Word on the street is that this bumping Boystown spot is where the younger—ahem—more attractive men hang out. That rumor might explain why Cocktail gets packed virtually every night of the week. Unless you start your night particularly early, expect to get cozy with the highly fashionable, relatively mixed crowd—gay and straight folk tend to mingle here more than other Boystown haunts.

Follow the narrow bar back to the small but packed dance floor to let loose with some sculpted male go-go dancers. Hired to perform a few nights a week and always scantily clad, they get down and sweaty to a selection of house music spun by a variety of featured deejays. You might even catch one of the amateur drag shows or contests if you come on right night.

Black crystal chandeliers, an onyx bar and a small seating area give the place a more swank than seedy vibe, but the refreshing general impression remains that people don't come here to impress—they just want to have fun. Expect standard liquor options—a few kinds of wine, hard liquor and beer by the bottle or draft—and knowledgeable, friendly bartenders. The real treat comes in the form of nightly drink specials, including pitchers of vodka lemonade and cosmopolitans, usually priced around $9.

Centerstage Reviewer: Emily Browne