When Socrates was on trial for his life for “corrupting” the Athenian youth by persistently questioning the status quo, Plato described the radical teacher as a Gadfly. Describing Socrates as both annoying but necessary, Plato explained that the function of a Gadfly was “to sting people and whip them into a fury, all in service of truth.” While Socrates would end up consulting with his inner daemon and decide to martyr himself by ingesting hemlock, his radical stinging lived beyond him and would inspire generations of agitators to go against the grain and speak truth to power.
Now, a new bar is moving into the West Village that hopes to channel that same spirit of agitation and status-quo-breaking. Gadfly Bar is a brand new project from owners Joe and Kara Pally. Envisioned as a laid back local spot for quality bites and drinks, Joe and Kara hope to create a hub for artists and dreamers to relax and get together to enjoy great music and a friendly atmosphere.
Opening up at 258 West 15th Street, Joe and Kara have been hard at work renovating the space to make it suitable for their vision. Hoping to one day invite live musicians to enrich the guest experience, Joe and Kara worked with one of NYC’s most respected sound engineers to implement a custom soundproofing plan designed specifically for Gadfly Bar. In addition to music, the Gadfly team has also hired renowned NYC artist Beau Stanton to design and install a one-of-a-kind mural inside the bar, livening up the space’s aesthetic with a bold and colorful new design.
In addition to specially crafted custom cocktails, Gadfly Bar is also expected to serve a state-of-the-art brunch alongside more traditional pub and lounge food. Some of the more mouthwatering options include Challah French Toast, Poutine Scramble, Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, and something called the “South Brooklyn Frittata-bout-it!” Outside of brunch, Gadlfy Bar will also serve lighter bites like olives, jerky, stuffed mushrooms, fries, and sandwiches.
Gadfly Bar will be replacing the former Pierre Loti wine bar that formerly operated at the space. As a former wine bar, the layout is well-suited to meet the demands of the space’s new tenants. While Pierre Loti was very popular among locals, the restaurant thankfully still operates a few different locations around Manhattan that can be found on their website.
The location is spacious enough to comfortably seat up to 50 guests at one time. Deeply dedicated to preserving their neighbor’s quality of life, Joe and Kara are proposing operating hours from 12PM – 11PM Sunday through Wednesday, and 12PM – 12AM Thursday through Saturday. While Joe and Kara are hoping to open Gadfly Bar shortly after acquiring their liquor license, they need all the support they can get from the community. If you live in the neighborhood and are excited about Gadfly’s new prospects, be sure to visit their website for more information about what you can do to help support their opening.
