East Village, Manhattan · bar
Part cocktail lab, part living room hangout, Schmuck drops Barcelona mischief into the East Village with a menu of 20-plus drinks that aren’t afraid of oddball pairings (coconut-fat whiskey and pickled pineapple, anyone?). The room itself is sleek meets scrappy (steel and Brutalist angles softened by couches and vintage finds) and the staff keeps it friendly, not fussy. It feels less like a bar and more like a house party you’ll be bragging about the next day.
Fennel, mustard vinaigrette. Inspired by a French winter salad.
Steamed and fried potato discs served with spicy peanut sauce.
Vodka cocktail built with bread and tomato water, capturing the savory flavor of sopping up sauce
Thai larb gai. Ground chicken, mint, chili, lime, fish sauce.
Caramelized apple cocktail with autumn spices.
Muesli-inspired cocktail with oat milk, granola garnish.