In case anyone’s wondering, Rose Bar’s still impeccably decorated and still impossible to get into. If you have a friend staying at the hotel or can find a name that works on their mysterious list, this place is worth checking out. Just make sure you’re with someone who really knows what they’re doing, because this isn’t one of those doors where name dropping ‘I’m with so-and-so’ will help. If someone’s first name, last name, and birthplace is not typed on the clip boarded list, you ain’t getting in and no amount of schmoozing will help.

The irony here is that while turning away over half of the clientele who approach the door, Rose Bar has the friendliest, most well-mannered staff in the city. They manage to be perhaps the most pretentious locale in Manhattan while never seeming mean. How they pull this off remains an enigma. It’s hard the hate the place because the staff’s warm and smiling even as they outright reject you. And the space itself is irresistible as it resembles a movie set for an 18th century French melodrama.

Pros: Celebrity sightings, magnificent people watching (patrons seem to dress in order to reflect the décor), intimate, living room-type feel, billions of types of bourbon, Warhol prints and Schnabel artwork that put Goldbar’s paintings to shame, spotless bathrooms, service so impeccable it’s creepy.

Cons: If fortunate enough to get in, you receive the privilege of being able to buy $20 cocktails plus an automatically added 15% gratuity (4 drinks for $100, yeay!).

Keep in mind there’s absolutely nothing to do in Rose Bar except drink, play pool, watch other people play pool, and sway to their uber-cool retro soundtrack. There’s no dancing, no dance floor, and joyous rowdiness is in no way encouraged. You will however, get in touch with your elegant alter-ego. For $20 a cocktail, some would say that’s a steal.