Mace

Green Cardamom. Ginger. Basil. No, we aren't rattling off the contents of our kitchen cabinets; we are just thumbing through the spice-forward cocktail menu at Mace. Over a decade ago, Greg Boehm teamed up with globe-trotting bartender Nico de Soto to create a bar that was just as well-traveled as he was. What resulted was a bar that traverses the world via its various spices and herbs, yielding a bold cocktail menu that's as bold as they come. 

The vibe: Behind the bar at Mace reads like a calling card to de Soto's worldly adventures. The back wall features rows upon rows of flowers and herbs gathered over a lifetime, almost like an apothecary. The countertop is clearly the best way to view the inner workings of Soto's imagination, but the bar itself is plenty spacious with a skylight and a fireplace near the rear, decorated with live greenery and pressed herbs framed into works of art.

The drinks: Inside a leather-bound book, you can find hand-drawn spices that serve as inspiration for each drink. Out of the current rotation of 12 cocktails, the Habanero is one of the best, with flowery notes from the pepper and a spicy sip tempered with guava and a bit of effervescence from CO2.

Time Out tip: Some of Mace's best sellers, Ginger, Habanero and the Mace, can be had without alcohol.