How the Honey Deuce Transcended the U.S. Open and Became NYC’s Favorite Cocktail

5 min read

The Honey Deuce has been the official cocktail of the U.S. Open since 2007, a simple but distinctive combination of Grey Goose vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur that has become synonymous with the tournament. What makes it recognizable, and what makes it difficult to replicate at most bars, is the garnish: three honeydew melon balls, scooped to resemble tennis balls and balanced on a skewer across the rim of the glass. Most bartenders do not have the time or the inclination to produce them on demand, which is why, for years, the Honey Deuce was largely confined to the courts at Flushing Meadows.

That has changed. As the U.S. Open has grown into one of New York City’s major late-summer events, bars and hotels across the city have leaned into the tournament, and the Honey Deuce has become a seasonal fixture at an increasing number of venues, at least for a few weeks each year. “At this point, ordering a Honey Deuce is part of the ritual of the U.S. Open,” says Nancy Santiago, beverage director at IGC Hospitality, which oversees several popular New York hotspots, such as Refinery Rooftop and Vintage Green. “Even people who don’t necessarily follow tennis closely recognize the drink and associate it with the end of summer in New York.”

Below is a guide to some of the best places in New York where you can enjoy some classic versions as well as a few with a twist.

Grey Goose Last Serve Bar at Grand Central Terminal Grey Goose

The Grey Goose Last Serve Bar in Grand Central.

Vanderbilt Hall, 89 East 42nd Street, Midtown East

Grey Goose, the U.S. Open’s official vodka partner for 20 years, is returning to Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall on September 2 and 3 for a free pop-up called the Last Serve Bar. The French liquor brand has also launched its own “Honey Deuce Locator,” in which you can input a zip code, and find the closest bar serving Grey Goose-specific versions.

The activation runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. each day and serves complimentary miniature Honey Deuces to commuters and tennis fans passing through. Last year, the pop-up drew more than 8,000 guests and served over 5,000 drinks. “Fans leave Queens, get on the train, and carry that energy back into New York,” Stacy Saltiel, senior brand director at Grey Goose, tells T&C. “Grand Central felt like a natural place to meet them, while also giving people who may not have a tournament ticket a way to be part of the ritual.”

Arlo HotelsArlo Hotels

The Sungold restaurant at Arlo Williamsburg.

231 Hudson Street, SoHo
96 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg

Arlo Williamsburg and Arlo NoMad are partnering with Grey Goose to serve Honey Deuces at their respective restaurants, Sungold and NoMad Diner, throughout the tournament, with both hotels serving as watch party venues. On September 2 from 4 to 6 p.m., Grey Goose will also host a pop-up event at Sungold’s Lobby Bar and the rooftop bar and pool area at ART Williamsburg (as well as the rooftop bar at ART NoMad in Manhattan) where guests can sip Honey Deuces, take home branded cups, and, at the Williamsburg location, play ping pong on the patio while watching the matches.

Beefbar New YorkTribeca Hospitality Group

The 40-Love cocktail at Beefbar.

105 Hudson Street, Tribeca

The New York steakhouse is trying out its own spin on the Honey Deuce (with a dash of the Ace Paloma) in the form of the “40-Love,” a cocktail made with Dobel Blanco tequila, fresh watermelon juice, bianco vermouth, barbacoa tincture, lime juice, and Badger’s Pamplemousse (grapefruit) soda.

Bowtie Bar

714 7th Avenue, Midtown

Located inside the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel, the bar will offer the Honey Deuce as its signature cocktail during the two weeks of the tournament.

Broken Shaker New YorkBroken Shaker New York

The rooftop patio at Broken Shaker New York.

23 Lexington Avenue, 18th Floor, Gramercy

Perched atop boutique hotel Freehand New York, Broken Shaker will offer both stunning views of the Manhattan skylines as well as all of the matches (within business hours) up on the big screen. Patrons can also order either the Honey Deuce or the Ace Paloma (or both, drink responsibly) during the tournament.

