Honor Bar at the Hotel Palomar

Just a quick post today. Thrillist just put up an interest piece on the redesign of Fifth Floor's bar area. Fifth Floor, in the Hotel Palomar, has had its ups and downs over the years. It opened with George Morrone in the kitchen. When he stepped down, Laurent Gras took over, wowing crowds with his signature lobster cappuccino. Melissa Perello came soon after, earning the restaurant its Michelin star. She walked away though, leaving two of her assistants to take over. Just a few months ago, Laurent Manrique took the helm, overseeing a massive interior redesign and a new menu.

Including in the redesign is a new lounge concept called Honor Bar. As Thrillist notes, "Honor Bar's a total re-conception of Fifth's 44-seat lounge space: overstuffed club chairs, a long communal table, a chunky wood bar imported from a French chateau and, most audaciously, a billing system based on the honor code. That's right: while master Sommelier Emily Wines (seriously) will suggest a price for her hand-picked, daily-rotating selection of 6 vinos ($8-$15 per glass, $25 per flight), how much you actually drop in the provided lockbox is between you, your conscience, and Crossing Over's John Edward."

Add to that a DIY Champagne cocktail system and Honor Bar looks like a must try. Again, from Thrillist: "Upon the bar'll sit ingredients and instructions for a mix-it-yourself daily champagne cocktail, first up being Sharffenberger Brut/orange Armagnac."