Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle Hotel

Named after Madeline creator Ludwig, whose murals enliven one of Manhattan's classiest drinking experiences. Unless you share your last name with a hotel chain, be prepared to experience spasms of class envy. Luckily, you can drown your sorrows in a nice, woody single-malt. As you listen to tinkling ivories, chat up a face-lifted baroness or trust-funded Princetonian, or see how many watch fobs you can count before you finish your Glenlivet.