A former pet care salon, Mon Ami has catered to a different kind of wild animal since opening in 2007. The small lifestyle emporium is outfitted with a bar, music shop and fashion studio to provide a panacea for all primal needs—a place to cure thirst, hunger, art, music, social exchange, creativity, warmth…well, you get the picture.

Plush sofa chairs are easy to sink back into, especially when grabbing a drink or a bite to eat—crusty pita sandwiches and soups (gluten-free and based on the five elements) are advisable picks. Come for the ambiance, or come for the chill-out grooves on Wednesdays at the Friendly Circle evening, hosted by the DJ-collective Groovebox.