Martiny’s

Call us spoiled or jaded, but it takes a lot for a new cocktail bar to excite us. With so many craft cocktails out there fighting for their right to cost as much as a movie ticket, new bars need to bring something more to the table. Japanese lounge Martiny’s manages to do this, serving drinks that are genuinely surprising in a cozy, three-level carriage house in Gramercy. We’re still thinking about the clever caprese cocktail, which tastes exactly like its namesake salad thanks to a mix of whiskey, tomato water, grapefruit juice, and milk. Just as much thought goes into the small plates, which include a silky scallop custard, tiny miso river crabs, and a creamy wagyu tartare that gets its umami from a shio kombu and parmigiano topping.