Campbell Apartment

In 1923 John W. Campbell – financier, captain of industry, Renaissance man, acquired a lease on one very exclusive piece of New York City real state, a 3,500 square foot room nestled into the west wing of Grand Central Station. He took the raw space and renovated it in a manner befitting the grandeur of its location. He lined the floor with Persian carpets, had artisans craft elaborate inlays into the woodwork, and artists hand paint the ceilings. And at the end of the room he placed a desk with such grand proportions and stately presence that the whims of the man behind it would engender the gravitas of royal edict.

In 1999 the Campbell apartment was renovated as a bar and by virtue of its history and opulence achieved immediate classic status. It’s the kind of bar where ordering a drink mixed with anything sweeter than soda water is viewed with suspicion, and where the dress code (collared shirts and dress shoes) is rigidly enforced even when the bar is all but empty. This is rarely the case on weekdays when between 5pm and 9pm it’s deluged with commuters from the many nearby investment banks grabbing a few stiff drinks before heading home. But come here on a weekend, and you can frequently find yourself alone with the bartender. Take a seat at the bar in front of the enormous windows overlooking Vanderbilt Avenue. Place an order befitting the space, something richly textured, classic and more than a bit indulgent, perhaps a measure of Oban or Laphroaig. Now hold the heavy glass in your hand and let the immediate luxury of your current circumstance dissolve the tensions of the day precisely as John W. Campbell did almost a century ago.