Cappuccino Thoughts 126: On Where to Get The Best Burger and Martini in New York
the perfect New York meal
Cappuccino Thoughts is a weekly newsletter about culture and creativity in New York.
The archetypal New York meal is a burger and a martini. Add a Caesar salad or fries if you must—but whether it’s 5 p.m. or 3 a.m., it’s the perfect combination. There’s the savory richness of the meat, the sharp acid of the alcohol, the briny olives, and maybe a hit of sweetness from vermouth or caramelized onions. Umami at its best.
So I took one for the team, and taste-tested burgers throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. For consistency, I always ordered: a cheeseburger, medium rare, and a gin martini, extra dirty with extra olives.
Hotel Chelsea (Chelsea)
Burger: 7/10. Decent burger and the fries were crispy, salty, and came with mayo on request.
Martini: 8/10. Served ice-cold with a fat olive—simple and satisfying.
Atmosphere: 10/10. The lobby bar always feels like quintessential New York. The art-lined walls evoke Just Kids by Patti Smith, and I love that many of the tables have sofas for seating, as if you’re sitting in the coolest living room.
Price: $56. In New York today? That isn’t too bad.
Long Island Bar (Brooklyn Heights)
Burger: 9/10. Every bite was a perfect balance of flavor. It was very generous on the cheese, which perfectly complemented the crisp lettuce and smoky meat.
Martini: 9/10. Cold, smooth, and gentle on the palate. Generous with the olives.
Atmosphere: 9/10. Dark, woody, and moody—major Don Draper vibes.
Price: $42. Solid price for value.
Gramercy Tavern (Gramercy)
Burger: 10/10. Comes topped with a thick slab of bacon, which turns out to be the secret for how to get a perfectly balanced savory flavor that doesn’t overwhelm. Every bite was a revelation. My eyes truly popped in disbelief at just how good a burger could be.
Martini: 8/10. Perfectly crisp.
Atmosphere: 9/10. In the front room: buzzing, muraled walls, a mix of businesspeople and young regulars. The back room is more formal, with a tasting menu.
Price: $63. Worth it for how amazing the burger is.
Swan Room (Lower East Side)
Burger: 6/10. A totally fine, but not outstanding, burger.
Martini: 8/10. Well chilled, though a bit harsh for sweeter palates. Extra olives needed. My friend changed his order to mine.
Atmosphere: 9/10. Housed in a former bank lobby, now the Nine Orchard Hotel. Airy by day, intimate by night.
Price: $63. Poor value for what it is.
Bar Americano (Greenpoint)
Burger: 10/10. This is the only burger I have actively sought out multiple times. Covered in a secret sauce, it’s juicy and bold. It is light on the cheese, heavy on the pickles, and so heavy on the sauce your hands will be dripping by the end of the meal. The burger itself is thick, and then topped in caramelized onions. The burger has been criticized for being too sweet, but I think it’s just right.
Martini: I admittedly still need to try! But the burger speaks for itself.
Atmosphere: Buzzy cocktail bar. This is a place where you can have an intimate conversation early in the evening, but by 10pm, you’ll be shouting over the roar of the patrons, giving it a scene-y vibe. I’ve never stayed late enough to witness it, but I’m half convinced it turns into a rave when the clock strikes midnight.
Price: $44. One of the better deals.
So what’s the verdict? If you’re looking for the perfect savory bite, go to Gramercy Tavern. If sweet’s more your thing, Bar Americano is calling your name. Either way, a perfectly crisp martini and a juicy cheeseburger will always be the perfect meal for a New Yorker on the town.
+ A bonus shoutout to Hamburger America and George Motz’s famous onion burger. It doesn’t serve martinis, but an egg cream will do the trick. At $7.50 for the burger, it’s definitely the best bang for your buck.
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Happy Pride, everyone!
Three things I love, covet, or think are worth covering.
💅Glossier Cloud Paint: Putting on this liquid blush makes me feel like I’m painting myself like a 17th century Dutch portrait. I like the color “Puff” for a natural flush, and one tube lasts more than a year.
🛒Pull-able Grocery Bag: I am this close 👌 to ordering this bag to transport groceries on foot. Suddenly all the NYC girlies seem to have one, and it seems like such a smart solution instead of hauling Whole Foods bags five blocks back to my apartment.
🫙The Champagne of Municipal Tap Water: I’m pretty sure I’ve been severely dehydrated all week with this crazy New York City heat. I’ll take a note from NYC’s soon-to-be ex-mayor and start pounding the tap water.
When Women Ran Fifth Avenue by Julie Satow is a wonderfully reported account of three powerful women who ran Bonwit Teller, Lord & Taylor, and Henri Bendel during the golden age of American department stores. This is a super fun read for anyone who loves fashion or wishes they lived through the early 20th century (basically, me). Each woman had a different experience of being at the top of her field in an era when women were discouraged from working. It’s sad how far department stores have fallen today, especially reading about how they used to be such a beacon for independent designers. (One store had more than 20% of its merchandise coming from emerging designers thanks to a weekly open session where independent designers could pitch their goods directly to buyers.) Four stars.
This week I am going to Coney Island and to a Cyclones game for my annual dose of Americana. Happy Fourth of July! 🇺🇸
All my best,
I was literally just searching for a new burger to try, so this week's topic was totally kismet.