Lantern's Keep is inside the Iroquois Hotel on West 44th Street in Midtown. The way you find it is by looking for a golden lantern lit beside the hotel's main entrance. When it's on, the bar is open. You go through the lobby and find the entrance at the back.

The bar opened in 2011 and earned a reputation early for its cocktail program. Seasonal drinks sit alongside classics, and the kitchen sends out small plates including a cheese board that regulars mention alongside the drinks rather than as an afterthought. The seating is plush and dim, designed for the kind of evening that doesn't need to move to another location.

In a neighborhood dense with hotel bars of varying quality, Lantern's Keep has been consistent enough over more than a decade to stand apart from them. Reservations are recommended because the room is small.