4. Distilled (211 W Broadway; 212-601-9514)

Why You Want It: Good food and good drinks in a– if you skip the just-after-work Wall Street rush – relaxed and honestly, welcoming atmosphere.

The Recipient: Someone who likes bartenders who are friendly (After they ask, “How are you?” they actually wait for an answer.), seasonal cocktails, wine and daily selections of draft beer and mead.

Distilled isn’t stodgy or stuffy or overpriced. It is smartly attentive. The cocktails have unexpected touches – all to a point. It isn’t about frivolity; it’s about making the drink taste better. That attitude stretches past the glass. Distilled is a place for honest self-indulgence, rather than excess. The food is as good as the drinks, with a range that goes from bring-on-the-fat – country-fried duck and waffles with smoked chili maple syrup and whipped honey butter – to cleanly satisfying – a curiously addictive salad of kale, carrots, sultanas and cilantro, with whole grain mustard. At Distilled, there’s never a problem pairing a plate and a glass. Buy gift certificates online or in the restaurant.

Photo by Brent Cline