Primo’s bar review - New York, USA

Primo’s, the older sophisticated sister to Mr. Fong’s – a favourite after-hours Chinatown drinking establishment – is NYC’s latest offering in elevated hotel bars.

Discovered inside The Frederik Hotel in Lower Manhattan, partner Aisa Shelley inspires the spirit of summer holiday through Mediterranean styles of drinking with Spritzes, Negroni’s, anisette, and endless cups of coffee. Part classic cocktails, part reimagined European aperitifs served with midnight pasta, and coconut chili anise vodka highballs, Primo’s atypical bar menu reveals its playful, one-of-a-kind mindset intended for a plush haven for drinks and small bites before and after meals. 

With nods to art deco, mid-century modern, and a Seventies Italian aesthetic, designer Camilla Deterre sourced distinct sets of vintage lamps and chrome-framed chairs from the 1950s and 60s, reupholstering them with velvet cushions and pairing them with custom-made terrazzo tiles and wood panelling.

Highlighting the darkly lit den, and conceived specifically for Primo’s, is an impressive mural painted by Conie Vallese – a theatrical composition of contrasting geometric shapes and colours in sync with a well-orchestrated cocktail bar. Split between the front bar and back room den, the latter is saved for late-night dancing and continuous cocktail hour from Thursday through Saturday.