Inside Foxtail, A Brand New, Whimsical Speakeasy At The Arlo SoHo

On the ground floor of the Arlo SoHo hotel, past the lobby and behind a set of plush velvet curtains, you’ll find New York City’s newest speakeasy. Foxtail is a stylish cocktail bar that takes inspiration from mid-century glamour. You’ll find influences from the 1950s and 1960s in their decor, food and beverage offerings, and general vibe.

Seasoned hospitality leaders and Renwick Hospitality Group co-founders Gary Wallach and Carsten Johannsen are behind the project, and shared that the theme wasn’t necessarily the idea from the get-go, but a natural progression. “Our main goal was to be a cheeky cocktail bar that was welcoming and not at all intimidating,” Wallach and Johannsen said. “We started to trend towards a mid-century vibe when we saw the way our verbiage and cocktails were coming along. Everything we do is incredibly playful, from our menus to our garnishes.”

On the menu you’ll find seasonal dishes developed by Johannsen. These include a raw bar (Maine half lobster, East and West Coast oysters, hamachi ceviche), small plates (thyme Parker House rolls with ramp butter, grilled king oyster mushrooms, a cheeseboard), and larger dishes (tomato mozzarella pizza, signature cheeseburger, Impossible cheeseburger). Freshly popped popcorn is complimentary with any order.

On the drinks front, Wallach has separated the cocktail menu into themed sections: Fox’s Fancy, Fanciful Kitchen Classics, Punch and Libations. Think sharable punch bowls with a serving spoon and crystal glasses, and drinks based on flavors that were popular in the 1950s and 1960s. For instance, in Fanciful Kitchen Classics you’ll find a Pineapple Upside Down Cake cocktail made with Santa Teresa 1796 aged rum, Amontillado sherry, cherry jam, cinnamon, brown sugar, lime and pineapple foam.

Wallach and Johannsen shared that developing Foxtail’s menu was intense and took about eight months. “We wanted our punches to be authentic but read very simple to our guests,” they said. “The libations section, which consists of six cocktails that we love, took time not only to finalize, but to create the proper verbiage to describe.” They took special care to write inviting descriptions to help encourage their guests to try something new.

Foxtail is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 6 p.m. until late, with live music on Saturday nights after 9 p.m. Reverse Happy Hour is from 10 p.m. to close.