Talea has amassed an avid following for its sour and fruit-forward beers, but it also carved an inclusive niche in New York’s male-dominated taproom culture as the city’s first female- and veteran-owned production brewery. With two bustling locations in Williamsburg and Cobble Hill whose colorful interiors lighten the mood, owners LeAnn Darland and Tara Hankinson set their sights on further growth in Manhattan. Their third outpost, a pastel-hued watering hole located on historic Christopher Street in the West Village, is firmly rooted in the neighborhood’s lore and rivals its predecessors in colorful ambiance thanks to a calming scheme by local firm Alda Ly Architecture.
A café by day and bar by night, the taproom is awash in a palette of saffron, mauve, and pistachio greens. Its open seating area combines classic saloon elements (exposed brick, decorative molding) with modern touches (mango tiling, quartz countertops). Past the bar are private digs: the Revolution Room, a gathering spot for larger groups, and the Snug, a secret back room and the subtle jewel. They nod to spaces that were once designated secret areas in speakeasies for women to gather and organize. Those women may appear in the restrooms, whose walls are adorned with images of local notables and gender activists. The project was intoxicating enough for Alda Ly to return for a second round, this time with the brewery’s soon-to-open fourth location near Bryant Park.
