FiDi Cocktail Oasis

Demi Monde

While downtown New York neighbourhoods from East to West are packed to the gills with multiple world-class restaurants and bars in a single city block, venture farther south and you suddenly face a dearth of decent options for a post-work cocktail. And so it was with open arms that the Financial District welcomed Demi Monde, the newest craft cocktail bar from Alex Day and David Kaplan (of famed East Village speakeasy Death & Co) in May.

Occupying a subterranean space filled with low lighting and dark furniture, Demi Monde is a striking contrast to the staid venues of Wall Street, in terms of both drinks and food. The autumn menu includes creatively-named cocktails like Shark Tank with tequila, lime juice and ginger chilli syrup, and the especially unique Close Shave, with bourbon, crème de peche and acid phosphate, an age-old ingredient used to add a tartness that most often nowadays is replaced with citrus. From the kitchen comes a hearty comfort menu of bone marrow, king crab roll and sliced strip steak from Philip Kirschen-Clark, who also serves an excellent seven-course chef’s tasting menu each evening. Frankly, Demi Monde has so perfectly filled the busy professionals’ cocktail void that it makes the trek to FiDi well worth it even if you are logging hours in midtown rather than Wall St. Be bullish!