The team at Outpost is happy to introduce another weekly column for your fancy. Ashton our resident date-night expert, will be reporting on New York’s hottest spots to spark a conversation or, in her words, something a bit more.
From high-end martini joints to unassuming dive bars, here are the best places to take that hot date of yours—through her eyes.
Conwell Hall
When the clock strikes 5pm at Conwell, coffee turns into martinis and pastries become wine bottles. A block west of Wall Street stands a historic building, formerly a bank in 1850, now a place to sip coffee in the morning and barrel-aged liquor at night.
Once you twirl through Conwell’s revolving door, steep steps lead you up to a charming, old-fashioned bank lobby. As you walk forward, you’ll notice the teller windows and marble countertops appear unchanged and now serve as the spot to place your order. Echoes of excitement bounce off the bank’s high ceilings, surrounding guests as they indulge in cleverly named cocktails and sway to spinning vinyl.
Throughout Conwell, the smell of freshly brewed espresso lingers from the morning hours, a scent that routinely rouses the senses of those who rely on it. In this historical space, you can’t help but inhale the history and exhale, marveling at the creativity behind this clever concept. Like Conwell’s building, we all have our own histories and it may inspire you to share yours with the one you chose to enjoy the evening with.
If you explore Conwell you will come across the bank’s old, steel vault that was intended to store gold but now serves as a window into another era. When we spill a secret to a confidant we often follow it with “let’s keep it in the vault” - a reference to this imaginary, unbreakable vessel in our minds that protects our untold secrets.
Vaults protect things of value - gold, jewels, cash, secrets - all of which render power, a quality that is deeply alluring. Conwell’s authentic bank vault strongly symbolizes power, making the space’s energy undeniably magnetic for its guests. With such magnetism in the air, the unique bar pulls you and your guest to linger longer than expected.
If you hope to soak up more than just the high ceilings, vinyl music, and intricate marble, order the Bull Market from the menu - it serves a generous amount of bourbon for four and may be ideal for a fun-loving double date. Whoever thought to resurrect an historical establishment to house our merriment may possess the same genius as the one who first paired espresso with vodka.
