Botanic Lab

If it’s beautiful and inventive drinks you want, it’s beautiful and inventive drinks you’ll get at this bar-lounge, located beneath Mexican restaurant Casa Mezcal. While there are plenty of mixologists making crafty cocktails and bespoke drinks around the city, Miguel Aranda is very nearly an alchemist, mixing unexpected tinctures, juices, herbs and liquors into tasty liquid delights. Presentation is as critical as preparation here, which is why you might spot fellow bar goers snapping photos of drinks (or be lured into taking a pic or two yourself). As with the cocktail offerings, the decor in this softly lit spot is unique: it includes a backlit bar with rows of potions in old-timey bottles and the dried hide of an alligator spread across a wall. Before your visit check the event calendar, which often includes live music performances and DJs.