Obvio

Obvio is a cocktail lounge on East 28th Street in NoMad, opened in March 2025 by the team behind Casa Cruz, the Upper East Side members' club, but open to anyone with a reservation. Designer Juan Santa Cruz wrapped the walls in champagne-toned, giraffe-patterned silk brocade, curved the bar like a piece of Elsa Peretti jewelry and lit the room with a soft, cinematic glow; it was named Best Standalone Bar in the Americas at the 2025 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. Even the red-lacquered bathroom is built for a mirror photo.

Beverage director Amy Racine runs the drinks, and chef John Fraser oversees a menu of snacks made for sharing over cocktails: peekytoe crab doughnuts, caviar sliders, torched A5 wagyu, and cinnamon churro fries from the dessert list. Start with the Obvio Martini, a savory take on the classic, or the Tamarind Mezcalito. Later in the night a hidden DJ booth turns the room into more of a lounge, so come early if you want to talk.