Belmont Lounge

Nestled between Irving Plaza and Union Square, this cozy, dimly lit bar toes the line between swanky meet market and well-worn party bar. In the early evening, a crowd of local professionals dominates the front bar, chatting over appetizers and cold beers; as night falls, a younger swarm of singles takes over the blue velvet couches in the back lounge, where a DJ churns out an endless string of crowd-pleasers, and slender cocktail waitresses traipse about, balancing trays of martinis.