Desserts are alluring for their lack of extravagance: churros & chocolate (the chocolate is actually hot chocolate – intended for both dunking and drinking), macaroon ice cream sandwiches, baby pavlova with passion fruit curd or, the staple item, chocolate brownie sundae are sure to push customers over the edge after a meal that probably already forced them to discretely undo the top button on their pants.

Once the sun begins to set, Balance heats up the party with their specialty $10 cocktails. The Lemon Pepper Vesper, for example, is lemon rind muddled with vodka, gin, Galliano, lemon juice, sugar and cracked black pepper. If you have more of a sweet tooth, then perhaps the Raspberry Mint Daiquiri will do the trick; served in a martini glass, it features raspberry puree and lime juice cut with fresh mint, white rum and berry liqueurs.

Balance is there for the nightlifers every day of the week. Late night sees some DJ action, so the late night shift can dance up a storm. The relaxed atmosphere is also fun and quirky, so you can have the best of both worlds. – M.K.