The King Cole Bar: A century of high society at The St. Regis
Slip through the doors of The St. Regis New York and into the King Cole Bar, and you’ll feel it instantly—that quiet hum of history, the low glow of lamplight, the faint clink of glass against polished wood. Behind the bar stretches a 30-foot mural by Maxfield Parrish, its whimsical King Cole presiding over nearly a century of whispered deals, creative inspiration, and cocktail invention. For bartenders with ambitions beyond simply mixing drinks, this is hallowed ground.
King Cole Bar history: From Gilded Age to Midtown icon
The history of the King Cole Bar begins with the hotel itself. In 1904, John Jacob Astor IV opened The St. Regis Hotel on Fifth Avenue, aiming to combine the elegance of Europe’s grand hotels with the modern luxuries of New York’s Gilded Age. His mother, Caroline Astor, the undisputed queen of New York society, inspired its standard of refinement (including telephones in every room).
The King Cole Bar first opened several decades later in 1932, the waning days of prohibition, and has since been a popular destination for high society. As Head Bartender Bill Dante puts it:
“It’s a New York legend… as soon as Prohibition ended, it was opened here in the St. Regis and it’s been popular ever since.”
The King Cole Bar mural (and its secret)
When guests walk into the King Cole Bar, their eyes inevitably go to the imposing mural. Painted by Maxfield Parrish, Old King Cole and His Fiddlers Three was commissioned by Astor for his Knickerbocker Hotel years earlier in 1906. After Astor tragically passed in the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, the mural found its permanent home above the St. Regis bar in 1932 (earning the establishment its moniker).
But the mural’s grandeur comes with a bit of scandal. According to one long-standing rumor, Parrish disliked working with Astor and, after much negotiation, delivered the painting with a private joke at the hotelier’s expense. King Cole’s face is said to be a sour likeness of Astor himself, and his courtiers, stifling their laughter, have just heard him pass gas. Whether true or not, it’s a story that’s been told for decades under the King’s watchful (and possibly mischievous) gaze.
King Cole Bar history: From Gilded Age to Midtown icon
The history of the King Cole Bar begins with the hotel itself. In 1904, John Jacob Astor IV opened The St. Regis Hotel on Fifth Avenue, aiming to combine the elegance of Europe’s grand hotels with the modern luxuries of New York’s Gilded Age. His mother, Caroline Astor, the undisputed queen of New York society, inspired its standard of refinement (including telephones in every room).
The King Cole Bar first opened several decades later in 1932, the waning days of prohibition, and has since been a popular destination for high society. As Head Bartender Bill Dante puts it:
“It’s a New York legend… as soon as Prohibition ended, it was opened here in the St. Regis and it’s been popular ever since.”
The King Cole Bar mural (and its secret)
When guests walk into the King Cole Bar, their eyes inevitably go to the imposing mural. Painted by Maxfield Parrish, Old King Cole and His Fiddlers Three was commissioned by Astor for his Knickerbocker Hotel years earlier in 1906. After Astor tragically passed in the 1912 sinking of the Titanic, the mural found its permanent home above the St. Regis bar in 1932 (earning the establishment its moniker).
But the mural’s grandeur comes with a bit of scandal. According to one long-standing rumor, Parrish disliked working with Astor and, after much negotiation, delivered the painting with a private joke at the hotelier’s expense. King Cole’s face is said to be a sour likeness of Astor himself, and his courtiers, stifling their laughter, have just heard him pass gas. Whether true or not, it’s a story that’s been told for decades under the King’s watchful (and possibly mischievous) gaze.
Birthplace of the Bloody Mary
Of all the drinks to come out of the King Cole Bar, none is more famous than the Red Snapper, also known as the Bloody Mary.
In 1934, bartender Fernand Petiot brought his Paris-born vodka-and-tomato-juice drink to New York. Americans found the original version too plain, so Petiot layered in Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, celery salt, cayenne, and both black and white pepper.
Dante explains that the original version contained no horseradish or Tabasco. Instead, the gentle heat came solely from cayenne.
“That is the original classic Red Snapper… very simple, very subtle, it’s not heavy.”
Since its creation at the King Cole Bar, the Red Snapper has become an integral piece of the St. Regis brand—St. Regis properties around the world each offer their own local twist on the classic.
Birthplace of the Bloody Mary
Of all the drinks to come out of the King Cole Bar, none is more famous than the Red Snapper, also known as the Bloody Mary.
In 1934, bartender Fernand Petiot brought his Paris-born vodka-and-tomato-juice drink to New York. Americans found the original version too plain, so Petiot layered in Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, celery salt, cayenne, and both black and white pepper.
Dante explains that the original version contained no horseradish or Tabasco. Instead, the gentle heat came solely from cayenne.
“That is the original classic Red Snapper… very simple, very subtle, it’s not heavy.”
Since its creation at the King Cole Bar, the Red Snapper has become an integral piece of the St. Regis brand—St. Regis properties around the world each offer their own local twist on the classic.
Celebrities, stories, and renovations
Over the decades, this intimate room has hosted everyone from Salvador Dalí (a resident at the hotel) to Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, and Joe DiMaggio. Deals have been struck here. Ideas have been born. And in 2023, a multi-million-dollar renovation restored the mural’s original vibrancy, refreshed the seating, and polished every detail, ensuring the bar feels timeless without being trapped in time.
Lessons for bartenders who dream big
For bartenders, the King Cole Bar is more than a beautiful room. It’s a masterclass in longevity. Proof that impeccable service, a commitment to craft, and the courage to create something new can turn a cocktail into a legacy. Step behind this bar, and you’re not just making drinks. You’re adding your name to a story that began over a century ago—and shows no sign of ending.
Lessons for bartenders
who dream big
For bartenders, the King Cole Bar is more than a beautiful room. It’s a masterclass in longevity. Proof that impeccable service, a commitment to craft, and the courage to create something new can turn a cocktail into a legacy. Step behind this bar, and you’re not just making drinks. You’re adding your name to a story that began over a century ago—and shows no sign of ending.
Photo Credits:
Interior of Old King Cole Bar – Adam Jones / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 2.0
Hotel St. Regis, New York — advertisement. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
The St. Regis New York – King Cole Bar – Courtesy of Marriott International
Nicole Bump
Nicole is a seasoned content strategist and writer with 15+ years of experience turning complex ideas into compelling stories. As founder of Bump Inbound, she helps brands connect with audiences through thoughtful strategy, sharp planning, and standout writing.
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