Evocative of iconic American cocktail lounges, Proof has an arresting ceiling-height backbar (complete with library-style ladder) and an extensive, inventive cocktail menu organized by spirit. Classics are discounted during happy hour, but Proof shines when it’s more playful. The Bitter, Baby cocktail, for instance, is made with cocoa-butter-washed gin, bitter melon, vermouth and sea buckthorn. Connoisseurs cruising the backbar or reading the secret Full Moon menu of classics made with top-shelf spirits (from $35 to $80) will note rarities, like 23-year-old Pappy. But the relaxed vibe and laid-back staff make enthusiasts and novices alike feel welcome.