15C

Why we love it: Not since Prohibition has a bar worked so hard to keep a low profile. But seek out this timeless hole in the wall — in a dark alley, marked only by a tiny blue light over the door — and you are well-rewarded with the cocktail of your dreams. Hunch over the shiny wood bar or lounge on the sofa and sip away. The fact that people smoke at 15C only adds to its nostalgic feel.

What to get: Something classic, like a Rob Roy or a Gibson.