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Smoking in Bed
Posted: Tuesday, October 11, 2005
By Michael Moretti
Dining on the roof at BED New York breaks all the bedroom rules you've learned over the years: don't eat in bed, never smoke in bed and don't try to fit all your friends on your bed. In a hedonistic nod to Greeks and Romans mixed with adolescent rebellion, BED offers a 6,500 square foot roof deck complete with four-post canopied beds cradling tempur-pedic mattresses, big enough for eight smoking, drinking and eating guests.
Often the setting for star-sighting and a generator of gossip column fodder, BED NY is not your typical speakeasy-inspired cigar experience. The roof deck is new to the Manhattan skyline. It opened this past summer, following the January opening of the remainder of the restaurant. It is the sister to the original BED Miami. It is not a cigar bar so much as it is a place to smoke, but in post-cigar-ban New York, we lovers of the leaf have had to expand our horizons.
Located a few streets uptown of Chelsea in one of the myriad of buildings that once housed old factories, BED might seem like a gimmicky place to avoid. It occupies a west side perch in subway no-man's-land.
The freight elevator stopped at the main dining floor, which was dimly lit, with soft-hued recessed lighting around rows of couches and divans. A pretty hostess led me up a grand stairway, which ascended to the roof deck where smoke is welcomed.
The doors opened, revealing a sprawling space with 360-degree views that include the Empire State Building and the Hudson River. Beds are the preferred seating option (they fit up to eight) but I went to a table in the middle "garden" section. This is akin to visiting the Empire State Building and not going to the top, but I couldn't shake the thought of eating dinner, while reclined, and making a mess of myself. One look at the innovative cocktail menu, filled with exotic juices and berries, led me to order a red wine from a well thought-out list.
My companions convinced me to shed my preconceived notions about dinner and open up a little, so we sat down on one of the surrounding king-size beds. Bed seating can be hard to come by -- there are only 15 on the roof -- so if you want one, reserve it a week or so ahead, especially in the summer. Beds line the outside of the roof deck. Behind them is a promenade that surrounds the entire space. This is a good spot for smokers wishing to get a view, and becomes more useful as autumn approaches. As the weather grows colder, the beds are housed under a glass enclosure, leaving smokers to puff while donning a coat and strolling outside on the promenade.
I drained my wine and was urged to try one of BED's fruity concoctions. Wanting to avoid a cloyingly sweet drink, I chose the "Bed Knob," attracted by the inclusion of Knob Creek Bourbon with the ginger beer, lime, cider and honey. I begrudgingly took a sip and was pleasantly surprised. The drink was fresh tasting, not overly sweet with notes of fruit and spice coming through. I stuck with fruity drinks for the rest of the meal.
BED's fare is eclectic and island-inspired. The escargot tempura is easy to eat in bed. For an entrée, I had the Caribbean Lobster in a coconut cashew ginger sauce with tomatoes and celery. The food came on wooden trays and woven mats, maintaining the tropical theme while minimizing spillage.
BED does not sell cigars, so bring your own. I prepared to light up, and ordered a Macallan 12-year-old on the rocks. Lying back on the bed with the cigar was inspiring. I don't think I have ever done it before, and can't really think of another format where it is not only appropriate but also encouraged.
BED New York
530 W. 27th St.
between Tenth and Eleventh Aves.
New York, NY
Phone: 212-594-4109
www.bedny.com
4 p.m. to 4 a.m. 7 days a week
(rooftop hours) Tue-Thu 7pm-2am; Fri-Sat 7pm-3am; Sun 12am-4am.
Go to Cigar Bar Central.
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