The Campbell Bar at Grand Central Terminal in New York City, is a historic and iconic establishment that has evolved from a private office to a bar that is now open to the public. Situated at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Street in Manhattan, it makes for a unique and unforgettable experience whether or not you are visiting Grand Central to take a train from it.
Originally the office and reception hall of Jazz Age financier John William Campbell, stepping into The Campbell New York is like stepping back in time. The bar features 25-foot hand-painted ceilings inspired by thirteenth-century Florentine style and features a stone fireplace, a long mahogany bar, and plush leather seating, and features a cross section of people that frequent it to grab a drink or spend the evening in this historical space.
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History
The Campbell Apartment was originally the private office and salon of railroad tycoon John W. Campbell in the 1920s. Campbell was an important figure in the Jazz Age, known for his lavish parties and love of music. The space featured luxurious details such as a 25-foot hand-painted ceiling, leaded glass windows, and a fireplace made of marble from the Vanderbilt quarry.
After Campbell’s death in 1957, the space was used for various purposes, before being restored to its original grandeur as The Campbell Bar.
Entrance to the Campbell Bar
Campbell Apartment Bar NYC is located at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Street. You can visit it from the outside, and is well marked out within Grand Central, and even on Vandebilt Avenue at the entrance.
Interior of The Campbell Bar
There are two seating areas within the Campbell Apartment, and they have an outdoor terrace in the summer which is actually at groud level outside Grand Central which is very popular for after work drinks in good weather.
Within the Grand Central Apartment Bar, there is the Palm Court, which is an indoor bar that overlooks the main Grand Central Terminal, and the Campbell Bar, which is inside the original apartment.
The Campbell Bar is just absolutely stunning with its gorgeous windows. It is amazing to see how large windows are such a focal point at all things Grand Central, though the ones in the main hall with the painted ceiling are actually walkways that are used by their employees, which is a fun fact that I love to share.
Within the Campell Bar, there is a mezzanine level overlooking the main bar, which I love to sit at as you are up close with the the hand painted ceiling, which was absolutely spectacular, and you get a great view of the main bar.
Here are some of the details that have been restored to their original spelndor.
The fireplace at the Campbell Bar is a focal point in it, and is absolutely stunning.
Campbell Apartment Dress Code
The dress code for the Campbell New York used to be formal, and it is evolved to be more casual over the years in line with a general shift to business casual for work as it is frequented for after work drinks by New Yorkers and commuters alike.
Closing Thoughts
The Campbell Bar is an iconic piece of both New York and Grand Central History that is preserved in time, and is accessible to anyone for the cost of a drink. It is like taking a step back in time, and it is amazing to be able to sip a drink while overlooking the main terminal at the Palm Court, or to sit within the Campbell Bar at the site where significant conversations and deals that shaped the course of NYC history were undoubtedly made back in the day. The dress code has relaxed over the years so you can go in without needing to dress up, which has made it very accessible to New Yorkers and tourists alike.
