Ampersand   

This nightspot's raison d'etre, "Sophistication with a dash of naughtiness," comes delivered with a decidedly European, cosmopolitan and youthful take on New Orleans club culture. It's located in the former headquarters of the Whitney, a stylish local banking institution, and carries that feeling of moneyed elegance forward. Ampersand also manages to work in two huge floors, a courtyard, a large dance floor and several plush sitting rooms. Rumor has it that the most exclusive of these actually resides in what once was the bank's vault. Thursday is spoken word-poetry night and also ladies' night. Fridays feature the most progressive dance sounds; the best local DJs rotate shifts here, and the club describes their mix as ''three parts hip-hop to one part techno.'' The service is quite friendly for such a chichi establishment. It was actually classy enough to have been featured in GQ magazine and on In Style magazine's list of the ''seven hottest clubs in seven hottest cities.