Robert Simonson writes about cocktails, spirits and bars for the New York Times. He is the author of The Old-Fashioned: The Story of the World's First Classic Cocktail (2014), A Proper Drink (2016) and 3-Ingredient Cocktails: An Opinionated Guide to the Most Enduring Drinks in the Cocktail Canon (2017).
Robert Simonson
Contributing Editor
In Search of the Ultimate Daiquiri
We asked 20 of today's top bartenders to submit their finest recipe for the Daiquiri—then blind-tasted them all to find the best of the best.
- story: Robert Simonson
- photos: Lizzie Munro
Does a Bar Have to Go Global to Stay Relevant?
The pop-up cocktail bar has gone from occasional incident to top-tier requisite. Robert Simonson on the roots of this trend—and why it shows no sign of slowing.
- story: Robert Simonson
- photo: Simone Galucci
Bar Review: Revisiting Boston’s Trailblazing ‘Drink’
In the latest "Bar Review," Robert Simonson takes a fresh look at Boston's pioneering bar, Drink, nearly a decade into service.
- story: Robert Simonson
- photos: Simon Simard
Shaken, Up and … on an Ice Cube?
In recent years, some of the world's leading bars have debuted a new breed of drink—the up-rocks drink.
- story: Robert Simonson
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Bar Review: The Petraske School Evolves
In Robert Simonson's "Bar Review," he offers a look at some of today’s most notable new venues. Here, he considers the loosened sense of formality at LA’s Bar Clacson and…
- story: Robert Simonson
- photo: Eugene Lee
Let Me Tell You the Rules: Lessons from Harry’s Bar
Famed for being the birthplace of the Bellini, Harry’s Bar in Venice has developed an ethos all its own.
- story: Robert Simonson
- photos: Colin Dutton
When Did Cocktail Menu Debuts Become News?
At some of today’s most highly regarded bars, a new menu is no longer just a list of drinks.
- story: Robert Simonson
- photo: Lizzie Munro
In Search of the Ultimate Martini
We asked 27 of today's top bartenders to submit their finest recipe for the Martini—then blind-tasted them all to find the best of the best. Robert Simonson on the search…
- story: Robert Simonson
- photos: Lizzie Munro
In Search of the Ultimate Manhattan
We asked 17 of America's best bartenders to submit their finest recipe for the Manhattan—then blind-tasted them all to find the best of the best. Robert Simonson on the search…
- story: Robert Simonson
- photos: Lizzie Munro
Inside the Bars That Kicked Off San Francisco’s Cocktail Renaissance
Most of the bars that sparked San Francisco's cocktail renaissance still remain as relevant as ever. Here, Robert Simonson and Kelly Puleio go on a tour of the places—and drinks—that…
- story: Robert Simonson
- photos: Kelly Puleio
