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On December 18Rachel Bowie answered the question:
What’s the story behind the Old King Cole mural at King Cole Bar?
The luminous Maxfield Parrish mural Old King Cole — the centerpiece of the King Cole Bar — was commissioned by Colonel John Jacob Astor in 1906 for his 42nd Street hotel, The Knickerbocker. It cost $5,000, which was a great deal of money at the time. The 30-foot-long mural didn’t last long at The Knickerbocker — the hotel closed not long after it opened. Astor perished on the Titanic and his once-spectacular hotel was turned into an office building in the 1920s. After a few additional stops, the mural found its place in The St. Regis New York inside the King Cole Bar in 1932, becoming the focal point of the cozy and elegant room. In 2007, the mural, which is made up of three panels, was completely restored following a $100,000 cleaning designed to keep the painting intact for decades to come. The story goes that the Old King Cole mural contains a famous secret that must be coaxed out of the St. Regis bartenders. Make sure to ask next time you’re in for a drink. -
On December 18Rachel Bowie answered the question:
What is in the Red Snapper at King Cole Bar?
The Red Snapper, the famous cocktail perfected at the King Cole Bar in The St. Regis New York, is actually a very straightforward and simple drink. The cocktail starts with the signature Bloody Mary mix. The base is tomato juice spiked with lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco pepper sauce, cayenne pepper, celery salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bartenders will add your favorite premium vodka and mix by rolling the tomato, spirit and ice back and forth between two silver cocktail shakers. They might place a garnish like a celery stalk on the side, but don’t expect to see capers, bacon, pickled green beans or any other newfangled additions here. They will happily, however, make your Bloody Mary with gin if you prefer. The satisfying — and spicy —cocktail goes down smooth, a tribute to the original that bartender Fernand Petiot mixed up in 1934. If you’re feeling adventurous, choose from five other Red Snapper blends on the cocktail menu, all signature drinks at St. Regis hotel locations around the world. -
On December 18Rachel Bowie answered the question:
What are desserts like at King Cole Bar?
The desserts at the King Cole Bar are as traditional and satisfying as the ambiance. The apple cobbler features an almond crumble topping and a little scoop of sour cream sorbet on the side. Other options to try: the classic French cake known as a crousti fondant; here its decadent chocolate is offset by a praline mousse and passion fruit granité. We also like the take on the Italian dessert tiramisu, with ladyfingers soaked in espresso. Here, the dessert features coffee cream and panna cotta, which is a creamy vanilla gelatin. Finally, you may find it hard to resist the strawberry sable, the classic French butter cookie served with strawberry jam and vanilla cream. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a range of options, each one priced at $15. -
On December 18Rachel Bowie answered the question:
What is the bar food menu like at King Cole Bar?
The bar food menu at the King Cole Bar in New York City’s St. Regis New York offers a range of options. If you’re looking for a small bite, opt for tuna tartare, the crostini or the Mediterranean plate. Prices for small bites range from $19 to 32. For something heartier, choose from the King Cole Bar Classics. The menu items featured here are classic for a reason: they’re great. We loved the French onion soup, topped with crouton and gruyere cheese, but the Cobb salad, served with either lump crabmeat or grilled chicken or the King Cole burger are also excellent options to order. Prices for classics range from $16 to 38. Last, if you have a sweet tooth, try one of the desserts, which are all priced at $15. We liked the chocolate mousse trio, the caramel dome with a vanilla center and raspberry sorbet, and the apple cobbler. -
On December 18Rachel Bowie answered the question:
What Red Snapper blends are available at King Cole Bar?
The Red Snapper was perfected and popularized at The St. Regis New York’s King Cole Bar in 1934. Since, it’s inspired many variations by other St. Regis bartenders around the world. The bar offers what it calls a World Collection of St. Regis Signature Bloody Mary Blends, all variations on the original recipe created by bartender Fernand Petiot. You’ll find six different blends that start with the St. Regis Bloody Mary mix and add spirits and spices that carry the flavor of their locale. The Red Snapper (from The St. Regis New York) features Belvedere vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice and spices. The Bloody Smoke from the Lanesborough in London features Springbank 10-year-old scotch and Clamato juice along with garnishes of celery, olives and cracked black pepper. Harry’s Texas Bloody Mary from the St. Regis Houston comes with Herradura silver tequila as well as and vodka and a sprinkle of Cajun seasoning. The Capitol Mary from the St. Regis Washington, D.C. is made with gin, and flavored with Old Bay seasoning and clam juice, and garnished with oyster crackers. The Agave Maria from the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Southern California is spiked with Inocente tequila and green jalapeño peppers. Finally, there’s the Mary Terranean from the St. Regis Grand Hotel in Rome. This cocktail is made with Frïs vodka, the St. Regis Bloody Mary mix, extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil and oregano. In case you’re interested in making a variation on the original Bloody Mary at home, the St. Regis website shares recipes for many creative takes on the famous cocktail from properties around the world.
Correspondent
New York City, New York, USA
Rachel Bowie is a Forbes Travel Guide correspondent who lives in New York City and covers hotels, restaurants, spas and luxury travel trends for Startle. Bowie is a writer, editor and blogger and has previously worked as an associate editor for Boston Common and edited its travel, entertainment and philanthropy sections. She has also written for Gotham, Hamptons and Parent & Child, among other publications. Bowie received her master’s degree in journalism from Emerson College and earned her undergraduate degree from Wheaton College in Massachusetts. She is currently on the executive board for New York Women in Communications.
