The Newsroom

“The coolest speakeasy located inside the Z hotel (lower level). You walk in through a Coca-Cola vending machine. Once you go inside the place is very nice and elegant. Great music , food and drinks. The decor is a mix of industrial and retro. If you are in the area or looking for a cool spot check them out.”

“Low key spot tucked inside The Z Hotel in LIC. The speakeasy theme adds a cool touch, and the ambience overall is really nice. Parking around the area isn’t the best, but with a little patience you can usually find something nearby. As for the experience, the service was the one part that didn’t quite do It for me. The staff didn’t seem fully on the ball. There were delays when placing my order, and even getting a to-go box and the bill took longer than it should have. The music was on the louder side, but thankfully it was good music, so it added more to the atmosphere than it took away. Food wise, the menu is packed with so many tempting options that it’s hard not to consider ordering everything. I went with the branzino, cauliflower wings, and plantains. Everything tasted good, though I’ll admit I expected a little more given the strong menu presentation. Still enjoyable, just not mind blowing.”

“The Newsroom is now on my must-do list when I come to New York. The food and drinks were delicious. I had the Mango Blossom, shrimp guacamole, and branzino. If you get the branzino the sauce takes it to another level. The atmosphere is set for a good time. Do not miss the rooftop because the view is exquisite.”

“Okay first off it is difficult to find as it is not indicated to be located inside the hotel. But once you find it...the speakeasy theme comes to life. The "store" with the secret door is a nice touch and leads you into a dim lit room. There is plenty of seating and a stage with a large bar. The artwork is really nice and the candles/ chandeliers add a wonderful touch of mystery. The food and drink are really good. The food is a fusion of carribean and latin flavors. There were no shows on the evening I visited but there was a deejay playing a mix of R&B, soul, funk and pop.”

“This place was pretty interesting as we saw that it had a lot of reviews on Google as well as a big marketing push on social media platforms. Upon entering on a Thursday evening, it seemed fairly quiet as they were only six other patrons in the whole establishment. For a place that can also feel like a nightclub. It felt really deserted. I wouldn’t say that the service was outstanding. It was pretty standard honestly. The cocktails were a little bit on the price of your side, which kind of threw me off because it didn’t feel like a cocktail bar. It felt something more like like a lounge where where you would find people smoking hookah. Nothing wrong with the atmosphere. I just didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I just had a beer while my girlfriend ordered a Mezcal Paloma, which was surprisingly really, really good. Maybe I’ll give them a shot another time. But there was no wild factor here. It was pretty average.”