While downtown Manhattan has long suffered a reputation as a food and drink lover’s wasteland, the game-changing Pier A Harbor House is poised to point out the compasses of southern Manhattan for 2015. Head to this historic and newly renovated Hudson River pier, where history, maritime flair, craft beer, fresh oysters, and stellar views of New York Harbor come together.
The massive 28,000-square-foot, three-level mecca for drinking and dining is tucked away in the southwest corner of Battery Park, facing the Hudson River. With a beer in one hand and an oyster in the other, the Statue of Liberty never looked so good. Just do yourself a favor and get here now, before the safe tourists give a new meaning to the “huddled masses.”
The history
Closed to the public for nearly 130 years (and completely abandoned since the early 1990s), the iconic Pier A is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with a claim to many past lives. Opened in 1886, it served as the headquarters of the New York Harbor Police, as a VIP entrance for European ambassadors traveling to Ellis Island, and as a maritime fire station. The structure’s crowning clock tower, now fully restored, is cited as the nation’s first permanent World War I memorial.
Its current incarnation of restaurant / bar / private event space required a multi-year, $ 40 million restoration process.
The team
Pier A Harbor House is the brainchild of prolific restaurateur Peter Poulakakos, along with his partners Danny McDonald and Michael Jewell, the same team behind the highly acclaimed The Dead Rabbit cocktail bar (also located downtown).
The bar
The first floor of the establishment called Long Hall (“long” is a more than accurate description) is a free-flowing German brewery-style space, with a menu of craft beers on tap, cocktails (such as Dark ‘n’ Stormys), and light bites. Common tables are lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, while decor reflects a nautical theme (look for ship-inspired meters and light fixtures, along with other maritime relics). The drink and dining room is designed to span the boardwalk that surrounds the pier, which will open during warmer weather, with additional seating for several hundred customers.
Additionally, two new bars will debut on the second floor, flanking the upcoming fine dining restaurant, including a power bar with views of the Financial District and an aperitif, lounge-style bar, promoting oceanfront panoramas.
The food
The downstairs casual dining menu is highlighted by a dedicated raw bar, with a generous selection of fresh-cut oysters, clams, and more. Look for shareable seafood-focused menu items like mini lobster rolls, seafood towers, or tuna tartare.) Some German brewery-inspired grubs are also available, such as the Mangalitsa pork sausage.
A fine dining restaurant will open next – details are still under wraps but is anticipated to offer a Gilded Age-inspired design scheme, menus that provide the bounty of the Hudson River Valley, an open kitchen, and a terrace with Outdoor seating overlooking the harbor.
The views
Coastal views over the Hudson River and New York Harbor abound, with Lady Liberty and Ellis Island in the distance. It is sure to rank among the most popular sunset spots in the city. A private event space on the third floor also offers views of the water and the financial district skyline.
The details
Pier A Harbor House is open 7 days a week, 11 am to 4 am 22 Battery Place (on West St.) www.piera.com .
