Who says you can’t have your kids and drink a glass of chardonnay?
I used to be one of those moms who thought bars and kids didn’t mix. But on a recent trip to Los Angeles, I was staying with my two children, Braden, 6, and Kaitlin, 4, at a rather grown-up hotel — the Sunset Marquis. At dinner, the kids couldn’t sit still. They ran around and danced between bites.
On our last day, I was trying to pack while the kids ran amok through the hotel suite, getting into everything, the way kids do. So I asked a visiting friend, Harry, to take the kids outside so I could pack in peace. There was a koi pond they loved to play by, so I figured he’d take them there.
Thirty minutes later, I wandered outside, and what I saw shocked me. There, at the hotel bar not far from the pond, were my two children sitting pin-straight atop a couple of stools. They were dipping their french fries in ketchup one at a time while our friend casually sipped a martini. They were all watching TV while talking to the bartender and each other.
They were so . . . civilized!
It was early evening, and the sun was going down. This was normally the “witching hour” for the kids — but they were so elated to be at the bar that they sat like quiet, well-behaved angels.
After I got over my shock, it seemed only natural that my kids would be enthusiastic about a pub. They love to eat at the bar stools at the island in my parents’ kitchen, and there’s something about being perched on a stool that makes eating kind of fun . . . not to mention grown-up.
Back home in New York, the debate has raged for years over whether kids belong in bars. But, according to the New York State Liquor Authority, a child can sit at any bar if accompanied by an adult or guardian — as long as the bar permits it. I thought: Why not give it a shot?
For the last two weeks, I’ve been baby barhopping, which is a great way to explore more of the city, especially when you’re low on baby sitters. Here are some of the best places to raise a glass while you’re raising your kids . . .
Have a drink — and bring your kids along!
Research and reporting by Carla Spartos
Ed’s Chowder House
44 W. 63rd St.; 212-956-1288
The sunny bar area of this Lincoln Center fish house features a more casual, all-day menu that makes it a convenient option for families on the go. While children between the ages of 2 and 4 years old are encouraged to sit in a highchair at one of the bar tables, older children are welcome to sit at the bar with their parents. One lounge regular is a 5-year-old “fish aficionado” who comes in weekly and even has a “particular table that he loves to sit at,” according to manager Mimi Coluccio.
* For the ’rents: Grown-ups can’t go wrong with $26 lobster rolls — washed down with a $9 Bloody Mary or Antioxidant Martini (VeeV acai spirit, pomegranate liqueur and cranberry juice).
* For the kids: Brightly lit atmosphere and a very cool bar — glass with lots of swirling color inside — appeal to kids, as do crayons, coloring books and oyster crackers in galvanized pails. Fish and chips (pictured above, $18) are a good way to wean kids off chicken fingers — although those are available, too, for $12.
* Sniff factor: No one seemed to bat an eye while watching kids dine at the bar at Ed’s, and Coluccio says it’s a common practice. “Nobody ever says, ‘I can’t believe someone brought their child in the bar area,’ ” she says. Still, she notes it’s important for parents to use discretion — for instance, avoiding the bar when it’s three-deep and taking the kids out to the foyer when they have a meltdown.
Le Pescadeux
90 Thompson St.; 212-966-0021
Located across the street from Vesuvio playground, this new seafood restaurant with French-Canadian flair is also fun for a weekend brunch (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), when kids get half-off menu items and are welcome to sit at the seven-stool bar.
* For the ’rents: East Coast oysters ($2.50), hanger steak and eggs ($18) and mimosas galore ($10). Or walk on the wild side with Rangpur Craziness ($15) — an intoxicating blend of Tanqueray Rangpur, Ricard and fresh lime juice.
* For the kids: Crayons and paper are available for kids sitting at the bar or at various tables, while brunch dishes such as French toast are served with baked fruit and maple syrup (pictured, $5).
* Sniff factor: “The customer is always No. 1 — even if they are 3 feet tall,” says owner Chuck Perley. But outside of brunch, the bar is crowded with regulars who “would be annoyed if kids were at the bar,” admits Perley.
Ouest
2315 Broadway, at 84th Street; 212-580-8700
Kids are a common sight at Tom Valenti’s popular Upper West Side restaurant — just not at the 10-seat bar. However, that changes during brunch and early evenings. “We don’t turn them away,” says general manager Chris Peterman. “We’re a very community-based restaurant. Now, on a Friday night at 7:30, is it a good idea to be at the bar with your kid? Probably not.” In other words, it’s a practice that’s tolerated rather than embraced.
* For the ’rents: Adult renditions of American comfort-food cuisine, including a 14-ounce New York strip steak ($32) — plus an ample list of wines, beers and cocktails such as the $12 Ouest Martini, a sophisticated mix of Plymouth gin, dry vermouth and onion-stuffed olives.
* For the kids: There’s no specific kids menu, but the restaurant is happy to whip up off-menu dishes such as pasta with butter and cheese ($12). Kid-friendly “cocktails” include $3 Shirley Temples. And there’s a TV to keep them occupied.
* Sniff factor: Despite a lot of smiles and nods from other approving parents, not everyone appreciated the kiddie encroachment. A very elderly lady, who wasn’t even at the bar, volunteered a disparaging comment on my way out of the restaurant: “A bar is no place for children,” she said. Meanwhile, a woman a few bar stools down harrumphed in agreement. Ouch.
Union Hall
702 Union St., Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-638-4400
How do Park Slope hipsters and breast-feeding mommies co-exist at this popular bar? By imposing strict rules: no loitering, no kids after 6 p.m., and no strollers. “They get in the way,” explains general manager Kevin Avanzato. “The way strollers are made these days, they’re so big and hard to break down.”
* For the ’rents: The large, comfortable space — complete with plush couches and fireplace — is popular with local mommy groups, who have been criticized for turning the bar into a romper room. There’s also a dozen beers on tap, a full bar (pick your poison and they’ll fix you a drink fast) and an extensive bar food menu.
* For the kids: With two indoor bocce courts, Union Hall has plenty of game. Unfortunately, fiercely competitive league play means kids aren’t welcome on the courts on weekends. The $8 “Basket o’ Corndogs” features beer in the batter, so stick with “The Triple Threat” — a trio of mini burgers for $11 (unless you want Child Protective Services showing up).
* Sniff factor: “It’s basically tolerated if it’s low-key. But if it becomes like a day care, then no one wants to be here,” says Avanzato.
Brass Monkey
55 Little West 12th St.; 212-675-6686
Think the Meatpacking District is just for cackling she-drunks and their overly gelled hangers-on? Think again. This spacious Irish bar with roof deck features a casual crowd and even a family night on Sundays from 5 to 7 with traditional Irish music and dancing. “Kids are welcome,” says owner Sean Cunningham, who has two young daughters. “Just not on a Saturday night at 11 p.m.”
* For the ’rents: A huge beer list with 60 bottles and 25 draughts — plus hearty pub grub like fish and chips ($13.50).
* For the kids: In addition to highchairs and changing tables, the bar offers coloring books, crayons and a $5.95 kids menu with faves such as mac & cheese and mini burgers. Meanwhile, Shirley Temples are on the house.
* Sniff factor: Kids rule at this bar. Literally. “My 4-year-old daughter acts like she owns the place,” laughs Cunningham.