Young Professional Hot Spot: Montauk

There’s a very simple reason you should go to Montauk: its Owner, Dustin Keating. Not only is he affable, damn fine with a cocktail shaker, and capable of growing a moustache that makes other Movember participants shudder in fear, he’s also put his heart and soul into building a bar that actually has an ethos behind it. He wants you to be able to walk in to Montauk (765 Dundas St W) and have a high-end cocktail (without the high-end price) or a pint, or a glass of wine, without anyone getting all judgey on you. So we did.

Dustin

There are too many places in this city that want you to drop $20 on a cocktail without even being pleasant about it. We’re not saying we need a reach around every time someone pours us a bourbon, but it’d be nice if we didn’t have to feel looked down upon simply because we weren’t sure about the difference between Angostura bitters and Regan’s. Montauk doesn’t do this. Their collection of cool young bartenders want you to explore, to have fun, and, most importantly, to have what you like. Whether it’s a Tame Impala (tequila, cucumber, chai-pepper, lime, Thomas lovers’ ginger beer; $9) a Negroni on tap (yes, seriously, and they’re working on having Manhattans on tap too!) or a good ol’ pint of Flying Monkey’s Hoptical Illusion, these guys will be happy to pour it with both style and smiles. 

Aside from the welcoming you’ll receive from behind the bar and the warm feeling the drinks will deliver to your belly, Montauk’s aesthetics also help to make us want to keep coming back for more. Designed and built by Keating over 10 months, the large wooden bar, unique pipe lighting, and second floor DJ space offer an inviting evening whether you’re looking for a cozy cocktail or you want some late-night scenester partying.

montauk

In fact, this duality is one of the best things Montauk has to offer. At times, it’s one of the most laid-back and intimate spaces in the city to enjoy a few drinks with friends (and without pretension) ,and at others it feels like every hip young professional in the city has stepped in to bust a move and down a delicious drink.

But whenever you decide to go, we promise that a visit to Montauk won’t disappoint. There’s a reason it’s been one of the hottest bars in the city since it opened. If you haven’t stopped in yet, we suggest you remedy that immediately by prescribing yourself a couple of mid-week cocktails. Everything else will be taken care of by Dustin – it’s just up to you to get there and enjoy.

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