Drinking Absinthe in New York
In the world of alcohol, absinthe is not a very well understood spirit. It's been banned in the US (until recently) for close to 100 years. Many people falsely believe that it causes hallucinations or other psychedelic effects. Most of that is actually attributed to the heavy metals added to some old knock-off absinthes to achieve the louche (turning the liquid cloudy) effect. The real effects of absinthe simply come from its incredibly high alcohol content. Currently, two foreign varieties are available on the United States market, with a slew of domestic makers readying a new product. When purchasing, make sure that your wormwood is between Kubler 53 (53% alcohol) or Lucid (62% alcohol).
The Dove
228 Thompson St
New York, NY 10012
The Dove serves absinthe and other old-timey drinks in a cramped Victorian setting. It's great for someone into show tunes, goth, or freshmen NYU students. It's bad for … serious drinkers looking to get seriously drunk. [link]
Suba
109 Ludlow St
New York, NY 10002
Suba is hit or miss in terms of service and its tapas. The place can be irritatingly full of an amalgam of douchebags and wannabe hipsters, the food can be horrendously … priced, and the service can be alternately suffocating and nonexistent. Still, Suba can, occasionally, be a great place to tipple some absinthe and share a small plate. [link]
Employees Only
510 Hudson St
New York, NY 10014
Offers a great selection of absinthe cocktails including the Billionaire Cocktail, Honeydew, and the Mint Muse. The rest of the drinks at EO revive traditional American … cocktails, and the great though pricey New American cuisine emphasizes fresh seafood. [link]
Assenzio
205 E 4th St
New York, NY 10009
Assenzio is rumored to offer real absinthe. Despite this rumor, it took me awhile to be convinced to try it over some of the other delicious Italian places in the area. … But I'm convinced -- this is the best value for great Sicilian food, and the absinthe cocktails are certain to knock you on your ass. (photo) [link]
L'Absinthe
227 E 67th St
New York, NY 10065
This midtown French bistro claims to take its absinthe seriously, but doesn't yet offer the real stuff to the public. They do have slick cold-water taps on the bar just … for the drink though. I think the food is good if a little overpriced. When and if they start serving legit absinthe, it'll be a great place to chase the green fairy before a long night out. [link]
Barbes
376 9th St
Brooklyn, NY 11215
The absinthe served at Barbes is made with petit wormwood, making it not a true absinthe but a decent substitute. They serve the absinthe authentically with the side of … cold water, sugar, and slotted spoon. Great for Brooklyn's French impressionist wannabes. The bar is small and will be crowded. [link]
Borisal Liquor & Wine
468 4th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Park Slope's Borisal Liquor & Wine sells both Kubler and Lucid absinthes at very reasonable prices. The selection is what sets Borisal apart from its competitors, as … this is the place to go for hard-to-find liquors. [link]
