I went to the swanky NYC bar that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited, and it wasn't the super exclusive spot I thought it would be

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made headlines in both US and UK tabloids as they sipped on martinis at a table with Misha Noonoo, Markle's best friend, and her husband, Mikey Heiss on September 23.

The couple were in New York City for the Global Citizen Live charity concert, where they promoted vaccine equity, and also made appearances at One World Observatory and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

Markle and Prince Harry have rarely been seen out in public since officially stepping back from the royal family in March 2020. In Montecito — the California town where they live with their children Archie and Lilibet — the couple have only been spotted once while dining at a local beloved steakhouse called Lucky's.

I had a great experience when I checked out Lucky's on a recent trip, so I knew I had to see what it'd be like to wine and dine at Bemelmans.

Located in Manhattan's Upper East Side neighborhood, the Carlyle has been dubbed the "Palace of Secrets" thanks to its reputation as a discreet retreat for celebrities, politicians, and royalty.

It was Princess Diana's favorite hotel whenever she came to New York City, and Prince William and Kate Middleton stayed at the Carlyle during their own trip back in 2014. Other famous guests have included everyone from George Clooney and Jack Nicholson to Naomi Campbell and Vera Wang.

As we switched from the G to the E to the 6 to get from Greenpoint to the Upper East Side, my friend Andrew and I discussed how vastly different our journey must be compared to most people who regularly dine at the Carlyle.

"Luxury is only a few minutes away," Andrew told me as our last train, packed with screaming teens throwing water at each other, pulled into the 77th St. station.

The lush sounds of a busker's saxophone followed us as we made the quick stroll to the hotel. I could see the Carlyle's gold doors sparkling from afar.

Luxury, there you are.

The neutral colors and clean lines of the Carlyle's interior are understated but chic.

Nothing is over the top, but everything still looks expensive. It's no surprise that the space has been a reception and after-party destination for major awards shows, not to mention the Met Gala.

Thanks to some prior research, I knew that the painting was by Ludwig Bemelmans, the famed artist and children's book author — he wrote the "Madeline" books — whose illustrations cover the bar that bears his name.

"There will be plenty more of those inside the bar," a man who worked at the hotel told me as I stopped to admire the painting.

We arrived shortly after Bemelmans opened, so this second room was empty as we headed toward the bar.

With its deep, rich colors and full-hearted embrace of florals, the space looked like it was from a completely different era. I half-expected there to be cigar smoke wafting in the air from men in suits exchanging tales of exciting mistresses and dreary family homes in Connecticut.

Bemelmans is a unique and gorgeous place, especially in a day and age when so many bars just look the same.

The space is small and intimate, with a piano at its center. Soft jazz music fills the air as waiters walk around in spotless white dinner jackets. The golden walls — covered with Ludwig's playful and eccentric illustrations of kangaroos, bunnies, and giraffes enjoying their day at Central Park — almost shimmer under the dim lighting. Musical notes dance across the room.

"I'm a baroness!" exclaims a woman seated a few tables down from us. She asks the couple she's dining with where they went to elementary school and how they feel about mid-century architecture. A man nearby swipes through Raya — the exclusive, invitation-only dating app — while sipping on Negronis.

"Even the ceiling is gold," my friend Rachel, who joined us for drinks, remarks as we sit down.

The tray included some kettle chips, pita crisps, and almond and cashews that were covered in a delicious garlic seasoning.

All the nibbles paired well with our drinks, and I loved that we got a refill without asking once we'd finished.

Each lampshade appeared to have a unique illustration by Ludwig. Ours featured a very well-dressed bunny and two dogs enjoying some wine together.

I should've known that the bar within the "Palace of Secrets" would be extremely tight-lipped when it came to the royal couple.

"We don't talk about our guests," an employee said in the 2018 documentary "Always at the Carlyle."

"Whatever happens here, stays here," added another.

All we knew was that Markle and Harry had been sipping on martinis, according to MailOnline. And our waiter politely made sure it stayed that way, simply stating that the server who had helped the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was off for the night.

When I told the waiter I love rum, he immediately recommended Bemelmans' version of this classic cocktail.

The pretty pink drink arrived in a martini glass with some mint garnish, and walked a fine line between sweet and tart. There was some nice bounce thanks to the champagne, and the cocktail was definitely strong. I was already feeling tipsy after just a few sips.

