expensive even by New York standards), I was a little underwhelmed. The worst drink of the night was the Forget Me Not (Bitter Truth Pink Gin, Beet Juice, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, Lemon). This tasted like a beet smoothie you'd get at a juice stand for $3. The balance was all off. Other drinks that I sampled from friends' orders included the Quintessential G&T (too sweet, fell a bit flat); the Madhubala (Opihr Spiced Gin, Coconut Washed Manzanilla Sherry, Honey-Sumac Syrup, Mango Chutney; I liked this one); and the William Bradford Gimlet (Plymouth Gin, Cranberry, Blueberry, House Made Spiced Lime Cordial). The service was on point. Our friendly waiter was quick to refill our delicious complimentary truffle popcorn and bowls of nuts, upon request. By the end of the night, he got that we were super hungry but were not about to buy dinner, so he brought up some house-cooked potato chips, gratis. The place is super classy, too. This is definitely a good midtown spot, especially for fans of gin and swanky atmospheres. If you're looking for the best-tasting cocktail you've ever had, though, TGP might not *quite* hit that spot. read more

The Gin Parlor is inside of the newly renovated, very lux, Intercontinental hotel. Don't be deceived, this is no regular hotel lobby bar! The head bartender Jose treated us to a unique educational introduction to the world of gin. We learned about the history of gin, the different types, where they're made and then tasted a few of the classic gin cocktails. We started with the Quintessential G&T (that's gin and tonic) which was carefully prepared with a variety of fresh fruit and a house made tonic that is carbonated on the spot. It was finished with a juniper leaf attached to the glass so that one inhales the scent while imbibing. It was phenomenal. Next we had a drink I'd never heard of (and I'm pretty lushy so that takes some doing!). The Martinez is a gin cocktail made with Old Tom gin (this is a class of gin, not a brand name). Old Tom gin is aged, as exemplified by its rich brown color, and it's richer and sweeter than London dry gin (i.e. It's not Seagrams) the Martinez was different, tasty, and strong. Even the bar snacks were exceptional. We nibbled on roasted spiced nuts and what I believe was a truffled popcorn. I wish they'd bag and sell that popcorn! All in all it was more fun and a better experience than any hotel bar I've enjoyed in the US. Highly recommend! And if you see Jose, tell him Jami from Florida said hi! read more

See all

Nope - not great, not even good. Located inside the Intercontinental Hotel Barclay, the Gin Parlour charges 15% gratuity on all sales, plus a city occupancy tax of 5.875%. Doesn't matter if you are staying in the hotel or not. Literally thousands of bars and restaurants in Manhattan to go get a great gin Martini without tacking on service charges and extortion fees. Oddly enough, the Gin Parlour doesn't know how to make a dry martini - at least they couldn't make me one! Generally speaking, when places force you to pay a specific 'gratuity charge', the service usually suffers. The service at the Gin Parlour was not worth 15%. Zero desire to ever go back - a total rip off. read more

Cocktails are average, already high prices do not include tax or mandatory 15% gratuity... bar crowd is mostly tourists and businessmen. Not worth it! read more

Nice hotel lounge - it is not intimate and removed. The Gin Parlour is open access and you can sit and watch all the comings and goings in the hotel lobby. They REALLY DO have hundreds of premium gin! Our bartender let us sample several before we committed. We found a few new gins we will definitely purchase in the future. However, one word of advice, get an itemized bill. The tip is included on the bill and we only received the totaled receipt to sign. If we had not asked for the itemized receipt we would of double tipped the bartender.... perhaps that was his intent? read more

Delicious! I had the beyond burger with fries. Love that they have vegetarian options and a beyond meat section of the menu. Prices are on the higher end but the setting is very pleasant, located off to the side of the upscale lobby of the Intercontinental Barclay. Servers are attentive and polite. Busy but not noisy, even on a Friday night. read more

The Parlour - Beyond burger with fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

