Bar Contra

This Lower East Side spot brings serious cocktail talent into a room that still feels warm and easy to settle into. The drinks are the main reason to come, with a style that is precise, original, and confident without turning the experience stiff. Food matters here too, with bar snacks that feel more considered than the usual supporting cast. If you want a bar that combines inventive drinking with the standards of a strong kitchen, this is one of the more distinctive places to do it in the neighborhood.