[email protected] EDITION.qxd 8/21/2006 3:21 PM Page 111 [email protected] EDITION.qxd 8/21/2006 3:21 PM Page 112

35 Formerly an industrial district, this

area has outgrown its early radical 19 12 persona, aspiring to new heights, 6

both culturally and economically 36

with each passing year. 16 27

24 Outh of HOuston lies this glossy community of 1 Ssmall art galleries, sidewalk trendy cafes, and boutiques, bounded by , Canal 21 22 23 14 18 36 Street, Crosby Street and the West Side Highway. 2 Here, the same lofts prized for their prime location 33

are no longer inexpensive. The escalating cost of 5

living is now forcing up-and-coming artists to flee 3 to Neo-Bohemian enclaves like Williamsburg in 20 10 32 38 31 Brooklyn, eroding SoHo's cutting-edge reputation. 9 15 The area's established chic character, however, is 4 28 25 29 7 firmly embedded and on display nightly. 8 37

Bordering SoHo and the LES, Little Italy remains the heart of New York's Old World Italian culture — a character slowly being whittled away by time. This is where it all started. The turn-of-the- century flood of Italian immigrants into the area's 26 17 cramped tenements were the launching pad from 30 which they have achieved great heights.

4 For the most part, though, their aura has 11 moved onward and upward, leaving behind faint 13 whispers of what had been. Still, stroll along the area's storied streets and sample from the specialty shops, restaurants and delightful outdoor cafes carrying on the tradition along Mulberry and Mott Streets. Sooner or later, though, you're bound to tire of window shopping for that perfect nightlife experience, and there's really no better place to take the plunge than here.

1 14 Fanelli s Cafe 27 NV 2 Bar 89 15 Grand Bar (SoHo 28 Pravda 3 Boom 16 Grand) 29 Raoul s 4 Cafe Noir 17 Jet 19 30 The Room 5 Casa La Femme 18 Jet Lounge 31 S.O.B. s (Sounds of 6 Chibi s Sake Bar 19 Kavehaz 32 Brazil) 7 Circa Tabac 20 M&R 33 Scharmann s 8 Cub Room 21 Magnum 34 Shine 9 Denial 22 Match 35 S py Bar 10 Diva 23 Merc Bar 36 Sway 11 Don Hill s 24 Mercer Cafe 37 Sweet & Vicious 12 Double Happiness 25 æ 38 V elvet Restaurant & 112 New York @ Night 13 Ear Inn 26 Naked Lunch Lounge [email protected] EDITION.qxd 8/21/2006 3:21 PM Page 114

Type of Balthazar Cafe Noir Type of Establishmen 80 Spring Street 32 @ Thompson Establishmen t t Bar/Restaurant Between Crosby & Broadway 212.431.7910 Bar/Restaurant 212.965.1414 Hours Some place in Morocco there is a Cafe Noir, Hours F-Sa 12pm- Daily 11pm- 3am Even though we know this place has seen but if you don’t have the time or resources 4am Su 11:30am- many a Manolo, and though we know that to go all the way to Africa may we suggest a Drink Prices 2am M-Th everyone from Rupert Murdoch to Anna Win- more suitable option in SoHo. The French Moderate 12pm-2am tour has dined in this French-styled restau- Moroccan menu is filled with an array of Food Drink Prices rant, and while you’ll probably have to seafood dishes, colors, and textures. Hand- French Expensive promise to name your first born Balthazar to woven tapestries made of yarn lie on stucco Moroccan Food get a reservation, we still don’t understand walls. Lanterns covered in faux gems illumi- Nearest French why this place has been the definition of nate corners of the room. Gigantic potted Subway Nearest downtown hip for the past two years. It’s not palm trees double as incense holders and A,C,E,1,9 to Subway particularly original in design (one need only 6 to S pring archway upon archway takes you to an Credit Cards S treet look at other Keith McAlley creations Lucky exotic place where knights wrapped in white AmEx Credit Cards Stripe, Pravda to see that), but it’s got atti- cloths look stately to the horizon on two- All Major tude and sometimes that’s enough. humped camels.

