The Summit Bar
133 Avenue C
New York, NY 10009
Hours:
Sunday & Monday: 5:30pm – 3:00am
Tuesday thru Saturday: 5:30pm – 4:00am

As the weather (finally) begins to consistently warm, the annual search for the perfect summer bar begins. NYC is great to be in year round, but nothing compares with sipping a deliciously cold drink while sitting on a patio or rooftop during the hot summer months. Summit Bar, and its inventive cocktails made from fresh, locally sourced (and sometimes home grown) ingredients, makes for the perfect after work retreat or Saturday meet up spot with friends.

Behind the bar you will find Mixologist Greg Seider (Minetta Tavern, Mercer Kitchen) and Operations Manager Hamid Rashidzada (Mercer Kitchen and Mastugen) who are eager to talk about their drinks. They offer classic fair year round, including Margaritas, Tom Collins and Gin Gimlets ($8-10), but mix them with fresh fruit juice and agave nectar, so you won’t be dealing with a sugar hangover the next day. They also only use alcohol that is found in the country of origin, so you won’t see Absolut behind the bar.

Where Summit truly stands out is in its specialty, seasonal menu. I recently sampled Ground to Glass ($10) and Charmane’s Star ($11). The first appeals to savory taste buds, featuring Corralejo blanco tequila blended with red pepper puree, cucumber, fresh lime, house blended bitters and hickory smoked salt, while Charmane (named after an apparently famous porn star who now resides in Long Island) is perfect for those with a sweet tooth, as it mixes Russian Standard vodka with cucumber, shiso leaf, fresh lime, Vietnamese cinnamon infused agave and rhubarb bitters. The latter is dangerously delicious, and is perfectly enjoyed on their back patio.