Cocktail Party

Hunt down this cave-like bar to find the perfect drink.

Photo: Justin Ide

f you weren’t in the know, you’d have no idea Drink existed. Hidden below ground level on a narrow street with barely any signage, this is a perfect place to find a classic cocktail—a whisky smash, a Pegu, or a Bee’s Knees, for instance—impeccably mixed by bartenders who take obvious pride in their craft. Mint is mashed, limes freshly squeezed, and ice crushed right in front of you. The walls are bare and there is little in the way of decoration, but that’s not what you’re here for, is it? Tuder

Shhhh! Sportello, an Italian restaurant run (like Drink) by celebrity chef Barbara Lynch (B&G Oysters, the Butcher Shop, and No. 9 Park), is right upstairs.

Shhhh! A mix of gin, honey, and fresh lemon juice

Shhhh! But don’t miss the bug
collection on your way out.

Shhh who knew

Popularized by Rudyard Kipling, a Pegu is a cocktail invented at the Pegu Club in Burma and made of gin, orange liqueur, lime juice, and Angostura bitters.