This hotel bar is a five-star gin joint if you're a guest at the Intercontinental Barclay. The food and drinks are enough to allow you to stay in the hotel on a winter day or night and not feel like you're missing out on the cuisine and craft cocktail scenes of Manhattan. I'd suggest it's closer to four stars for others, since the pricing is hotel-appropriate. Or even three stars if you're looking for a bar with a scene, or maybe one not full of tourists from around the world anyway. Love that the design is themed around recreating the ambiance of a classic Park Avenue home. It's simple, but elegant great drink list, themed by eras from Silent Film to Post War to Disco! The wine list is pretty good. But not a "wow" for someone visiting from Northern California. Gin Parlour offers the same menu for lunch and dinner. One friend enjoyed the Chopped Fattoush Salad, which is made with lentils instead of chick peas. Another loved her Roasted Organic Chicken Cobb Salad. I was surprised by the quality of the truly excellent Green Pulse Salad. I added grilled chicken, which danced with the harmonious cast of organic greens, toasted red quinoa, chickpeas, sprouted black lentils, feta and sunflower seeds dressed with a bright but subtle lemon thyme vinaigrette. As alluded to above, I stayed at the hotel during a wintery stretch and enjoyed a few meal here. The Cubano Sandwich was pretty good. An actual thick slice pork shoulder, but with Swiss cheese oddly enough. I had great expectations for my last meal here. The Fried Chicken Sandwich delighted my friend, so I saved it in anticipation of the glory I imagined. Really, kimchi buttermilk-brined chicken delighted my imagination. However, it arrived at my table slightly overcooked. The savory salty chicken was engineered to contrast with the sweet pickles, but it landed just short of the runway. Anti-climactic, sure. But there was a last-minute save by the New York Cheesecake. Yum. Well done. read more

By all accounts online, it seems like it would be a nice hotel restaurant. In reality, it's an extension to the hotel lobby where you can order food and drink that is done decently, and costs an absurd amount. Service is nice, and it's not a bad spot if you want to find a quiet nook to have conversations you don't want shared readily. read more

Located in the lobby of the Intercontinental Barclay I'm not usually a fan of hotel bars. Overpriced and usually mediocre, usually in my opinion best go looking elsewhere. The Gin Parlour is definitely an exception to that rule. The bar is located across the lobby from the reception desk and is spacious and welcoming for hotel guests and yes even those who have sought out this gin joint. The menu boasts two whole pages of different gins from around the world. In addition, signature cocktails, wine and beer, and an assortment of other liquors to enjoy. We had a Manhattan and Gentleman Caller, I would pass on the gentleman caller and try something else next time. Th Manhattan was awesome, as was the old fashioned. Be warned the cocktails are all super potent, although with a 15-20 price tag they should be! Also the bar nuts must be dipped in some seasoning from high above, they are without a doubt can't miss! The only complaint I have here is that they seem to be short staffed but otherwise competent, professional, and super friendly! Feel like trying a new gin or gin cocktail, don't miss the Gin Parlour! read more

Gin gin gin. You will find it at Gin Parlour because they have virtually all the gin in the world. The drinks here are a bit pricey but the pours are quite generous and it probably includes the classy setting of the Intercontinental Barclay (a classic NYC hotel where the bar is located). In case you want to catch a game, the bar also has a large screen tucked away in the back. I would have given Gin Parlour a 4.5 star rating but the table service was pretty bad. We had to ask for our check threes time and waited 10 mins to order our first drink. Also, Gin Parlour (by its name) has a limited selection on other types of spirits and beers. read more

See all

The Gin Parlour you are truly fantastic, I had a spectacular experience here today. Friendly service, welcoming mood. I had 2 dishes, I really loved my Pork Lion, but both dishes tasted absolutely wonderful. Crew is extremely pleasant and can help you with anything. Go and check The Gin Parlour out - you'll be happy that you did. read more

You know management failed when perpetually bad service is only escalated by a ditz of a receptionist/hostess oh can't pronounce a single thing on the menu properly, nor can she give you adequate information on restaurant week menus. I can take my business elsewhere, just severely disappointed in the lack of competence. read more

I'd been meaning to pop in here for a bit, as it's a cool-looking hotel bar near my office. I finally came for drinks with a coworker one day. It was nice that it wasn't too crowded even during happy hour hours, and we found a cozy seat in the back. The crowd was super interesting--some of them must have been dressed for a formal event that evening, and many were older, but the effect was that it seemed there were people from different eras, which only added to the ambience, since the menu groups drinks by time period. We tried a few different drinks, one of which came in a giant hemingway mug, but the classic gin & tonic was the only one that was really amazing. And it WAS amazing (the others were too sweet and weird). It's pricey, but if you love a gin & tonic and want a little hideaway from the bustle, come by! read more

