Golden Ratio

Step into Golden Ratio and you’ll find yourself in a sleek, gallery-like space where minimalism meets mixology. Located in Clinton Hill, this sustainability-focused cocktail bar from the team behind Place des Fêtes strips away the familiar spirits you’d find at most bars and replaces them with a curated selection of local distillates made from all manner of produce. The bare beige walls and crowd dressed in earth tones set a tone that’s equal parts sophisticated and experimental.

The cocktails here aren’t your typical fare—they carry farmers-market names like Parsnip and Mandarin, hinting at their unconventional ingredients. A pine needle distillate transforms into something martini-adjacent but more approachable, with bright tartness and an air of mystery. For the truly adventurous, there’s a barely-sweet slushy made with pepita oil and zerbinati squash that somehow tastes like savory cantaloupe with an electric finish. Every drink can be made non-alcoholic, opening the experience to everyone.

While cocktails are undeniably the main attraction, Golden Ratio does offer a few well-executed bites. The coarsely cut steak tartare is worth ordering, though this isn’t the place for a full dinner—that’s what their neighbor Place des Fêtes is for. The vibe here is perfect for first dates or when you want to show out-of-town visitors something they genuinely won’t find anywhere else.

If you’re the type who likes to order a classic Negroni and call it a night, this probably isn’t your spot. But if you’re curious about what the future of cocktail culture looks like—local, sustainable, and endlessly creative—Golden Ratio is exactly where you need to be.