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Shy Shy No More: Laid-Back Chelsea Cocktail Bar Makes Waves
March 26, 2025, 10:33.27 am ET

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Photos: Beth Kennedy

Don't let the name fool you – Shy Shy is anything but timid about shaking up Chelsea’s bar scene. After a buzzed-about arrival in December 2024, the West Coast-inspired lounge is making a big splash at 169 8th Ave.

Co-owner and Beverage Director Krissy Harris and Partner & Events Director Marissa Cheshier – the team behind neighborhood favorite Jungle Bird, just across the street – hosting a media bash inside Shy Shy’s dreamy Golden Room, a velvet-draped hideaway that doubles as the bar’s private events space.


Photo: Nicole Franzen

The vibe here is straight-up cool. Think cozy sunset lighting, warm wood, and an inviting, coastal energy that feels transported from a California patio or tucked-away West Coast lounge. It’s casual but elevated – the kind of place where you could come solo for a martini or roll deep with a dozen friends and feel right at home either way.


Photo: Beth Kennedy

And about those martinis. Shy Shy isn’t playing it safe. Signature drinks include the “Oh! You Like It Dirty,” served extra dirty over pebble ice with olives that mean business, and the quirky but crowd-pleasing “Caesar,” which might just be the city’s first cocktail with a Caesar salad garnish complete with anchovy. The GG Gimlet, meanwhile, keeps things crisp and green with Granny Smith apple, celery, and fresh herbs – a garden in a glass - in honor of Harris' mom.

Harris telling Cititour while she loves New York, "Shy Shy is a love letter to the West Coast" in honor of her, and her business partner's hometowns. Harris calls the Caesar Martini "epic" and probably the hardest drink she's ever made.


Photo: Beth Kennedy

The food menu at Shy Shy strikes the perfect balance between simple and satisfying. Highlights include creamy deviled eggs, a retro-cool shrimp cocktail, tinned fish, and pigs in a blanket made with Wagyu mini sausages wrapped in buttery puff pastry.

Whether you're in for golden hour cocktails or booking out the Golden Room for something bigger, Shy Shy is bringing serious flavor and chill to Chelsea’s nightlife. One thing’s for sure: this bar may be called Shy Shy, but it’s not staying under the radar for long.

See video of the opening event here


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