Robert Simonson

Contributing Editor

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).

Cocktails

Pete Napolitano’s Got a Theory

The iconic Melody Lanes bartender on bartending’s “mathematical signature” and what he’s learned from 30 years behind the bar.

story: Robert Simonson
photos: Eric Medsker

Cocktails

Martini, Up, With a Blue Cheese-Stuffed Olive

The blue cheese-stuffed olive has proven itself, bizarrely, to be one of the few drink garnishes with real staying power.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Lizzie Munro

Cocktails

Bar Review: The New Face of the Hotel Bar

Downtown LA’s booming scene insists that the new hotel bar is really five bars in one.

story: Robert Simonson
photos: Dylan + Jeni

Cocktails

In Search of the Ultimate Sazerac

We asked 14 of America's best bartenders to submit their finest recipe for the Sazerac—then blind-tasted them all to find the best of the best.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Daniel Krieger

Cocktails

Will the Real Orange Bitters Please Stand Up?

Dozens of brands are still competing to become the archetypal orange bitters.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Lizzie Munro

Cocktails

Bar Review: Jim Meehan’s Ambitious Act Two

Just over ten years since opening the pioneering PDT, Jim Meehan returns with Prairie School, a high-concept bar inspired by architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

story: Robert Simonson
photos: Hilary Higgins

Cocktails

Bar Review: Is the New EMP Actually an Improvement?

Robert Simonson on the revamp of Eleven Madison Park’s trailblazing bar.

story: Robert Simonson
photos: Eric Medsker

Cocktails

In Search of the Ultimate Old-Fashioned

We asked 17 of America's best bartenders to submit their finest recipe for the Old-Fashioned—then blind-tasted them all to find the best of the best.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Daniel Krieger

Cocktails

The State of the New York Steakhouse Martini

How have these bastions of old-school drinking changed with the times?

story: Robert Simonson
photos: Lizzie Munro

Cocktails

Can the Bar Industry Tackle Its Inclusion Problem?

The past year brought to light issues of sexism and diversity within the bar community, forcing the drinks world to take a hard look at itself.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Lizzie Munro