A statue of Oscar Wilde sits at the front of the building, which was the headquarters of New York City’s Bureau of Prohibition in 1919, when there was a nationwide ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages.
Oscar Wilde
Co-owners Tommy Burke, left, and Frank McCole, right, are also co-founders of Celtic Developers Group, which owns and operates two Lillie’s Victorian Establishment restaurants in New York City. The restaurant gets its name from late 19th century actress and socialite Lillie Langtry. They chose to brand their new bar after Wilde because of their attachment to his literary works and Wilde’s longtime friendship with Langtry.
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde’s main bar stretches continuously for 118.5 feet, setting the record as New York City’s longest bar.
Oscar Wilde
Diners can find quotes from Wilde throughout the space.
Oscar Wilde
All of the bar’s 26 antique clocks are set to 1:50, the time of Wilde’s death.
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde offers over 300 whiskeys and 32 beers on tap. Many of the beers are sourced locally from New York State.
Oscar Wilde
Johnny Swet, the head mixologist, created Oscar Wilde’s cocktail list to reflect both the Victorian and Prohibition eras. All cocktails are priced at $14 each. The Prohibition Manhattan combines Canadian rye whisky, vermouth and bitters, topped with a cherry and served in a teacup.
Anna Kang
The Victorian-themed cocktail 50 Shades of Dorian Gray is a mixture of gin, cherry liqueur, Chinese five-spice and citrus.
Betty Han
My Bookie’s Wife’s Cocktail contains vodka, elderflower liqueur, rosé wine, grapefruit and bitters.
Anna Kang
The Southside Tonic, left, is made with mint, gin, tonic and lime. Oscar Wilde will also offer a watermelon margarita, right, as a seasonal beverage. The drink is mixed from tequila, lime, watermelon and cilantro, with a salted rim.
Anna Kang
Contrary to its Victorian-style atmosphere, the bar’s lunch and dinner menus will feature contemporary eats, like this spring-roll cottage pie.
Anna Kang
The crispy cauliflower Buffalo “wings” are battered in rice flour and coated in a Sriracha butter sauce.
Anna Kang
A lighter option is cured salmon with fried capers, crème fraiche, jalapeno and salted cabbage slaw.
Oscar Wilde
For private events, there is a room available to reserve that can accommodate up to 70 people standing and 40 seated.