Having been to the original Harry's New York Bar in Paris (where dreams are shattered: http://www.yelp.com/list/paris-2012-paris-2), I was hopeful that the Berlin outpost would be something similarly unremarkable and lowbrow. It isn't and that's a shame. This version of Harry's New York Bar sits inside the Esplanade Hotel, is somewhat upscale (the prices are ridiculously upscale), and boasts of Sylvester Stallone having danced atop the bar there once, presumably in his Brigitte Nielsen years.
Are you still interested?
The drink menu is extensive and it was my first evening in Berlin so chalk it up to jet lag: I ordered something called "Swimming Pool" which, amazingly, I also saw listed on other Berlin cocktail menus. It was a ridiculous drink, more like something one should down on the shores of Waikiki, but it tasted good. My drinking partner got herself a far more apt Moscow Mule served in an icy copper mug. I liked the presentation of both drinks.
There was no piano player in the bar while I was there (though I understand that they do have such a thing) and the only nod to anything New York was a statue of the Statue of Liberty sitting just outside the bar entrance.
Additional seating can be had on the outdoor patio which is nice even though it's actually just the space between the driveway up to the hotel and the hotel itself. Exhaust fumes were minimal, outdoor heaters were on hand, fleece wraps were provided to alleviate any evening chill, and the free little bowl of nuts and stuff contained a few tasty mystery items.
* Harry's cocktail menu declares it "The Oldest Cocktail Bar in Europe" though I imagine that refers to the Paris outpost which feels far more authentic and a better choice.
* Europe has 6 Harry's New York Bars, 5 of which are in Germany. Perhaps someone licensed the name to open Germany outposts? Whatever. Something was lost in the translation. This is a nice upscale hotel bar but other than that I can't think of any reason you should go out of your way for it.
* I have now sated my earlier desire to sample a drink at each location of Harry's New York Bar. Stick with Paris. read more