Behind the Door of Downtown's New Cat Eye Club

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A freshly-minted new speakeasy is coming in on little cat feet to the East Village. The Cat Eye Club, a '60-style, Mad Men-era lounge is due to debut before the end of the month. They'll initially be serving from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, and will eventually be open all week.

When Good Time Design, the team behind The Blind Burro, first took over the space that once housed The Fleetwood, they thought the venue's private back room might make a good spot for their first intimate, small-scale bar project; the Cat Eye will accommodate just 40 to 50 imbibers. No reservations are needed, just put your name on the list and have a drink at The Blind Burro while you wait to be called up to take your place in the bar.

Founder Ty Hauter designed the 900 square foot space that has a cozy, clubby feel, and Frank Miller, the managing partner, assured Eater that there will be no DJ's, just an occasional piano man, and that the big screen T.V. will only be used to show vintage movies.

Adam Stemler of Blind Tiger Cocktail Co. consulted on the list of classic drink recipes, from the Prohibition-era Boulevardier and the Vieux Carré, a 1930's New Orleans twist on a Manhattan, to champagne cocktails and punches. No food will be served, but Miller would like to hold occasional old-fashioned supper clubs in the space, serving stalwarts like prime rib with all the fixings and a grand lobster dinner. Good Time Design should start work on their next East Village project, called Moonshine Flats, next month, with a projected May/June opening.
· Cat Eye Club [Official Site]
· All Eater Inside Coverage [~ESD~]