The Velvet Tango Room occupies a former speakeasy a few blocks north of the West Side Market, in a low brick building with no sign on the door (look for the address). It has been in business since 1996 and was one of the earliest American bars of the modern classic-cocktail revival — the bartenders mix everything from scratch with house-made syrups, fresh fruit, and serious spirits, and the menu runs to a hundred-plus drinks plus an off-menu list of "barman's choice" for the regulars.
The room itself is dim, intimate, and unmistakably 1930s in atmosphere. Live jazz on weekend nights; cocktails are expensive but reflect the work that goes into them.
Open evenings only; reservations strongly recommended.