Mother of Pearl

Tiki has struggled to take hold in New York, but Mother of Pearl aims to change that with a space that’s more aerielike and bright than its predecessors, plus vegan. On warm days, the cheery front room opens wide to Avenue A, with sheer curtains and hardy banana plants lining the entrance. Take a seat at a flowery banquette or post up at the tiled bar atop a bar stool modeled after Polynesian sculpture and ask for a Shark Eye cocktail — it blends passion fruit with maraschino and bourbon and is poured over pebble ice into a shark-shaped glass. To finish, cherry-red tiki bitters are dashed into the drink and allowed to dribble down the side of the shark’s “mouth,” resulting in a cocktail that’s both downright delicious and Instagram catnip.