Scarlet Lounge

Upper West Side bars can feel like frat house extensions or retirement community social clubs, with not a whole lot in between. Scarlet Lounge, Sopranos actor Michael Imperioli's cocktail bar in the low 80s, is in a completely different category. Sexy and a little bit gaudy, it's red, it's gold, it's Art Deco—and it's so small that on some nights you may need to take a deep breath before swimming through the patrons to get from the lounge area to the bathroom. The cocktails, which obviously include a sparkling wine drink called The White Lotus, are fussy and interesting. There are truffled bar bites, of course. Open until 2am on weekends, Scarlet is a refreshingly lively spot for a drink near the Museum of Natural History, or a date night with some bada bing.

photo credit: Will Hartman