48 Oriental Ave.
pier: Oriental
02/659-9000, ext. 7690
HOURS: Sun.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
With its animal-print seats, palm trees, and colonial decor, Bamboo Bar in the Oriental Hotel may be playing to the romanticized image of the wealthy Western foreigner coming in for a cold drink after a long day hunting elephants or in the colonies, but it somehow works as the perfect backdrop to some excellent live jazz.
The small bar serves up some of the best classic cocktails in the city; the martinis and manhattans are top-notch.