Living Room, The

The Scene
Plush, pillowy bar couches beg you to sink in and relax. In the glow of a neon-blue aquarium, young Financial District professionals mingle over pulsing dance music and sip from an immense selection of wines by the glass. The living-room theme is abandoned in the dining room in favor of formal table settings and plum-colored curtains flanking the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Draw
Unlike other high-end lounges, the Living Room succeeds at being homey rather than haughty--there's no cover, no line (usually), no claustrophobic crowd and best of all, no attitude. The inventive martini list features everything from the classics (Manhattans, cosmos) to creative cocktails like the Rising Sun (made with sake, plum wine, Chambord, champagne and mangos). A gigantic menu offers fairly priced comfort-food favorites (Mom's pot roast) and Asian-influenced seafood (sesame tuna lo mein).