Dishes · Drinks · Cocktails
The lychee martini, a New York souvenir from the '90s
The lychee martini is a New York drink, born in the 1990s, when anything in a V-shaped glass got called a martini.
Cantina Rooftop
Drinks
Cocktails
- Piña Colada$18
- La Dama$18
- Lychee Martini$18
Smoke Lab vodka, Combier lychee, Combier orange & lime
- Zamora Espresso-o Martini$18
Please tell your server about any food allergies.
Back in style
The history is murky. Accounts point to Manhattan bars of the early 1990s, and nobody has settled who poured it first. There's no gin or vermouth, so it's a martini by glass alone.
Lychee is a fruit native to China, sweet and perfumed, and that's what you taste. There's little bite to it, so it goes better before a meal than with a plate of carnitas. Its '90s reputation got it dismissed for a while, and a new generation of bartenders has been bringing it back.
Combier shows up twice on ours, as lychee and as orange, with Smoke Lab vodka and lime.
Keep reading
Lychee Martini: questions
What does a lychee martini taste like?
Sweet and floral, with a perfume some people compare to rose, and very little bite.
Is a lychee martini a real martini?
Not in the classic sense. It has no gin or vermouth, and the name comes from the glass.
What's in the Lychee Martini at Cantina Rooftop?
Our menu says: Smoke Lab vodka, Combier lychee, Combier orange & lime. Tell your server about any allergies when you order.
How much for the Lychee Martini at Cantina Rooftop?
$18 on our menu right now. See it on the full menu.
When can I order the Lychee Martini?
It's on our drinks menu. Our hours: Tuesday to Thursday 5pm to 11pm (last reservation 10pm), Friday 5pm to 3am, Saturday 12pm to 3am and Sunday 12pm to 9:30pm. Closed Mondays. We're at 605 W 48th St in Hell's Kitchen. Book a table.