"What It Is: A cocktail bar behind a ramen place in Greenpoint Perfect For: First/Early-In-The-Game Dates The Hidden Pearl is only “hidden” insofar as you have to walk through Wanpaku Ramen in Greenpoint in order to get to it. But it isn’t hard to find: there’s a sign on the door, and inside, the little room has a relaxed, not-taking-itself-too-seriously feel. You’re here to drink some fancy, Japanese-inspired cocktails (ours had whiskey, passionfruit, and a flower garnish, and if it weren’t a weeknight, we would have ordered nine more). There are also little Japanese snacks like pork buns and crispy rice with tuna that we’d like to try when we come back. The Verdict: For a semi-secret bar, this place is pretty laid-back, and it’s a great place for a quiet drink in Greenpoint." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg, chris stang, matt tervooren