Bar 89 Casa La Femme 89 Mercer Street 150 Wooster Street Between Broome & Spring Between Prince & West Houston Type of Type of 212.274.0989 212.505.0005 Establishmen Establishmen t t Throw away your cutlery and discover just Comfort is key at Casa La Bar/Restaurant Bar/Restaurant how good finger-food can be at this neo- Femme, an authentic Egypt- Hours Hours neighborhood diner. Behemoth burgers, ian spot with beauty rivaling W -Sa 5pm- Daily 12pm- nachos smothered in cheese, and buckin that of Cleopatra. Plush pil- 4am Su-T 2am buffalo wings that’ll leave you licking your fin- lows made for the mightiest 5pm-12am Drink Prices gers from the knuckle to the nail are just a of pharaohs envelope you Drink Prices Moderate few of the affordable, belt-busting goodies on the grass-covered floor. Adding to the Expensive Food you’ll find at Bar 89. The drinks are as large opium den-like feel of the room, brass shisha Food Eclectic Egyptian American as the portions and fortunately for you the pipes (bongs with culture) stand tall on center bathrooms are quite a tourist attraction (just room tables inviting all to take tokes of apple- Nearest Nearest Subway Subway ask the overwhelming number of Asians that cinnamon flavored tobacco. Private tents N,R to N,R to frequent the bar). Simple, sleek and sumptu- draped in sheer black curtains are the perfect Prince Street Prince Street ous, it’s no wonder this place needs a door- place to canoodle and nibble on Lahma Bil Credit Cards Credit Cards man on the weekend. Fata (roasted lamb). But, nothing gets the AmEx,V,MC AmEx,V,MC crowd going more than the house belly dancer. Boom 152 Spring Street Between & Wooster Chibi’s Sake Bar 212.431.3663 238 Mott Street @ Prince 212.274.0025 When Boom opened seven years ago, it led Type of the SoHo vanguard of places to see-and-be- Type of Chibi, the canine namesake of this charm- Establishmen Establishmen seen. The lines have died down, but the t ing sake bar, proudly towers in a gold- t Bar/Restaurant restaurant still pulls a chic loyal crowd — framed photograph above the lovingly Lounge mainly because Boom makes good on what arranged glass shelves holding the trinkets Hours Hours M-Sa 12pm- other establishments can't. The oil paintings, necessary for authentic sake drinking. Mel- F-Sa 6pm-2am 4am skylight sculpture, and burnt umber walls low, young and old, hip downtowners enjoy, Su 6pm-12am T-Th 6pm-1am Drink Prices create a vibe that's cozy and romantic, and among others, seven-year-old Koshiyu- Expensive the international fare only adds to the Yoshiorino sake in minuscule, hand-painted Drink Prices Expensive Food worldly ambiance. Throw in live music four French glasses, and Japanese appetizers International nights a week and you have a date destina- Food at the curved, marble corner bar. Romantic Appetizers Fare tion guaranteed to make either (or both) of couples disappear behind the blue-velvet Nearest Nearest you swoon. curtain to smooch at one of the little tables in the darker, unadorned but cozy side of the room. 114 New York @ Night SoHo 115 [email protected] EDITION.qxd 8/21/2006 3:21 PM Page 116

