The Bloody Mary Blog

I have been a bartender for many, many moons, and I have concocted some of the most delicious cocktails. I made many savory drinks including cucumber, basil, all kinds of yummy stuff. Savory drinks have the best of both worlds, alcohol and food! I do have to admit that I’ve never made a Bloody Mary that’s out of the ordinary, I always used bottled Bloody Mary mix, some of it actually pretty delicious. The reason is probably that I always worked at night, and and this spicy delicacy is generally a Brunch drink. Which means I hat a lot of them. A lot. Below you find some of New York’s finest Bloody Marys, which I personally think you should give a taste! (*the one in the picture above is actually from Belga Cafe in Washington DC, and it has celery foam on top, amazing!)

Saxon & Parole

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Saxon & Parole is located in the Bowery, and when it comes to Bloody Marys, they let you decide how it should taste! During Brunch hours the Bloody Mary Bar has you choose whatever your heart desires to concoct your perfect Hair of the Dog. I happened to visit in the afternoon, and a knowledgeable bartender with the sweetest French accent made me a Bloody Mary with housemade garlic infused vodka, tomato-vegetable juice with Aleppo salt on the rim. Amazing. So. Brunch or not, Bloody Marys here are top notch.

JG Melon

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JG Melon is located on the Upper Eastside, and has been a mainstay since 1972. Known for its amazing burger and for being uncompromisingly set in their traditional ways, they have also managed to come up with one of the best Bloody Mays in the city. It looks ordinary, but don’t let it fool you. Filled with vodka, beef broth (which lends it the name Bloody Bull), and housemade tomato juice mix. Topped off with a lime, you are sure to enjoy this treat any time of the day!

Bar Sardine

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Bar Sardine is located in the West Village, a cute little place with awesome staff. Here I had the Green (Bay) Bloody Mary made with Chile Vodka, and instead of tomato juice, they top it off with tomatillo juice, much to my delight. Not only do I love the way it looks, but I love tomatillos. Some cucumber and hot sauce seals the deal, and in Green Bay Wisconsin tradition, it is served with a small glass of beer on the side. Totally awesome!!

The Wren

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The Wren is also located in the Bowery, a popular area these days! This spot has been recognized for having some of the best savory cocktails in NYC and beyond. Of course their Bloody Marys are mostly served during Brunch (their selections is sizable!),, but with a little luck one of the well read bartenders will make you one in the evening. I had the Canadian, which is made with housemade Aquavit, Clamato, dill and cucumber. It has an extra light flavor to it, and I guzzled it down in a hurry. Lovely.

Bar Bacon

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Bar Bacon is located on the Upper Westside, and as the name suggests this place is all about bacon. You already know on some level that you undoubtedly will get a great Bloody Mary here, unless you’re a vegetarian! The Bacon Bloody is made with bacon vodka, homemade Bloody Mary mix, and is garnished with (of course) bacon. It’s a must try!

Mother’s Ruin

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Mother’s Ruin is located on Spring Street downtown. It’s a popular and lively bar that is known for its delicious bites and snacks and their extensive knowledge of gins and gin cocktails. But make no mistake about it, their Bloody Mary has made some waves. Compiled with seemingly traditional ingredients, the addition of Old Bay seasoning, Cholua Hot Sauce and celery seed made this brunch drink stand out. It’s available any time of the day, so don’t wake up early to go get it!

The Lobster Joint

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The Lobster Joint is located in Brooklyn, so sometimes you have to travel a bit to get that good stuff. Unless you live in Brooklyn of course. I visited their location in Greenpoint, and this place is set up like a New England beach bar, rustic and casual. They offer a few different Bloody Marys, but their show stopper is the Lobster Claw Bloody Mary. Delicious and traditional, it is garnished with all the fixings and an actual lobster claw. It’s tasty and fun, and worth an Uber if you’re in Manhattan!

Author: Gotham Foodie

Hello there, fellow foodies! My name is Erica, I was born and raised in Germany, and moved to the US, New York City to be exact, in July of 1987. I have worked most of my time here in the Big Apple as a bartender, but my true love is food. I cook just about every day, I search for good food everywhere, and pretty much always find it. I don't consider myself a food critic, I don't have the culinary background for that kind of expertise. I do however know good food, good chefs and good restaurants. I report back about my culinary adventures, and I choose to leave out my unsatisfactory experiences. We have enough negativity in our daily lives, I don't want to add to that. All the recipes in my FROM MY KITCHEN and DOTW blogs are cooked and prepared by me. All pictures are taken by me. I don't always eat everything you see in my pictures, but you bet your buns, I do try everything. Last but not least, you should know that I am a huge Top Chef fan. I have never missed an episode of the Bravo TV show. I have at this point visited almost 20 restaurants run by Top Chef contestants, and I'm continuously impressed by their skill, drive and passion. So I will continue to seek them out, and I hope you join me in my journey!

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