El Cocotero

A mañana, mañana mood infuses this languid spot, with plantains hanging in the front window, lazily spinning ceiling fans and dewy palms. Venezolanos love their arepas, best sampled here on the degustacion platter, which arrives with a variety of fillings, including pabellon, liberally spiced (if a bit tough) flank steak. The savory hallaca tamale, bulging with chicken, pork and fat raisins, is swaddled in a banana leaf. Heat up the evening (and your throat) with guarapita, a potent mix of passion fruit and aguardiente, or “firewater.”