Drink | $$$$$
Tucked inside the Carlyle—the luxurious Beaux Arts hotel where both Jackie O and Lady Di have rested their well-coiffed heads, separately—is Bemelmans Bar, one of the city's most charming, sophisticated and iconic spaces for a drink and maybe some jazz. Whimsical illustrations of frolicking animals, painted by Ludwig Bemelmans (the man behind Madeline), traipse across the walls and lampshades, 24-karat gold leaf covers the ceiling, and white-jacketed waiters serve cocktails to a surprisingly mixed crowd. Come here for a classy, delightfully wacky night out.