Russian Vodka Room: Sometimes mistaken for its comrade across the street, the Russian Samovar, this bar and lounge is for the more relaxed, younger professional crowd and older ex-pats. Faster (and cheaper) than a plane ticket to Mother Russia, you can practice your foreign language skills around the long, curved bar and nearby banquette tables where raucous Russian conversations flow as freely as the shots of homemade flavored vodka (60 varieties). Warning: These infusions could put hair on your chest (or more in some cases). At the right side of the bar, a pianist on a baby grand tries to drown out the voices with some classic tunes. During the week, a local after-work crowd can be found lounging in the velvet-curtained back room while sipping apple martinis and consuming caviar-topped blinis. The windowless, dim, dark wood interior only adds to the “Club Ruskie” atmosphere. |
