3. Mulberry Project

Amid all the bright lights and neon signs of the old school Italian joints in Little Italy, you have to be looking pretty hard for the unmarked red door with a little red light that serves at the entrance to the Mulberry Project. Step inside and the small, low-ceilinged space is a study in contrasts. With black leather booths, polished stainless steel tables, and murals by street artists, it feels a bit like a punk rock bar, but without the dirty, divey vibe you’d expect from such a place. Guests hang out at the tables or perch on red metal stools at the bar.

Among connoisseurs of hidden bars, the Mulberry Project is known for their bespoke cocktails. Compared with the sophisticated drinks, the food seems lowbrow—tacos, nachos, flatbreads, wings, and burgers might seem better paired with beer. But the high-low combination seems to work. In the warmer months, the backyard, hidden behind the bar, is open.

Located at 149 Mulberry Street, Manhattan.

Read about 10 of NYC’s oldest surviving bars. Discover 90 of NYC’s hidden bars and restaurants in the new book New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants.