Décor: NV's not quite hidden, but it is tucked away, signaled by a slight glow of red in an otherwise dim business block (the chairs outside the door are also a good marker). A mohawked mannequin sitting in a strobe-lit phone booth greets you inside, where the slender space takes you past five foot tall fashion portraits to the bar in the back. The dark hardwood floors and brick walls are present throughout all three floors: the second being mostly a production area that could easily be a killer loft thanks to railed-off opening in the center; and the third being the roof, where smokers can lounge as well as indulge. Looking at Orlando's buildings past the high brick wall that lines the roof, you can almost fool yourself into thinking you're in a real city. The narrow stairs have strategically placed mirrors at the landings, either to let you see if someone's coming up the other way, or to give you something to crash into should you take a tumble.
The Bar: Bottles of beer and wine are the drinker's paint and palette at NV, with imports (including Bass, Harp, Newcastle, Heineken, Carlsberg, and Foster's) all ringing in at $4 a steal at any hip downtown bar and glasses of wine run $6 a pop. There's enough room at the bar for a single bartender and a handful of patrons, so if you're a stool lurker get your seat fast and don't move (catheterize yourself if you have to).
Sounds: The music is whatever's playing on the computer on the second floor. It's mostly a blend of bouncy rock and 80's fare, kind of reminiscent of Independent Bar, but kept to a conversational volume that many lounges need but fail to commit to.
Crowd: Mostly 20-something people show up at NV, be they patrons of the arts, fans of brick and tiny staircases, or in need of a more private place to have a beer and relax. They aren't that rowdy, but that doesn't mean they won't try to climb the wall lining the roof if you give them a chance.
Tips: Seating is kind of sparse on the first floor, allowing maybe a dozen people to sit, and no more than a couple of people in one area. Arriving early might help, but barring that wear some comfortable shoes and practice your too-cool-to-sit pose.
