What About “Après Tennis”?
This post was originally published on 12/1/2020
It’s time for the tennis crowd to take post-match socializing outside the country club and into the scene…
We all have that friend. The one who comes on your ski trip - decked out in her best snow goddess attire - and doesn’t so much as even attempt to rent skis (Full disclosure: I’ve been this friend). The gall! But who cares? She has a great day ahead filled with hot tubs, spiked cider, and fireball shots. “All about that Après Life,” she winks.
Après-ski translates literally to “after skiing” in French, and was first used as a term in the Alps during the popularization of skiing in the 1950s. The actual tradition, though, started long before: Celebratory food and drink after a day of skiing first became a custom in Norway in the late 19th Century, a tradition that quickly moved from individual homes to the first-ever ski clubs in Europe and the United States. Eventually, the party expanded outside private ski clubs and evolved into public ski towns at the bottom of each mountain. Filled with restaurants and bars, skiers and non-skiers alike showed up ready to rage and down hot toddies in their “boots with the fur.”
Why, you may ask, hasn’t this tradition spread over to the other wealthy-originated sport? Why hasn’t tennis evolved into a glorious culture of work and play (or play and play for some)? Where’s our mulled wine? Just as winters for the ski-crowd are filled with weekends at mountainside parties, summers for the tennis scene could be just as sensational if we built bars around our beloved public tennis courts and took the party outside the country club. Celebrating a match with a martini isn’t a foreign idea to anyone, especially considering this whole slew of tennis-themed spirts ads I found, and it’s about time we made Tennis & Après Tennis a summertime favorite everywhere.
As LØVE MEANS NØTHING® is based in New York City, I thought I’d start here and map out some amazing spots near our local courts that can serve (get it) a crowd for some post-match fun. So get your tennis skirts and preppy polos on and be ready to spend your Saturdays at the courts this summer (and hopefully, given COVID restrictions, at these bars after).
LØVE ® APRÈS TENNIS GUIDE
East River Park
Delancey Street & FDR Drive
Nestled under the Williamsburg Bridge, the East River Park Tennis Courts are great because they are open year round and it’s pretty easy to make a reservation. Also, being downtown, they’re a short walk from some of NYC’s coolest hangouts.
169 Bar 169 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002
Home to $8 beer-and-shot combos (as well as token bar snacks including dumplings and empanadas), 169 bar is a casual downtown staple where everyone can get their kicks. Always buzzing with a lively crowd, this 100+ year old bar bleeds NYC culture in its funky decor and eclectic patrons.
Eastwood 200 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002
The closest bar to the courts, only a few blocks away, Eastwood is a cozy beer and wine bar mostly frequented by the neighborhood locals. That doesn’t mean it can’t stand a little shaking up from some thirsty tennis players, though. With delicious menu offerings including Gruyere grilled cheese and Salmon and Kale salad, Eastwood is a perfect hangout for some after-sport celebrations.
www.facebook.com/thetwinlionsofeastwood
Seward Park Tennis Courts
Essex Street @ Hester Street
Maybe it’s because they’re in the center of one of the buzziest parts of town, but the Seward Park Tennis Courts are actually some of my favorite. Are they grimy? Yes. Do you have to bring your own net? Yes. Are they surrounded by basketball hoops and a walking track so your games are often interrupted by a stray ball or puppy? Yes. But with the summer’s Hester Street Market taking home next door and countless bars barely a court length away across the street, there really isn’t a better place to play and play. Only steps away from the aforementioned 169 Bar (which could thus become a post-tennis hotspot), the Seward Park courts are also adjacent to a few other Chinatown/Two Bridges favorites.
Beverly’s 21 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002
I’d actually love to see the sleek KITH-esque tennis ‘fits that the Beverly’s crowd would sport. A bit tiny, with only a few booths, the bar makes up for its small size with $4 Miller High Lifes, hyped-up beats, and hip-hop cool.
Bar Belly 14 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Designed with a large copper bar and an expansive room to cozy up in, Bar Belly is the ideal post-tennis spot to take players from day to night. Serving $1 oysters daily, the chic but relaxed Chinatown eatery also boasts a menu of speciality cocktails including the LADY WINSER, "A gimlet fit for royalty” and the DEAD WITCH, a beautifully crafted espresso martini. Plenty of spirits to keep the energy alive all through the night!
Central Park Tennis Center
West 96th Street & Central Park West
Something about playing tennis Uptown feels both cliche and perfect. And when it’s at the Central Park courts, it also feels very legit. Those who have played at the highly sought after hard courts know the rules: don’t be late for your reservation and play to win! The first time I played at CPTC it was mildly stressful. I was fifteen minutes late so had to beg the administrator to allow my friend and I to play our set. On top of that it was summer and sweltering so the rallying was rough - how I could have used a few beverages as a reward after that workout!
The Met Roof Garden Bar 1000 5th AveNew York, NY 10028
What’s another 15 blocks when you just sprinted crosscourt for an hour? Heading south to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s rooftop bar, tennis racquet in hand, to order a dirty martini sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? With gorgeous views of the park, the sunny outpost is a supremely classy way to wind down after a competitive match. Peruse the iconic art on your way out and solidify your status as the sophisticated, cultured uptowner that only nostalgia can claim nowadays.
www.metmuseum.org/visit/food-and-drink
Trattoria Il Gusto Wine Bar 625 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024
Mimosas and Bellinis to celebrate your win? Sì grazie! This adorable Italian eatery right outside the park is the perfect setting to convene, European-style, after your sport outing. With delicious brunch offerings like frittatas and french toast, you can celebrate over an indulgent meal and enjoy the fresh air from your sidewalk bistro table.
McCarren Tennis Center
50 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Williamsburg, how I love thee. Sometimes I miss living in this quaint, artsy neighborhood just a short walk over the bridge from the LES. Having developed only a little over a decade ago, Williamsburg boasts a great mix of old-school dive bars and glossy new buildings. One of these “glossy” new structures are the beautiful McCarren Park tennis courts. Painted with gradated shades of blue and domed in the winter for protection (and warmth), these hard courts have brought the most stylish pastime to the most stylish block. The prime location is just steps away from some of the most fun and buzzy bars and restaurants, so it has quite the setup for some après tennis culture.
The William Vale Rooftop Pool & Lounge 111 N 12th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Hot Tub is to skiing as pool is to tennis, am I right? The gorgeous William Vale Hotel, located conveniently two blocks from the McCarren Tennis Center, is quite a scene in the summertime. There’s no better place to escape the city heat than this rooftop. With fresh cocktails, a beautiful crowd, and a dj pumping tropical house tunes, the William Vale is the spot to follow up your game-set-match.
www.thewilliamvale.com/dining/vale-pool/
Berry Park 4 Berry St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Rooftops seem to be the theme in Williamsburg for post-tennis hangouts. But the beauty of Berry Park is that it also has a pretty dope indoor section for your pre-summer hangs. Order the Park Fries (french fries paired with garlic mayo, ketchup, scallions, and bacon) to curb your appetite and enjoy the casual vibe. Happy hour is daily from 5-7 so you can plan your court time accordingly to reap the benefits of off-price bebidas.
www.yelp.com/biz/berry-park-brooklyn