The Penrose

Ruairi Curtin of Wilfie & Nell opened this Irish gastropub as a haven for whiskey lovers on the Upper East Side. But with a main room outfitted with reclaimed wood, and framed old portraits and ornate typewriters on display, the Penrose can feel like a quaint countryside getaway. The menu matches the bar’s warmth, with a cocktail list featuring drinks like the Old Pal Spencer (with bourbon, Aperol, sweet vermouth, a large ice cube, and a twist of orange) and the Dirty Pickle Martini is garnished with well, a pickle. Penrose makes its own fizzy sodas, but the real treat is a whiskey list with over 70 options, including Pappy Van Winkle, one of the rarest bourbons in the world. Penrose usually has their hands on a few bottles, sometimes even the 23-year.