There’s a brand new bar making its way to the East Village this year, but it’s… uh… well, it’s… I’m not really sure, it’s kind of Hard To Explain…
Hard To Explain is a brand new bar concept from MSC Hospitality’s Chin Keung Mong and Masahiro Kuniya. Before this project, the company opened up High Low Beverage Company, a popular Vietnamese-inspired café and bar on Wyckoff Avenue in Brooklyn. Known for serving up an eclectic selection of natural wines and beers, the bar also served creative cocktails with inspiration from around the world.
Now, it appears that the team is preparing to debut a brand new concept. Moving into the space at 224 East 10th Street, Hard To Explain is envisioned as a wine and beer bar that will also serve tapas, light bar snacks, and a cheese board for flavor pairings. Chin is currently in the process of acquiring a new beer and wine license for the location, though it’s worth noting that it does not appear that the bar will serve cocktails or hard liquor.
Hard To Explain will be replacing The Athenian, which formerly operated on East 10th Street. Open since 2018, The Athenian was a popular spot that highlighted Greek wine and cuisine, serving elevated Mediterranean fare in an upscale environment. Sadly, The Athenian shut its doors in 2020 like many others, and as time passed the once-temporary closure soon became permanent. Thankfully, the space is once again being revived by a brand new restaurant.
Hard To Explain looks to be an exclusive and intimate affair. With a total of two tables and one stand-up bar, the space will only be able to seat about nine guests at one time. The bar will also be closed for much of the weekday, and is only expected to operate from Thursday thru Sunday from 5:00 PM to 11:30 PM. At the moment, the team is still too early into the planning phase to have an online presence, and at this stage any further information is… well… Hard To Explain.
