HotelChatter

Hotel Bars

Algonquin's Vintage Chic Amenity

Where: 59 West 44th Street, [map], New York City, ny, United States, 10036

August 14, 2006 at 2:50 PM | 0 Comments

Hotel staff turnover can be a quick thing, especially in the hotel bar. An ever-evolving scene, hotel bars are chameleons of trends trying to stay one step ahead of the game in order to keep us on our toes and thirsty, of course. But the Algonquin Hotel has a bartender who is beyond on top of his game. He's been serving drinks at the bar since 1979 and is on the verge of his 90th birthday.

Mr. Hoy Wong definitely has experience and we bet he can make up one damn good drink. As new bars throw up pictures of America's first stars, this guy can recall them from personal memories:

He has mixed martinis for Marilyn Monroe and Charles Bronson, poured Scotch for John Lennon and served a tipple to Henry Kissinger

The birthday party should be a smash for his loving hotel co-workers and equally loving clientele. One thing is for sure, his Champagne toast will be a sparkling one, Mr. Wong hasn't drunk a drop since 1960--maybe the key to his long lived career. Either way, we're thinking the Algonquin has got to be a good place to work and we're impressed that their vintage-chic look is matched with a vintage-chic staff-member.

Related Stories:
· Vintage Barkeep [NY Daily News]
· Algonquin Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]