The 15 Best Restaurants and Bars in New York City Right Now

Our definitive NYC hit list for tonight, from date-night splurges to natural wine bars and late-night classics

New York rewards spontaneity, but it also pays to have a sure thing in your back pocket. This shortlist is our answer to the what-should-we-do-tonight text, balancing scene-setting cocktail temples, neighborhood standbys that still thrill, and a few rooms where the city’s energy hums at exactly the right volume.

We picked places with real pull: spots that feel special without trying too hard, that deliver whether you want a martini in the dark, a seafood counter with skin-contact, or a table that turns into the rest of the night. Expect range, recognizability, and the kind of confidence that lets you relax into the evening.

  1. Dante

    Italian · Greenwich Village · New York City

    An institution reborn as a modern aperitivo haven, this Greenwich Village room nails the sweet spot between lively and romantic. The marble bar hums, the spritz list reads like a love letter to Italy, and the Negroni reputation is earned. Come for golden-hour energy and stay until the city starts to glow.

    Good to know: Order the Garibaldi to start, then share the burrata or tagliatelle bolognese if you want a bite with your spritzes.

  2. Death & Co

    Cocktail Bar · East Village · New York City

    Dim, intimate, and ruthlessly precise, this East Village speakeasy set the standard for America’s cocktail revival. With no standing room and no shortcuts, it’s a place to settle in and let impeccably built drinks carry the night. When you want ceremony and craft without pretense, this is the move.

    Good to know: If indecisive, go Bartender's Choice or anchor the night with an Oaxaca Old-Fashioned and duck fat popcorn.

  3. Raoul's

    French · SoHo · New York City

    A timeless SoHo bistro that still feels like a secret you’re lucky to share. The zinc bar runs late, the art-lined back room romances, and that legendary au poivre remains a north star. It’s upscale without stiffness, a date-night classic that keeps earning the candlelight.

    Good to know: Split the escargots, then commit to the steak au poivre and finish with profiteroles at the bar.

  4. Overstory

    Cocktail Bar · Financial District · New York City

    Sixty-four floors up in the Financial District, Overstory is a rooftop cocktail bar with wraparound skyline views and a romantic, upscale glow. Settle in with a Skyline Spritz or the 64th Floor Martini, then lean into indulgences like oysters, truffle gougeres, or caviar service. When you want New York to feel cinematic, this perch delivers.

    Good to know: Pair the 64th Floor Martini with oysters and time your visit for sunset views over Lower Manhattan.

  5. Katana Kitten

    Japanese · West Village · New York City

    A Japanese-American cocktail bar with dive-bar soul, where red lanterns glow and highballs snap with precision. The West Village crowd is lively, the back room feels like a lucky find, and the energy hits late-night without losing charm. It’s fun, flavorful, and impossible to do just one round.

    Good to know: Grab a Toki Highball with a katsu sando or chicken karaage for a quick, satisfying pit stop between West Village bars.

  6. Cervo's

    Seafood · Lower East Side · New York City

    A tiny Lower East Side counter that channels the coasts of Portugal and Spain. Think tinned fish, crudo, and skin-contact wine in a tiled room that whispers secret-by-the-sea. It’s romantic and a touch trendy, the kind of place where one more pour becomes a plan to linger.

    Good to know: Order the Gilda and shrimp a la plancha, then linger over chicken fat rice to soak up the last glasses.

  7. Wildair

    New American · Lower East Side · New York City

    A low-lit natural wine bar from the Contra team that turns small plates into conversation starters. The Lower East Side room gets loud in the right way, with bottles you won’t spot elsewhere and a pace that keeps the table buzzing. Come ready to share and discover.

    Good to know: Start with the potato darphin and beef tartare, and save room for the frozen souffle.

  8. Lucien

    French · East Village · New York City

    Lucien is a classic East Village bistro mood: packed, warm, and covered in photos. Regulars squeeze in for steak frites, onion soup, escargots, and moules, with red wine always at the ready. It’s romantic in a lived-in way, the kind of room where conversation lingers and another course feels inevitable.

    Good to know: Go classic with soupe à l’oignon and steak frites, then a tarte Tatin if the night runs long.

  9. Attaboy

    Cocktail Bar · Lower East Side · New York City

    On Eldridge Street, slip through the unmarked door and tell the bartenders your spirit or mood; they’ll tailor something with serious craft. This cozy, hidden-gem cocktail den leans late-night and intimate, where a Penicillin, Paper Plane, Sazerac, or full dealer’s-choice moment can set the tone. Let the team quietly build your night.

    Good to know: Ask for Dealer's Choice if you like surprises, or request a Paper Plane to keep it bright and balanced.

  10. The Dead Rabbit

    Irish · Financial District · New York City

    In the Financial District, this multi-floor Irish pub and cocktail powerhouse knows how to host a night. Pints and Irish coffee downstairs, an award-worthy cocktail parlor up top, and a lively crowd that settles in. Cozy yet charged, it suits both a quick round and a full evening.

    Good to know: Warm up with the Irish Coffee, then move to a Guinness and fish and chips if you get peckish.

  11. Employees Only

    American · West Village · New York City

    Behind a neon psychic sign, an Art Deco cocktail sanctuary keeps West Village nights going absurdly late. White-jacketed bartenders, a back-room dining nook, and that famous final round of chicken soup at close. It’s lively, a little glamorous, and exactly where you want to end up.

    Good to know: Order the Amelia or Manhattan EO and grab the bone marrow poppers while you plot the next stop.

  12. Bar Goto

    Japanese · Lower East Side · New York City

    A serene Lower East Side ode to the Japanese cocktail, where precision meets calm. Delicate drinks built around sake and shochu pair with okonomiyaki in a room tuned for real conversation. Romantic and quietly upscale, it’s a refined counterpoint to the neighborhood’s noise.

    Good to know: Pair the Sakura Martini with the okonomiyaki, then snack on miso wings between rounds.

  13. Temple Bar

    Cocktail Bar · NoHo · New York City

    Dark glamour and hushed romance define this revived NoHo legend. Velvet seating, low light, and a martini service that treats classics with reverence. It’s the place for whispered plans, polished hospitality, and cocktails that land with confidence rather than flash.

    Good to know: Keep it classic with The Martini and a side of devils on horseback before a late NoHo stroll.

  14. Apothéke

    Cocktail Bar · Chinatown · New York City

    Down a Chinatown alley, candlelight flickers over an apothecary-themed speakeasy where bartenders in lab coats mix farm-to-glass elixirs. A piano drifts into the night as the room leans late and a little mysterious. Trendy, hidden, and tailor-made for slipping off the grid.

    Good to know: Try the Garden Tonic, then share steamed dumplings while the piano drifts in.

  15. Lil' Frankie's

    Italian · East Village · New York City

    A beloved East Village pizzeria powered by a wood-fired oven, Lil’ Frankie’s is easygoing and lively without trying. Order a Margherita or Salsiccia pie, add a simple Insalata di Rucola, and maybe twirl Spaghetti Limone before finishing with Torta di Nutella. It’s casual, cozy, and perfect for spontaneous nights with a glass of wine.

    Good to know: Split a Margherita and a Salsiccia, or do Spaghetti Limone if you want pasta before the next East Village stop.