Type of Circa Tabac Diva Type of Establishmen 32 Watts Street 341 West Broadway Establishmen t t Bar/Lounge Between 6th Avenue & West Broadway Between Grand & Broome Bar/Restaurant 212.941.1781 212.941.9024 Hours Hours Th-Sa 5pm- Daily 11am- 4am Su-W While the government continues to crack Walk down West Broadway and you can’t 3am 5pm-2am down on tobacco companies and anti-smok- miss Diva. Its doors, a bright fire-engine red, Drink Prices Drink Prices ing campaigns are the growing cause capture the eye and definitely draw attention Moderate Expensive derigeur, it’s become increasingly harder to away from the other more understated Food Food light up without feeling like a walking lung places that surround this Italian restaurant. tI alian Eclectic cancer ad. Fear not our little nicotine But come to think of it, isn’t a diva always Nearest Nearest addicted friends. Circa Tabac is a smoker’s supposed to be the center of attention? Its Subway Subway paradise. Offering over 150 types of ciga- loud exterior is beguiling; however, the can- C,E to A,C,E to rettes from around the world and an dle-lit room is rather sedate. Patrons are too S pring Street S pring Street extremely affordable menu, this 20s style busy enjoying the Ravioli d’Aragosta and Credit Cards Credit Cards lounge tucked away on Watts street, exhorts indulging in a taste of La Dolce Vita. All Major AmEx,V,MC, Diners you to rip off your patches and spit out that wad of gum. And don’t worry about second- hand smoke, that’s what the giant air-puri- fiers are for. Don Hill’s 511 @ Spring 212.334.1390 Type of Cub Room Establishmen 131 @ Prince Street Members of the moral majority may not t Type of Club Establishmen 212.677.4100 want to enter Don Hill’s on a Friday night. t Scantily clad go-go boys giving up the Hours Bar/Restaurant A staple of the SoHo bar and restaurant goods to a crowd of rock n’ roll loving gay Daily 10pm- 4am Hours scene, the regulars at Cub Room call it a men could send some running to confes- F-Sa 12pm- SoHo icon. A yuppie, somewhat older crowd sion in the morning. But the Squeeze Box Drink Prices Moderate 3am tends to dominate the scene. The wine list is party, arguably the best one at DH, is Su-Th 12pm- exceptional, and they serve a delicious always packed. Drag queens, X-rated Food 1am N/A watermelon martini. Weekdays, everyone videos, and lots of loud hard-core rock Drink Prices Nearest Moderate comes suited and booted, lending the place clearly pull in a crowd. Thursdays are all Subway Food a definite after-work vibe. But weekends are about the early 80s, Pat Benatar and N,R to New American more relaxed, although it does feel like an Bananorama blasting all night long. Prince Street Nearest ‘Upper East Side comes downtown’ place. Credit Cards Subway We prefer the early evening scene, when Cash Only C,E to you can actually get a place to sit and peo- S pring Street ple watch. Double Happiness Credit Cards 173 Mott Street All Major Between Broome & Grand Denial 212.941.1282 46 Grand Street Watch Your Step — they only lead to so Type of Between West Broadway & Thompson Establishmen 212.925.9449 much happiness — as you step downstairs t Type of into Chinatown's dark, smoky and almost Bar Establishmen It seems amazing that a native New Yorker enigmatic catacombs. Cheerful groups of t Hours Sake Bar could so effectively pull off a sake bar. The young locals, casual or in suits, and out-of- F-Sa 6pm-4am secret lies in the fact that this small SoHo towners are indeed happily downing green- Su-Th 6pm- Hours 3am Daily 6pm- lounge does not attempt to be anything its tea martinis on rickety little tables littered 4am not. Like sake, the establishment is simple with cigarette ashes from previous cus- Drink Prices Expensive Drink Prices in concept and has an integrity to its stain- tomers-all done to loud 70s psychedelic Expensive less steel, velvet couched structure; like its funk. Don't get sidetracked on your search Food Asian Food SoHo patrons, the sake is refined, yet for the bathroom as you stagger around the Appetizers Appetizers comes in subtle variations. The wine and bizarre white-kitchen-tiles and uncouth- Nearest Nearest the evening gain patrons and mystique as stone corner bar, past intricate alcoves, Subway Subway the evening progresses, and before clos- divided by partitions made of abacuses, 6 to C,E to ing it seems that those who have not vis- that hide hot and heavy couples. S pring Street S pring Street ited, are only those who are in denial. Credit Cards Credit Cards AmEx,V,MC All Major 116 New York @ Night SoHo 117 [email protected] EDITION.qxd 8/21/2006 3:21 PM Page 118

