Velvet Cowboy turns the old Jacob's Pickles room on Amsterdam Avenue into a 1970s desert roadhouse, all crushed velvet, fringe, painted brick and stained glass. The draw is the pairing: riffs on the Margarita, Gin Rickey and Boulevardier from bartender Michael Walters, alongside smash burgers, mozzarella sticks and walking tacos that each cost $5. If you want an Upper West Side night that feels nothing like the neighborhood's usual wine bars, start here.
What to expect
Two bars share one address: a front saloon that runs on walk-ins and a back cocktail lounge you can reserve on Resy in 90-minute seatings. Expect a playful, Western-psychedelic look, a drinks list mixing updated classics with house originals, and snack-sized plates meant to be ordered in rounds.
Good to know
- The front saloon is walk-in only; book the back lounge on Resy if you want a guaranteed table.
- Take the 1 train to 86th Street, or the B/C to 86th Street and walk across from Central Park West.
- It is 21-and-over in the evening, so leave the kids for a daytime Jacob's Pickles run.
- Lounge reservations are time-limited seatings, so plan dinner elsewhere if you want to linger.
- Jacob's Pickles itself now operates a few blocks away on Columbus Avenue if your group wants a full meal first.
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Common questions
Do I need a reservation for Velvet Cowboy?
Only for the back cocktail lounge, which books on Resy. The front saloon takes walk-ins.
How much is the food at Velvet Cowboy?
The bar says every item on its food menu is $5, including smash burgers, mozzarella sticks and walking tacos.
Who is behind it?
Pickle Hospitality, the group run by Jacob Hadjigeorgis that also operates Jacob's Pickles, with bartender Michael Walters on the drinks.