The Jet Set Brings Tiki Bar Vibes to the Newburgh Waterfront

Adobe Stock / Евгений Вершинин

Led by the teams behind Liberty Street Bistro, Colorcube Print Co., and Society of Lash, The Jet Set adds flair to Newburgh.

When it comes to dining options in Newburgh, the selection is nothing short of spectacular. From French-American at Liberty Street Bistro to Southern elegance at Mama Roux to tacos and margaritas at Hudson Taco, there’s a restaurant to satisfy nearly every sort of craving and mood.

(Notice we said nearly.)

In September, a new dining concept arrives to fill a void in Newburgh’s dining scene. It’s called The Jet Set, and it’s a tropical tiki bar located right on the waterfront.

@hudsonvalleymag The Jet Set is bringing tiki vibes to Newburgh! Have you stopped by to check it out yet? // #newburgh #newburghnewyork #newburghny #orangecountyny #hudsonvalley // @sabrina.sucato ♬ TOGETHER – Kyle May
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“The Jet Set is a tropical tiki bar that harkens back to the golden age of mid-century modern air travel and tiki culture,” explains co-owner Alexandra Kelly. “Tiki culture really came alive in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and everything from the name of the business and the logo through the décor of the space is influenced by that time period. We hope that when guests walk through the door that they will be instantly transported to a mid-century tropical paradise…that just happens to be on the Newburgh waterfront.”

Kelly, along with her husband, Michael, are two members of the dream team behind The Jet Set. If their name sounds familiar, that’s because they’re also the co-owners of Liberty Street Bistro and Newburgh Flour Shop, both located on Liberty Street in Newburgh. To bring The Jet Set to life, they’re collaborating with fellow entrepreneurs Pat and Stephanie Nunnari, the co-owners behind Colorcube Print Co. Pat also runs King Street Sign Co., while Stephanie owns Society of Lash, both in Newburgh. While Alexandra and Michael Kelly bring the marketing and culinary experience, respectively, the Nunnaris contribute to branding and design.

 

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Of course, a restaurant is only as good as its food and drinks, which is why The Jet Set taps into the talents of Maggie Lloyd and Jessica Gonzalez. Lloyd, who serves as executive chef, is already a familiar presence in Newburgh, thanks to her roles as chef de cuisine at Liberty Street Bistro and as an owner and operator of Liberty Street Events, the bistro’s full-service catering branch. Gonzalez, meanwhile, serves as general manager and head of the cocktail program for The Jet Set, bringing her experiences from Nomad and Death & Co in New York City with her.

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Together, The Jet Set team aims to create a one-of-a-kind experience along the Newburgh waterfront.

“Our location on the Newburgh waterfront is really meant to take advantage of the amazing river views that we have access to there. What better way to imagine yourself on an island escape than right on the water?” Alexandra Kelly enthuses.

To pair with the views, the restaurant focuses heavily on all things tropical. On the drinks front, menu highlights include tiki classics like Painkillers and Mai Tais along with several proprietary creations by Gonzalez, all of which feature fresh juices and syrups. To pair with them, Lloyd whips up an elevated bar menu that leans into Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cuisines, with Americana classics like burgers and wings looped in as well.

 

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A post shared by The Jet Set (@jetsettiki)

As for how The Jet Set came to be, it’s all thanks to a meeting of the minds in the Hudson Valley.

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“The building owner [of The Jet Set] had approached Michael about coming up with a concept for the space a few years ago, but the idea didn’t really click until we started visiting Fuchsia Tiki Bar in New Paltz and became friendly with the owners, Anton and his wife, Lisa, who were initially part of The Jet Set project,” Kelly explains. “Anton has also consulted on our cocktail menu. We thought that being set right on the river just clicked with something like a fun, laidback, tropical escape.”

With the concept in hand, the Kellys worked with the Nunnaris to bring it to life. Pat Nunnari is something of a tiki enthusiast, so he took the lead on scouting vintage stores for unique items – like an authentic mid-century modern lime green L-shaped couch, part of a plane fuselage, vintage tiki posters, and tropical postcards – and pairing them with tropical touches like thatch and dried bamboo. The result is a space that leaves visitors feeling like they’ve stepped back in time to the 1960s.

 

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For visitors to the restaurant, which opens beginning Labor Day weekend and starts with dinner only for five nights a week, they can take a seat from any of the 90 or so seats inside or, weather permitting, the 80 or so seats outside on the patio. As fall progresses, the owners hope to expand to a seven-day schedule and add lunch to the menu as well.

“While not the only tiki bar in the Hudson Valley (that honor goes to our friends Anton and Lisa at Fuchsia Tiki Bar in New Paltz) we are fairly unique in our offerings,” Kelly notes. “There are not many other themed, tropical bars in the Hudson Valley, and certainly none with the waterfront views we have.”

With a prime location on the Newburgh waterfront, The Jet Set offers Hudson Valley diners the chance to experience vacation vibes – and flavors – all year long.

“Guests will be able to sip tropical cocktails out of fun mugs while sitting on authentic mid-century modern lounge furniture, eating food influenced by Asian cuisines, overlooking the Hudson River,” Kelly says. “[We’re] inviting our guests to take a trip through time, forget about their everyday life and worries for a little bit, and enjoy an expertly crafted cocktail and good company.”

To learn more about The Jet Set, visit the website or follow the restaurant on Instagram.

The Jet Set
50 Front St, Newburgh

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