Ear Inn Jet 19 Type of Type of 326 Spring Street 19 Cleveland Place @ Spring Establishmen Establishmen t t Between Greenwich & Washington 212.343.8907 Lounge Bar/Restaurant 212.226.9060 In keeping with the current trend towards all Hours Hours T-Sa 9pm-4am Daily 12pm- What’s that, we can’t ear you? Okay, that things ethnic, Jet 19, a split level lounge on Drink Prices 4am was corny, but we couldn’t resist. Established obscure Cleveland Place, is decorated in Expensive Drink Prices in 1817 by a reputed black man named elaborate tapestries, hand carved masks, and Food Cheap James Brown (go figure), this designated other pieces from Bali. Spend the night sip- Japanese Food landmark was a favorite amongst horny ping Jet Bombs in the downstairs lounge or Nearest Bar Menu sailors looking for liquor and good lovin’ from retreat to the upstairs alcove complete with Subway Nearest the working women upstairs. Judging from giant day beds dressed in velvet and plush 6 to Subway the beat up bar stools and weathered walls, pillows. Quite comfortable and perfect for S pring Street C,E to surrealist painter Salvador Dali and John group conversation or group...well, manage- Credit Cards S pring Street Lennon are among the many who have ment won’t allow that, but the beds are popu- All Major Credit Cards imbibed a brew or two in the watering hole lar with this young professional crowd. “Oh AmEx,V,MC once called a “dump with dignity” by The my God this feels soooo good,” purrs one New York Times. Look, the drinks are cheap pretty patron to group of her friends. Enough and the ripped jeans and t-shirt crowd does- said. n’t mind the decor at all.

Jet Lounge Fanelli’s Cafe 286 Spring Street Type of 94 Prince Street @ Mercer Between Varick & Hudson Type of Establishmen Establishmen 212.226.9412 212.929.4780 t t Lounge Bar Some places need no introduction and Not to be confused with its two-year-old lit- Hours Hours when you’re the second oldest bar in New tle sister on the eastside, Jet Lounge is the T-Sa 10pm- Daily 10pm- York you’re definitely not in need of a PR older sibling on the west. Once the preemi- 4am 2am guru. Serving food and drink since 1847, nent place to be, today this lounge is now a Drink Prices Drink Prices this no-frills Prince Street watering hole shell of its former self. No more celebs, just Expensive Cheap has none of the nouveau riche attitude that suits on cell phones with their Kate Spade Food Food defines a lot of downtown spots. Flip- handbags. Shards of mirrored glass N/A Bar Menu flops-and-clean-t-shirt-casual, Fanelli’s is molded into gray-white walls give the Nearest Nearest always packed with neighborhood friends, space an Antarctica cool vibe. We’re over Subway Subway 1,9 to Houston skinflints who’d rather get drunk for cheap the look, however, and believe a Jenny Street N,R to Prince and then stumble across the street to the Jones makeover would do the trick. Nice Street Credit Cards higher priced Mercer Kitchen, or fans of place to chill for a few hours, but not where Credit Cards AmEx,V,MC AmEx,V,MC Bobby the bartender, a walking encyclope- one heats up the evening. dia who speaks on everything from Niger- ian dictators to bison burgers. Kavehaz 123 Mercer Street Grand Bar (SoHo Grand) Between Prince & Spring 310 West Broadway 212.343.0612 Between Grand & Canal Type of 212.965.3000 Apparently the addition of an eight dollar Establishmen Type of minimum on weekends has raised the t Establishmen Here’s a perfect example of what big money average age of the customers, and simi- Bar/Restaurant t can do to a little space. Large mirrors and larly weeded out those with little apprecia- Hours Bar/Lounge Su-Th 12pm- long curtains accentuate the high ceiling, tion for the finer accoutrements of life. 1am Hours creating a classic ambiance with a subtle Where else in SoHo can you hear live jazz Daily 12pm- Drink Prices 2am millennial spin on the hotel bar concept. Also in a clean candle-lit cafe, while still being Expensive very digable is the way the bar spills out into able to converse candidly with your com- Drink Prices Food Expensive the lounge/lobby — same drinks, different panions? Where else in New York can you Pasta/Salads vibe. Ten bones for a stock cosmo is a bit order a flight (combination samplings) of Food Nearest Appetizers absurd (even if it tastes good as hell), but in fine wines, beers, scotches, or the stunning Subway C,E Nearest a city of endless diversions, here's a bar that “Johnny Walker Quartet”? From their milk- to lives up to its name. The expected clientele- shakes to malt scotches and music, this S pring Street actors, A- and B-list models, and young cafe is a fine blend of European refine- urbanites-most certainly agree. ment, sans pretense or attitude. 118 New York @ Night SoHo 119 [email protected] EDITION.qxd 8/21/2006 3:21 PM Page 120

