Center Bar

The escalator to the fourth floor of the Time Warner Center drops you dead center at Center Bar, an airy atrium lounge with a blue-tinted, futuristic ceiling and white-upholstered seating arrangements. The crowd is so international, it could be Shanghai or contemporary Vienna—but a pianist playing American standards and show tunes reminds you that you're definitely in New York City. Michael Lomonaco, of next door's Porter House, is behind the menu, which features lamb shawarma pita and slow-roasted halibut with Moroccan spice dust. It's a civilized place for a drink before dinner as well as a fine destination all its own.