Bar of the Week: Jane Hotel Ballroom

If the superlatively close quarters of the Jane Hotel would make spot-on Darjeeling Limited sleeping cars, the cavernous Ballroom would be the perfect showcase for the spoils of a passenger's world travels. From on high, garlanded portraits of a maharajah and maharani lord over African tribal masks, taxidermy creatures and dark wooden rhino statues. The expansive oriental rugs underfoot and safari-like pops of greenery add to the cosmopolitan look, while the mix-and-match aesthetic combines cheetah-print ottomans with zig-zag-patterned and velvet-upholstered couches. The attention to detail, fussy to the extreme, is a nod to Wes Anderson's cinematic stylings -- and the signature style of owners Sean McPherson and Eric Goode of the Maritime and Bowery Hotels. The similarly adorned bar adjacent to the great room provides a narrow, more intimate space, while the cozy cushioned mezzanine lets you take it all in from above. The British colonial bent of the decor is echoed in the cocktail menu ($12) with the crisp Punjab (organic cucumber codka, limoncello, cucumber) and a traditional Pimm's Cup. Rather than opting for an over-priced beer (bottles will run you $6 to $9), try the Hedwig -- bright both to the eye and tongue -- with honey vodka from New Zealand, strawberry puree and fresh dill. With ample space for lounging and much-needed alcohol for pre-Times Square visits, the Ballroom will offer a welcome escape for hotel guests from their too-cozy rooms. New Yorkers, on the other hand, can use this as a place to get away without having to go anywhere; the Jane Hotel has traveled there and back so that you don't have to.