Type of M&R Merc Bar Type of Establishmen 264 Elizabeth Street 151 Mercer Street Establishmen t t Bar/Restaurant Between Prince & West Houston Between Prince & West Houston Bar 212.226.0559 212.966.2727 Hours Hours Sa-Su Th-Sa 5pm- 11:30am- This neighborhood gem, on suddenly sexy Indian reservation meets cobblestone cov- 3:30am 4am Elizabeth Street, is just too cozy. We love ered SoHo in this laid back lounge dressed M-W 5pm-2am M-F 5pm-3am the intimate feel, casual atmosphere, great up as a log cabin. The early 90s Moomba Drink Prices Drink Prices scotch selection and the good music in this still has traces of its old glory days even Moderate Moderate bar/restaurant. A DJ spins Thursdays though neighboring Mercer Kitchen sucks Food Food through Saturdays. With about 50 varieties up most of the celebrities. The giant canoe N/A tI alian/ per liquor category, ranging from scotch, hanging over the bar, wooden fixtures, and Nearest American rum, whiskey, gin, cordials, wine, cham- oil paintings of Navahos may bring out the Subway Nearest N,R to pagne and brandy, you can easily lose nature lover in you. But before you do Prince Street Subway track. A back garden and a back room that something impetuous like skipping town for 6 to Credit Cards S pring Street doubles as the restaurant offer some seat- the Adirondacks, remember that you’ve All Major Credit Cards ing, but the best place to sit is in the front, never been camping, your wardrobes all AmEx,V,MC right by the bar. They also make excellent black-no flannel, and the number of DJs margaritas and Campartinis — a Campari spinning funk, soul, and R&B up there is martini. probably zilch.

Magnum (357) Mercer Kitchen 357 West Broadway Type of 99 Prince Street @ Mercer Establishmen Type of Between Grand & Broome 212.966.6060 t Establishmen 212.965.1491 Bar/Restaurant t Hours Lounge Last year's buzz isn't exactly this year's Last year it was Magnum, this year it’s 357. dud, but the Mercer Kitchen has enjoyed F-Sa 5:30pm- Hours The only difference, the door policy is a lot 2am Daily 9pm- its five minutes of fame and now exists as Su-Th 5:30pm- 4am stricter, but all rejects are invited to move on an upscale hotel bar in a post-Leo SoHo 1am over to Shine. For those of you lucky wasteland. That's not saying it's devoid of Drink Prices Drink Prices Moderate enough to make it past the audition you’ll be everything you'd expect from the address- Moderate Food cast in a nighttime role of SoHo socialite, both the management and the clientele are Food N/A downtown Bohemian, up-and-coming some- proud of the trendy drinks and the sophisti- Appetizers Nearest thing, or established something trying to act cated atmosphere they're served in. It's Nearest Subway regular. Extras are played by beautiful peo- just that there are so many other places Subway C,E to ple; persons of average appearance need you can enjoy $9 cocktails without dealing N,R to S pring Street not apply. Kevin, the director, is a cutie with with the suspicious eyes of FBI Academy Prince Street Credit Cards a cult following. And lest we forget about the rejects posing as hotel security. Credit Cards All Major DJ, well, he’s just too fine for words. AmEx,V,MC, Diners ñ Match 33 Crosby Street 160 Mercer Street Between Grand & Broome Type of Between Prince & West Houston 212.219.8856 Establishmen t Type of 212.343.0020 Bar/Restaurant Establishmen This dark and sexy Spanish wine and tapas t There’s not much to say about the deco — bar, is only inches wide, but endlessly long Hours Bar/Restaurant warehouse chic — or service — rather and barely lit by candles. Squeeze yourself F-Sa 5pm-4am M-Th 5pm- Hours bleak, so let’s just talk about the one thing between the exposed-brick wall and the two 2am T-Sa 11:30am- Match manages to get right, their sushi. Out- slim bars in a row, and try to catch a stool 4am side/Inside rolls, Chirashi platters, Shashimi Drink Prices Su-M to order a glass of Rioja and some tapas Moderate Combos, and more are made up front by an 11:30am- (a smart Spanish form of hors d’oeuvres) to Food 2am Asian man with the manual dexterity of a keep your alcohol level under control. It T a p as Rubic’s cube champion. From 5-7 p.m. the Drink Prices gets packed with a rather homogenous Gap Nearest Expensive raw stuff is half off (now that’s what we call and Banana Republic crowd that engages Subway Food an extra value meal). But if sushi’s not your in animated conversations, stays for hours, 6 to Eclectic cup of sake, this American restaurant with a and seems to love coming back. Cash only. S pring Street International ‘pacific rim influence’ (whatever that means) Credit Cards Nearest has a $19.99 Price Fixe menu commemo- Cash Only rating its five-year anniversary. 120 New York @ Night SoHo 121 [email protected] EDITION.qxd 8/21/2006 3:21 PM Page 122

