Profile

As the Empire State Building’s in-house bar, the Empire Room faces lofty expectations. The cavernous space (3,500-square-feet) does its best to ooze art deco charm with retro waitress uniforms (black cocktail dresses, long strands of pearls, black pumps), ritzy décor (think crystal chandeliers hanging over velvet chairs) and a throwback drink list featuring all manners of expensive gins, cognacs, bourbons, and single malt scotches. Owner Mark Grossich is the man behind similar cocktail lounges the Campbell Apartment, the Carnegie Club, and Bookmarks. His transformation of the space – which used to house a post office – coincides with the Empire State Building’s ongoing $500 million restoration.