Storie Nel Bicchiere
The spirit of storytelling and discovery awaits Members at 51 East Bar.
Since opening in early April, 51 East Bar has quickly become a go-to spot for Italian wine and cocktails at the Club.
Emphasizing the Italian-American dining traditions of sharing meals and storytelling, the bar offers an aperitif happy hour as well as an innovative food and drinks menu. Although the third-floor space is well known, the team’s commitment to reinvention infuses fresh energy into traditional cocktails and the venue, delivering new experiences in a familiar setting.
Martina Garavaglia, 51 East’s lead bartender, began her career in 2016 in Abbiategrasso, outside Milan. With a background in arts and literature, the Italian native brings her artistic sensibilities to everything she does behind the bar. “I think it’s a nice way to combine my passions in making cocktails,” she explains. “The philosophy for this job is to do it with passion.”
Working closely with Club Beverage Director Nathan Baggs, Garavaglia developed the bar’s cocktail menu with both tradition and innovation in mind. Crafting classic aperitifs such as the Bicicletta and putting new twists on familiar favorites, as she has done with the rosemary-infused 51 East Negroni, allows Garavaglia to draw on her tastes and share her culture with Members.
She’s always up to the challenge of recommending the perfect cocktail for the moment or creating something new on the spot. “It allows me to grow and to offer more sophisticated and elegant drinks,” she notes.
With six new cocktails already in mind, Garavaglia says her motivations go beyond today’s Instagram-worthy approach to mixology. “I don’t want to follow a trend just for the sake of the trend,” she explains. “I want to make something that tastes good and represents my style as a bartender.”
Her favorites, like the Amaretto Espresso Martini and the Bergamot Margarita, have become hits among regulars, and she is excited to see her creations embraced. “Their response makes me really happy,” Garavaglia says. “That’s what bartending is for me. We always try to create something new for Members to enjoy, and we’re bringing the Italian concept of happy hour aperitif, conviviality and togetherness.”
This focus on community extends to the bar’s bites, which replicate the intimacy of an Italian family dining table with shared plates of arancini, bruschetta and meatballs.
Matthieu Rigaud, 51 East’s restaurant manager, says his main goal is to create synergy between the bar and the Italian-American restaurant, where chef Francesco “Paco” La Monica leads the kitchen and is helping Garavaglia hone her skills to create new garnishes. They are currently developing homemade bitters and a basil-infused vodka.
But the bar is more than just a place to have a drink or a snack; it’s a destination for discovery.
Image of Matthieu Rigaud on the Moët Terrace: Kayo Yamawaki
“We want to make every Member feel as if they’ve traveled when they order a cocktail or dish,” Rigaud explains. “We are storytellers, and we aim to delight Members by creating memories with them.”
Featuring an extensive bottle list that spotlights sustainable Italian wineries, there’s something new for even the most experienced connoisseur. “There are countless food and beverage operations throughout Tokyo which carry the big brand names,” notes Baggs, “but we feel that uncovering small gems of high-quality, hard-to-find offerings provides a special sense of value which can only be had at the Club.” Not limited to obscure labels, the list features classics like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir among the 15 wines by the glass designed to pair with the restaurant’s cuisine.
The bar’s atmosphere reinforces the concepts of community and discovery, and the team is excited to be introducing a new menu this month, aiming to surprise Members with even more innovative twists. Summer sips will be extended to the terrace, which has been transformed into Moët Terrace, enhancing the alfresco ambiance for casual after-work drinks, pre- or post-dinner cocktails or more formal gatherings.
The broader goal, the team says, is to continue growing as a destination for cocktails within the Club. Sticking to the Italian traditions of community and storytelling will be key to reaching that goal, Garavaglia suggests. “Nowadays storytelling is important, even in cocktails. I think that’s the point; we are telling you a story through drinks.”
51 East Bar
Monday–Friday | 5–11pm (Happy Hour: 5–7)
Words: Patrick Balfe
Top Image of Martina Garavaglia: Takumaru Suzuki
