G Lounge

Polished concrete floors, polished metal coffee tables and drink ledges, and polished blonde woods make this the tidy, modernist choice for clean-shaven, well-tucked, form-fitting Chelsea-boy cruising. g stands alone among New York's gay bars for its embrace of a consciously chic minimalism -- much like Bond St. or Lot 61 -- and other high-end, mostly straight bars. But besides a smattering of noticeably straight women, this is cruise central for gay men, where nightly DJs mix a soundtrack of booming dance beats. A giant circular bar in the middle provides the hub of activity and congestion that disperses into several nooks with plenty of leather banquettes. tails all start with the letter g, including the Gazebo, Gloom Chaser, Gtini and the Get Off, which consists of vodka, creme de cacao and a dash of cream. g also serves fresh-squeezed juices for nondrinkers who still wish to misplace some money. Not to be missed is the blue-tiled, unisex bathroom accessible by two entrances that actually connect along the back wall. It feels like a darkened health-spa maze and invites lounging.