Latest news with #MattKliegman
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Night In The Life: Restaurateur Carlos Quirarte
A s the story so often goes, restaurateur Carlos Quirarte and his now-business partner Matt Kliegman first met at a party. Connecting over the idea of creating spaces where people wanted to be, they started throwing hundreds of events together for the art, fashion and music scenes. In 2009, they opened The Smile, their first full-service restaurant on Bond Street, and from there things started to evolve—paving the way for Ray's, Pebble Bar, Jac's On Bond and a host of other wildly successful restaurants through the New York–based business they share with Matt Charles, Authentic Hospitality. Courtesy of Carlos Quirarte 'Opening the original Smile is the biggest risk I've ever taken,' says Quirarte. 'We had no idea what we were doing when we first started—neither of us had ever opened a restaurant before, so that was a pretty massive risk. Quite literally, I remember spending my entire life savings on that project and panicking.' But despite the many new and uncharted aspects of his venture, for the entrepreneur, a few fundamental aspects were intuitive: 'Hospitality has always felt like home to me,' he explained. 'My dad was a bartender, my mom was a chef, so I grew up around kitchens, bars and very late nights. It's in my blood.' This experience helped Quirarte set a clear vision and mandate for all of his endeavors: To be truly authentic. 'We wanted to create spaces that felt real—places where everyone's welcome, where the energy is good and the experience feels personal,' he says. 'It wasn't about chasing trends or doing what everyone else was. It was about building something from the inside out, by New Yorkers, for New Yorkers. Each venue is its own thing, but the throughline is hospitality that's warm, thoughtful and a little unexpected. We always ask ourselves, 'How do we make people feel good here?' That's what drives everything we do.' Recently, Quirarte gave us a peek into the spectrum of everything he does—during what, for him, is just an average night of work. Below, he walks us through an evening of tending and growing his businesses and igniting his creative spark along the way, and shares the tools that keep him grounded and organized amidst his busy, dynamic schedule. Courtesy of Carlos Quirarte Night In The Life: Carlos Quirarte For Quirarte, though the bulk of the action starts after dark, his mornings begin early by making breakfast for his kids at 6 a.m., then heading to the gym and getting ready for the day. He's aided by just a few essentials that get him through the long hours: 'I'm a simple guy. I can't function without my iPhone 16 Pro and Google Calendar, of course, plus my Givenchy black-leather card holder and the eight coffees I consume a day. My style is what I like to call town and country: A good pair of denim jeans, a solid tee and my favorite Double RL cowboy boots are always on rotation in my closet.' Shortly after he gets dressed, he starts answering a flood of emails and phone calls—but the core part of his workday begins when most people are just winding down from theirs. It's a fast-paced environment where 'no two days are ever the same,' he says. 'One day I'm bouncing between venues in the city, checking in on service, flow, programming, partnership—just making sure the energy feels right. We're in a real growth moment right now, so a lot of my time is spent thinking about what's next for Authentic.' Wherever he is, each part of his evening is focused on staying creative and connected to the spaces he's cultivated: 'It's about what we're building, where we're headed and how to stay ahead without losing what makes each space feel personal and grounded.' 4:30 p.m.: Head To Jac's On Bond 'I like to experience the restaurants and bars the way a guest would: sit at the bar, order a drink, feel the room. That's how you really know what's working and what needs attention. And when I'm in the space, I try to connect with as many people as I can—friends, regulars, new faces. That's the best part! My cocktail of choice? I like to sip, so I'm a big bourbon guy. Bardstown whiskey is phenomenal.' 6:30 p.m.: Venture Over To Ray's L.E.S. 'I try to visit as many of our venues as possible, setting up and checking in on reservations. Saying hi to friends and making new ones. The original Ray's was collectively built by a few friends that wanted to hang out with a few more friends; it has since become synonymous with hometown bar hangouts.' 