Bar Lab Hospitality has opened LilliStar, an indoor-outdoor lounge and cocktail bar on the rooftop of the new Moxy Williamsburg, created in partnership with Mitchell Hochberg of Lightstone. LilliStar offers stunning, unobstructed views of the Williamsburg Bridge, East River and Lower Manhattan. The space blends contemporary Indo-Aussie style with Brooklyn energy. Playful seasonal cocktails from the award-winning Bar Lab Hospitality team are served alongside a selection of small plates.
“We’ve always been intrigued by the Australian surfers and artists who went to Bali in the ‘90s and infused the local culture with their own unique design, food, and style,” says Gabe Orta, co-founder of Bar Lab Hospitality. “We wanted to create an atmosphere that brings you someplace else, and Williamsburg provided the perfect backdrop for Lillistar.”
The menu, designed by Bar Lab Hospitality Beverage Director Christine Wiseman, features seasonal cocktails utilizing fresh fruit and Indonesian flavors and large format drinks for the whole table to share:
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Bumbu Marg with Tequila, strawberry and kiwi oleo, birdseye chile, lime juice, strawberry salt—a riff on a classic spicy Margarita
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Wu Wave with lime leaf infused mezcal, blue curacao, macadamia nut orgeat, lime juice, topped with yuzu soda and presented like a classic goldfish in a bag
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Papaya Salad Daiquiri: Rum, papaya salad cordial utilizing traditional papaya salad ingredients such as tomato juice, lime juice, birdseye chile and a dash of fish sauce
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Uluwatu’s: Pandan infused Sherry Blend, toasted coconut, and pineapple sea moss.
“The breathtaking views from the LilliStar rooftop are the perfect accompaniment to the refreshing cocktail list we’ve created,” says Christine Wiseman, Bar Lab Hospitality’s Beverage Director. “Pulling inspiration from Indonesian flavors and seasonal ingredients, the cocktail menu is fruit forward and very playful.”
Chef Eli Buli, who helms the kitchen at Moxy Williamsburg’s new Tel Avivian restaurant Mesiba, will execute a menu with a focus on shared plates and small bites featuring Rendang Bao with 24 hour short ribs; Buckwheat Noodles with root vegetables and tahini miso; and Ayam Goreng (Indonesian fried chicken wings) with chilis, shallot and ginger.
Located on the 11th floor rooftop of Moxy Williamsburg, the Bar Lab Hospitality team worked closely on the design with Lightstone and Basile Studio to create a lively and welcoming cocktail destination. Indoors, LilliStar’s showstopping floor-to-ceiling windows offer dramatic views of the Manhattan skyline, the Williamsburg Bridge and the East River. A series of giant lotus flowers that hang dramatically from the ceiling set a tone of tropical sensuality, while vintage-inspired furnishings create an eclectic mood. A wall of operable glass panels opens the space to the expansive terrace, with umbrella-shaded banquettes and string lights overhead continuing the tropical Aussie-Balinese vibe. In keeping with the convivial atmosphere, LilliStar will host local DJs, clothing brands and record labels.
