New resi towers seduce and sell with sleek cocktail bars
‘MIX me up one of those Condo KoolAids, barkeep!”
To woo thirsty buyers, luxe resi towers are investing in swanky bar lounges.
Fasano Fifth Avenue (No. 815) is one of the latest buildings to make a residents-only bar the center of its social scene when it opened this month.
Designed by the celebrated architect Thierry W. Despont, the building located between 62nd and 63rd streets has five duplex apartments, all rentals, asking $100,000 a month. All of them are currently rented.
Its eponymous bar is in a chic sliver of a space, with a gold-leaf motif on the ceiling, leather and black-and-white vintage pictures of mid-century New York artists. A long terrace welcomes guests on pleasant days.
The development’s managing director, Danilo Magrini, says that the Fasano Fifth Avenue club prides itself on its cocktails, and that it tapped mixologist Jose Aranda (inset), of Porter House Bar and Grill, to run the show. Given Fasano’s Brazilian roots, the caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail, is the house special.
Tata Harper, 46, the founder of a high-end skincare line, lives full-time in New Canaan, Conn., but rents a residence in Fasano when she’s in New York. Fasano Fifth Avenue, she says, has become her uptown hangout.
“It’s cozy with great décor, and I felt welcome and at home from the minute I walked in,” she said. “Normally I would leave to meet friends downtown, but this place is so fabulous that I invite friends here, and they love it too.”
Quay Tower, on Brooklyn Bridge Park, is a condominium that’s bringing the cocktail experience to homeowners with a just-launched pop-up bar and restaurant in one of its model apartments. The program is a collaboration with Resident, a company that partners with luxury buildings to host dining events.
Resident’s owner Brian Mommsen says that the plan is to host these events at Quay several times a month and that homeowners need to reserve a spot in advance.
“The idea is to keep the gatherings small and have a venue where people feel comfortable and safe socializing,” he said.
Christina Galbato, 28, the founder of an online education business, attended a Resident preview event in September and says that she enjoyed it so much that she’s sold on the concept of getting her entertainment fix in the building where she lives. “It’s a perfect spot for me to hang out with my friends since we’re avoiding crowded bars,” said Galbato.
Other examples of buildings with drinking venues abound. One Manhattan Square, on the Lower East Side, has a wine tasting room and plans to use it to host tastings and wine workshops. On the Upper East Side, 20 East End has a handsome bar in its billiards room and at the Leyton, opening this fall, you can hang in the tower’s Brandy Room. In-building bars give residents a feeling of security, says Corcoran agent Beth Benalloul.
“People want to spend time with their friends in more intimate spaces,” she said. “A fantastic setting in your building is happy medium. It’s almost like being at a private club.”