Drinking Classy in New York

Run by the same folks behind Campbell Apartment, the Carnegie Club showcases fine cigars, with drinks provided as a tasteful accompaniment. The ventilation is remarkably … good -- it's probably the least smoky cigar bar you've ever entered. But it's still a cigar bar, so consider yourself aromatically warned. The decor's a little hokey, but the attention to detail is celebratory rather than kitschy. Cigar fans will relish the selection, as will brandy drinkers (but note there's a $10 minimum purchase on tobacco). (photo) [link]

Though most of the attention at Café des Artistes is focused on the restaurant side, the bar itself is gorgeous as well. Walk past the gamine nymphs of the Howard … Chandler Christy murals and grab a stool, though be prepared to joust with waiters and diners loitering while their tables are cleared. Difficult to imagine lingering here given the hectic atmosphere, but worth a drink or two -- just to see it -- when en route elsewhere. [link]

Temple Bar may not have the historical panache of some of the classic hotel bars, but it's older than most of the latter-day speakeasies. It's also darker -- the bar and … lounge is almost famous for its dim lighting, which makes it alternately intimate or spooky depending on the crowd level. It's a beautiful place regardless of recency, with a long list of classic and specialty cocktails (choose from an expertly crafted Old Fashioned or the menacing "Arbitrator"). [link]

A much more recent addition than the Algonquin's Oak Room or the celebrated Round Table Room, the Blue Bar nevertheless has its devotees for the walk-up simplicity and … straightforward service of powerful beverages. Al Hirschfeld toons deck the walls to please nostalgia junkies, but truthfully this is more hideaway than a temple of class. [link]

The "other" and/or "real" Oak Room over at the Algonquin is a different animal, running its famous cabaret and jazz acts to audiences of the well-heeled and -lubricated. … Plus reds and deep woods set off a small room dominated by the piano, with formally attired waitrons gliding between tables to keep the booze flowing. Martinis are a must; old school all the way. [link]

The $400 million "restoration" that's engulfed the Plaza Hotel will ostensibly polish up this "German Renaissance tour de force." Hotel folk claim all will be up and … running again by March 2008. (photo) [link]

Adorned with murals drawn by Ludwig Bemelmans of "Madeline" fame, his namesake bar at the Carlyle is one of the most famous and revered bars in New York. The crowd skews … older and richer than almost anywhere similar, though there's always a mix of lookie-loos and handsome young things reverse-slumming. Nice attire is mandatory. Personally, I find the atmosphere a little tired despite the 2002 renovation. But you can't argue with a classic really, and the vintage cocktails are excellent and appropriately expensive. [link]

The Art Deco fantasia of the Flatiron Lounge dates to the ancient era of 2003, and it's on the radar of most every tourist looking to indulge in speakeasy porn. The … mahogany bar itself dates from 1927 at least. Even so, the Flatiron has legions of local fans too, all of whom appreciate the genuinely affectionate efforts of management and staff to re-create the period dream. Cocktails are not as pricey as you might expect, though they're still high enough to shock your pals from the sticks. (photo) [link]

This elegant room (renovated in 1999) was originally an office for railroad mogul John W. Campbell, starting in 1923. The Florentine timbered ceiling is a particularly … novel standout. Crowds can occasionally be dominated by stuffed shirts, but the strict dress code (no sneakers!) keeps out most tourists who wander over by accident. Their "Robber Baron" cocktail is one of the better mint julep variations in New York. (photo) [link]

Taking up one end of the hotel's Astor Court dining space is the King Cole Bar, so named for the sumptuous Maxfield Parrish mural on the wall. The specialty is the Bloody … Mary, and wankers in tourist attire will be promptly ejected. Expect to pay dearly for cocktails prepared with religious reverence. (photo) [link]