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NIGHT+DAY Ins and Outs (IOs)

Whether you are keeping a dogeared Night+Day guide as your bible to exploring a city, or just relying on NightandDayGuides.com, you’re in the right place for the latest and greatest happenings. Herewith are hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and attractions that have been open long enough to be tested and earn our recommendation.

January’s Top 5 New Restaurants

CHICAGO • MERCADITO • Mexican
Riding the trend of upscale taquerias, this Brooklyn import plants locally and seasonally inspired Mexican food in downtown Chicago. While it isn’t Bayless, it’s several notches above typical burrito and taco fare. The selection of six guacamoles is a feat unto itself; try the mango, granada (pomegranate-infused), or mole poblano varieties. Of course you will find tacos (chicken, carnitas, pork), but they’re artfully presented and in modest portions. The well-heeled crowd (nary a ripped pair of jeans or T-shirt in sight) complements the décor: tan banquettes and smoldering drop lighting reminiscent of a high-end beach resort.
Mon 11:30am–midnight, Tue–Thu 11:30am–1am, Fri 11:30am–2am, Sat 11:30am–3am, Sun 11:30am–4pm.
$$ 108 Kinzie St. (LaSalle St.), 312-329-9555
mercaditorestaurants.com

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LOS ANGELES • THE BAZAAR • Tapas
Palate provocateur José Andrés oversees this gastronomical circus, a 2009 finalist for the James Beard Awards’ “Best New Restaurant.” Designer Philippe Starck went for a Euro-flavored, Vegas-style indoor piazza that twists around the lobby of the lavish SLS Hotel. The vibrant scene features two tapas bars (Blanca and Rojo), a cocktail lounge (Bar Centro), a patisserie, and the museum-like Moss gift shop. The well-heeled and well-connected indulge in Andrés’ avant garde à la carte dishes (Wagyu beef Philly cheesesteak, cotton candy foie grass, liquid nitrogen coconut purée float) and signature cocktails such as the liquid cherry Manhattan and a dirty martini made with liquid olives and foam. Living luxe comes at a price: Expect tabs as big as the egos and bra sizes in attendance.
Mon–Wed 6–10pm, Thu–Fri 6–11pm, Sat–Sun 11am–11pm.
$$$$ SLS Hotel, 465 S. La Cienega Blvd. (Clifton Way), 310-246-5567
thebazaar.com

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MEXICO CITY • PIEGARI • Italian/Argentinean
A long-standing South American brand with nearly 20 years in the industry, Piegari brings fine Italian-Argentinean cuisine to a century-old San Angel mansion. Expect top-notch service in an unforgettable setting, with a contemporary twist added to the historic home. Sharing is in order, as huge portions of homemade pastas, risottos, pizzas, steaks, and seafood fill the menu. House favorites include ravioli alla scrofa—served with a rich pomodoro sauce au gratin—and a light róbalo, or sea bass, alla arugula. Piegari cellars some 150 labels from Argentina, France, Mexico, and Italy, and oenophiles can dine in the special 50-seat wine room. Otherwise, request a table in the spectacular 120-seat glass-roofed garden. For after-dinner drinks, head to the adjacent Piegari Lounge. Mon–Sat 1pm–1am, Sun 1–7pm.
$$$$ Av. de la Paz 6 (Av. Revolución), 55.5550.3535
piegari.com.mx

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SAN FRANCISCO • BURGER BAR • American
Local celeb chef Hubert Keller (of Fleur de Lys) has opened Burger Bars in St. Louis and Las Vegas, and his SF outpost—on the sixth floor of Macy’s downtown—promises to be just as big a hit, if the lines out the door are any indication. The red-hued space is cavernous, with the best tables overlooking Union Square. The main menu item, burgers, are DIY: You choose the type of meat you want, from grass-fed to American Kobe, as well as the type of bun. The daytime crowd is shoppers and cubicle-dwellers; the scene heats up at night after 9pm, when the pretty people come out to play.
Sun–Thu 10:30am–11pm, Fri–Sat 10:30am–2am.
$ 251 Geary St. (Stockton St.), 415-296-4272
burgerbarsf.com

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TORONTO • PARAMOUR • Canadian
Located on the trendy Ossington Avenue strip north of Queen Street West, this sexy resto is a definite date place, mixing velvet curtains, elegant banquettes, dark pink Art Deco chairs, and glamorous black-and-white photographs. The back room, designed in bold black and white, provides a communal table, but Paramour’s ambience is decidedly romantic, with low lighting, au courant music, and savory appetizers to share. The 20- and 30-something couples dine on a locally sourced, Euro-inspired menu, featuring tasty treats such as mushroom and almond terrine and pan-seared yellow perch with tomato and Niçoise olive confit. Tue–Sun 6–11:30pm.
$$$ 94 Ossington Ave. (Queen St. W.), 416-953-2356
paramourdining.com