With its barrel-vaulted ceiling channeling a military-style Quonset hut, this is truly the place to hunker down for a night of spirits. Nick's isn't just for fighters, though; you may feel a bit like an Oz-bound Dorothy while traveling the wide expanse of its red brick flooring (we know, it's the wrong color), and with a mirror running the entire length of the east wall, the bar would also make the perfect aerobics or dance studio during the day.

A kaleidoscopic selection of glinting glass liquor bottles sits just below the mirror, lit by a smattering of Fez-style red lamps. The bar, with its 60 black, metal, tall-backed chairs, is so long you could probably set up pins at one end and have your own regulation-size bowling alley.

A giant big-screen TV broadcasting seemingly endless ESPN highlights looms overhead, and a live band rocks out on Fridays and Saturdays. The best part of landing at Nick's Uptown, though, is that since it holds one of those rare 4 a.m. liquor licenses (open 'til 5 a.m on Saturday), you can almost drink until sunrise.

Centerstage Reviewer: Michael Nagrant