Gramercy Park Hotel

Sandra Ramani

Citysearch

The Scene
For years, this low-rent lobby bar was something of an inside joke, with artists and media types drinking alongside ancient hotel residents, European travelers and the odd piano player. Then the management caught on, promising a major renovation that had regulars scared. The result is a happy medium: A casual front area, expanded standing room in the now TV-less bar section and a large, candlelit back lounge, in which Belle Epoque furnishings and red velvet curtains are tempered by a still-shabby carpet.

The Draw
Though the menu now offers dozens of beers, snazzy cocktails and an extensive by-the-bottle list (some choices cost more than a room at the hotel), the crowd remains mixed and casual. Usually there is ample seating for large parties and privacy-seeking couples, and even when packed, it's not impossible to converse. Alas, the Goldfish crackers have been replaced by bowls of fancy peanuts.