These days Soho's cobblestone streets are mostly lined with shiny designer boutiques, the tourists who shop there, and pricey loft apartments that no one can afford. But, once upon a time, the neighborhood was a gritty haven for the creative class (you know, the actually cool and not-exactly-rich kind).

Now, a new cocktail bar at Crosby Street favorite Nomo Soho is paying homage to the area's artsy history with drinks named after Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat and walls showcasing fresh pieces by today's up-and-coming artists.

Housed in an industrial-chic space inside the swanky hotel, Nina’s x Liquid Lab is a mixology-focused concept hoping to serve as "an open door to artists, and an opportunity to let loose in an atmosphere that revels in what Soho was, is and will be."

Said atmosphere is relaxed yet stylish, moodily lit by instantly Instagrammable neon light installations. The cocktail program, helmed by Liquid Lab co-founders Gregory Lucas and Parker Boase, features unique ingredients and curated spirits (like absinthe!) to offer an innovative selection of high-end sips.

And while any would-be hot spot factors in good design and decor, Nina's at Nomo puts an actual spotlight on the art itself, considering itself "a living gallery" with a rotating display of works by graduates of The New York Academy of Art. Throw in a DJ booth and lineup of performances and events, and you've clearly got a cool kid haunt that feels true to the fabric of downtown.

Click through for a look inside!

[Photos courtesy Nina’s x Liquid Lab/via Instagram]

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