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This subterranean lair reeks of exclusivity—from the seasonal stretch limo for winter smokers to the chilly PRIVÉ sign posted on the VIP door year round. Inside, uptown Ivy Leaguers and their less intellectual but equally moneyed cohorts people-watch from the plush velvet couches lining the stone walls. That's a worthy pursuit when you consider 49 Grove's typical crowd: Fashionista Narciso Rodriguez, Keith Richards’ daughters, Sean Lennon and a bevy of supermodels are often spotted here. To get away from the dizzying array of fame if not fortune, couples retreat to cozy candle-lit banquettes, which—even with chandeliers overhead—feel like private rooms-for-two. Designer martinis like the Paradise, a peachy concoction topped with champagne, may run $22, but if you've got past the omnipresent guest list, you shouldn’t blink twice at a hefty price tag. — Rebecca Milzoff

From Thursday through Saturday, table bottle service is recomended: $250 for liquor; $125-1,600 for champagne.

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