Type of NV Raoul’s Type of Establishmen 289 Spring Street 180 Prince Street Establishmen t t Lounge/Club Between Hudson & Varick Between Thompson & Sullivan Bar/Restaurant 212.929.NVNV 212.966.3518 Hours Hours W -Su 10pm- Daily 5pm- 4am Walk through the dimly lit corridors and On most nights the line to get into this 2am enter a trendy downtown lounge with place spills out onto Prince Street. Though Drink Prices Drink Prices Expensive touches of an old world salon. The glam it’s been around for 23 years, this French Moderate gods and goddesses who profile on the vin- bistro is still as popular as it was when it Food Food N/A tage chic couches have their fair share of first opened. The front room’s familial aura French Bistro attitude, but once the vogueing ends, which — walls comfortably cluttered with old oil Nearest Nearest Subway is usually around 1 a.m., this crowd heads paintings, Victorian era mirrors, and black Subway C,E to upstairs and gets down to business: Danc- and white photos — is warm and welcom- C,E to S pring Street ing. After a few good hours of ing. Gentlemen, the ultra-romantic garden S pring Street Credit Cards dirty dancing, head back dining room is the perfect place to pop the Credit Cards All Major downstairs and get to know question. All Major your inevitably attractive part- ner a little better in one of the sexy curtain-flanked The Room enclaves. 144 Sullivan Street Between Prince & West Houston Type of 212.477.2102 Establishmen t Naked Lunch Bar/Lounge 17 Thompson Street @ Grand Though the bartender believes this fact is Type of trite, The Room is actually two dark narrow Hours Establishmen 212.343.0828 rooms, bar on the right, lounge on the left. Daily 5pm- t 4am Bar The bar gets its name from a novel by beat- The industrial concrete and steel setting is quite austere, but neighbors find the place Drink Prices Hours nik-era writer William Burroughs. The story Moderate Daily 6pm- is about a struggling writer who works as an surprisingly comfortable and love the bar. 4am Food exterminator to pay the bills. When times get “We don’t even consider ourselves cus- N/A Drink Prices too tough for the writer and his wife, they tomers,” said Jane, a Room regular who Moderate Nearest snort roach powder as their sole means of lives next door, “we’re family.” You’ll find Subway Food sustenance. Read the book to find out the camaraderie, but no cosmopolitans. C,E to N/A rest, but now you know why the bar’s signa- There’s no room for liquor, only wine and S pring Street Nearest ture is a masterfully designed cockroach. beer. Credit Cards Subway Cash Only A,C,E to Bug haters, relax; this Moroccan-inspired Canal Street place, is only infested with great drinks, Wall S.O.B.’s (Sounds of Brazil) Credit Cards Streeters, and SoHo Bohemians. All Major 204 Varick Street @ West Houston 212.243.4940 Pravda 281 Lafayette Street The intimate and colorful tropical Club Med Type of Between Prince & Houston setting in cool New York envelopes a Establishmen 212.226.4944 multi-culti crowd of curious Americans, t dressed-up Africans, adventurous Euro- Bar/Live Music Type of It’s not Red Square and you won’t find very peans, homesick Caribbeans and Brazil- Hours Establishmen Daily 6:30pm- t many Muscovites relaxing in the weathered ians. Get acquainted over a caipirinha 3:30am Restaurant/ leather recliners, but the honorary Ruskies that (trademark Brazilian drink) that inspires Lounge Drink Prices regularly step down into Pravda do like their vigorous and tight dancing to live Brazilian, Expensive Hours vodka and lots of it. The bartenders have a Caribbean or African music on the well- Food F-Sa 5pm-4am heavy hand and drinks like Limenade, The observed dance floor. After an exhausting Su 6pm- T ropical Russian Mary and The Viagra (Stoli Orange, lesson on how to shake bundas (behinds) 1:30am Nearest M-Th 5pm- Blue Curacao, and something special) are sure by a snakeskin-clad Brazilian singer, the Subway 3am to get a rise out of anyone. Down- exhausted crowd relaxes with tropical food 1,9 to Houston Drink Prices stairs is one giant communal at the tables, or back to where it all started S treet Expensive space washed in a warm copper — at the elevated bar with a caipirinha. Credit Cards Food glow, and there’s always the more All Major Russian intimate second level. And, you Nearest just might find a drink strong enough to wipe that spot off of Gorbachev’s head. 122 New York @ Night SoHo 123 [email protected] EDITION.qxd 8/21/2006 3:21 PM Page 124

