Lower East Side Hidden Speakeasy Bar Picker for a Solo Night
Champagne Bar Near Me in Midtown: Dear Irving Above Times Square
Dear Irving on Hudson pairs champagne-friendly cocktails, Art Deco rooms, open-air balconies, and 40th- and 41st-floor Manhattan views inside the Aliz Hotel Times Square.
Dear Irving on Hudson is the champagne bar near me choice for anyone who wants Midtown views without the atmosphere of a giant party rooftop. The lounge occupies the 40th and 41st floors of the Aliz Hotel Times Square at 310 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. Floor-to-ceiling windows, small open-air balconies, velvet seating, and a two-level layout turn a drink into a slow look across the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline.

The bar opened in 2019 as the second New York location of Dear Irving. Yves Jadot Restaurant Group developed it with partners Alberto Benenati and bar director Meaghan Dorman, whose team also built the original Gramercy cocktail parlor and Raines Law Room. The Hudson location trades Gramercy’s four historical rooms for James Bond and Art Deco themes, a fitting choice for a lounge reached by a hotel elevator high above West 40th Street.
Champagne is part of the wider wine and sparkling program, but the menu’s most distinctive bubbles appear in cocktails. Vice Versa costs $20 and combines Dorothy Parker gin, grapefruit, Luxardo bitter, Giffard pamplemousse, and Raventós rosé cava. The glass arrives fresh, floral, and lightly bitter rather than sweet. It is the right first drink when you want sparkling texture without committing immediately to a full bottle.
The official cocktail menu is organized by mood rather than by spirit alone. Parlor Old Fashioned is $21, Smoke at Sunset is $22, and Cloud Forest is $20. For a larger splurge, Myth of Tomorrow is $28, Legends of Gotham is $35, Juneau Bloom is $35, and Golden Harmony is $36. Those prices make it easy to plan the evening before the skyline persuades the table to order another round.
A one-beverage purchase per guest is required, a house rule printed directly on the menu. That rule is useful rather than punitive because the lounge is built around reserved seating and long views. Choose the first drink before settling into photographs and conversation. If one guest is not drinking alcohol, the zero-proof list includes Garden Party, ’90s Nostalgia, and Serene Green at $17 each, plus Desert Sip at $18.
The best champagne-minded order is Vice Versa followed by a direct sparkling or champagne selection from the wine menu. The cocktail’s cava, grapefruit, rose, and bitter notes wake up the palate without overwhelming food. Guests who prefer a drier experience should tell the server that they want mineral, citrus-driven bubbles; those who want a celebratory profile can ask for a round that leans richer and toastier. The staff’s cocktail background makes that conversation part of the visit.
Dear Irving on Hudson is 21-plus and asks for proper attire, with elegant clothing suggested. That does not require black tie, but gym clothes and an improvised tourist outfit miss the room’s tone. A jacket, dress, tailored trousers, or a polished casual look fits naturally. Proper identification matters because the age rule applies to the entire establishment, not just the bar seats. Coordinate the group before arrival so nobody gets stranded in the lobby.
The official hours currently run from 5 pm to midnight Monday and Tuesday, 5 pm to 1 am Wednesday and Thursday, 4 pm to 2 am Friday and Saturday, and 4 pm to midnight Sunday. Friday and Saturday offer the longest arc, but a Monday or Tuesday visit can be more rewarding for conversation. Arrive near opening if you want a balcony edge or a two-person seating station before the post-theater and after-work crowd thickens.
Reservations are the smart choice, though walk-ins may be accommodated when space remains. The two floors can also host private events, and parts of the lounge may be committed to groups. Treat the reservation as a way to protect the view rather than merely secure entry. Mention a proposal, birthday, anniversary, or out-of-town visitor in advance. A host can do more with that information before service than after every skyline table is occupied.
The address is especially convenient for a pre-theater drink. Port Authority is across the neighborhood, Times Square is a few blocks east, and Broadway theaters spread north and south from the hotel. Start with a quiet walk through Bryant Park, move west along 40th Street, then take the elevator to the 40th floor. After the drink, continue to a show, walk toward Hudson Yards, or head south to Koreatown for a later meal.
The interior is worth moving through slowly. One floor has sunrise and sunset rooms with balconies, while the upper level continues the bi-level panorama. The James Bond influence is more about tailored glamour, metallic details, and a composed night out than literal movie props. Choose a seat for the direction of light you want, then take a short walk between rooms after the first drink. The skyline looks different from each side of the building.
For a first visit, pair Vice Versa at $20 with one richer drink from the fancy section only if the table plans to stay. Myth of Tomorrow at $28 brings cristalino tequila, shiso, yuzu curaçao, lemongrass, and lemon; Legends of Gotham at $35 uses heirloom rye, amaro, Barolo Chinato, and vermouth. The contrast shows Dorman’s range, from bright sparkling aperitif to a deep Manhattan-style nightcap.
Practical notes: Dear Irving on Hudson is at 310 West 40th Street on the 40th and 41st floors of the Aliz Hotel Times Square. Every guest must be 21 or older, proper attire is expected, and one beverage purchase per guest is required. Reserve for prime evening hours, arrive before the light changes, and bring a layer if you plan to step onto an open-air balcony.
For a champagne bar near me search in Midtown, Dear Irving on Hudson succeeds because bubbles are only one part of a precise experience. The 2019 opening story, Meaghan Dorman cocktail program, Art Deco rooms, 40th-floor balconies, clear house rules, and Broadway-adjacent address give the night a structure. Begin with the sparkling Vice Versa, watch Manhattan shift from sunset to electric light, and leave enough time to walk to the next stop rather than rushing back downstairs.
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