Gin 'N (Hand Squeezed) Juice
Bemelmans Alum Quietly Opens British Officer Bar Concept
Tonight a hidden oasis opens on that strip of purgatory we call Houston.
Burma on Houston
Tucked quietly between Dos Caminos and an ice cream shop, with only discreet lettering on the narrow glass door, the newPegu Club (named after a 1920s British Officers' club in Rangoon) is traditional Burma meets sleek SOHO cocktail lounge.
What You'll Drink
Two of the city's top female mixologists—house mixer Audrey Saunders (Bemelmans Bar) and Julie Reiner (Flatiron Lounge)—serve up a liquor-laced history lesson, with drinks like the Gin-Gin Mule, a spicy gin and ginger mojito made with homemade ginger beer (a likely crowd favorite), the Old Cuban with champagne and angostura bitters, and the eponymous Pegu Club Cocktail—dry gin, orange bitters and curacao.
What You'll Taste
Pegu's perfect for a chill drink and casual bite; chef Gavin Citron (Citron; One) consults on a "Burmese cocktail cuisine" appetizer menu with Mandalay coconut shrimp, Jungle-Style Summer Rolls, and a delicious Sloppy (Joe) Duck mini-burger.
What You'll See
Among the lounge's highlights:
- Giant old apothecary jars behind the bar, filled with the tinctures used to mix drinks.
- Four eyedropper bottles (lemon juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and angostura bitters) served tableside like "cocktail condiments"; indulge your inner control freak and try to improve on perfection.
What You Won't See
Along with soda guns and sour mix, you won't see—vodka? It's true, but don't panic—it's just not displayed, making room for 23 brands of gin, Saunders' preferred liquor.
Get There
This is a prize spot that's sure to be hot and low-key at the same time. After all, when a place offers timeless drinks in a classic venue, there are bound to be a lot of takers.
