With the repeal of Prohibition close at hand, a humble new establishment opened its doors on the ground floor of the still-new luxurious Hotel Elysée in Midtown: the Monkey Bar.

Known as a comfortable locale to wile away an afternoon with an impromptu companion, the new bar at the the Elysée — known to some customers, between drinks, as the "easy lay" — would become the New York home of of Tallulah Bankhead and the site of a number of historically significant events during its lifetime such as the untimely death of Tennessee Williams, when the playwright mysteriously choked on an eye-dropper. For decades, the Monkey Bar provided a cozy outpost for admen, in bespoke suites, after-hours politicians, and media barons looking for a little fun.

Speaking of media barons looking for a little fun, after a few years in disrepair, the Monkey Bar was purchased in 2009 and returned to its former glory by Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, his wife, Anna, and hotelier Jeff Klein. Renowned illustrator Ed Sorel was commissioned to paint a three-paneled mural paying homage to the great Jazz Age figures who once sailed throughout the saloon doors. The dining room's lush red leather banquettes and dim, attractive lighting have restored the fizzy thrill of dining in a restaurant-both glamorous and cozy-and harken back to a bygone era when a gentleman never left the house without a tie and a lady always had a pair of white gloves in her purse.

In the Monkey Bar's newest chapter, acclaimed restaurateur Ken Friedman (the Spotted Pig; the John Dory Oyster Bar) was invited on board to assemble a superstar team. Monkey Bar's menu boasts American classics alongside seasonal dishes using sustainable and organic products whenever possible.