You know what journalists want in a bar? Strong drinks and to be left alone.
That’s certainly true at Gibson & Luce, the new speakeasy in the basement of the Life Hotel discovered during a renovation. The building used to be the home of Life magazine, and the bar is said to have been a Prohibition-era hang for the hard-working journos to blow off some steam in peace.
The upscale bar menu of items like a goose fat potato knish and crispy chicken “tots” will go far to keep you debating the hot topics of the day long into the night (and, a rarity for a hotel bar, Gibson & Luce will remain open until 1 a.m.)
The trend of bitter Italian spirits is present in an extensive menu of digestifs, with a cocktail list rife with end-of-the-world names (dark humor is essential for those in the news business) and eclectic ingredients.
Lounge on the cerulean banquettes and cue up a retro version of a jukebox: The bar has “a nook for turntables” with a “curated” selection of vinyl albums. As long as there’s some Radiohead, keep the drinks coming.
Gibson & Luce is located at 19 W. 31st St.