9:00 p.m.: Travel Uptown To Check On Pebble Bar 'Friday and Saturday nights are definitely the craziest for me, so regardless of where I am, I always keep my phone pretty close in case things come up at the bars. Often times I have to pivot my plan based on who's calling me and stop by multiple venues in one evening. When we created Pebble Bar, a cocktail and raw bar in a historic townhouse in Rockefeller Center, I wanted to build a space that felt like an extension of a creative friend's living room. The goal was to merge nightlife, storytelling and thoughtful design to cultivate experiences that resonate far beyond the plate or the cocktail glass.' 12:00 a.m.: If He's Lucky, Head Home 'Depending on who is in town and the level of hospitality required, I head home (although when things get crazy, I could easily be out as late as 5 a.m.). Every night is a little different in my business, so I can never predict exactly when (or how, for that matter) it will end, but that's what makes it fun. 'The goal is to keep evolving, keep challenging ourselves and keep finding new ways to bring our version of hospitality to different communities without ever losing what makes what we've built feel so personal. We don't follow a specific formula. It's always been about chasing a feeling and doing something that makes us happy. To me, being successful is about being surrounded by great people and doing what you love. I feel honored that I get to do that every day.' — Shop More Of Carlos' Favorite Products
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Broken Shaker LA Relaunches Under Authentic Hospitality
Broken Shaker Broken Shaker LA, the rooftop cocktail bar perched above the Freehand hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, kicked off its 2025 season on May 8 with a fresh team at the helm and a new slate of drinks and bites. The space is now operated by Authentic Hospitality, the New York-based group behind buzzy venues like Ray's, Jac's on Bond and Pebble Bar. This marks Authentic Hospitality's first Los Angeles venture—and it's not a quiet entrance. The group, led by nightlife veterans Matt Kliegman, Carlos Quirarte and Matthew Charles, was tapped last year to revamp the Broken Shaker brand, starting in Miami. Their takeover of the LA location brings a reimagined cocktail menu, a refreshed design by Melissa Bowers, and a new food program with serious culinary firepower. 'We're reigniting the energy of Broken Shaker LA while maintaining what makes the concept so beloved,' says Charles. 'LA will see a slate of programming centered on music, nightlife and industry culture, alongside great food and drinks.' Broken Shaker Rooftop Bar Located on the Freehand's 13th floor, the rooftop bar has always leaned into tropical escapism—with palm fronds, poolside views and a menu of fruity, easy-drinking cocktails. This season continues that theme with drinks like the Electric Warrior, made with Absolut Elyx, St. Germain, and lemon-lime cordial and Breakfast in the Moonlight, a passionfruit-spiked take on a zombie. There's also a tangerine-laced Verbena Spritz on the non-alcoholic side, plus a punch bowl that serves up to a dozen. Broken Shaker Cocktail The food menu comes from acclaimed chefs Jeremiah Stone and Fabian von Hauske Valtierra, known for their work at NYC's Contra and Wildair. They've built a lineup of Pan-Latin and Caribbean-inspired dishes meant to complement the setting—easy to share, packed with flavor and just bold enough to keep things interesting. Broken Shaker Menu 'We wanted to create something craveable but unexpected—dishes you could snack on poolside, but that still reflect a sense of place,' says von Hauske Valtierra. 'The jerk chicken sandwich hits hard, but there's also a brightness and depth to the ceviche that makes it perfect for LA.' Guests can expect smaller plates like carne asada fries and ceviche made with pink Gulf shrimp, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, avocado, and passionfruit, served with fried plantains. Skewers—like grilled coconut curry shrimp with cabbage, peppers, and onions—round out the casual, snacky vibe. The sandwich game is strong too, led by the jerk chicken with slaw on a potato bun. Authentic Hospitality now oversees Broken Shaker in Miami, New York, and Los Angeles, with the Chicago location set to relaunch later this year. The group also runs several venues within Freehand New York, including Bar Calico and Smile To Go. 'Broken Shaker has become a key part of what makes Freehand feel like home for both travelers and locals,' says Annajane Güzel, Global Director of Brand Marketing for Freehand and Generator. 'We're excited to continue that legacy with a team who knows how to build places people want to return to.' Broken Shaker Pool Broken Shaker LA is open daily from noon to midnight. Food service runs until 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 p.m. on weekends. The bar is located at 416 W. 8th Street. Reservations available via OpenTable.
