Profile

Murray Hill spot Van Diemens is your typical quasi-upscale establishment that’s half sports bar and half cocktail lounge. Named for what the Europeans called Tasmania when it was first discovered, and brought to you by an Aussie and an Irishman, it checks off all the essentials: a decent beer selection (including Australian beers Coopers and Toosheys), a user-friendly wine list, and a cocktail menu that offers twists on the classics (i.e. the Tasmanian, a dirty martini with “a cheeky drop of Tabasco sauce”). Several ESPN-centric flat-screens hang on the walls while a random mix of radio tunes (from old-school Destiny’s Child to Journey) devours the small space. The staff is pleasant, the mood is relaxed, and the drinks are priced as expected for the area, but you won’t find anything that sets the place apart. — Zachary Wilson