City Winery adds to Pier 57’s ‘culinary diversity’ with new Mediterranean restaurant, rooftop sushi bar and tequila bar

Steve Cuozzo
·2 min read
Pier 57 restaurants
Pier 57 restaurants

Pier 57, the urban playground and commercial complex in the Hudson River off West 15th Street, is now almost fully leased. A just-signed deal for City Winery added 14,600 square feet to its current space — bringing its total to 52,000 square feet.

The transaction leaves almost none of the Pier’s 633,000 square feet available.

The popular City Winery restaurant, wine bar and concert venue will soon add a “flagship” Corsican-Mediterranean eatery with 6,500 square feet; a new, 3,000 sf tequila bar and lounge; and a rooftop sushi bar of 5,100 sf. City Winery was repped by Peter Braus of Lee & Associates.

Both the Mediterranean and the tequila/mezcal venues will be on the ground floor. The sushi bar will share the expansive, two-acre roof with its sightseeing facilities and green play areas that are a favorite of frolicking kids and waterfowl, like a gaggle of honking geese that drew smiles on Friday.

William Elder, executive vice-president and New York leasing director for pier operator RXR, said City Winery’s expansion “further cements the building’s status as one of the premier dining and entertainment landmarks on the Hudson River.”

Elder added that with the new deals, “Pier 57 is now substantially leased — a milestone that illustrates how the property’s unique offerings continue to resonate with the community.”

RXR’s Pier 57, home of anchor commercial tenant Google, is now almost fully leased after City Winery’s expansion. Jakob-Dahlin
RXR’s Pier 57, home of anchor commercial tenant Google, is now almost fully leased after City Winery’s expansion. Jakob-Dahlin

City Winery founder, owner and CEO Michael Dorf hailed the pier’s “culinary diversity.” (It’s also home to Market 57, a sprawling food hall curated under the guidance of the James Beard Foundation.)

Dorf noted that the new restaurant and what he called the city’s largest tequila and mezcal bar will overlook Little Island, the thriving artificial island park immediately south of Pier 57.

Of course, Pier 57 — transformed from its shipping-era form into a 21st Century urban playground by RXR and partner Young Woo & Associates to the tune of $410 million — isn’t all for fun and feasting. Anchor commercial tenant Google leases 350,000 square feet, or more than half of the pier’s total 633,000 square feet.

The sushi bar will share the expansive, two-acre City Winery roof with its sightseeing facilities and green play areas. Courtesy of City Winery
The sushi bar will share the expansive, two-acre City Winery roof with its sightseeing facilities and green play areas. Courtesy of City Winery
City Winery owner Michael Dorf said the city’s largest tequila and mezcal bar will overlook Little Island. Courtesy of City Winery
City Winery owner Michael Dorf said the city’s largest tequila and mezcal bar will overlook Little Island. Courtesy of City Winery

RXR and its partners lease the once-derelict pier from the Hudson River Park Trust.

The late Anthony Bourdain once hoped to use it for a Singapore-style “hawker” market. Although his dream was never realized, the pier today can claim to be a culinary landmark in its own right.