Jeff Bell, a longtime bartender associated with Please Don’t Tell, has opened a new cocktail lounge in the West Village. The venue, called Kees, is located beneath Mixteca at 1 Cornelia Street. The subterranean space features design elements inspired by post-Prohibition-era style, including green velvet banquettes, marble, brass accents, and heavy drapery in a compact setting. Accessed through a discreet door inside Mixteca and down a staircase, the lounge is designed to offer a formal yet accessible nightlife experience.
A polished take on classic cocktails
Instead of a sprawling menu or a history lesson at the bar, Kees organizes its drinks around eight classic families: martinis, spritzes, Negronis, highballs, Collins, sours, Manhattans and old‑fashioneds. Guests pick a lane and explore variations from there. Among the examples: a jalapeño‑infused Juan Collins built with pineapple, lemon, bell pepper and soda; a Chita old‑fashioned made with Japanese whisky; and a martini that trades heavy brine for Castelvetrano olives and olive oil. Those menu and garnish choices are described by Time Out.
Part of a three‑concept block at One Cornelia
Kees is the final piece of the One Cornelia complex, joining Mixteca upstairs and the East Coast debut of Tacos 1986 on the corner, so the block now holds three linked but distinct experiences under one roof. Eater NY reported that the building rolled out its concepts in phases through 2025 and into early 2026. The setup keeps the agave‑and‑taco energy upstairs, while Kees handles quieter, more formal bar service downstairs.
Practical details and reservations
According to Kees, the bar lists hours as 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Resy bookings are released seven days in advance, with a small number of seats held for walk‑ins. Online reservations are available for parties of one to eight, and private‑event inquiries are fielded through [email protected].
Where Kees fits in the scene
Bell has been clear that Kees is not trying to be another speakeasy. Instead, he describes it as “the gilded secret handshake… much less conspicuous,” a phrase he used in an interview with Time Out. After more than a decade shaping PDT and a recent run of projects around the city, Bell told Resy he wanted a bar defined by consistency and hospitality rather than spectacle. For West Village regulars who prefer low‑key but elevated nights out, Kees is positioned as a focused, bartender‑driven alternative to spots chasing the next viral gimmick.
