Mulberry Project (CLOSED)

Cool-hunters looking for a break from clubland can hit this underground boîte, tucked away beneath a cut-rate handbag shop in Little Italy. The unlikely hot spot—complete with a strict door policy—is a testament to the nightlife bona fides of the bar’s owners, who have cashed in on their affiliations (GoldBar, Bagatelle, Milk and Honey) to create this sceney speakeasy. Haute cocktails replace bottle service as the in-crowd currency, with most drinkers rolling the dice on bespoke tipples crafted by Mulberry Project’s cavalier mixologists. The vibe, meanwhile, feels like Meatpacking in miniature, with pretty DJs playing British indie rock off their MacBooks and guys buying high-minded drunk food—crispy pork belly in a cider reduction, rich crème brûlée—for their waifish companions to pick at.