South Street Seaport’s Secret
I wasn’t so sure whether or not I wanted to share this home away from home with the world at large – or the world via Wikipages – but I have decided it’s good for business to share, and more business means more nights at Fresh Salt.
Fresh Salt is my all time favorite place to hang out in Manhattan. Just one block away from the maddening crowds on the South Street Seaport’s main drag, this bar and restaurant has yet to be discovered by tourists. The décor is sparse but includes several large comfy booths and outside seating is available in nice weather.
Happy Hour specials here include $3 beers on tap and the food menu is short but delicious. Sandwiches, soups, salads, and hummus platters are the mainstay and I’ve seen many a tear shed over the most perfect of perfect eggplant sandwiches.
As far as the crowd goes, on Thursdays and Fridays before 7PM you might have to battle your way through some suits from the AIG and Goldman locations down the block but the majority of the time you’ll run into locals and sailors from the Seaport Museum.
The music is never too loud, the bar staff are your friends, and you might learn a few knots or pick up knitting if you’re there at the right time of day. In short – show up, pull up a seat at the bar – get yourself a dark and stormy and settle down for a long quiet night full of good conversation. Just remember the corner bar stool doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to a sea captain, a first mate or Carter.