Going out in NYC is a little different to the UK as there isn't that relaxed pub culture vibe, so it's either a messy but fun dive bar with a dime-slot jukebox or a more upmarket cocktail bars serving gourmet food. Macao bar fitted into to the latter category as do most of the drinking options in the hip and pricey TriBeCa area favoured by warehouse-dwelling wealthy professionals.
On arrival at Macao, we were served by a Noel Gallagher look-a-like bar tender with a camp American accent - a bit surreal, but he did know how to make fabulous cocktails! As it was mid week, we didn't know what the nightlife would be like in this particular area, and it seemed like the place you go to for a light after work dinner and drink. We met some of the locals, as I over heard them mention the magic word 'dumplings'! Well, you know I'm a sucker for anything food related and they probably should have known better than to offer this little tourist some tasty food as well as some quite intriguing conversation. Needless to say the plate of dumplings was quickly clean and it was a good start to what would end up a rather crazy night later on the Lower East Side. But that's a whole other story...
