"The Topaz", the name, bestowed on this cocktail and small plates establishment, betrays the spirit of the place: a glimmering but none-too-fancy oasis in an otherwise spartan stretch of the neighborhood.

Topaz manages to balance hard, dead features (animal skulls, reclaimed but blemished wood, marble) with soft, living accents (lilies, off-whites, paintings) for a kind of desert vibe. Even the drink names have a vaguely Western aura (Mexican Standoff, The Safe Word, Bottle Blonde, Night School)

Their new place has an old soul. There are real-life remnants of the past, like a doorway to nowhere, now trapped behind the booths and things plucked from behind, like incandescent bulbs and faded leather seats.

Despite all the decorating, The Topaz is far from trying to be overly sophisticated or throwback. The soundtrack was a laidback sampling of Drake, Motown, The Stooges and R&B. 

BEDFORD + BOWERY