"Like success montages in films and hormone-driven first loves, being moody is at its best when it has a great soundtrack. Enter Below Stone Nest, a basement bar on Shaftesbury Avenue that feels distinctly Left Bank Paris and has live jazzy saxophone performances. The concise cocktail menu keeps things simple for anyone who just wants to pose with a classic negroni. And the abundance of tealights keeps things sexy for anyone in the market for a little late night seduction. It’s open until 2am from Wednesday to Saturday, and although it’s walk-in only, we’ve never had a problem rocking up and getting straight in." - rianne shlebak, jake missing, heidi lauth beasley