Jackson Heights Life

As we edge closer to our expected move to the neighborhood, I have to ask a question that's been scratching at the back of my mind: Where will I go for a good drink? Here in LIC, we have Dutch Kills. One of the best cocktail bars in the city. An opinion not only held by myself but many cocktail enthusiasts.

I know cocktail bars of that caliber aren't numerous in the outer boroughs, but I'm curious to know where folks go when they want a well-made cocktail. I happen to make my own cocktails, but sometimes I like to go out for drinks instead of mixing them up at home.

If I want a well made spirit-forward cocktail in the neighborhood I go to my kitchen cabinet.

That said, Bocaito has some interesting cocktails which I also like quite a bit. (Specifically the El Mero Mero and the Samba Pa'Ti)

As we edge closer to our expected move to the neighborhood, I have to ask a question that's been scratching at the back of my mind: Where will I go for a good drink? Here in LIC, we have Dutch Kills. One of the best cocktail bars in the city. An opinion not only held by myself but many cocktail enthusiasts.

I know cocktail bars of that caliber aren't numerous in the outer boroughs, but I'm curious to know where folks go when they want a well-made cocktail. I happen to make my own cocktails, but sometimes I like to go out for drinks instead of mixing them up at home.

I'm following this, just moved a few months ago, and i hope im wrong.  But unfortunately i think you are moving to the only place in nyc with no brunch and no cocktails within a 20 block radius.  If you want a drink i think you will be taking train to LIC, astoria, or Manhattan

Understand that much of what makes this neighborhood so beautiful and characteristic and attractive and livable to many of its residents would not, could not, exist in a place rife with "craft cocktail" bars, though if you are insistent on spending $15 on a drink I will gladly fix you a guayaba mojito in my living room.

There are definitely places, though you might have to go a little bit outside of your comfort zone. Pata Paplean makes interesting Thai-inspired cocktails, Amaru has a line of surprisingly thoughtful pisco drinks, Kitchen 79 has a few nice beers, and there are other places but I already fear that I have said too much.

Enjoy the hood but respect it for what it is. Fancy drinks may be rare but authentic restaurants from a dozen regions are a dime a dozen and this is unique for NYC if not for the world!

I like to make my own cocktails as well, but when I want someone to make me a cocktail in JH I go to Amaru Pisco Bar on Northern - fantastic cocktail ala JH.

WHAT WAS THAT? THIS IS A DELICIOUS PISCO COCKTAIL BUT I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE NOISE!
(Have you ever been to Amaru when the sound system is not booming. I'm not talking about 8pm on a friday or 10pm on a weeknight. Sunday afternoon! Wed early evening!)

Seconding Pata Paplean.  It's a funky Thai cocktail place and I enjoyed their cocktails.  On the general subject of drinks, don't forget Sake Bar Zabb.

It is surprising (not saying good or bad, just surprising) that we still don't have a single craft cocktail bar (or a single ___, or a single ___) given what's going on with residential real estate. Someone needs to study the very particular dynamics of neighborhood change and stability here.

Ultimately, I like that JH is resisting the homogeneous upscaling of businesses. And I also like that I can get a perfectly OK glass of wine (with my perfectly incredible dinner) at various Thai and Indian restaurants for something like $7.

If you ever want to change that to "great glass of wine", you should try Addictive Wine & Tapas....
https://addictivewinebar.com/

I vaguely remember hearing about this place! It looks delicious! I'm equally as excited about good wine as I am cocktails (well, almost). And ,y wife and I love tapas. So, this is right up our alley.

@Dodger et al, will have to look into Peta Paplean. Never really knew the Thai for cocktails. But I'm eager to learn.

I'm also a bit surprised that there isn't a cocktail bar at all. And I don't personally believe that a cocktail bar has to mean the downturn of the neighborhood's charm. That's like saying a nice sit down restaurant would pull the hood down. There are a few in JH, and the hood is still standing. People should readjust the way they look at cocktail culture. It's a culinary art/experience just as a good meal is. Casa Del Chef in Woodside didn't mark the end of the neighborhood. It simply brought something new, and a different perspective to food that the hood didn't previously have.

Alcohol is no different. It's still a gastronomic experience. There's a time and place for the run of the mill bar. But there's also a time and a place for something crafted with care and sophistication. There's no reason you can't have both.

I was intrigued by Pata Paplean... it looks like a fun place to hang, but a number of the reviews on Yelp talked about how sweet the cocktails are, which is not really my thing.