Ms. Alice, a moody red-lit aperitivo bar, quietly opened on April 3 at the corner of Rivington and Allen in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The newcomer leans hard into a dedicated martini program and fruit-forward spritzes, including a salted watermelon spritz, backed up by Italian bar snacks like cacio e pepe-style fries. The space is set up for lingering over long, late-evening aperitifs and shareable small plates.
As reported by Time Out, Ms. Alice is the latest concept from Parched Hospitality Group and features a martini menu conceived by beverage director Jeremy Ortiz. Time Out notes that the martini roster includes a Dirty Bleu martini and a Blueberry Gibson, while the spritz list highlights salted watermelon and strawberry rhubarb options. The outlet also points to an “apero hour” with $12 spritzes, negronis and martinis on weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
Ms. Alice’s own menu gets specific about what is in the glasses. The Salted Watermelon Spritz combines Aperol, watermelon and a tomato vermouth, then tops it with Prosecco. The Blueberry Gibson is built from Roku gin, shochu and pickled blueberries. In the kitchen, the menu leans Italian with raw bar selections, a gnocco fritto with prosciutto and stracciatella, a bowl of rigatoni for a more substantial bite, and fries that can be dressed cacio e pepe-style with Parmesan foam. The restaurant lists its address at 79 Rivington Street and notes an upstairs terrace for warmer months, according to Ms. Alice's menu.
What To Order
If you are testing the waters, start with a martini, either the Blueberry Gibson or the Dirty Bleu, and split the cacio e pepe fries and gnocco fritto for a salty, shareable spread. A petite plateau of oysters, scallops and shrimp offers a compact way to sample the raw bar without going for a full-size tower. As The Infatuation notes, the bar’s four martinis and that petite plateau make for a straightforward introduction to the program.
Who's Behind It
Ms. Alice comes from Parched Hospitality Group, the Australian-influenced operator behind Hole in the Wall and Isla & Co., which describes the concept as a nod to European aperitivo culture. The group has positioned the bar as a cocktail-first room with an Italian-leaning food menu to match. Parched Hospitality Group provides background on the operator, while Time Out lists Clint Snowling as executive chef and credits Jeremy Ortiz with the martini lineup.
When To Go
To catch the full aperitivo vibe, weekday apéro hour is the move. The $12 spritzes, martinis and negronis run Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Posted hours currently show Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Thursday 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Reservations are available via the venue’s booking link, and the site lists the phone number and address at 79 Rivington Street. For the latest hours and booking details, check the location page on Ms. Alice.
With a tight martini list, two standout spritzes and small plates built for sharing, Ms. Alice is staking out its own aperitivo corner on Rivington. Whether you slide in for an early apero or a late-night martini, the bar is positioned as a neighborhood first stop for drinks and snackable Italian plates.
