"I don’t actually remember much about my first experience at Gitano—the original location in Tulum, about four years ago—but knowing me, that means it was a damn good night. So when I found out that the bar and restaurant would be coming to New York, I was eager to see how it would translate. Founder and co-owner James Gardner did not disappoint: The downtown space took over a 24,000-square-foot lot and transformed it into a tropical oasis in the middle of Manhattan. I’m headed back for more mezcal and watermelon and tomato salad doused with sweet-and-spicy chile sauce (pictured)." - ByAndy Baraghani