Inside New York’s Dazzling Bar Of Cocktails, Curiosities & Old-World Glamour
It’s only natural Oscar Wilde is housed in the former New York City Bureau of Prohibition headquarters. The booze-infused uber boîte is an all-hours delight, brimming with classic cocktails and inspired new ones, a jovial vibe, time-traveling décor, and a hearty menu that leaves no one hungry. The ghost of its namesake—Oscar Wilde—is no doubt perched on a bar stool somewhere in mid-imbibe. “Everything in moderation, including moderation,” he famously said. Just not here.
Opened in 2017, Oscar Wilde—the restaurant, not the boozy scribe—is a visual, gastronomic, and liquid-courage roller coaster all in one. It’s an unabashed celebration of beauty, decadence, and delightful duplicity that marked Wilde’s prose. The venue has quickly become a beloved meeting place for visitors and New York residents looking to unwind in a setting that feels more theatrical stage than restaurant.
The Endless Bar
The restaurant is most famous for housing New York’s longest continuous bar. Measuring an astonishing 118.5 feet, the sweeping mahogany and marble counter stretches the length of the dining room, a gleaming runway for cocktails and conversation.
It’s almost enough space to accommodate its nightly patrons. Almost.
Oscar Wilde has become the place for indulging in drinks with names as colorful as the décor. Among the favorites: Flower of Love, blending Destilador Reposado tequila, elderflower liqueur, El Silencio Mezcal, Luxardo Maraschino, and Thai chili for a spicy, floral kick.
The bar’s inventory is as ambitious as its cocktails, featuring more than three hundred different spirits for adventurous drinkers. The result is a menu that invites experimentation, with bartenders shaking and stirring everything from classic martinis to imaginative Victorian-inspired elixirs.
A Hearty Celtic-Inspired Menu
While cocktails may command the spotlight, the kitchen at Oscar Wilde ensures that guests never drink on an empty stomach. The Celtic-inspired menu blends traditional Irish comfort food with contemporary touches.
Among the standout starters is Boxty, a classic Irish potato pancake topped with smoked trout, tobiko, and maple syrup—a dish that balances savory richness with a hint of sweetness. The Scotch Egg, another favorite, arrives perfectly crisp alongside a white bean and quinoa ragout finished with fine herbs.
Of course, no Irish-inspired bar is without a Shepherd’s Pie, layered with ground lamb, root vegetables, and broiled mashed potatoes, is the sort of dish makes for a perfect evening. Guests also flock to the Lamb Sliders, served with seasoned lamb, house-made pickles, goat cheese, and harissa aioli. Then there’s the crowd-pleasing Wilde Burger, topped with Guinness cheese and fermented cabbage on a potato bun, accompanied by a pile of golden frites.
Seafood lovers can opt for Faroe Islands salmon, served with parsnip purée, a refined counterpoint to the restaurant’s richer offerings.
“I can’t stand people who don’t take food seriously,” Wilde once declared. He would approve here: portions are generous, deeply satisfying, and unapologetically hearty.
A Journey Through Time
What truly sets Oscar Wilde apart, however, is its extraordinary interior. The restaurant’s décor could best be described as “odd-biance”—a wonderfully eccentric blend of artifacts, antiques, and architectural treasures gathered from across the globe.
It makes no sense in the best possible way.
The space unfolds like a surreal journey through time and geography, curated with a fearless sense of color, light, and historical drama. Guests dining beneath chandeliers may find themselves surrounded by centuries-old artifacts from Europe, South America, and beyond.
Among the highlights is an 1884 French fireplace, acquired on Bond Street through Bonhams and Phillips Auctioneers, which anchors one of the dining rooms with stately elegance. Nearby stands an 1884 grandfather clock from England, its presence reinforcing the restaurant’s Victorian inspiration.
Other details reveal the extraordinary lengths taken to create space. The porcelain entrance was sourced from Gosford Castle in Northern Ireland. Wood paneling once part of Hope Castle adds old-world warmth to the interior, while the dining room doors—salvaged from Argentina during World War II—bring yet another chapter of global history into the mix.
Even the clocks tell a story. There are twenty-six antique timepieces scattered throughout the restaurant, each carefully set to 1:50 pm, the time of Oscar Wilde’s death. It’s a small but poetic gesture, a reminder that the restaurant exists as both homage and theatrical tribute.
Time, it seems, is very much on this restaurant’s side.
A Tribute To A Legendary Wit
The spirit of Oscar Wilde permeates every corner of the establishment. His famous quotes appear throughout the restaurant, framed like works of art or etched into decorative surfaces.
The philosophy behind this space mirrors Wilde’s own worldview: beauty matters, pleasure is not something to apologize for, and life should be enjoyed with enthusiasm and a dash of irreverence.
The restaurant embodies that philosophy wholeheartedly. From the flamboyant décor to the exuberant cocktail list, everything about the experience feels intentionally indulgent.
An Institution In The Making
In a city known for reinvention, Oscar Wilde stands apart by celebrating extravagance. It is not minimalist or restrained. Instead, it revels in color, history, and theatrical flair. On any given evening, the restaurant buzzes with friends catching up over cocktails, couples lingering over dinner, and visitors marveling at the endless collection of antiques and curiosities.
And somewhere in that lively atmosphere, one might imagine the namesake author himself raising a glass.
After all, if ever there were a place built in the spirit of Oscar Wilde, it is here—where laughter comes easily, and moderation is very much optional. Info: https://oscarwildenyc.com
