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Lolita used to be one of those undiscovered gems that you could always count on to be blessedly empty most of the time; even when there was a crowd, the bar's spaciousness allowed everyone to spread out and peacefully coexist. But in keeping with greater nightlife trends on the Lower East Side, the secret appears to be out regarding this former neighborhood exclusive: it's now dominated, at least on weekend nights, by the very yuppie set the hip regulars used to shun. This conflict makes for good people—watching, but if you're not in the mood for an anthropology lesson, come by during the week, when the bar still resembles its laidback old self. For $5 mojitos and margaritas, the daily happy hour from 5pm to 8pm can't be beaten. — Sean Kennedy