Type of Scharmann’s Sway Type of Establishmen 386 West Broadway 305 Spring Street Establishmen t t Bar/Cafe Between Broome & Spring Between Greenwich & Hudson Bar/Lounge 212.219.2561 212.620.5220 Hours Hours F-Su 9am-3am Daily 10pm- M-Th 9am- Tired of all those cramped, hustling and Be swayed by this hidden retro/Moroccan 4am 12am bustling SoHo bars, and want to relax with a cave/lounge that neither needs nor wants Drink Prices Drink Prices cup of coffee and a piece of cake, without advertisement. NY-er celebs like Tom Expensive Moderate renouncing people watching to over-deci- Cruise, Sandra Bernhard and Cameron Food Food beled club music? This beige, ballroom-sized Diaz throw their parties here. Enjoy Sun- N/A Light American day Soul nights with Nick Marc, as the Kaffeehaus with exposed fixtures, SoHo art- Nearest Nearest work, plants and crystal chandeliers is the huge Moroccan stained-glass lamp throws Subway Subway right place. The hip, beautiful crowd checks ornate shadows on the bowed orange ceil- A,C,E to C,E to each other out across the antique and ing. Actors, music industry types or just S pring Street S pring Street pseudo-antique furniture, of which each regular mortals with pony-tails and black Credit Cards Credit Cards piece is truly unique, including writing desks, leather jackets gather around the intricate AmEx,V,MC, V,MC lamps and couches. Or, you can lounge mosaic tables in the warm, back-room Diners around the terrace and watch West Broad- salon as they listen to Electronica, Middle way before jumping back into its stream. Eastern tunes or Brit Rock.

