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What to Drink
June 26, 2012

Seeing Red: The City’s Most Refreshing New Watermelon Drinks

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Photo: Melissa Hom

We’ve already established that it’s the summer of the slushie, but another trend is cropping up: watermelon drinks. There’s something inherently cooling and refreshing about the fruit’s juicy flesh, particularly when it’s served in a glass. We’ve rounded up the most quenching watermelon around town: slushy juices, alcoholic snow cones, and even an orange juice replacement for your breakfast cocktail. Even better: no seeds. Check it all out, straight ahead.

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1 / 10 Photos
Talde 
Sip Talde’s watermelon margarita at the bar while you wait for a table at this no-reservations joint. Beverage director John Bush adds fresh watermelon juice to a basic margarita — Sauza Gold tequila, triple sec, lemon, and lime. The cocktail is served on the rocks with a watermelon-wedge garnish that's set off by black-and-white salt, a presentation both delicious and dramatic. Talde 
Sip Talde’s watermelon margarita at the bar while you wait for a table at this no-reservations joint. Beverage director John Bush adds fresh watermelon juice to a basic margarita — Sauza Gold tequila, triple sec, lemon, and lime. The cocktail is served on the rocks with a watermelon-wedge garnish that's set off by black-and-white salt, a presentation both delicious and dramatic.

Talde

Sip Talde’s watermelon margarita at the bar while you wait for a table at this no-reservations joint. Beverage director John Bush adds fresh wa...

Talde

Sip Talde’s watermelon margarita at the bar while you wait for a table at this no-reservations joint. Beverage director John Bush adds fresh watermelon juice to a basic margarita — Sauza Gold tequila, triple sec, lemon, and lime. The cocktail is served on the rocks with a watermelon-wedge garnish that's set off by black-and-white salt, a presentation both delicious and dramatic.

Photo: Anne Leighton Massoni/Anne Leighton Massoni
Num Pang 
Count the Cambodian sandwich shop's slushy melon blend-up among the best thirst-quenchers in the city. Frothy, with enough texture to give it a little chew, it’s an ideal slurp on a sweltering day. Num Pang 
Count the Cambodian sandwich shop's slushy melon blend-up among the best thirst-quenchers in the city. Frothy, with enough texture to give it a little chew, it’s an ideal slurp on a sweltering day.

Num Pang

Count the Cambodian sandwich shop's slushy melon blend-up among the best thirst-quenchers in the city. Frothy, with enough texture to give i...

Num Pang

Count the Cambodian sandwich shop's slushy melon blend-up among the best thirst-quenchers in the city. Frothy, with enough texture to give it a little chew, it’s an ideal slurp on a sweltering day. 

Café Kristall 
An Austrian restaurant serving Brazil’s national cocktail? Somehow it works. The newly renovated Café Kristall offers its take on the famous cachaca-sugar-lime quaff, adorned here with basil leaves and watermelon ice cubes. It's almost as pretty as the Swarovski crystal chandeliers overhead. Café Kristall 
An Austrian restaurant serving Brazil’s national cocktail? Somehow it works. The newly renovated Café Kristall offers its take on the famous cachaca-sugar-lime quaff, adorned here with basil leaves and watermelon ice cubes. It's almost as pretty as the Swarovski crystal chandeliers overhead.

Café Kristall

An Austrian restaurant serving Brazil’s national cocktail? Somehow it works. The newly renovated Café Kristall offer...

Café Kristall

An Austrian restaurant serving Brazil’s national cocktail? Somehow it works. The newly renovated Café Kristall offers its take on the famous cachaca-sugar-lime quaff, adorned here with basil leaves and watermelon ice cubes. It's almost as pretty as the Swarovski crystal chandeliers overhead.

Empellón Taqueria 
Nonalocholic aguas frescas are a brunch drink at Alex Stupak's taqueria. Flavors rotate seasonally, and lucky for us, the watermelon/chia version just came onto the menu. Sip this on a sunny Sunday morning with the windows open to West Fourth Street, and relish summer. Empellón Taqueria 
Nonalocholic aguas frescas are a brunch drink at Alex Stupak's taqueria. Flavors rotate seasonally, and lucky for us, the watermelon/chia version just came onto the menu. Sip this on a sunny Sunday morning with the windows open to West Fourth Street, and relish summer.

Empellón Taqueria

Nonalocholic aguas frescas are a brunch drink at Alex Stupak's taqueria. Flavors rotate seasonally, and lucky for us, the wa...

Empellón Taqueria

Nonalocholic aguas frescas are a brunch drink at Alex Stupak's taqueria. Flavors rotate seasonally, and lucky for us, the watermelon/chia version just came onto the menu. Sip this on a sunny Sunday morning with the windows open to West Fourth Street, and relish summer.

Fatty ‘Cue 
In Fatty ‘Cue's brunch-only mimosa, watermelon is subbed for orange juice, lending the flute a pretty pink color and the drink an overall fresh feel. Bubbly, refreshing, and slightly sweet, it’s a nice complement to the restaurant’s funky, hangover-vanquishing flavors. Fatty ‘Cue 
In Fatty ‘Cue's brunch-only mimosa, watermelon is subbed for orange juice, lending the flute a pretty pink color and the drink an overall fresh feel. Bubbly, refreshing, and slightly sweet, it’s a nice complement to the restaurant’s funky, hangover-vanquishing flavors.

