Velvet banquettes, high-back chairs, and glass tables line the long, linear hallway where passersby can observe well-heeled Gen-Xers leisurely sipping their specialty cocktails in this Philippe Stark-designed hotel. This is definitely the place to make an entrance and then settle into one of the cool-toned seating areas for some conversation and cocktails. The open-style, airy setting may be coolly minimalist, but the bar is an oasis of decadence thanks to its signature $15 specialty drinks like the lychee martini. At the far end of the bar, the 44 Restaurant serves up innovative American cuisine such as grilled sirloin with balsamic jus. As an icon of the ’80s, 44 proves that the decade of decadence is still going strong—for those who can afford it, anyway.
