First Date: Drinks During The Week

The first of many FreshMalt lists commences with the most appropriate category, first date spots around the city to meet for a drink during the week. Drinks for a first date is always a natural and easy move, leaving you the flexibility to get to know each other and maybe even allow the ‘real you’ to come out a little bit. Meeting up for the first time during the week vs. on a weekend night (Fri or Sat) usually works better, since it’s more casual, there’s no expectation for going out afterwards and it’s easier to find a more low-key atmosphere.

It’s always important to have a plan in case something goes wrong at your intended destination, so we’ve provided you with alternatives nearby as your backup in case there is a substantial wait or you want something different.

Bar Veloce (East Village)
Wine Bar, Italian
175 Second Ave (btwn 11th St & 12th St), West side of street; 212.260.3200
Notes: Great first date spot, narrow, cool décor, good mix of sophistication and casual atmosphere, Italian wines and influences, try to grab seats at the bar.

Alternatives Nearby
Bar Carrera
Wine Bar, Spanish
175 Second Ave (btwn 11th St & 12th St), West side of street; 212.375.1555
Notes: Next door to Bar Veloce, Spanish wines and influences, sangria, good selection of tapas to accompany your drinks, sit at the bar for drinks or at tables in the back room for food.

Decibel
Sake Bar / Speakeasy, Japanese
240 E 9th St (btwn 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave), South side of street; 212.979.2733
Notes: For the more adventurous type, hidden subterranean sake bar / speakeasy, hip with a bunch of tables packed in tightly, extensive sake menu with small plates, order something chilled from the Junmai category, ask wait staff for suggestions or do research on sake beforehand.
How to find it: Near 2nd Ave, look for a plaque with Japanese writing above the first flight of stairs next to the old Max Brenner’s location (space on the southwest corner of 2nd Ave & 9th St) and walk down. Open the door, wait behind the rope, tell the host the number in your party and you will be seated in the back room when a table is available.

Turks & Frogs Wine Bar (West Village)
Wine Bar, Mediterranean / Turkish
323 W 11th St (btwn Greenwich St & Washington St), North side of street; 212.691.8875
Notes: Solid wine bar with a bunch of tables and some bar seating, can get a little loud and on the darker side but always a reliable spot for a date.

Alternatives Nearby
The Otheroom
Bar, Wine & Beer
143 Perry St (btwn Greenwich St & Washington St), North side of street near Washington; 212.645.9758
Cash Only
Notes: Small, very intimate spot with low lighting, serves a nice variety of wines and beers, seats at the bar, couch seating in the front and a good back room with wrap-around seating and small tables (go for these), order and pay for your drinks at the bar.

The Upholstery Store
Wine Bar
713 Washington St (btwn Perry St & W 11th St), East side of street; 212.352.2300
Cash Only
Notes: Next to Wallsé (used to be a storage room), narrow, low-key spot for wine and quiet conversation.

The Monday Room at Public (NoLita)
Wine Bar, Eclectic / Australian
210 Elizabeth St (btwn Spring St & Prince St), East side of street; 212.343.7011
Notes: Great, intimate date spot with educated staff (personal wine steward) and stellar selection of wines, choose from by the half glass (tasting), glass, half bottle, bottle or flights of wine for a varied experience, changing menu of small and larger plates available with food and wine pairing recommendations as well. Make a reservation on OpenTable or at least call to confirm the Monday Room is open before you go (private functions are held there occasionally). Public’s bar area is a good alternative for drinks as well.
How to find it: Access the Monday Room through the entrance of Public, it will be directly to your left when you enter.

Alternatives Nearby
Epistrophy
Wine Bar
200 Mott St (btwn Kenmare St & Spring St), East side of street; 212.966.0904
Notes: Great low-key, popular spot for wine, rustic, hodgepodge of a few couches, tables and bar seating, front windows open up on nice nights.

Madam Geneva at Double Crown
Bar / Lounge, Gin
4 Bleecker St (at Bowery), Southwest corner; 212.254.0350
Notes: Cool, hidden, gin-driven cocktail lounge, good unique beer selection, interesting gin and jam concoctions, long bar with couches, chairs and small candle-lit tables, décor resembles colonial southeast Asia, weekends get very crowded so go during the week.
How to find it: Enter Double Crown (restaurant) and walk to the back for the door (entrance) to Madam Geneva.

Pierre Loti Wine Bar (Gramercy)
Wine Bar
53 Irving Pl (btwn 17th St & 18th St), West side of street; 212.777.5684
Notes: Classic wine bar with dark accents, good yet a little pricey selection of wine, bunch of outdoor seating on Irving for nice nights.

Alternatives Nearby
The House
Wine Bar / Restaurant
121 E 17th St (btwn Irving Pl & Park Ave), North side of street; 212.353.2121
Notes: Former carriage house, good for quiet conversation, high tables, try to snag one of the few outdoor tables in front if nice out, dinner is served upstairs while drinks and apps served on main floor, not usually too crowded.

Cibar
Bar / Lounge
56 Irving Pl (btwn 17th St & 18th St), East side of street; 212.460.5656
Notes: For many years now, a solid date spot, classy bar with couches, bar seating, outdoor garden and good cocktails.
How to find it: Small sign for Cibar, located down a couple of stairs from the street directly north of Pure Food & Wine.

