The Upper East Side has its share of low-key gems (Torishin) and crown-jewel restaurants (Daniel), but verifiable hot spots? There are few. The idea of a hobnobbing scene in Manhattan’s stuffiest zip code seemed laughable a few years ago—as likely as an electrodisco party in Greenwich, Connecticut. But the Penrose—named for a neighborhood in Cork, Ireland, where two of the owners grew up—is finally bringing a bit of the indie-chic East Village to Gossip Girl territory. Operated by the gastropub specialists behind the Wren and Wilfie & Nell, the joint would be run-of-the-mill farther downtown, where the trifecta of reclaimed wood, craft pours and pedigreed pub grub long ago joined the ranks of food-world clichés. But it’s a welcome change up here, where the only other option in a ten-block radius is Jones Wood Foundry, and locals have responded in droves. Step inside and it’s easy to see why the handsome joint was an insta-hit—antique lights cast a golden glow over a long, curving bar in the front room, while elegant patterned wallpaper and aristocratic framed portraits decorate nooks in the back.
The vibe: A place for millennials who’ve grown up and made good, and don’t feel like riding the subway for a whiff of the Brooklyn vibes that defined their 20s.
The food: There’s plenty of your gastropub favorites but the Chorizo Crunch Wrap Supreme is exactly what you think it is and available until 2am.
The drink: 11 tap beers, an extensive NA cocktail selection, and signature cocktails like Cake by the Ocean: rum, amaretto, and mole bitters.
Time Out tip: The Penrose does have a ton of seating but it still gets crowded on Saturday nights.