Pier A Harbor House
Photo Courtesy of Pier A Harbor House
It’s not every day a huge, three-story complex of food, beer and cocktails opens up, especially in New York’s Financial District. Even more rare is when said address is in a landmark spot located on a pier overlooking the waterfront. Yet come later this November, right where Battery Park meets the Hudson River, that is exactly what will happen when a long-vacant historic building along the river’s edge transforms into Pier A Harbor House.
Put together by Peter Poulakakos, Danny McDonald and Michael Jewell (the team behind popular punch place and vintage cocktail den The Dead Rabbit), this revamped, 28,000-square-foot space features floors all geared toward food, drink and killer vantage points. Dubbed Mix, Dine and View, each level offers a unique experience. As you might expect, Pier A Harbor House’s View, also called The Loft, is located on the top floor of the structure. The Loft features a private, 175-person event space with — you guessed it — a spectacular, uninterrupted vista of the Hudson and neighboring skyline.
Another Look At The Battery Park Attraction, Photo Courtesy of Pier A Harbor House
On the second floor, the team has created Dine, a high-end restaurant setting. Inside you will find a maze of intimate rooms inspired by the Gilded Age, as well as a grand chef’s table for those looking to experience the newly imagined space from the tastiest spot. As for food, the menu will showcase locally sourced meats and produce, and a line of heritage fruits and vegetables that were popular when the pier opened more than a century ago. So, when you see seasonal specials such as peekytoe crab salad or slow-roasted quail with potato fricassee being served, you’ll know their inspiration.
Aside from the dining room, guests on the second floor can also sidle up to one of the two bars. The first, called the Harrison Room, highlights a strong drinks program and savory bar bites. Decked out in mahogany and dark leather, this sophisticated libations lounge offers an unequaled look of the Financial District. The second area, referred to as the Commissioner’s Room, provides a waterfront view and specializes in French and Italian aperitifs as well as an expertly curated wine and champagne list. Depending on the weather’s mood, you can cuddle by the fireplace or sit outside on the terrace overlooking the New York Harbor.
Finally, on the first floor, you will find the community area, a location designed for sociable eating and drinking. Within this section, you have two parts: The Long Hall (beer garden) and Oyster Bar, the latter showcasing the bivalves that are famous around the region. In The Long Hall, peruse an extensive list of rotating brews from Europe and New York that are perfect for pairing with a select menu of nibbles such as a classic Maine lobster roll with housemade potato chips or oysters with applewood-smoked bacon and gruyère gratin. Choose to indulge on brews and oysters inside or, if the weather holds, sit back on the pier’s promenade and take in the panorama. No matter what your druthers, once this spot opens in late fall, it will be one of the hottest places in Battery Park.
