Why Clemente Bar Is NYC’s Most Stylish Winter Escape Right Now
Step inside Clemente Bar, the intimate cocktail hideaway above Eleven Madison Park. From art-filled interiors and inventive martinis to refined bar bites, this NYC insider favorite is the perfect warm winter escape.
- By: Julianne Elise Beffa I Photos By: Ye Fan, Jason Varney & Jodi Hines
If you are hunting for the kind of New York City cocktail bar that makes winter feel like a suggestion rather than a sentence, Clemente Bar is calling your name. Tucked upstairs above the iconic Eleven Madison Park restaurant, this second floor hideaway is warm, low lit, art soaked, and exactly where you want to be when the temperatures dip and your group chat is begging for a chic but cozy plan.
Clemente Bar feels like a secret you are instantly desperate to share. You climb the stairs at 11 Madison Park, and suddenly you are inside an intimate salon that feels equal parts cool and old world elegance. We wore a tight dress and boots and felt perfectly in sync with the room. The crowd was a mix of bankers unwinding after long days, industry insiders clocking the details, and corporate baddies who know a good bar when they see one. It is polished without being precious, cool without trying too hard, and very much a LOOP Mag favorite.
The space itself is a masterclass in collaboration. Clemente Bar is the result of a close creative partnership between award winning chef Daniel Humm and legendary artist Francesco Clemente. Designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works, the room is layered with one of a kind works by Clemente, thoughtfully sourced vintage pieces, furniture by Los Angeles designer Brett Robinson, and custom lamps by German artist Carsten Höller. It feels collected, intentional, and lived in, like a cocktail bar you wish you had been invited to years ago.
That salon energy is no accident. The concept was born from months of conversations between Humm and Clemente, pulling from their shared love of New York City and their appreciation for art filled European bars like the iconic Kronenhalle in Switzerland. The result is a space that invites you to linger, talk too much, order one more round, and forget about the cold entirely.
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The Cocktails
Now, let’s about the drinks, because Clemente Bar’s cocktail program is serious in the best way. Led by Beverage Director Sebastian Tollius, the menu focuses on cocktails that are technically precise yet elegantly restrained. Translation: they are smart, beautiful, and wildly drinkable. We started with the Clemente Martini, a standout that blends Altamura Vodka, Malfy Gin, green curry, and saffron. It is savory, aromatic, and somehow both comforting and unexpected. This is not your standard martini and that is exactly the point.
Then came the Espresso Martini Float, which deserves its own moment. Made with Absolut Elyx Vodka, Mr. Black, Coca Cola, and maraschino ice cream, it is playful, nostalgic, and dangerously good. It feels like dessert and a nightcap rolled into one, the kind of drink that sparks a round of table wide reactions and immediate reorders.
The Bites
The bar bites more than hold their own. Clemente Bar is not doing an afterthought menu and it shows. The avocado inari pockets with sticky rice, lime, and shiso are fresh, delicate, and deeply satisfying. The Clemente Mushroom Burger with butter lettuce, tomato, and ranch is rich, comforting, and exactly what you want in a low lit room after your second cocktail. It eats indulgent without feeling heavy, the kind of dish that quietly steals the show and keeps the table talking. We yapped, sipped, and ate our way through the night and decided, collectively, that this might be our favorite bar in New York right now.
Clemente Bar also offers two distinct experiences. The Lounge is an à la carte cocktail and wine space with refined bites, perfect for spontaneous plans or a well timed walk in. Reservations are available throughout the evening, but the vibe remains relaxed and welcoming. The Studio, on the other hand, is a reservation only chef’s counter. Beginning mid January 2026, Sushi Master Chef Eiji Ichimura will take residence for a multi month omakase experience, pairing nigiri and handrolls with dishes from Chef Humm and his culinary team. It is intimate, elevated, and destined to become one of the city’s hardest reservations.
The pedigree behind Clemente Bar is undeniable. Daniel Humm is the force behind Eleven Madison Park, a restaurant that has held three Michelin stars for over a decade and topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. A native of Switzerland, Humm earned his first Michelin star at just 24 and has since collected seven James Beard Awards and four stars from The New York Times. Francesco Clemente, born in Naples in 1952, is a towering figure in contemporary art, with works held in institutions from the Guggenheim and MoMA to the Centre Pompidou and the Uffizi. His spiritual, philosophical, and globally informed practice brings depth and soul to the space.
Clemente Bar is not just a cocktail bar. It is a mood, a meeting place, a warm glow above one of the world’s most famous dining rooms. It is where art, hospitality, and nightlife intersect in the most New York way possible. If you are looking for one of the best cocktail bars in NYC, a hidden gem near the Flatiron building, or simply a place to feel cool, cozy, and very in the know, Clemente Bar should be at the top of your list. We will absolutely be back.
