Drinks before show @ Richard Rodgers?

[WhatsYourNameMan2]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 11:18am

I'm heading to Hamilton in 2 weeks for an 8pm show. I've read they open the doors at 7:30, but read somewhere else that they open the bars an hour early at 7pm.  How does that work exactly?  Can I get there early and have a drink at the bar, or not?  I'd love some help, planning my first trip to Broadway and would love to relax with a beverage for 20-30 min before the show!

Thanks!

EDIT: Here's where I found this info:  "The bars begin serving patrons one hour before the performance begins. "  http://richardrodgerstheatre.com/patron_services.php

EDIT 2: I called and their website is wrong.  Everything opens at 7:30.

Updated On: 5/18/16 at 11:18 AM

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 11:24am

I'm not aware of the bar opening early. I think it just opens at 7:30. The Row NYC on 8th and 44th has a nice bar in it and is right around the corner. If I were you I'd go for a drink there and then walk to the theater at 7:45 or so. You don't want to get to the theater right at 7:30 when the doors open if you can help it as you'll just have to wait in line. 

 

(And others can correct me if I'm wrong about the bar!)

Updated On: 5/18/16 at 11:24 AM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 11:29am

Theater bars don't open early. If you want a drink beforehand, you need to go somewhere else.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 12:35pm

I don't know who operates richardrodgerstheatre.com but as you found out, that's not correct.

PThespian since the OP asked about Broadway, that's what I was referring to.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 2:16pm

Drinks are so expensive in the theaters. Go early and maybe go to a popular spot near the theater. I like Lillies and Hurley's.  Along 8th you can probably find a good happy hour before the show. Just some suggestions.

[playbill-love]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 5:25pm

Seconding the suggestion to get drinks somewhere near the theater rather than once you arrive. The souvenir cups are nice, but I can't get past the $18+ theater drinks that usually scrimp on the alcohol content. 

[macnyc]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 5:34pm

I second the idea to get drinks somewhere on West 44th Street. That way you can get to the RR easily by cutting through Shubert Alley and then also going through the Marriott passage and avoid the main streets, which will be a zoo. I ate at Carmine's the night I saw Hamilton, but that's only good for groups (there were six of us). It was really easy to bypass the crowds from there. Carmine's does have a bar, too, though. The address is 200 West 44th Street, in case you want to check it out for drinks.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 5:53pm

To my mind, there are few places better for pre-show drinks than the upstairs bar at Sardi's. It's just across from Shubert Alley and then the Marriott Marquis cut-through (right next to the RR on 46th) so it's super easy and fast to get from there to Hamilton in 3 minutes!

[macnyc]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 6:35pm

I've never been to Sardi's, but that sounds good to me. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 7:04pm

I have been upstairs at Sardi's a few times. Great sugestion. And it is a legendary spot.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 7:06pm

I've only been for post-show drinks but Sardis does sound like a great idea. 

[WhatsYourNameMan2]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 7:45pm

OP here - thank you all so much for the help.  I'll avoid the RR bar and hit up someplace else nearby!  So if RR is ~ $18 for a drink, how much is a place like Sardis?

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/18/16 at 9:22pm

Bar Centrale on the same block http://www.barcentralenyc.com/