75 Main
(631) 283-7575, Southampton
75main.com
The Southampton mainstay promises cuisine, libations and atmosphere well after the Hamptons summer crowd has fled for the season. During the week, expect groups and couples in the spacious and neatly decorated dining room and bar area overlooking Main Street. If weather permits, the floor to ceiling glass doors will be open, delightfully eliminating the barrier between indoors and out. Friday and Saturday, the main dining room tables are cleared out after dinner service to open the space for dancing and a lively bar crowd. Re-visit old classics off the cocktail list such as the 75 Main Cosmopolitan, a Classic French Martini, or the Patron Perfect Margarita. For something new to imbibe, ask the bartender about the current infusion, which marinates in a large glass jar on the bar. Most recently, the offering was a delicious cucumber vodka. The lounge is open Friday and Saturday until 4am. Call or check their Facebook page for upcoming music and events.
Morrison’s
(516) 932-8460, Plainview
morrisonsny.com
Upscale, cool, farm-to-table is the vibe of this hideaway: Black leather stools and booths, chalkboards listing the changing tap selection and jars full of fresh, colorful ingredients for cocktails line the bar. The chef/owner revamped the space, formerly Red Fish, into a gastropub, which Morrison’s defines as an unpretentious venue fit for the craft beer and small batch spirits popular today. Order one of their moonshine or artisan cocktails, sparkling wine in a pretty pink can or a tap craft beer (the chef/owner personally drives to pick up hard-to-find kegs). Families are best seated in the small dining room, leaving the bar area for the crowds on Thursday and Friday nights and the popular Tuesday Trivia & Taco night. Happy hour hosts $5 house wine and Tito’s vodka specials.
Flatiron Lounge
(212) 727-7741, NYC
flatironlounge.com
A very dark 1920s Prohibition-themed room adorned with purple velvet and a seriously intimate feel. Order drinks at the bar in lieu of a cramped table and discuss your cocktail choices with one of the mixologists who will hand-create the libation of your choice (our bartender “was always up for a challenge”). Cocktails are listed by spirit for easy ordering; all the specialty cocktails we tried were worth their high price tags. Taster’s Note: Although interesting, cocktails are warm by the time you finish one of their innovative cocktail “flights,” stick with one at a time. Flatiron is a good spot for a pre-dinner drink or a quiet early drink during the week. On the weekends, expect crowds and noise that inhibits conversation. Open until 4am on Friday and Saturday, this comfortable and sophisticated lounge is also perfect for an evening nightcap.