Opening Night: Middle Branch

This past Monday, August 20th was the much-awaited opening of Middle Branch, the newest addition to the Petraske family. After waiting what seemed like an age, principals Lucinda Sterling (@lucindasterling) and Benjamin Schwartz finally got their liquor license (described by Lucinda as the “most important document since my birth certificate and diplomas”) in hand late last week and promptly threw open the doors for business.

As big fans of Milk & Honey/Little Branch/Silver Lining and all things classic cocktails, naturally we were in attendance, drinking our way from Hemingway Daiquiris (rum, lime, grapefruit, maraschino) to Expats (bourbon, lemon, mint, angostura) by way of the Good Friday, a new concoction from Theo Lieberman (@theolieberman) of M&H and Lantern’s Keep, with a few Queen’s Park Swizzles (rum, lime, mint, bitters) thrown in for good measure.

The two-level townhouse bar maintains the intimate, speakeasy feel of its cousins, but with way more room so you can kiss the reservation debacles and long, cold waits on 7th Avenue good bye. You walk down a small flight of stairs to get to the lower level, which features two large, long tables for standing and chatting. Upstairs there are red leather banquettes and small tables, plus a little balcony from which you can survey the rest of 33rd street (hint, no other good cocktails in sight).

A great spot for some after work drinks, for after-dinner drinks, and late night drinks. So pretty much all the time. And, conveniently, they are open from 5-2 every night.

Here’s to slowly but surely redeeming Murray Hill. Cheers!

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Tags: lucinda sterling, middle branch, murray hill, sasha petraske