Rose Bar

As befits its exclusive address (hotel guests are among the privileged few given keys to access the private Gramercy Park), Rose Bar is like stepping into an old-world society ballroom that just happens to be hung with unbelievable contemporary art (that’s what you get when artist Julian Schnabel decorates a hotel). Sure, the reservations-only policy can be a hassle, but weeknights and early evenings are low-key yet elegant, while the late-night DJ parties are a celebrity-spotting guarantee. It’s a taste of the New-Old New York of the decadent ‘90s that everyone should experience at least once.