This September, Midtown Manhattan will play host to one of the most celebrated bars in the world. From September 3–6, 2025, Handshake Speakeasy — crowned The World’s 50 Best Bars No. 1 in 2024, and topping North America’s 50 Best Bars for both 2024 and 2025 — will take over MAD Bar & Lounge at the NH Collection New York Madison Avenue for an exclusive, four-night pop-up.
The Mexico City-based speakeasy has built a cult following among serious cocktail drinkers for its exacting techniques and flavor-forward experimentation. Now, its founders — Marcos Di Battista, Rodrigo Urraca, and Eric van Beek — are bringing their precision, charisma, and award-winning drink list to the heart of New York City. Guests with reservations (the only way in) will get the rare opportunity to sip, watch, and talk cocktails directly with the minds behind one of the most inventive bars on the planet.
A Menu That Redefines the Familiar
Handshake’s New York menu is a masterclass in how to reimagine the classics:
- Salt N Pepper Mezcal — Strawberry, yellow bell pepper, and habanero, delivering a fruity-meets-fiery profile grounded by mezcal’s smoky depth.
- Olive Oil Gimlet Tequila — Olive oil, apple, rosemary, and Lillet Blanc create a silky, herbaceous riff on the citrus-forward classic.
- Coconut & Fig Leaf Negroni Gin — Fig leaf, sweet vermouth, coconut, orange, and gin harmonize in a bitter-sweet, aromatic reinvention of the Italian icon.
Each drink will be prepared live by Di Battista, Urraca, and van Beek, turning the bar into a stage for storytelling and performance as much as mixology.
A Collaboration with MAD Bar & Lounge
The pop-up is part of MAD Bar & Lounge’s ongoing mission to host innovative, world-class experiences in its chic space inside the NH Collection New York Madison Avenue — a landmark hotel known for its European elegance and culturally rich programming.
Event Details
- Dates: September 3–6, 2025
- Location: MAD Bar & Lounge, NH Collection New York Madison Avenue
- Reservations: Book via Resy (limited availability)
For cocktail lovers, this is more than a night out — it’s a chance to drink in a piece of mixology history without leaving Manhattan. For more information, head over to the hotel’s official website.
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