Housed in the former Momofuku Milk Bar space, this latest addition to the David Chang empire sees him teaming with Dave Arnold to create some thrillingly experimental drinks. This is the kind of place where liquid nitrogen is used to chill the glasses and juices are clarified in a centrifuge to render them super smooth; even the cocktail shakers are high-tech, pressurised with CO2. Cocktails inclu…

Acme was, for many years, the kind of place that served up generic “Southern food” as well as menu of live music in the basement. But now the NoHo space has been impressively revamped by the team behind Indochine. The new bi-level bar and restaurant sports a menu designed by Noma’s Mads Refslund: he’s imported the philosophy behind the food at the accolade –laden Danish restaurant, with an emphasi…

Though the Bowery Diner evokes the spirit of the 1950s, it does so in a very contemporary way. Located next to the New Museum, the space has been decked out in true diner style with a glass-fronted dessert case and even a juke box. The room is bright and airy, all white tile, stainless steel and polished concrete with the occasional splash of turquoise. Food is classic diner fare – burgers, sandwi…

The one-time Underbar at the W Union Square has been replaced with Lilium, a seductive, subterranean new bar and night club. It’s an attractive space, less hard-edged than its predecessor, if slightly Gothic, with twisted metal light fixtures and sculptural lilies. The lighting too is moody and filmic. The obligatory bottle service is available or you can opt for a cocktail. The drinks menu is inv…

The second Bourgeois Pig, in Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens, places more of emphasis on cocktails than the East Village original. The latest venture by Ravi DeRossi and his partner Frank Cisneros (the Dram man) is a sumptuous space with a gleaming gold tin ceiling and brass chandeliers. The cocktail list draws inspiration from Europe and the bar is well stocked with continental spirits. French in infl…

New to the East Village, Prima is the new venture of Greg Seider of the Summit bar (who also had a hand in revamping Le Bernardin’s cocktail menu). With pedigree like that you know the drinks are going to be good – and they don’t disappoint. Open from 8am the bar serves coffee and brunchy things during the day and evolves into a proper cocktail joint by night. Seider’s ‘alchemist’ drinks are thril…

Punches and Prohibition-era cocktails head up the drinks menu at Slightly Oliver, the new Amsterdam Avenue venture featuring the skills of Jason Hicks (of the Jones Wood Foundry) and Orson Salicetti (of Apotheke). There’s a real sense of experimentation to some of the drinks, like the aromatic Slightly Green Martini, spiked with dill elixir and green pepper reduction, and the bar resembles a chemi…

Salon Hecho is a very welcome spin-off from the Mexican-style cantina Hecho en Dumbo. As with its parent venue, the bar aims to celebrate aspects of Mexican culture often overlooked elsewhere. Designed as a space for soaking up live music as well as tequila, it’s a hip, lively space. The room is decorated with a collage of antique masks and art work from young Mexican artists, while the drinks lis…

Taking over the spot that was once home to the much loved diner, Florent, The Vinatta Project is the latest addition to the Meatpacking District’s cocktail scene. The bartenders hail from the acclaimed Mulberry Project and the drinks, as you’d expect, are of a comparably high standard. They’re happy to whip you up a bespoke creation, tailored to your taste, or you can opt for one of their artisana…

The resurrected nightspot in the Meat Packing District has all the allure of the original without the hard, cold edges of old. Recreating the spectacular entranceway of its predecessor, the bar is glossy and stylish, the atmosphere moneyed and polished to a shine. The new Double Seven boats curvy dark walls and expensively expansive leather banquettes as well as a dramatic wall feature of glass bu…