The $23 JFK Daiquiri features Mount Gay XO rum, Falernum liqueur, lime juice, simple syrup, and Rose's lime juice.

Not only did the cocktail look similar to my Old Cuban, but it also tasted similar. The lime flavor was very pronounced in the JFK, giving it more of a tropical feel. But, overall, it was pretty hard to distinguish between the two.

They were nice to sip on, but we all agreed that neither cocktail was a huge standout despite having price tags higher than $20.

Our waiter asked my friend Andrew — the only one at the table who really likes martinis — what flavors he preferred, then recommended getting one with a lemony spin.

The clear drink, which Andrew ordered with a gin base, came complete with a lemon twist that had Bemelmans scribbled across the peel — a nice touch.

It's hard for me to judge this martini because I'm just not a huge fan of them in general. I thought the drink tasted overwhelmingly strong of gin, but Andrew said he liked the citrus flavor of it.

Prince Harry was spotted eating these sliders during the couple's double date. And when I asked our waiter what he recommended on the menu, they were the first dish he mentioned.

He told us that Bemelmans' new chef was from NYC's iconic 21 Club — which shut during the pandemic after more than 90 years in business — and said the sliders were a must.

The $32 dish comes with three sliders and features prime-aged beef, an onion marmalade, raclette cheese, and a green peppercorn aioli.

Piercing each of their plump buns was a toothpick with "The Carlyle" scribbled across it in beautiful loopy cursive.

The first thing I wrote in my notes was, "Wow, the sliders are bomb," which I'm sure is exactly what Prince Harry said when he first tried them.

For such a little burger, these sliders are packed with tons of flavor. Andrew loved how fluffy and buttery the buns were, and the fact that they were slightly toasted.

The burger — which we ordered medium — was nicely cooked and paired well with the onion marmalade. And the green peppercorn aioli added a fresh twist to the classic bar dish that really made it memorable. I could've easily eaten five of them in one go.

I could tell you that I decided to order this dish because it's a beloved appetizer in both American and British cuisine, and thus perfectly fit an article inspired by Markle and Prince Harry. But, to be honest, I just really wanted to know what a $19 version of pigs in a blanket tasted like.

And, reader, they were incredible.

This is definitely a fancy spin on the pigs in a blanket we know and love, whether you're an American who expects them wrapped in croissant dough or a Brit who prefers bacon on top.

The pastry was super flaky, with a great crust that was packed with flavor. The andouille sausage inside the blanket was nicely cooked, and the drop of spicy brown mustard on top added a nice kick to everything.

It was then that we noticed just how packed the bar had gotten. And as the pianist filled the room with live, jazzy tunes, it truly felt like we were being transported back in time. There was just something so cozy and old-school about the entire atmosphere.

"It feels like you could be here in a snowstorm," Rachel said.

"It feels like Ernest Hemingway or Tom Wolfe could walk in at any moment," Andrew added.

Our waiter recommended the Gillespie, a $24 cocktail that features Hudson Manhattan Rye whiskey, lime juice, rosemary, ginger syrup, ginger beer, and egg white.

And Bemelmans saved the best for last because this cocktail was definitely a knockout.

The Gillespie had a pretty pale-pink color and came topped with a sprig of rosemary. And, unlike the previous cocktails, the flavor was actually exciting and complex.

There was a smokiness from the whiskey, with a hint of tartness from the lime. But the ginger came through as well, giving the cocktail a nice kick. I'd happily order this again and again.

When I saw the sky-high price tags and read up on the Carlyle's storied history, I figured Bemelmans would be a swanky bar full of people in designer clothes who'd never dream of taking the subway — much less changing three trains — to get there.

But Bemelmans isn't flashy. Sure, some people were dressed to the nines, but the guy next to us was wearing bike shorts. And with such dim lighting, you probably wouldn't notice who's around you anyway — unless, of course, they happen to be royalty.

And while there's $340 caviar on the menu if you so desire, I was happily surprised to find that you could also just get a really delicious burger. Whether you're a local or a tourist, a night at Bemelmans doesn't feel super exclusive.

"You know what?" Rachel remarked as we took one last look before our long journey home. "I don't feel like we don't belong."