Death & Co., on East 6th St., is the quintessential NYC bar of the early 21st century, in that it attempts to recreate the mood – and many of the cocktails – of the saloons of the early 20th century. Even before your first sip, the pre-Volstead Act vibe is established with dim chandelier lighting, the dark wood paneling on the walls, and the gorgeous, marble-topped bar itself.

The egg cream is perhaps the quintessential New York beverage. A humble yet ethereal alchemy of milk, seltzer, and chocolate or vanilla syrup, it’s lighter than a milkshake, more substantial than a soda, and as far as many New Yorkers are concerned, tastier than both. The egg cream been so ubiquitous for the last century…

Margaritas and mahi-mahi? Daiquiris and Dover sole? It’s rare to find a seafood restaurant whose bar manages to think outside the white wine-beer-Bloody Mary box. But Ed’s Chowder Bar, a part of Ed’s Chowder House on Broadway and 63rd St., is good enough to be considered an entity unto itself, with a first-rate cocktail selection…