Image Credit: New York Post @nypost on X

If you thought the cost of living in New York City couldn’t get any more outrageous… think again.

A high-end Midtown restaurant, Benjamin Steakhouse, is turning heads (and stomachs) with a brand-new cocktail that’s as over-the-top as it is expensive. The drink, called the Versailles Velour, comes with a jaw-dropping $1,000 price tag—and yes, it’s topped with actual gold leaf.

According to reports from New York Post, the cocktail draws inspiration from the lavish excess of the French royal court. Because apparently, nothing says “casual night out” like sipping on something modeled after aristocratic indulgence.

Let’s pause for a second: one thousand dollars… for a drink.

In a city already notorious for sky-high prices, this feels like a whole new level of luxury. Sure, New York City has never exactly been known for bargains, but this pushes things into surreal territory. It’s the kind of item that exists less for the average customer and more for spectacle—the kind of thing built for social media buzz, influencer reactions, and “you won’t believe this” headlines.

And honestly, that might be the point.

Because while most people are just trying to make rent, there’s clearly a market—however niche—for ultra-premium, experience-driven splurges. Whether it’s curiosity, status, or just the novelty of drinking something with gold on top, someone out there is going to order it.

Still, a hot cocoa-inspired cocktail at that price? That’s where opinions start to split. For some, it’s indulgent fun. For others, it’s a symbol of how wildly disconnected luxury spending can feel from everyday reality.

Either way, one thing’s certain: only in New York City could a $1,000 hot chocolate cocktail not only exist—but probably sell.