Aja 1068 1st Ave. (@ 58th St.)
Midtown
212.888.8008
Aja:
If MTV’s Wildboyz can travel halfway around the world to immerse themselves in far-away cultures, you can certainly drag yourself up to Sutton Place near the base of the 59th Street Bridge to partake in Aja’s unique pleasures. This incredibly stylish Pan-Asian restaurant, bar, and sushi joint looks like a Buddhist temple from the outside, all done up in imposing white brick, but inside it’s warm and loungey, decorated with colored lights, bamboo, and giant Buddha statues. The décor is dramatic but calming (how many places can you watch koi fish swim underfoot through the clear floor?) and the bar, while small, has a relaxed and quiet vibe. Try a blended green tea margarita or the sliced conch and you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away on a rickshaw.
What modern-day yoga goddess is really complete without some zen for her tummy? The exotic ambience and refreshing cocktails at Aja will bring you one step closer to nirvana. It may be troublesome to indulge in the presence of a mammoth buddha, but be reassured: good taste is always good karma. Hard-to-find Chilean seabass tops the list, as does the creative sushi menu. Namaste.
