Stop by the Bar 54 at the Hyatt Times Square for breathtaking views of the Freedom Tower, 
both rivers and much of the Manhattan skyline. This bar, located on the 54th floor, is one of the tallest hotel rooftop lounges in the city, offering specialty craft cocktails crafted by cocktail queen Julie Reiner (Flatiron Lounge, Clover Club) and a small snackable offerings. Like many other rooftop bars, it’s not for those on a budget.
I was invited to sample the new food and drink menu. We ordered from their small but interesting shared plates menu as we knew we’d be mixing cocktails (pun intended!) and needed nourishment. As our first drinks were delivered so were the porchetta sliders ($20 for four with chips), which I would recommend. They sear the house-made cured porchetta on until crispy, then deliver it on a potato bun topped with house-made pickled cucumbers a soupçon of Japanese mayo, served with fresh salty potato chips seasoned with a splash of vinegar.
For a grown-up Cosmo try their Brighton Beets cocktail (a play on Brighton Beach) ($26) with fresh weekly made beet infused vodka, gin, lemon, Cointreau, ruby port and mint served over crushed ice with orange twist. For a drink with a subtle kick, I suggest the Santana Sour ($26) made with tequila blanco, lime juice, jalapeños, pineapple and cilantro; my favorite.
Our next gourmet small plate was skewered chunks of tender moist Atlantic salmon (4 skewers for $16), served with a red curry aioli. With that we drank the Colletti Royale ($26) with Reposado tequila, Cointreau, Elderflower liqueur, fresh blood orange juice, lime and rose champagne; and the gingery New Orleans Buck ($26) with rum and 
fresh lime and pineapple juices.
Our final tasting was the perfectly cooked Bar 54 burger ($21) topped with a subtle truffle relish and slice of provolone cheese on a potato bun. That also came with the house-made chip, but there’s also a choice of a salad with that. a
For those who like light on the alcohol tasting drinks, I’d recommend the Kiss me Kat ($26) made with Pisco, Aperoal, Cocchi Americano, lemon and strawberry, topped with rose champagne.
The only drink we didn’t like was take on a James Bond gin martini, The Vesper ($26). Although it’s a blend of Plymouth gin, vodka and Lillet blonde, the gin overpowered everything else. Good choice for gin martini lovers.
Other than the Vesper, all the drinks are well balanced, made with fresh fruit juices and are measured carefully for consistency. I’d recommend a visit!
– bonnie
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Bar 54
Theater District
Hyatt Times Square
135 W 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
(646) 364-1234
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