"Midnight Blue—the third spot from the team behind Martiny’s—is a jazz bar in Gramercy that defines the word swank. A night here starts in the “whisky library,” a front barroom and waiting area lined with rare and expensive bottles, which has a separate menu of four whiskey-based cocktails. But the main event is the back room, where spotlighted players swing on a small stage, and bartenders in immaculately pressed Canadian tuxedos mix cocktails with expertise. Drinks start at $18 for a simple but perfect Toki highball with a grapefruit twist. Even the $39 Old Fashioned riff with osmanthus-infused Hibiki whisky feels worth it. We also like the Wabi-Sabi sour—a refreshing, sweet wasabi and apple-forward cocktail, and snacky, Japanese bar bites, like karaage and gyoza. Note that there’s a $10 music cover, and come with someone who makes you feel like Ryan Gosling in La La Land. photo credit: Joanna Lin" - Will Hartman
