In the press
Jaywalker ft in DiningOut’s 5 Hot New Bar & Restaurant Openings
Originally published by DiningOut ·
5 Hot New Bar & Restaurant Openings to Know About This Week in New York City
The Knicks are in the playoffs and New Yorkers are locked in— and hungry! Here are five notable places around the city to hit this week.
June 10, 2026
This week feels like a blessing, complete with perfect low-humidity weather, the Knicks leading the playoffs, and the Word Cup starting any day now. If it wasn’t before, now is the time to make al fresco dining (and drinking) priority number one because another cool crop of newly-opened bars and restaurants have sprung up around town.
Look for a slice shop from a well-known Brooklyn pizza team, an East Village taqueria by way of Mexico City, a new bar in Bushwick from the folks behind New York Distilling Co, and more.
—
Jaywalker
The signature Manhattan at Jaywalker. | Photo courtesy of NY Distilling Company
Also opening this week on June 11 is Jaywalker, a new cocktail bar and event space in Bushwick from the team behind New York Distilling Company. From the large Bushwick space, Jaywalker looks to reimagine the typical distillery tasting room as a place to connect by inviting guests to engage directly with the process through guided tastings, blending experiences, and, yes, cocktail tastings.
The creative cocktail list, with Martinis and Manhattans priced at just $12 each, was created by industry veteran Jamie Gordon. At the center of Jaywalker is the eponymous Jaywalk Rye, a whiskey created from a 17th century variety of New York rye that is just one-third the size of conventional rye, and there’s a reimagined Rye Egg Cream on the cocktail menu as well.
“Steinbeck said that ‘New York is where you prove if what you think in theory makes sense in real life.’ For me, the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of a great Manhattan is the epitome of a great night out,” said Allen Katz, founder of New York Distilling Co. “By the second drink in hand there is usually a realized plan in play built on curiosity and confidence. That’s the feeling we want Jaywalker to capture.” 573 Johnson Ave., Bushwick, nydistilling.com