If you follow bar culture, you may be familiar with Juliette Larrouy and Moe Aljaff. The two self-proclaimed schmucks were known for their work at Two Schmucks, the award-winning, five-starred dive bar in Barcelona. However, after citing professional differences, the team disbanded. But as a turn of fate, these two schmucks decided to come stateside, with keys to a space in East Village. Even after a year and some change of teaser pop-ups and construction delays, Schmuck. remained our most highly anticipated opening. Its clear the rest of New York felt the same, as lines continue to stretch down 1st Ave months after its January opening.
Inspired by a mix of Mid-Century Modern, the Space Age and Brutalist design movements, Schmuck. houses two experiences inside its 1,600-square-foot bar. The all-seated experience functions as your artistic's friend living room with handsome leather seating, a sleek steel bar and a heavy-black-tiled lounge in the back that looks straight out of a spa. You can find 12 original cocktails here, like the cinnamon bun and coffee FIKA drink and the fennel-forward, salad-inspired BLANKA. If you can't get a spot here, you can always go to its side bar next door, and gather around the massive wooden table in its center with a drink in hand.