Bliss Bar, San Francisco

As barkeeps shake potent cosmos and martinis, waitresses circulate amid the expanses of leather and polished metal that gleam beneath Bliss Bar's intimate lighting. The San Francisco Bay Guardian described the spot as "a swanky, Manhattan-meets-Noe-Valley lounge." A pueblo fireplace launches merry crackling across crimson booths, and the lounge area facilitates intimate conversations and reassessments of tin-can-telephone networks. In the front window, a DJ spins hip-hop tunes on weekends, and the stage draws clusters of revelers with open-mic comedy, jazz, and workshops on the ins and outs of decorating with red velvet.