Let The Parlour Bring You Back To The Roaring 1920’s Of New York City

Located inside the InterContinental New York Barclay is The Parlour, the recently reopened restaurant and bar that pays homage to the glitz and glam of New York City in the 1920’s. And more importantly, the 1920’s origin of this hotel. The InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is celebrating 75 years, while the InterContinental New York Barclay is celebrating 95 years.

The Parlour’s short, yet well curated menu of food and beverage is crafted in such a way that highlights this hotel’s history, the Big Apple and its culture throughout the offerings.

This Midtown Manhattan watering hole features an impressive selection of dishes that include small plates such as the Anne Saxelby’s Cheese and Charcuterie which highlights some of the best local cheeses, cured meats and Barclay’s own honeycomb from its rooftop apiary; and salads that include the Classic Cobb with local blue cheese and Catskills bacon and Green Pulse with Toasted Red Quinoa, Chickpeas, Sprouted Black Lentils, Feta Cheese, Sunflower Seeds, and Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette.

Hearty entrees include the Grilled Chicken Breast with Potato Gnocchi, Zucchini Ribbons, Olives and Tomatoes, the Steak Frites with NY Strip with Fries and Herb Compound Butter, and the Crispy Salmon with Spelt Barley and Butternut Squash Risotto.

Its stunning, illuminated cocktail bar is equally inspired by the hotel’s history and has recently started “Jazz Wednesdays” to further amplify the classy, elegant vibes of The Parlour. History buffs will appreciate its highly curated cocktail menu that features drinks along with their origin stories and fun facts.

For example, the French 75 comes with a backstory about its creation back in 1915; the Paloma on Fire with the heresy that it’s named after a popular folk song from the 1860’s; or the The Bee’s Knees and the fact that historically, this cocktail was originally created to mask bathtub gin — homemade liquor.

We chatted with General Manager, Sofia Vandaele, InterContinental New York Barclay on the property’s milestones; the restaurant and bar’s inspiration; and more. Here’s what she had to say.

How has the hotel been commemorating its momentous occasions?

Thank you! We are very excited to be celebrating two milestones this year, one for the brand celebrating 75 years and one for the hotel itself celebrating its 95th anniversary.

To commemorate InterContinental Hotels & Resorts’ momentous occasion, we are offering the 75th Anniversary Diamond Package, including a stay in our Penthouse Suite; 75,000 reward points and a movie screening of classic 1946 films. We are also serving the signature InterContinental75, the official drink of the brand’s anniversary at The Parlour.

What is the inspiration behind The Parlour? Talk about the vibes and ambiance and why it’s the perfect spot to grab a drink in the area.

The Parlour is a special respite in Midtown, as it pays homage to the hotel’s 1920s origin and allows guests to experience old school New York glamour. InterContinental Barclay was originally built during the booming railroad age connected to Grand Central, and the bar and restaurant menus reflect the building’s history, the city and culture, with sustainable and seasonal ingredients.

What are the best things on the menu? What can guests expect when dining in?

When dining at The Parlour, guests will embark on a journey of history and culture of The Barclay. To fully embrace this experience, I recommend our guests try Anne Saxelby’s Cheeses and Charcuterie and a Bee’s Knees Beefeater Gin cocktail. The cheese dish showcases our commitment to working with local purveyors, with locally sourced artisanal cheese, cured meats and The Barclay Rooftop Honey.

The handpicked cheeses pair perfectly with the hotel’s honeycomb from the roof apiary. And to imbibe, our Bee’s Knees cocktail reflects the hotel’s history, mixing gin with fresh lemon juice, a favorite during the roaring 20’s and again made with our own honey – it’s the perfect cocktail all year long.

Talk about “Jazzy Wednesdays” — what can patrons look forward to during those events?

Every week, we host Jazzy Wednesday from 5 to 8pm at The Parlour. Café Society plays sounds of classic jazz from the Great American Songbook to take guests back into that original 1920s NYC ambiance. It’s a wonderful experience to break up the week, and as we head into winter, it’s a nice getaway from the cold evenings and spot to enjoy a cocktail or two.

How has the reception been for the reopening of the restaurant?

Since reopening late this summer, we’ve had a steady stream of guests to The Parlour. We’re following all NYC guidelines and mandates for indoor dining safety, and it’s going very well. The Parlour is very fortunate to have an amazing team behind, all of whom are eager to continue to welcome our guests back and create a memorable experience.