The
Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel is decorated with murals depicting Madeline
in Central Park painted by Ludwig Bemelmans (the creator of the classic Madeline
children’s books). Bemelmans is the namesake of the bar, and his murals there
are his only artwork on display to the public. Instead of accepting payment for
his work, Bemelmans received a year and a half of accommodations at the Carlyle
for himself and his family. The 2015 film A Very Murray Christmas was
set in the Carlyle and in Bemelmans Bar. Bemelmans is a timeless location that
continues to attract socialites, politicians, movie stars, and moguls with its
extensive drink menu and nightly live entertainment.
The
Upper East Side bar maintains its Art Deco legacy with chocolate-brown leather
banquettes, nickel-trimmed black glass tabletops, a dramatic black granite bar
and a 24-karat gold leaf-covered ceiling. Guests are charmed by its distinct
New York style and the large-scale murals in the hotel bar, the only surviving
Bemelmans' commission open to the public.
