Sweet and Vicious

Chinatown / Nolita, New York –

The sparse black exterior of Nolita’s Sweet and Vicious may seem unwelcoming at first, but once patrons walk through the double wood doors, they find themselves in a hip yet unpretentious bar where schmoozing with the regulars is the order of the day.

The rustic plank floors in this dark lounge vibrate with incredibly loud pop music, as a smartly-dressed clientele of young professionals, artsy types, and the occasional young celebrity clamors for drinks at the impossibly long bar.

Old-timey registers and bare brick walls add to the laid-back décor, while the bar’s centerpiece of butterfly-shaped shelving units lined with pink lights offers some of the little light in the place, the rest coming from the enormous iron-ring chandeliers.

Understated wood benches pushed against the walls leave ample room for the sociable guests to check each other out, attempt to chat over the music, or just give it up and dance if the mood strikes.

Those who have found a potential new friend might want to make their way out to the graffiti-adorned patio, a plant-lined summer beer garden that offers a mellower vibe for intimate conversation or hanging with a group.

With its crowd-pleasing frozen margaritas served in Mason jars, its chic yet casual attitude, and the live jazz that occasionally erupts out of nowhere, it’s no wonder Sweet and Vicious has become the preferred local hangout for the button-down set and neighborhood celebs alike.