Downtown Bars & Nightlife

This intimate cocktail bar transports you to the early 1900s. That’s because its lavish design—green velvet ottomans, burgundy leather banquettes, dark mahogany accents, hand-painted wallpaper—were chosen to mirror the aesthetic of the room’s first life as the ladies’ reception hall in the old Cornelius Hotel. Today, the dimly lit space, tucked in the back of the Woodlark, serves up dry martinis, crispy fries, and a mean burger. Abigail Hall is everything we want in a bar: stiff drinks, knowledgeable bartenders, and a comfortable, welcoming lounge vibe. It’s the perfect spot to meet coworkers, bring your in-laws, or have a first date. Photos courtesy of Christopher Dibble for Provenance Hotels.

This Downtown institution’s cocktail list doesn’t stop at its elaborate archive of whiskeys. Here, you’ll also find a range of specialty spirits like Icelandic bourbon sherry, smoky wahaka espadin mezcal, and Volstead vodka (which is filtered for 96 hours through charred coconut husks), all presented on a roving bar cart. Its mood-lit atmosphere, outfitted with dark wood and plush leather seating, evokes an old-world smoking room, and though there’s no obligation to, patrons tend to come dressed up. Though you won’t find books on the floor-to-ceiling shelves—they're stocked with bottles of bourbon and Scotch years older than you—you will be making your whiskey selection from thick, leather-bound tomes. Photos: Dina Avila Photography