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A tunnel lined with lacquered bamboo and Buddha statuettes leads manicured guests of both genders to the New York outpost of this Parisian take on pan-Asian flamboyance. World beats pulsate from the DJ's turntable in the dining room as jellyfish swim in walled tanks above the sushi bar. To the left: a sprawling lounge of cloth couches and silk opium dens illuminated by red-glass chandeliers; in another direction: gold chinoiserie murals vie for your attention with fluorescent cocktails like the Black Buddha (passion and mango vodkas combined with pineapple and pomegranate juices). A glass-encased area in the middle of it all allows up to 20 cigarette smokers to experience the lavish environs without officially going outside. (Opium currently not allowed.) — Nick Hofstadter

Two raised black pagodas ensure small partying groups never lose their buoyancy since the glass floor has water beneath it.