1. Rumen Dimitroff, the man behind Rasputin and the original Pravda Vodka Bar, opened Samovar, a new Russian-inspired lounge, in August. On the second floor of a heritage building that once housed the Laurentian Room, Samovar specializes in premium vodkas, absinthe, and champagne. The venue, filled with dark wood and a mahogany bar that dates to 1935, holds 140 for events.
2. A team that includes the owners of Brassaii and the designers who created venues like Maro and Strangelove transformed the old Baby Dolls strip-club space on Ossington into Jezebel Burlesque, an upscale burlesque house that opened in May. The club, decorated in plush fabrics, oversize mirrors, and ornate wallpaper, has a main room with a stage and a smaller private room at the rear. Jezebel holds as many as 150 and is available for buyout.
3. The King West space formerly occupied by West Lounge reopened as Cobra in May. The 5,000-square-foot nightclub, operated by Uniq Lifestyle Group, has an Alpha Dynachord sound system, an LED Color Kinetics ceiling, and artwork by celebrity photographer and resident artist Paul Alexander incorporated into the new decor. Wrought-iron gargoyle torches and gold skulls surround the dance floor.
4. Restaurateur and Ink C.E.O. Charles Khabouth reopened Ultra, a restaurant and lounge where the tables give way to dancing on any given night, in February 2009, following a redesign by Munge Leung. A 25-foot oak communal table doubles as a runway and stage for fashion shows and live performances. Whimsical touches like the white feather backdrop behind the bar and the feather motif inside oversize light fixtures add a sense of playfulness to the space. Ultra can accommodate 400; the dining room seats 112, the front courtyard seats 20, and the rooftop patio holds 200.
5. The Queen Street West space that once housed the Opal Jazz Lounge is now Bar Chef, a restaurant and bar filled with sleek black furniture, candles, and damask prints. The space, which opened in December 2008, can accommodate as many as 100 people and is available for private functions. An extensive martini menu is divided into four sections: sweet, savory, sour, and molecular.
