Some places open with a natural swagger, and that’s the case with the Swan Room at Nine Orchard in the Dimes Square neighborhood. Not only were the drinks worth the Uber ride downtown, but they even elevated a simple leaf of endive. This is the review.

Atmosphere

Of all of the Swan Room virtues, the showstopper is its decor. The room is a throwback to the twenties with an architecture you don’t often find. Set in an old bank lobby, the devil is in the details of the vaulted ceilings, marble walls, stonework, and wrought iron. There’s nothing contrived about the room as it honors the landmarked building yet makes it Lower East Side cool. The room is so pretty that it’s a destination spot to make a night of it. Most anyone you bring will be at minimum impressed. As far as the crowd goes, the people watching ranks about as high as the decor. The crowd continues to be eclectic, with an attractive group that is effortlessly cool. This is one of those insider New York spots, where it self-selects a nice Downtown crowd and those in the know.

Food + Beverage

The bartenders are dressed formally to right away give you the impression that they know how to make a drink. Though, I would say that the food is surprisingly stronger than the beverage at the Swan Room. The drinks are all craft, but I found them a bit too sweet. They do have some impressive presentations of the martinis should you opt for your own personal cart for a group of 3-5. You’ll have your own bartender to custom-make your martinis table side, which is always fun.

The food all sounds simple but this is where they bring their A-Game. You can make a light meal out of the snacks and apps. Or if you’re really hungry, they have a burger on the menu and fries as the only entrée. But stick with the apps. They took it off this summer, but they had an endive with blue cheese precisely piped and a candied walnut on top. Consider this my petition to get that back on the menu. Otherwise, they have a beautiful caviar service with potato chips that don’t break the bank at $76. The Tasmanian carpaccio must not be missed either; it may be the best I’ve had in the city. I would drop by just for a plate of this and a glass of the Pauillac.

Service

On my first visit when the Swan Room first opened, I was scolded by a bouncer for taking photos. Not in a very nice way either; that attitude belonged more in the early aughts than anything. However, on the many occasions since that first visit (since nothing could stop me from going) service has been solid. I don’t know if this is the kind of place, at least from my experience, where they want to build regulars. They don’t give off that come back and see us again vibe. However, everyone is nice and pleasant, and the service runs like clockwork. However, you might want to make a reservation so that you are guaranteed a table since the Swan Room continues to bring in the crowds.

Overall: 8/10

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FAQs

Q: Where is the Swan Room located?

A: The Swan Room is located at 9 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002.
Phone: (212) 804-9900

Q: What are the hours of operation of the Swan Room?

A: The hours of operation of the Swan Room are as follows:

A: Although this is a Lower East Side spot, the Swan Room is a beautiful bar. Therefore, they encourage you to dress for a night out.