When you settle into a seat by the window at MidCity and thumb through the soft leather drinks menu, the attention to detail is clear, down to the creases in the pages. Award-winning bartenders greet drinkers with warmth and authority, led by partner and lead bartender Jose Pereiro, who guides drinkers toward cocktails that suit their tastes. Since opening in 2017, MidCity has kept the focus squarely on the drinks, letting thoughtful cocktails take center stage without any unnecessary theatrics.
What to order
- The MC freezer martini ($17) sets the tone: a crisp blend of Japanese gin, Dolin dry vermouth, Cocchi Americano, and fino sherry. Three frozen drop peppers garnish the glass, like tiny sweet pepper popsicles, adding texture, temperature play, and flavor.
- The pear matcha fizz ($17) is bright and gently earthy, combining gin, pear, pandan, and matcha into a refreshing, lightly frothy cocktail that’s easy to sip through the evening.
- The Tomato ($17) cocktail has intense notes of green cardamom and basil, making it highly herbal and savory.
- Snacks have subtle nods to the South. The hot dog ($14), piled high with slaw and cheese, is an excellent bar snack. Prosciutto toasts ($13), slathered with pimento cheese, make a salty, creamy companion to the tomato cocktail.
The vibe
MidCity doesn’t take reservations, reinforcing its neighborhood-bar energy. Stroll in, grab a seat at the bar, or post up outside when the weather cooperates. Inside, bar seats come with a show: bartenders shaking and stirring drinks while lo-fi house music plays out of a good speaker system. From the window, Midtown’s bustle rolls by — the kind of scene that might make you do a double take, as if you’ve somehow landed in New York City.
Insider tip
The MidCity team is opening a new bar named Omma in West Midtown this summer. In the meantime, talk, talk, talk to the bartenders. They have geeky knowledge about the drinks spilling out of them, and are happy to improvise if you’re craving something specific. You might also find Jorom Paler’s super chill omakase pop-up here.