Shine Sweet & Vicious 285 West Broadway @ Canal 5 Spring Street Type of 212.941.0900 Between & Elizabeth Type of Establishmen 212.334.7915 Establishmen t You’ll be happy to know that the 6’6’’ bunny t Bar Bar/Lounge in four-inch platforms is still here hopping Though this bar is located on the fringes of Hours around and doing that cute little thing with both SoHo and the LES, in attitude Sweet Hours M-Sa 9:30pm- Daily 4pm- his tail. The crowd here is still as frocklick- & Vicious belongs much more to the latter. 4am 4am ing and fun loving as ever and the velvet- There’s no tall, spindly DJ dutifully mixing Drink Prices Drink Prices flanked stage still has some of the craziest in the corner, nor do up-and-coming bands Inexpensive Moderate acts in town. Wednesday nights are all play here. Rather a loose group of neigh- Food Food about home cooking, a downtown hipster borhood folks and friends of the staff come N/A N/A to drink cheaply in the wood and brick inte- party brimming with models, rap moguls, Nearest Nearest and fashion mavens. Marc Ronson, DJ to rior, or outside in the garden when the Subway Subway A,C,E to the stars, is on the wheels spinning up weather permits. It’s the kind of place 6 to Canal Street R&B, hip-hop and old school classics. And where you can whittle away hot, summer S pring Street Credit Cards there’s Italian food too. Molto bene. afternoons or let the illuminated ceilings Credit Cards All Major warm your spirit in the winter. Cash Only w w w.swee- Spy Bar tandvicious.co 101 Greene Street Velvet Restaurant & Lounge m Between Spring & Prince 223 Mulberry Street 212.343.9000 Between Spring & Prince Type of 212.965.0439 Establishmen What happened to the strict door policy, the t velvet rope that doubles as an electric force- Mile high ceilings and deep red walls give Bar field, and the guards with tough-guy atti- Velvet R&L a warm industrial feel. A Type of Establishmen Hours garage in its past life, two years ago this tudes, because we spy nothing, but t Daily 9pm- Eurotrash and a couple of tired tranvestites American continental restaurant was rein- Restaurant/ 4am in stilletos that are way too small. Okay, carnated into a hangout for the young and Lounge Drink Prices okay, we’re being a tad bit catty, but judging artsy. Chef Miro Miran, a ranked table ten- Hours Exepnsive from the number of less-than-fabulous party- nis champion, serves up chicken as well M-Sa 5:30pm- Food goers being let in these once impenetrable he does a ping-pong ball. Escape the 4am Appetizers doors it looks like the former clubhouse for scene downstairs and head up for dinner Drink Prices Nearest in a living room-like setting complete with Expensive Subway the famous has seen its last celeb. But, then Food N,R to again, maybe we just came on an off quilted couches and full bar. No night’s Continental Prince Street night...yeah, yeah, an off night. ever the same at Velvet. Well, actually Nearest Credit Cards Monday and Tuesday nights are dead as a All Major door nail, but traffic picks up later in the week. 124 New York @ Night SoHo 125 [email protected] EDITION.qxd 8/21/2006 3:21 PM Page 126

Type of Veruka Establishmen 525 t Bar/Restaurant Between 6th Avenue & Thompson 212.625.1717 Hours Daily 8pm- 4am Wait a minute, there’s got to be something wrong here. We just walked up to the door Drink Prices Expensive and the doe-eyed brunette let us in? No first degree rope burn? No intimidating brute Food New American speaking Brooklynese? No whodoyouknow whoselistareyouonwheredoyouwork Nearest Subway A,C,E interrogation? No drama with a capital ‘D’? to “We still maintain our appearances,” says Canal Street the manager as two damsels in silk slip Credit Cards dresses and stilettos strut on by, “but we’re AmEx,V,MC not as tough as we were last year.” And there’s really no need to be. Veruka has already established itself as one of the premiere places in town and contrary to last year’s prediction the popularity hasn’t waned.

Zinc Bar Type of 90 West Houston Street Establishmen Between LaGuardia & Thompson t 212.477.8337 Bar/Live Music Hours There’s no need for Surround Sound Daily 6pm- speakers in this live music venue housed 4am under Zamir’s furs. The Latin and African Drink Prices Moderate bands regularly perched in the corner cranny of the room are two snaps and a Food N/A hands clap away from the jazz loving audi- ence. “The room is filled with good listen- Nearest Subway ers,” says manager Alex, “so the musicians A,C,E,B,D,F,Q know not to screw around.” They better not to W est 4th when a five dollar cover charge and one Street drink minimum are required. The steps Credit Cards down into Zinc can be a bit of a doozie, but AmEx, V, MC we promise once you’ve navigated the nar- $5 Cover row blocks you’ll be pleased that you came.

126 New York @ Night