9 Celebrity Owned Bars That Are Worth the Hype

The Parrot
The ParrotPhoto: Anna Wudkowska

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From New York City to Miami and New Orleans, there are a number of cool, buzzy bars open now—some open recently!—that are surprisingly owned by business-savvy stars. Pharrell and Idris Elba are two who have opened up hotspots just this winter. Other famous entrepreneurs such as Robert De Niro and Zach Braff have managed to create mainstays that have been buzzing with guests for years. And, even one step further, some stars have even gotten into the distribution business: both Amy Poehler and Dylan Sprouse have opened wine and mead shops, respectively.

Below, 9 celeb-owned bars that are worth the visit.

The Parrot at the Waldorf Hilton
Co-owned by: Idris Elba
Newly opened on November 9, The Parrot bar at the Waldorf Hilton in London is co-owned by Idris Elba and is half cocktail bar, half live music venue. Inside, the walls are covered with palm tree-printed wallpaper, while lush greenery fills out the space. On the menu? Bespoke cocktails inspired by different members of the parrot family: the Parakeet features bourbon, rum, banana essence and white Peruvian pepper, while the Crimson Rosella is a mixture of Seven Hills, Pimento Dram spiced liqueur, cranberry juice, vanilla syrup and lemon juice.

A cocktail at The ParrotPhoto: Courtesy of The Parrot

Swan and Bar Bevy
Co-owned by: Pharrell
Swan and Bar Bevy just opened in Miami’s trendy Design District this November, by Pharrell and David Grutman. At Swan, French Top Chef winner Jean Imbert creates an eclectic mix of dishes. Meanwhile, upstairs at Bar Bevy, dark floors and velvet seats—as well as the rooftop area—create a cozy atmosphere to sip a cocktail or two.

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Saints and Sinners
Co-owned by: Channing Tatum
On New Orleans’ bustling Bourbon Street, Channing Tatum’s Saints and Sinners embraces the location’s fun, party-centric vibe. In addition to food such as shrimp creole, oysters, and crayfish platters, the bar offers a full list of specialty cocktails such as the sweet and sour “Sinner,” a mixture of Southern Comfort, Amaretto, bourbon, peach schnapps and cranberry juice. (Now, if only Tatum would make a dancing cameo sometime soon.)

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Zula Wines & Spirits
Co-owned by: Amy Poehler
Just opened this month in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, Zula features bottles from a large selection of regions. (There's also a decent selection of under-$13 bottles.) While you can't actually grab a drink here, there are frequent wine tastings hosted at the shop—and you might end up running into Poehler there. While she’s mostly in Los Angeles these days, she told Eater that she’ll stop by the wine shop whenever she’s in New York.

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The Four Horsemen
Co-owned by: LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy
The Four Horsemen is a restaurant and wine bar found in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The natural wine list is quite extensive: there are whites from Germany, South America, Spain, Italy; and even special orange/skin contact wines. All of the dishes are good, but make sure to get some of the house-made bread with cultured butter.

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The Polo Bar
Co-owned by: Ralph Lauren
Infamous for its hard-to-get reservations, The Polo Bar in New York City is one of Ralph Lauren’s many hospitality and restaurant ventures. The polo match-inspired décor is almost as stellar as the cocktail menu, where classics such as the Old Fashioned and Martini are made masterfully.

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All-Wise Meadery
Co-owned by: Dylan Sprouse
Yes, one of the Sprouse twins is a professional mead brewer. He opened his meadery this year, in the same complex as Williamsburg’s William Vale Hotel. All the mead—an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, yeast, and other fruits and spices—is made in-house. Though the space only sells bottles to-go at the moment, there are plans for a tap house tasting bar to open up eventually.

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Mermaid Oyster Bar
Co-owned by: Zach Braff
The Mermaid Oyster Bar in New York’s Greenwich Village is a mainstay known, of course, for its stellar oyster selection. But did you know it's co-owned by Zach Braff? It’s the perfect spot to hit up during happy hour for half-off oysters and an edited selection of wine and cocktails.

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Locanda Verde
Co-owned by: Robert De Niro
At this point, Robert De Niro is officially an expert restaurateur: he is a part-owner of Nobu, Tribeca Grill, and Locanda Verde in New York. At the latter location, find a stellar wine list and cocktails that are heavy on the spritz.

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