Profile

This afro-Mediterranean club/bar brings welcome international flair to an otherwise mundane Alphabet City strip. The schedule is packed with Middle Eastern, Turkish, Greek, and North African bands, singers, and the occasional D.J. Tango nights, Brazilian parties, and the Droma Gypsy Festival round out the repertoire, and the array of philanthropic events—Rockin’ for Rwanda and Party With a Purpose among them—will let you feed your soul as you guzzle Turkish Raki. A menu of slick cocktails might keep you there between acts, though getting a table can be a challenge. The space—high ceilings, exposed brick, and your standard “East Village–chic” décor—draws a more sophisticated crowd than the dance-on-the-bar saloons in its vicinity. On more popular nights, the room fills up fast, so it's a not a bad idea to nab tickets in advance. — Melissa Lafsky