Turns out Zohran Mamdani’s “free-for-all” vision for New York City didn’t quite make it to his victory party bar tab.
The newly minted socialist mayor-elect — who ran on promises of free buses and universal childcare — celebrated his win over Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa with a cash bar that looked more Wall Street than working class.
According to Politico’s Jeff Coltin, the drinks at Brooklyn’s Paramount were anything but affordable:
• $13 PBRs
• $16 Montauk Summer Ales
• $15 glasses of Riesling
• $22 espresso martini coolers
• Even a pretzel-wrapped hot dog ran $10
We’re at the beautiful and newly refurbished Brooklyn Paramount for Zohran Mamdani’s election night party. Cash bar with the venue’s standard fare and high prices. Just journalists so far – doors open for supporters at 9 pm. pic.twitter.com/RZlFquKHcI
— Jeff Coltin (@JCColtin) November 5, 2025
And yes, the “Paramount Old Fashioned” — a staple of socialist soirées everywhere — rang up at $22 a pop.
That’s right — the man promising to make New York “affordable for all” couldn’t spring for a single round.
“Mamdani had a CASH BAR at his victory party,” comedian Jimmy Failla wrote on X. “If you can’t get a free vodka from this guy something tells me the free food and buses ain’t coming. Congrats, suckers.”
Mamdani had a CASH BAR at his victory party. If you can’t get a free vodka from this guy something tells me the free food and buses ain’t coming. Congrats, suckers.
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) November 5, 2025
It’s not unusual for campaigns to make guests pay their own way, but the irony was impossible to miss — especially when Cuomo’s viewing party offered an open bar, even as he nursed his loss.
For a guy who wants to redistribute wealth, Mamdani sure made sure the redistribution stopped at the bar rail.
More over at The New York Post:
Zohran Mamdani’s victory party was anything but ‘affordable’ — with pricey cash bar charging $13 for beer https://t.co/uDKytO725X pic.twitter.com/5OGc0wKkan
— New York Post (@nypost) November 7, 2025
