A friend from uni recommended heading to Lillie’s Victorian Establishment in Times Square before or after seeing a Broadway show for drinks and maybe dinner. S and I opted to head there before an evening show of Waitress since it was only two blocks, or a 5-minute walk, from the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment is an American-British bar and restaurant. Inspired by Lillie Langtry, a famous English actress, Lillie’s is resplendent in Victorian era paintings and furnishings that are a feast for the eyes.
As S and I were traveling separately for the day, I grabbed us two seats at the bar. A bartender immediately served me water, which I thanked him for immensely. I downed the drink swiftly, not realizing how parched I was from walking around NYC in the heat for the majority of the day.
Once S arrived, we put in an order for chicken tenders as an appetizer and inquired with another bartender about drink recommendations. I wish I’d caught the bartender’s name, because he really took the time to figure out what drinks we’d enjoy based on our individual tastes.
I admitted I typically go for sweeter drinks where I can’t taste the alcohol because I enjoy tricking myself on some level, like a Long Island Iced Tea. He grimaced briefly. Still, he took my admission of preferring such a divisive beverage into consideration before recommending I try Lillie’s Blackberry Bramble, consisting of Seagrams Extra Dry Gin, Combier Rouge, lemon, and blackberries.
And it was the perfect drink—sweet, refreshing, and sneakily strong. Well done, sir!
S and I were actually a bit sad when it came time to head out to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre for Waitress*. Lillie’s is a great place if you’re in the area to catch a show and would like to have some drinks or a meal nearby.
*Catch my Waitress review here.
※ Information:
- Site: Lillie’s NYC
- Location: 249 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019
- Borough: Manhattan
- Neighborhoods: Theater District, Midtown
- Price Range: $$
Laurel, Annotated 
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