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$$$$Perfect For:Live MusicDrinking Great CocktailsDate Nights

Two types of people visit the Close Up on the Lower East Side. The first are serious jazz heads. The spot has a small bar up front, and an extremely intimate performance space in the back. It’s also pretty aptly named, because the worst seat in the house is no more than 15 feet away from the baby grand piano. The second are those looking to take things a little more seriously after a few first dates. If you’re the former, we don’t need to tell you how to use this place, especially if you like creative cocktails, like a silky smooth milk punch made with grapefruit and jalapeño-infused moonshine and balanced with vermouth. If you’re the latter, consider this as the “show” part of dinner-and-a-show. Just know that this is a spot to listen to music (which has been pretty excellent each time we've been), and not to talk over live jazz, asking your date whether they believe in astrology.

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No rating: This is a restaurant we want to re-visit before rating, or it’s a coffee shop, bar, or dessert shop. We only rate spots where you can eat a full meal.

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