Recommendations

A Dutch-designed bar built for seeing and being seen.

Strengths

• The entrance looks like a tunnel of white bubbles and leads you right into Thor’s chic, minimalist lounge. The glass façade is perfect for people watching.
• Thor (an abbreviation of The Hotel on Rivington) is Dutch designer Marcel Wander’s creation, but the wallpaper looks like it came from Nylon Mag’s art department.
• In the back of the lounge is a restaurant where each elegant table is set with a single calla lily.

Shortcomings

• Lines get long on the weekends, making for sparse seating inside.

Insider tips

• You can also take your drinks into Annie O, the store next door. It offers both the usual toothpaste-and-deodorant hotel shop fare and a fun selection of candy-colored lace thongs and funky designer jewelry.

Anecdotes

• Guys here like to show off their manners (or perhaps their sizeable bank accounts) by buying ladies a cocktail or two. Fine by me. I recommend the Wild Strawberry Caiparinha — it's so fresh the seeds will get stuck in your straw.
• The lounge menu here is definitely better than most, so order the oysters and the heirloom tomatoes with mozzarella, oil and basil. On his tab, of course.