NYC: Manhattan Bar Hoppin'

I drank quite a few cocktails last week but because I'm a lightweight and because I had a drink with dinner most nights, I only sampled the delights of three new Manhattan bars.

First, there was Mother's Ruin, a lovely, low-key bar on Spring Street. At seven o'clock on a Tuesday evening, it was bustling enough to be interesting, without being so crowded that it was unpleasant. We pulled up a stool opposite the bar and selected from the three cocktails du jour. I had the Sí Punch, which involved rum, lime, pineapple, almond and grenadine and which hit all my buttons. Plus I got a piece of pineapple, a maraschino cherry and a cocktail umbrella. What more could a girl want? They also have a slushy machine, so some of the cocktails are a bit like boozy Slush Puppies. By the time we left, it was a little busier but the candle-lit setting lends Mother's Ruin an intimacy many cooler places lack. 18 Spring Street nr Elizabeth. Facebook.

Mother's Ruin: Some'r Shorts and Sí Punch

Next came Anotheroom in TriBeCa, which is part of a small family of bars with 'room' in their name. We ducked in for a drink on Wednesday night, which was one of the hottest days of the year, and bathed in the air conditioning. The barman assured us that it was normally rammed after work on a week night, but I guess everyone was sitting in a walk-in freezer and/or diving into the Hudson to cool off. I couldn't face a real drink so I just ordered a lemonade, but they have a pretty interesting beer and wine menu, if you're that way inclined. The bar itself is sleek and minimalist, all brushed steel and low lighting; they also showcase a range of artwork, although when we were there, they appeared to be in transition as some of the works were leaning against the bar. 249 West Broadway nr Walker. Website.

Anotheroom

Finally, we went to Elsa, a cocktail bar in the East Village. We had (again) hoped to go to PDT but had (again) failed to book, but Elsa seemed like an interesting place to try. Also, it was quite close to the hotel and as it was raining on Friday night, we didn't want to roam too far. Inside, Elsa is very light and airy, with its white walls and Edison light bulbs. Much as I enjoy some of the more secret speakeasies, Elsa makes a refreshing change. It's the cocktail list that is most impressive, however, with most of the drinks' names taking literary or film inspiration. I ordered the Plan to Get Even ("hi, I'd like a Plan to Get Even, please"), which involved black cardamom silver rum, pineapple, honey, lemon and a sugar- and smoked-salt-dipped rim. I'm not much of a connoisseuse but I really could taste all the subtle flavours of the drink and I wasn't disappointed. I also tried a sip of a Broken Mirror (Absinthe, Green Chartreuse, mint, lime and dandelion-burdock bitters), which wasn't quite sweet enough for my taste, but I could tell that it was well mixed. If you're a bloke and/or like blokey cocktails, the Death of a Ladies' Man would probably slip down very nicely. 217 East 3rd Street @ Avenue B. Website. Summer menu.

Elsa: Broken Mirror and A Plan to Get Even

Most of the cocktails I drank with meals were good too, including the Pimm's Cups at Smith & Mills and Walter Foods--uncreative of me, I know, but four years at Cambridge means I can't not drink Pimm's in May Week (i.e. mid-June).