Crown Room (CLOSED)

For a decidedly polished drinking experience, post up at the white marble bar on the second floor of the newest Art Deco revival hotel, the Thompson. While the library-style lounge is fairly new to the cocktail circuit, it’s not wasting any time on its way to the top. Guests pick their poison from a compendium of enduring classics and reimagined recipes presented in the form of a dictionary. It’s a nice touch—and a clever way to explain the spirits starring in each drink. The glassware is as elegant as the midcentury atmosphere: long-stemmed cocktail glasses, vintage coupes, delicate sherry/cordial glasses with etchings or tints and stately rocks glasses. Reach for the Rattlesnake, made with Sazerac rye, absinthe, fresh lemon juice and egg white—the recipe dates back to a 1930s bartending manual for London’s Savoy Hotel. Pro tip: Valet parking is $5 for locals with a validated ticket.