Dante Dante

Dante’s version of the cocktail reflects the color of the tennis court.

79-81 Macdougal Street, Greenwich Village
551 Hudson Street, West Village
51 Bank Street, West Village

Dante’s relationship with the Honey Deuce goes back further than most. When the 2021 U.S. Open was played without spectators and the tournament bubble was limited to players and their teams, Dante was the only bar operating inside the quarantined area, and it was there that the restaurant developed its own riff on the drink: three different colored melon balls: red (watermelon), orange (cantaloupe), and green (honeydew). Five years later, that connection has outlasted the unusual circumstances that created it. “The whole city celebrates the U.S. Open,” Linden Pride, co-owner of Dante, tells T&C. “We love being a part of that and creating a moment to partake, even if it means not going to the tournament.”

FortunaFortuna

Fortuna’s “Dragon Fruit Honey Deuce.”

275 1st Avenue, East Village

Fortuna is serving its own limited-edition riff on the Honey Deuce through September 13, sweetened with honey, dusted with sumac flakes, and colored a vivid pink with dragon fruit. The restaurant is also screening matches throughout the tournament.

Jac’s on Bond

23 Bond Street, NoHo

NoHo Jac’s on Bond will stream U.S. Open matches throughout the tournament and serve both Honey Deuces and Ace Palomas made with Grey Goose vodka and Dobel tequila, respectively. The Jazz Age-inspired bar in NoHo pairs the drinks with shareable bites including oysters, chilled crab dip, shrimp cocktail, grilled cheese, and lobster rolls.

Park Lane New YorkPark Lane New York

Inside Calvert’s at the Park Lane hotel.

36 Central Park South, Midtown

Park Lane New York, sandwiched between 5th and 6th Avenues on Central Park South, will serve the Honey Deuce throughout the duration of the tournament at the hotel’s restaurant, Calvert’s.

Pebble Bar

Rockefeller Center, Midtown

Tucked beneath Rockefeller Center, Pebble Bar (and its adjacent outdoor space, Pebble Bar at The Rink) will serve Honey Deuces and Ace Palomas with matches streaming live throughout the tournament.

Ray’s

177 Chrystie Street, Lower East Side
905 Lorimer Street, Greenpoint

Ray’s brings a casual neighborhood bar energy to U.S. Open season, with Honey Deuces and Ace Palomas on offer and matches streaming throughout the tournament. The bar menu isn’t too different from what you might find at a stadium with hot wings, nachos, mozzarella sticks, fried chicken sandwiches, and the Ray’s Burger.

The Rockaway Hotel + Spa

108-10 Rockaway Beach Drive, Rockaway Beach

Accessible by ferry or subway, The Rockaway Hotel is serving Honey Deuces and Ace Palomas at its outdoor heated pool beginning August 20. Guests can also play on a Grey Goose-branded ping pong table, and hotel guests attending the U.S. Open can use the hotel’s complimentary Volvo house car for transportation to and from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Sadie’s Garden Bar Sadie’s Garden Bar

Sadie’s Garden Bar is a popular spot for sporting events.

19 Fulton Street, South Seaport

World of Hyatt, the official hotel partner of the 2026 U.S. Open, is turning Sadie’s Garden Bar into a full screening destination on August 29 and 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Matches will be shown live on an 18-foot outdoor LED screen, with DJ Kyle Cooke performing on the 30th. Honey Deuces will be available at the bar throughout, and World of Hyatt credit cardmembers receive access to a VIP lounge.

The Wall Street HotelThe Wall Street Hotel

The “Match Point” at La Marchande.

88 Wall Street, Financial District

The Wall Street Hotel is serving its own take on the Honey Deuce at two of its downtown venues throughout the U.S. Open. The Match Point, available for $18 at both its all-day café and hotel bar, Lounge on Pearl, and fine dining establishment, La Marchande, combines Grey Goose Vodka and lychee with tart raspberry and a hint of lemongrass, finished with the requisite trio of melon balls in the form of canteloupe.

Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.