Lounge bars

Tre Dici Steak

Photograph: Dave Sanders

I’d rather just sip drinks and look beautiful
Tre Dici Steak
A small awning is the only exterior sign of this speakeasy-restaurant. At the end of an empty hall behind an unmarked black door is the sultry ’30s-inspired lounge, worth settling into for a spell. Sit in a leather wing chair beneath the large front window, order a cocktail and some nibbles from the steakhouse menu, and preen. 128 W 26th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, second floor (212-243-2085)

Superfashionable and sceney
Thom Bar
If you’re looking for a hang that’s packed with luxe decor (banquettes, alcoves, velvet and cowhide throw rugs) and equally high-end patrons, you’ve found it. Stylish, model-thin women mingle with outrageously preppy men—the kind for whom sweaters are shoulder-draping accessories. Pull out that new outfit you overspent on and give it an airing. If you crave even more exclusivity, take aim at the Rose Bar at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Not without making reservations, though—by e-mail only: rosebar@gramercyparkhotel.com.60 Thompson hotel, 60 Thompson St between Broome and Spring Sts (212-219-3200)

Frankie told me to relax
The Dove
No one cares what designer you’re wearing here, and martini glasses aren’t de rigueur—beer and wine are just as popular as the cocktails. Brocade wallpaper and Victorian furniture blend with modern leather couches and a traditional wood bar, behind which attitude-free ’tenders serve a groovy crowd of lawyers, writers and Villagers seeking refuge from the B&T scene. 228 Thompson St between Bleecker and W 3rd Sts (212-254-1435)

Tillman’s Bar & Lounge

Photograph: Dave Sanders

Get your groove on
Tillman’s Bar & Lounge
Claim a booth in the back and soak in the DJ’s selection of jazz, soul and funk while you munch on ribs or gourmet grilled cheese (seriously, do not miss the grilled cheese). Most Monday nights see a live artist or two (Taylor McFerrin made a recent appearance). Want to prescreen the tunes? During operating hours you can go to tillmansnyc.com and hear a live stream of what’s playing. 165 W 26th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-627-8320)

These heels are killing me, where can I sit?
Oasis Living Room Bar
Don’t be lured by the slick street entrance to the W Hotel’s other bar, Whiskey Blue. If you want to kick back with a cocktail and pretend you’re in your living room (only better decorated, and much larger), head through the main hotel entrance for the cushy chairs, throw pillows and couches in this sunken den. We recommend you keep your shoes on, though.W Hotel New York, 541 Lexington Ave between 49 and 50th Sts (212-755-1200)

Beyond the basic rum and Coke
East Side Company Bar
With a brushed-aluminum front bar, cozy wood booths in the middle room and a shabby-chic rear lounge, ESCB feels like three separate spots. What the trio shares is a menu of creative cocktail selections that have come to be expected from owner Sasha Petraske (Milk & Honey, Little Branch). Stay conservative with the Presbyterian (rye, lime and ginger), or try the more exotic blend of berries, ginger, gin, vermouth and brandy in the Rangoon Fruit Cup (each $11). 49 Essex St between Grand and Hester Sts (212-614-7408)

I just wanna get laid
Death & Company
Whether you’re hoping to hook up with one of the other bargoers or close the deal with an existing date, this spot has enough sex appeal to put even inanimate objects in the mood. Named for a Prohibition campaign that portrayed barkeeps as “dealers of death,” D&C features dark, elegant gothic decor, a small bar and several intimate tables. If your date isn’t feeling romantic after a private bowl of alcoholic “punch” (served with your own sterling ladle and teacups for two), there’s no hope. 433 E 6th St between First Ave and Ave A (212-388-0882)

—Fawn Horvath