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The Crosby Street entrance to the Mondrian SoHo hotel is otherworldly, a lush, sheltered garden environment bordering a striking glass tower. The hotel's restaurant, Imperial No. Nine, is composed of two rooms with cornflower blue touches, Marie Antoinette–worthy chandeliers and a dramatic glass roof. The lovely design aside, much of the energy here is generated by Sam Talbot, a telegenic celebrity chef. His sustainable seafood menu has bold pairings, such as raw hiramasa with frozen coconut and Chinese black vinegar as well as fried oysters with crispy ham and Southern-style chowchow (Talbot is from North Carolina). Expect a fashion-conscious, Hollywood cool–meets–South Beach crowd at the bar.