Just had breakfast at Gin Parlour. Horrible. Mediocre service. $40 Buffett, which essentially had no fruit, runny eggs, lots of bread products. It may be a nice bar for later, but not for breakfast. read more

Loved the vibe here. It's a hotel lobby but in all honesty it was extremely classy and the service was great but in true nyc fashion the drinks were pricey but worth the visit. The drinks were very good! read more

Hotel bar with a wide variety of gin . They have lillet with goes well with gin . Sausage wrapped olives ? So a bit expensive but over 100 gins including Monkey 47 read more

Went there for drinks and dinner. The Intercontinental has been renovated and the whole place looks great. Service was prompt and efficient. A bit on the loud side for dinner but a nice place. I had the spaghetti pommodoro, which was excellent. Everyone was satisfied with their meal. It's pricey - 32 dollars for a bowl of spaghetti, but you are paying for the location...and at least it was a darned good bowl of spaghetti. read more

Had a long flight and was exhausted. Got to hotel and was too tired to eat elsewhere and contemplated for two hours on whether to pay a lot for food downstairs or call an uber. I decided I'll go downstairs to Gin Parlour. Bar tender was nice and made a great drink. Nuts were good. Then I ordered the herb 1/2 chicken which wasn't much of a price difference from Upstairs menu (was trying to be cheap). But I ordered anyway. But when it came out the peas were still hard and the chicken was dry and small. I thought to myself, 'if this is organic why is it dry and tasteless?' They do pride themselves of local ingredients and fresh but this plate was bad. I sent it back. Second try, same problem. I tried my best to like it and enjoy it but it was damn hard! So I sent it back. Restless I ordered a cheeseburger...how can you go wrong with that? I took it up to my room and started to eat it...it was small, vegetables were old like it was cut days ago and the it had no seasoning!! I had to mask my burger with the quarter cut of pickle they gave me and sauce! And it was a $28 burger! So pissed. read more

My boyfriend and I have stayed at the Intercontinental Barclay twice now and we love it. The Gin Parlor is lovely, we're also big fans of gin, so that helps. Great ambiance in the lobby of the hotel where it is, good music playing, and some of the best complimentary bar snacks that they refill frequently for you. We've had Jose the bartender on both occasions and he is awesome! Highly recommend, just keep in mind these cocktails aren't cheap... read more

Some of the best food I had ever had compliments to the chef and Staff. Jose The Head Bartender is the best. Greeted us and took very good care of us the moment we sat down. I would recommend this great restaurant to anyone looking for s great meal and great hospitality thank you again Christopher and Shana Your Boston clients read more

Love the quintessential g&t. They brew their own tonic with infusion. Bartenders are very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended

The Quintessential is a must try! Absolutely delicious. The bartender will have suggestions, if you ask for them. Huge gin selection.

Nice place to grab a drink in midtown. Great bar and ambiance. A bit pricey for cocktails, but then again you're in midtown. Curious to see what the happy hour specials are, would come back for another drink sometime. read more

This is a convenient location we picked for a business breakfast meeting. But the room is noisy as it's small and the tables are so close together. The service is ok but the food was awful, way overpriced too. read more

Really great spot in Midtown East. Not a typical NYC Hotel Lobby bar. They also have a great Happy Hour. The manager O'Ryan knows his stuff and was happy to share. I will definitely be back read more

Craft cocktails; various tonics to go with the many guns, staff is friendly, a little price, but the atmosphere and ambiance makes it worth it. read more

Went to the Gin Parlour in the Intercontinental Hotel for a late breakfast/early lunch on Sunday and had one of the best waiters ever. Worth a trip to the restaurant just to be served by one of NY's finest. Fernando clearly loves his job and makes every patron feel special. Food just ok, prices high, but Fernando met every request with a smile, happy demeanor and was quick but without rushing us. Fernando, if you should read this, happy new granddaughter -- you are the best! read more