Fatty ‘Cue

In Fatty ‘Cue's brunch-only mimosa, watermelon is subbed for orange juice, lending the flute a pretty pink color and the drink an overall ...

Fatty ‘Cue

In Fatty ‘Cue's brunch-only mimosa, watermelon is subbed for orange juice, lending the flute a pretty pink color and the drink an overall fresh feel. Bubbly, refreshing, and slightly sweet, it’s a nice complement to the restaurant’s funky, hangover-vanquishing flavors.

Zengo 
The booze slushie comes in tamarind, strawberry, hibiscus, and shiso-yuzu flavors at Zengo and sister bar La Biblioteca, but nothing is more cooling than the Thai basil and watermelon option. This adults-only treat is made with shaved ice topped with Thai basil simple syrup and fresh watermelon puree, plus Agavales Blanco tequila. Zengo 
The booze slushie comes in tamarind, strawberry, hibiscus, and shiso-yuzu flavors at Zengo and sister bar La Biblioteca, but nothing is more cooling than the Thai basil and watermelon option. This adults-only treat is made with shaved ice topped with Thai basil simple syrup and fresh watermelon puree, plus Agavales Blanco tequila.

Zengo

The booze slushie comes in tamarind, strawberry, hibiscus, and shiso-yuzu flavors at Zengo and sister bar La Biblioteca, but nothing is more co...

Zengo

The booze slushie comes in tamarind, strawberry, hibiscus, and shiso-yuzu flavors at Zengo and sister bar La Biblioteca, but nothing is more cooling than the Thai basil and watermelon option. This adults-only treat is made with shaved ice topped with Thai basil simple syrup and fresh watermelon puree, plus Agavales Blanco tequila.

Café Gitane 
Nothing goes better with an alfresco avocado toast or smoked chicken salad than a glass watermelon juice, served straight-up. Cooling, soothing, and refreshing, it’s the perfect antidote to a hot afternoon. Café Gitane 
Nothing goes better with an alfresco avocado toast or smoked chicken salad than a glass watermelon juice, served straight-up. Cooling, soothing, and refreshing, it’s the perfect antidote to a hot afternoon.

Café Gitane

Nothing goes better with an alfresco avocado toast or smoked chicken salad than a glass watermelon juice, served straight-up....

Café Gitane

Nothing goes better with an alfresco avocado toast or smoked chicken salad than a glass watermelon juice, served straight-up. Cooling, soothing, and refreshing, it’s the perfect antidote to a hot afternoon.

Craft 
It's no surprise to see the quintessential summer fruit at Tom Colicchio's seasonal standby. Vodka is the hooch of choice here, while St. Germain adds floral notes and lemon juice punches up the fruity flavor. Craft 
It's no surprise to see the quintessential summer fruit at Tom Colicchio's seasonal standby. Vodka is the hooch of choice here, while St. Germain adds floral notes and lemon juice punches up the fruity flavor.

Craft

It's no surprise to see the quintessential summer fruit at Tom Colicchio's seasonal standby. Vodka is the hooch of choice here, while St. Germa...

Craft

It's no surprise to see the quintessential summer fruit at Tom Colicchio's seasonal standby. Vodka is the hooch of choice here, while St. Germain adds floral notes and lemon juice punches up the fruity flavor. 

Melvin’s Juice Box 
At the reggae-blasting café-radio station adjacent to Miss Lily’s, “celebrity juicer” Melvin Major Jr. offers a straightforward finely pulverised organic watermelon sipper. Ask him to throw in a few chunks of ice if you like your juice extra-cold. Melvin’s Juice Box 
At the reggae-blasting café-radio station adjacent to Miss Lily’s, “celebrity juicer” Melvin Major Jr. offers a straightforward finely pulverised organic watermelon sipper. Ask him to throw in a few chunks of ice if you like your juice extra-cold.

Melvin’s Juice Box

At the reggae-blasting café-radio station adjacent to Miss Lily’s, “celebrity juicer” Melvin Major Jr. offers a straig...

Melvin’s Juice Box

At the reggae-blasting café-radio station adjacent to Miss Lily’s, “celebrity juicer” Melvin Major Jr. offers a straightforward finely pulverised organic watermelon sipper. Ask him to throw in a few chunks of ice if you like your juice extra-cold.

Miss Lily’s 
For something a little stronger than Melvin’s watermelon juice, head next door to Miss Lily’s for the soju-spiked version. Bartenders muddle fresh mint, then shake the cocktail for a mojito-like result that's an effective foil to spicy jerk chicken and pepper shrimp. Miss Lily’s 
For something a little stronger than Melvin’s watermelon juice, head next door to Miss Lily’s for the soju-spiked version. Bartenders muddle fresh mint, then shake the cocktail for a mojito-like result that's an effective foil to spicy jerk chicken and pepper shrimp.

Miss Lily’s

For something a little stronger than Melvin’s watermelon juice, head next door to Miss Lily’s for the soju-spiked version. Bartenders mud...

Miss Lily’s

For something a little stronger than Melvin’s watermelon juice, head next door to Miss Lily’s for the soju-spiked version. Bartenders muddle fresh mint, then shake the cocktail for a mojito-like result that's an effective foil to spicy jerk chicken and pepper shrimp.

1 / 10

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