Sugar Monk - An Intimate Cocktail Establishment Will Open in the Historic Harlem Community
The historic Harlem community will soon welcome the opening of Sugar Monk, a sophisticated new mixology cocktail bar just a short walk from the famous Apollo Theater, located on Frederick Douglass Boulevard (between 123rd& 124thStreets), nestled along a now vibrant restaurant row.
Sugar Monk is the creation of two artists who have merged their diverse artistic styles under one roof – Ektoras Binikos, an award-winning mixologist and visual artist, and Simon Jutras, a photographer and designer.
Sugar Monk pays hommage to the uptown speakeasies that once flourished at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, where the creatives of the day sought social interaction and cultural exchange after hours, far from the social constructs of race, ethnicity, and sexual identity.
Reflecting upon that era, Ektoras and Simon hope to fashion Sugar Monk into a modern classic, an intimate spot with a vibe that welcomes all patrons, where soft eclectic music sets the mood for engaging conversation, shared over one of the many complex and exquisite elixirs created by Ektoras Binikos, the epitome of a modern-day alchemist.
The Sugar Monk cocktail menu is in itself artful, an expression of Binikos' journey through alchemy, art, and beauty. It features over 30 distinctive cocktails that blend exotic, unusual and mysterious ingredients. The menu is divided into 8 chapters, each referential to a special journey, from the monks and their long history of distillation, to the jazz pioneer and musical master, Thelonious Monk.
Binikos is recognized among his peers as a master mixologist who believes mixology is "art in a glass". He has perfected his craft at world-class establishments such as Aureole, Oceana and Michael's New York, and most recently at the two Michelin star restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther. Binikos was also a managing partner and the creative force at 2nd Floor on Clinton.
As with everything they do, Binikos and Jutras are paying close attention to every detail in preparation for the opening of Sugar Monk– from Simon Jutras' thoughtful interior design, to the etched crystal glassware and theatrical bar set up, where patrons become spectators to the magic created by the mixologists. At Sugar Monk, every staff member is an artist in his/her own right.
The fusion of art, mixology, and alchemy is the connective thread that runs through every aspect of this intimate venue. Everything at Sugar Monk is meant to indulge the senses and delight the palate. That is why at Sugar Monk, "Everything Matters".
Sugar Monk is located at 2292 Frederick Douglass Blvd., in Harlem, New York. A series of special events will precede Sugar Monk's official opening in June.
