On Orchard Street in New York City, 200 is now open. Ben Kay, best known for his designs for R Bar on the Bowery and Brass Monkey in the Meatpacking District, designed a cozy, neighborhood space, including a private room in the back available for large groups. The bar features a wide selection of local and international beers on tap and bottle. 200 will hold theme nights such as “Sunday Soul-Cial,” which features music from the ’50s and ’60s, and will also broadcast all World Cup matches. www.200orchard.com.
Also in New York, The Kimberly Hotel debuts its 4,000-square-foot rooftop lounge with 360-degree views of the New York City cityscape, including a view of the Chrysler Building. De-spec reinvented this roof space by adding a wall of live greens that cascades down alongside bronze panels that frame the city. A sense of old Hollywood glamour comes from vintage theatrical lights and floating incandescent bulbs. Its retractable glass ceilings surround heated floors, making the space functional in summer and winter. www.kimberlyhotel.com.
Basho is the first Japanese and sushi restaurant to hit Boston’s Fenway Park neighborhood. Rowan Walsh of Avila and Davio’s is the general manager and sommelier, overseeing the bar program, which features sake, beer, wine and a modern cocktail menu. The design aesthetic is both modern and minimalist, with a traditional dining room, three private dining areas, communal seating, a wraparound bar, a sushi and raw bar and an outdoor patio. Basho’s cuisine offers a modern take on traditional Japanese fare, using Western styles, methods and ingredients.
Located in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass., and part of The Grafton Group, Russell House Tavern opened April 8. The multilevel space is designed by Peter Niemitz and features six social areas, including the tavern, an upstairs dining room and an outdoor terrace. Its distinct bar program, headed by Bar Manager Aaron Butler, offers craft beers, American wines and handcrafted cocktails focusing on local producers from the New England region Headed by Executive Chef Michael Scelfo, Russell House Tavern specializes in classic New England dishes with contemporary flair. www.russellhousecambridge.com.
Luis DeCasas and Reza Roohi, partners in Monarchy Hospitality Group, officially opened their contemporary restaurant Tiger Beverly Hills on Canon Drive. Serving Post-Asian cuisines, Tiger’s sleek and modern feel is accented by a covered semi-outdoor seating area and a huge chalkboard in the back where guests can write and draw anything from slogans to artwork. On their cocktail menu, Tiger serves unique sake and soju beverages like the Tiger Saketini (sake, thyme and rosemary) or the White Lotus (sake, lychee, crème de coconut and passion fruit) alongside alcohol-free drinks like smoothies and seasonal fruit-infused iced teas and lemonades. www.tigerbh.com.
Contemporary American bistro Media Grill + Bar opened in The Hilton Anatole near downtown Dallas. The fully interactive venue is customized with visual, audio and lighting capabilities, offering guests free Wi-Fi, 26 high-definition televisions and an interactive dance floor that projects images to the floor and reacts to motion. The Interactive Bar (I-Bar) features touch sensitive lighting, customized logos and messaging programmed into the system for private events. The drink menu consists of handcrafted signature cocktails, specialty wines and 12 American craft draft beers. www1.hilton.com.
