This East Village speakeasy from Michelin-starred Junoon’s mixologist Hemant Pathak leans heavily into Prohibition-era aesthetics, and we’re here for it. The space is cocooned in walnut wood and velvet drapery, with antique mirrors and shelves crowded with found objects and first edition books. The effect is intimate, all glam and grace, complete with a live jazz singer crooning standards. Big Gatsby vibes. The cocktail program includes two options: “Forgotten Classics,” like The Adonis and Queens Park Swizzle, and “Reimagined Classics,” like high balls and old-fashioneds. If your Bee’s Knees is giving “borough terroir,” that’s because the team works with urban beekeeper Andrew Coté, who supplies honey from his rooftop apiaries in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Don’t miss: The off-the-menu three-cocktail omakase, dubbed the Enigma, begins with a martini-style cocktail, a custom drink from a base spirit of your choice, and a dessert-style savory cocktail.
Pinky Swear
171A Chrystie St.
@Pinky Swear
Pinky Swear is the zany love child of a contemporary art gallery and a groovy cocktail lounge—think the multisensory cacophony of the immersive art experience Meow Wolf. Designed by a collective of builders, artists, and makers and helmed by East Village stalwart, chef Will Horowitz, Pinky Swear is a neon-powered joy ride, filled with interactive old-school games and dripping with contemporary and conceptual art, set to the sounds of a DJ spinning all night long. It’s no surprise that drinks like the s’mores-adjacent Cloud 9, (vodka, cold brew, crème de cacao, and marshmallow) are daring and whimsical.
Don’t miss: The Reverse Spacetime, served in a bong-styled glass, is a sweet-tart-savory ride of Condesa gin and Forthave red aperitivo, balanced with juicy strawberry, herbaceous basil, and citrusy layers of lemon.
Seed Library
51 East 30th St.
@Seed Library
Ryan Chetiyawardana, a.k.a. Mr. Lyan, is world-renowned for experimental techniques like microwaving Manhattans and fermenting wine at home. Late last year he brought his acclaimed London bar and offbeat cocktail lab, Seed Library, to the NoMad neighborhood. Tucked into the basement of the Hotel Park Ave, Seed Library gives mad scientist vibes, a sleek and sexy studio for cutting-edge cocktails. An original import from the London location, the Coriander Seed Gimlet, swaps out the typical lime in favor of crushed coriander seeds and acid powders that punch up juicy citrus levels without, well, citrus.
