Menu Guide · Midtown · The St. Regis
King Cole Bar — Menu Guide
By Firoz Khan · FK Digital Media
Inside The St. Regis New York at 2 East 55th Street sits one of the most storied bars in cocktail history. This is where the Bloody Mary was born — in 1934, French bartender Fernand Petiot mixed vodka with tomato juice and called it the Red Snapper, because "Bloody Mary" was considered too vulgar for such an elegant room. Below is our independent walkthrough of the drinks menu, reported prices, and how to do the visit justice. Everything is written in our own words; prices are reported figures, not a copy of the bar's menu.
At a glance
- Location
- 2 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022 (inside The St. Regis)
- Known for
- Birthplace of the Bloody Mary (1934); Maxfield Parrish's "Old King Cole" mural
- Cuisine
- Classic American bar — cocktails and bar bites
- Price level
- Cocktails reported ~$24–30; the Red Snapper ~$25
- Hours
- Reported: Mon–Sat 11:30am–midnight; Sun noon–midnight
- Phone
- +1 (212) 339-6857
The Red Snapper & the Bloody Mary selection
This is why you come. The bar offers a Bloody Mary selection reported at $25, built around the original Red Snapper — Belvedere vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice and spices, served in a wine glass rather than the usual tumbler. The rest of the selection riffs on the theme, each named for a different St. Regis property around the world.
| Drink | Reported price |
|---|---|
| Red Snapper — the original 1934 Bloody Mary, St. Regis New York | ~$25 |
| Bloody Smoke — scotch-based, celery, olives, cracked pepper | ~$25 |
| Harry's Texas Bloody Mary — tequila with Cajun seasoning | ~$25 |
| The Capitol Mary — gin with Old Bay seasoning, oyster crackers | ~$25 |
| Agave Maria — tequila, green jalapeño garnish | ~$25 |
| The Mary Terranean — vodka with olive oil, basil and oregano | ~$25 |
A caveat: published sources list the $25 figure for the selection as a whole, and individual preparations may vary in price. Ask your server before ordering if the exact figure matters to you.
Signature cocktails
Beyond the Marys, the cocktail list is a greatest-hits of Midtown classics, mostly reported at $24, with one premium pour at $30. The names themselves are a tour of the neighborhood and the hotel's history.
| Cocktail | Reported price |
|---|---|
| Fifth And 55th — vodka, lime, cherry preserves (the house premium) | $30 |
| Old King Cole — gin, vermouth, amaro, burnt orange | $24 |
| The Maxfield Parrish — rum-based, amaro, vermouth, bitters | $24 |
| Astor Midnight — blueberry vodka, lavender, sparkling wine | $24 |
| Best Address — reposado tequila, ginger liqueur, lemon, sriracha bitters | $24 |
| Madison Avenue — tequila, lime, blood orange soda, salt | $24 |
| 1904 — whiskey, lemon, sage (a nod to the hotel's founding year) | $24 |
| Midtown Spice — bourbon, apple liqueur, ginger, cherry | $24 |
Bar bites
This is a bar, not a restaurant — the food list is short and built for drinking alongside. Reported prices run from $8 to $26.
| Bite | Reported price |
|---|---|
| Grilled lamb merguez with roasted grapes | $26 |
| "Nizza" spicy eggplant with goat cheese | $15 |
| Mediterranean olives | $9 |
| Fried chichi's (chickpea fritters) | $8 |
What we'd order
The Red Snapper is non-negotiable — it's the whole point of the pilgrimage:
- The ritual: the Red Snapper, in the wine glass, under the mural. Order it first.
- The second round: the Old King Cole — a proper gin drink named for the room itself.
- With it: the lamb merguez, the one substantial bite on the menu, built for a second drink.
Planning your visit
- Look up. The Maxfield Parrish "Old King Cole" mural (1904) dominates the room — it's the visual centerpiece of the visit.
- Go at golden hour. Late afternoon into early evening is when the room glows and the crowd is at its most civilized.
- Dress smart. This is a St. Regis bar; the room expects you to make an effort.
- It's a drink, not dinner. Pair this with a dinner reservation elsewhere — the food menu is snacks, not a meal.
About these prices
Prices above are reported as of October 2026, compiled from publicly reported menus and listings. Bar menus change and prices move — the Bloody Mary selection in particular has been listed with varying figures. Always verify current prices with the bar before visiting.