The place: Nublu, New York City

The people: Intrepid music lovers and young masters of Latin dance

Sex appeal: You'll probably have trouble finding the unmarked, graffiti-marred door to this Brazilian bar on Avenue C in Manhattan's East Village, and once you do, you might not want to go in. But take a chance and pay the $10 cover, and you'll find yourself mesmerized by the attractive couples lost in samba on the rat-size dance floor. When the bar first opened, many predicted that it would be only a matter of time before the dreaded bridge and tunnel crowd overran the place. But five years on, there's nary a cheeseball in sight. And that's important, because guys in striped shirts with toothpicks dangling from their mouths don't know how to lead a fiery woman who can shut down a dance floor. The DJs skillfully control the ebb and flow of the Latin beats, and very often—Wednesdays in particular—they hand the stage over to forró musicians and other live acts expert at making you sweat.

Pickup line: "Let me buy you a drink—it's important to stay hydrated."

The hook-up:
Nublu
Tel: 646 546 5206

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