Sanatorium in East Village with hospital inspired cocktails

With Sanatorium opening, suddenly Avenue C a more crowded at night with a number of new venues that have opened in the last couple of months ago. Sanatorium is the brainchild of Apotheke owner Albert Trummer. An Austrian bartender and owner of Apotheke who was arrested in 2010 by undercover fire marshall when he set fire to his bar. Trummer stated after the incident that “I am an artist. I’m a mixologist. I’m a cook,” and that he might need to find a different stage for his work. In the interim, Trummer relocated to South Beach, FL.

“My intention was not to hurt anybody,” he said. “I’m an artist. I’m a mixologoist. I’m a cook. But I’m not a pyrotechnic maniac.”

The Concept

The hospital concept at times looks like something out of Frankenstein, with operating lamps hanging over the bar in lieu of more traditional bar lighting. All of the shots are served out of syringes while the cocktails are served on operating trays. We didn’t get a good gauge to the crowd since we were there early on the hottest Saturday of the Summer.

The Cocktails

I arrived at Sanatorium, on what I can only remember as being the hottest day of the year, a few minutes before the opened and they let me in to cool off. I had the opportunity to taste a number of the cocktails but not the crowd of the venue. The cocktails were fantastic.

Cocktail #1 – Stitched Up

Ingredients: Turkish Fig Infused Rye, Demerara, Angostura, Orange Zest.

Cocktail #2 – No Insurance

Ingredients: Vodka, Austrian Elderflower, Grapes, Lime, Orange Elixir.

Cocktail #3 – The Waiting Room

Ingredients: Tequila, Cherry Tomato, Basil, Balsamic Lime, Habanero Elixir.

Sanatorium Details

Monday to Saturday, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.