The Lounge at Atera
77 Worth St., nr. Church St.; thelounge@ateranyc.com
At the juncture of cocktail enthusiasm and culinary innovation sits this spare-yet-sumptuous subterranean den, tucked under the Michelin-starred Atera tasting room in Tribeca. A seasonal drink list—co-created by head barman Brandon Duff, formerly of Weather Up—takes cues from the restaurant’s foraging philosophy: The herbaceous Sass ($16) is a mix of rye, bitter Cynar, and a 100-year-old sassafras bark infusion; the Sour Sumac ($15) is a Pisco sour given dimension by its namesake shrub; while the menu of bar snacks echoes the first course upstairs: marrow with béchamel, served in a “bone” of hearts of palm and duck hearts with duck leather served on a slab of rock ($15). With just twelve seats, it might take a few tries to get a reservation—but once you do, you’ll want to sink into a leather chair and stay awhile.