Peachy Keen is a massive, quirky, discotheque parlor that marries the best of nostalgic diner culture with a groovy, high-end cocktail bar.
Brightly painted murals by artist Sean Maze and interior design by Wid Chapman Architects create an atmosphere where customers can feel just as at home grabbing a morning coffee or pastry as they would an indulgent brunch or cocktails under a disco ball. The space is split into zones with names as whimsical as the decor— The Snug, Flower Pad, Lava Lounge, The Parlour, Sunset Set Corral and Banquette Row.
Peachy Keen partners Tony Doyle, Brian Connell, and Patrick Schmidt of Hell’s Kitchen Hospitality took inspiration from their other Hell’s Kitchen properties — including local favorites Mom’s Kitchen & Bar and Dolly Varden — as a template for how to pitch high-quality, thoughtfully designed, and approachable fare.
“We have a lot of success with comfort food at Mom’s — it’s very approachable. I think that’s a big word for us in the business right now — being approachable, especially here in Midtown,” Schmidt said. “Because there are so many different types of people and comfort food is familiar — it can be loud and bold and colorful and tie in with our concept and the design.”
Adding to its approachability, Peachy Keen is food-forward and family-friendly.
“The whole idea of the front space is to be a little bit more of a cafe vibe, where we’ll serve coffees and breakfast in the daytime, transition into lunch and dinner, and then in the evening it’ll transition into more of a dessert bar where we’ll do soft serve ice creams, pastries, and cocktails,” Schmidt said.
Highlights of the menu include a 70s-inspired beverage program featuring frozen disco drinks and cocktails-of-the-decade like the Amaretto Sour, along with elevated takes on comforting classics like bananas foster Belgian waffles.
Whatever the future brings, the team at Peachy Keen is confident that listening to their clientele, evolving with the times, and bringing a bit of 70s nostalgia into the future will keep them firmly a part of the Hell’s Kitchen landscape. Said Schmidt: “We’ll be here, along for the ride.”
This story was adapted from the W42ST article, "Peachy Keen Brings Bright Colors, Cocktails and a 70s Groove to Hell’s Kitchen.”
