Mayflower Social
132 Greene Ave., at Waverly Ave., Clinton Hill; 718-576-3584
This classy spot is welcome evidence of the rise of the pared-down speakeasy, offering all the upsides without belaboring the point. The mustache-less bartenders wear T-shirts instead of vests; the cocktails, like the tasty Trotsky (vodka, ginger, peppercorn; $10), are fancy without being fussy. An upholstered banquette runs the length of the tiny room, lined with candlelit marble tables and Vienna-café chairs; dark-wood wainscoting adds to the romantic aura. It’s the perfect place to wait for a table at Aita, the owners’ Italian restaurant next door, or to pop in for an after-dinner drink, but alluring enough to be a destination itself.