The next time you want to take in all of downtown Manhattan, head to the 50th floor of the Ritz-Carlton in Nomad. That’s where you’ll find Nubeluz, an upscale cocktail lounge from José Andrés. The expansive room is filled with couches, plush chairs, and mirrored tables, and the floor-to-ceiling windows provide a panoramic view so impressive it looks computer-generated. Since this place is at the Ritz, it has a dress code (no T-shirts, baseball hats, etc.)—but other than that, it isn’t too uptight. Bring some friends for celebratory drinks, and order a few snacks, which taste like the hors d'oeuvres you’d get at an exceptionally nice wedding. For a full dinner, try Zaytinya—also from José Andrés—on the ground floor.

photo credit: Björn Wallander