Cocktail Destination Amor Y Amargo Is Opening a Bigger Location in Williamsburg

Bitters destination Amor y Amargo is headed to Brooklyn.

The East Village cocktail bar known for its high-quality cocktails showcasing bitters is opening in September at 188 Havemeyer St., between South Third and Fourth streets, in Williamsburg. It’s a much-expanded location for the bar from now-vegan restaurateur Ravi DeRossi and renowned bartender Sother Teague. While the original has a tight eight seats, the new one will have 24 seats, with another 10 outside.

There will also be a mostly new menu, featuring drinks such as the Velvet Leaf with amaro, Cocchi Americano, cachaça, Earl Grey tea bitters, and celery shrub; Spotted Elephant with amaro, vermouth, aged rum, and bitters; and Waterproof Watch with amaro, Aperol, gin, and pimento bitters. Two legacy drinks are coming from the Manhattan location, the 8 Amaro Sazerac (eight different amari with two types of bitters in a Chartreuse-rinsed glass) and Sharpie Mustache (amaro, Bonal, bitters, rye, and gin). The bar doesn’t stock any juice or syrups, focusing solely on amari, bitters, vermouth, and spirits, and it only serves stirred drinks. Bottles of bitters, books, and tools will be sold from the bar.

There will also be food, a departure from the tiny original. Because DeRossi’s involved, it will be vegan bar snacks, though there are no set dishes yet.

When Amor y Amargo opened in 2011, the East Village was only just turning into the cocktail playground it is today. PDT, Death & Co, and Angel’s Share were all open, but Amor y Amargo still managed to rise to the top to join that elite group.

Since then DeRossi has focused more on restaurants, but Teague has become one of NYC’s premier bartenders with a cookbook, podcast, and newer spots Blue Quarter and Windmill.

The new Amor y Amargo opens the first week of September, when it will be open weekdays from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and weekends from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m., but closed Mondays.

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