Light of my life, fire of my liver

Tipple of choice: The fire in the Spicy Cucumber Margarita is delivered by its tequila and habanero-infused vodka base, while the heat is mellowed with muddled cucumber and perky lime.

Lolita, a pricey tequila bar drenched in red light, commits to its overwrought sensualist's style with every last detail. Its velvet-flocked wallpaper is fit for a scandalous boudoir, and servers greet patrons with amuse-bouche of grapefruit granita over bowls of dry ice, trailing vapors that drift and mingle in the candlelight. Though a tad campy, the overall effect is indulgence for the sake of indulgence. After all, behind the wrought-iron gates, the bars gleam with nearly 200 different tequilas and reinvented margaritas, sangrias, and custom cocktails.

The decadent atmosphere becomes more reckless as the night wears on, with the dance floor filling up with bodies moving to Spanish guitar, house, and salsa.