The Polo Bar
Midtown-Times Square, New York City
Bar in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Midtown Trophy-Room Drinking
Why go
A polished Midtown choice for an occasion-leaning drink rather than a deep wine-bar session. The Polo Bar makes sense when the room and social setting are part of the value; look elsewhere if the priority is by-the-glass discovery, casual group drinks, or maximum drink quality per dollar.
About The Polo Bar
Is The Polo Bar worth considering in New York City? Yes, if the decision is about a business-casual bar with confirmed Pearl Recommended Bar recognition for 2025. Beyond that, Pearl's verified venue data is limited, so the safest verdict is narrow: consider it when the brief is a New York City bar choice, avoid over-reading unverified claims about menu, pricing, service format, or specific drink strengths.
The clearest confirmed signals are simple: The Polo Bar is in New York City, the dress code is business casual, it is a Pearl Recommended Bar for 2025. Those facts make it relevant for visitors building a selective New York City shortlist, but they do not verify details such as cuisine, specific beverages, hours, pricing, reservations, seating, or a particular neighborhood.
A business-casual New York City bar, with limited verified detail
The grounded way to frame The Polo Bar is as a New York City bar with a business-casual dress code and a 2025 Pearl Recommended Bar recognition. If that matches the tone of the night, it belongs on the shortlist.
What should not be assumed from the available verified data: a specific drinks program, wine depth, cocktail style, food offering, price point, lunch or dinner service, or seating format. Check current venue channels before making plans that depend on those details.
Who should choose it, who should look elsewhere
Choose The Polo Bar if you want a New York City bar with a business-casual standard and a confirmed Pearl recommendation. Look elsewhere if your decision depends on unverified specifics such as exact pricing, menu format, availability, or a particular beverage focus.
If you are still comparing options, keep the criteria practical: dress code, New York City setting, the kind of night you want. Other named comparison points include Clement, Il Corso, King Cole Bar, La Grenouille, Pen Top, while broader planning can continue through Our full New York City restaurants guide, Our full New York City hotels guide, Our full New York City bars guide, Our full New York City wineries guide, Our full New York City experiences guide.
The practical verdict stays focused: The Polo Bar is a Pearl Recommended Bar in New York City with a business-casual dress code. For anything more specific, confirm directly before booking or planning around it.
Planning details
- Location
- 1 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
- Reservations
- Book on Resy
- Website
- ralphlauren.com/global-polo-bar?y_source=1_MTMwNzQ5MjAtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D
- Phone
- +1 212-207-8562
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Polo Bar reads as a deliberately constructed American room: a Midtown destination that treats drinks and food as equal partners. Across a decade in operation the place cultivates a measured, editorial approach to bar dining, positioning itself between the power-lunch institutions and cocktail-only downtown bars. The writing emphasizes a room built with intention — where the relationship between kitchen and bar is the core concept — and that considered stance gives the venue a composed, purposeful character rather than an off-the-cuff cocktail bar vibe.
Best For
The Polo Bar is best for people who want a serious food-and-drink night out in Midtown. It suits lunchtime industry gatherings that mirror the neighbourhood's power-lunch culture as well as evening meals when cocktails matter as much as the kitchen. Business lunches, after-work drinks that turn into dinner, and diners seeking a polished American-classics programme paired with craft drinks will find the format especially fitting. Its 2025 recognition for drinks underscores the room's dual strengths on both fronts.
Ordering Tips
Treat the bar and kitchen as a single programme: order from both lists and plan to linger. The description makes clear that cocktails are designed to stand on their own while also complementing American-classic dishes, so pairing is encouraged rather than choosing one or the other. For groups, share plates from the kitchen to sample the menu alongside crafted drinks; for two, consider balancing a signature cocktail with a classic entrée to experience how the menu is constructed as a unified statement.
Planning details
Location
1 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022 · Directions
ralphlauren.com/global-polo-bar?y_source=1_MTMwNzQ5MjAtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- King Cole Bar, Notable alternative
- Clement, Notable alternative
- Pen Top, Notable alternative
- La Grenouille, Notable alternative
- Il Corso, Notable alternative
Bar context
How it compares in Midtown
King Cole Bar is the cleaner alternative if the goal is classic hotel-bar energy with a more obvious old-New-York frame. The Polo Bar is better for a fashion-conscious, dressed-up Midtown night; King Cole Bar is the safer choice for visitors who want hotel polish and a quieter decision.
Clement and Pen Top make more sense when the evening is tied to a hotel stay or a higher-floor setting. Pen Top is the stronger pick for view-driven atmosphere, while Clement is easier to fold into a hotel dining plan. The Polo Bar wins when the address itself is the social signal and the night does not need to revolve around a skyline or hotel convenience.
For restaurant-led drinking, compare it with La Grenouille and Il Corso. La Grenouille is the better cross-shop for a formal dinner-and-wine mood, while Il Corso is more useful when the plan needs food first and drinks second. The Polo Bar is the easier bar-first recommendation, especially for a Midtown meet-up where booking difficulty is listed as easy and the value comes from atmosphere rather than a documented tasting format.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Polo Bar guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Polo Bar
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Polo Bar | New York City | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #442026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of ExcellenceWorld's Best Wine Lists 20252025 OAD Casual in North AmericaWorld's Best Wine Lists 2022Pearl Recommended Bars |
| King Cole Bar | New York City | No published awards |
| Clement | New York City | No published awards |
| Pen Top | New York City | No published awards |
| La Grenouille | New York City | No published awards |
| Il Corso | New York City | No published awards |
How The Polo Bar compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Polo Bar known for?
The verified data identifies The Polo Bar as a New York City bar with a business-casual dress code and Pearl Recommended Bar recognition for 2025.
Where is The Polo Bar located?
The Polo Bar is located in New York City.
How can I contact The Polo Bar?
Use the venue's official channels for current contact information.