Ten Bells (Lower East Side)
Wine Bar
247 Broome St (btwn Ludlow St & Orchard St), South side; 212.228.4450
Notes: Cool all-natural, organic wine bar with u-shaped bar and high table communal seating in the back, serves wines from Europe, Oregon and Morocco, cheeses from Essex Market, unique cold cuts and small dishes.

Alternatives Nearby
Lolita Bar
Bar
266 Broome St (at Allen St), Northeast corner; 212.966.7223
Cash and American Express Only
Notes: Chill spot for drinks, full bar with both bar seating and individual tables, gets crowded on weekends.

White Slab Palace
Restaurant / Bar, Eclectic / Scandinavian
77 Delancey St (at Allen St), Southeast corner; 212.334.0913
Notes: Good for drinks at the bar or one of the small tables, not for food, could get relatively crowded on popular nights, solid cocktails, industrial décor with great windows looking out onto both Allen & Delancey.

The Dove Parlour (Greenwich Village)
Lounge, Eclectic
228 Thompson St (btwn Bleecker St & W 3rd St), East side of street; 212.254.1435
Notes: Set in the lower floor of a Greenwich Village townhouse, walk down a few stairs from the street, grandiose spot with low lighting, a bunch of couches and chairs with coffee tables, bar seating, romantic, full bar, good for dates during the week.

Alternatives Nearby
Bar Carrera
Wine Bar, Spanish
146 Houston St (at MacDougal St), Northeast corner; 212.253.9500
Notes: Nice offerings of tapas, wines, sangria, beer and desserts with outdoor seating and airy atmosphere on nice nights.

V Bar & Café
Café / Bar, Wine & Beer / Coffee
225 Sullivan St (btwn Bleecker St & W 3rd St), East side of street; 212.253.5740
Notes: Small and packed in, part café, part bar, high chairs with tables and bar stools for seating, can get very crowded, chill spot for wine, beer or coffee. Avoid going here on the weekends since it gets packed.

B Flat (TriBeCa)
Bar / Lounge / Speakeasy, Specialty Cocktails
277 Church St (btwn Franklin St & White St), East side of street; 212.219.2970
Notes: Cool, dimly-lit subterranean lounge with solid specialty cocktails, great ambiance, décor and service. Walk downstairs next to Tokyo Bar, from former employees of Angel’s Share in East Village. Live jazz music Mondays & Wednesdays from 10pm-1am.

Alternatives Nearby
Anotheroom
Bar, Wine & Beer
249 West Broadway (btwn N Moore St & Walker St), East side of street; 212.226.1418
Notes: Small, dark spot with couch seating along the wall, seats at the bar and picnic tables outside when nice out.

Bubble Lounge
Bar / Lounge, Champagne / Wine
228 West Broadway (btwn N Moore St & Franklin St), West side of street; 212.431.3433
Notes: Sophisticated downtown spot for champagne or wine, main floor and basement seating with couches, other romantic accents, can be pricey.

Death & Co. (Alphabet City)
Bar / Lounge, Specialty Cocktails
433 E 6th St (btwn Ave A and 1st Ave), North side of street; 212.388.0882
Notes: One of the best and most popular specialty drinks spots in the city, small lounge with bar and table seating (try not to get seated at the stools with the ledge), always popular, cool vibe, great to impress a date, good small plates, expect a potential wait for a table but give the doorman your name and number and come back when you are notified that space is available. To find it, look for a wood-paneled façade, show up early before the date and check the waiting time, if extensive, give your number to the doorman and meet at one of the alternatives nearby while you wait to be called.

Alternatives Nearby
Bourgeois Pig
Bar / Lounge, Specialty Cocktails / Fondue
111 E 7th St (btwn Ave A & 1st Ave), North side of street; 212.475.2246
Notes: Romantic, intimate spot with bordello-like décor, large chandelier, a bunch of 2-person seating arrangements with antique armchairs, stools with ledges and bar seating, food selection consists of small plates with a focus on fondue, specialty drinks list concocted by same mixologist as Death & Co. (same owner). On Mondays and Tuesdays, from 5pm-2am, half-priced bottles of wine (call to confirm).

Ten Degrees
Bar / Wine Bar
121 St Marks Pl (btwn Ave A & 1st Ave), North side of street; 212.358.8600
Notes: Once a dj lounge, this spot is more of a bar than a typical wine bar with several beers on tap, top-shelf liquor available, bar seating and a bunch of small chairs and couches to sit in, quieter during the week.

Flatiron Lounge (Flatiron)
Lounge, Specialty Cocktails
37 W 19th St (btwn 5th Ave & 6th Ave), North side of street; 212.727.7741
Notes: Good specialty cocktails spot, sit at the bar or a bunch of tables in the back.

Alternatives Nearby
Raines Law Room
Bar / Speakeasy, Specialty Cocktails
48 W 17th St (btwn 5th Ave & 6th Ave), South side of street; No Phone
Notes: A great date spot, however no reservations and not guaranteed to get immediate seating (may have to give your number and go somewhere else while you wait, have a backup like Flatiron Lounge and/or show up earlier on in the night), may be a little risky for a first date, but if you can secure a table when you arrive, it’s a good place, individual booths where you have to ring for your server, two person seating arrangements and a 20 person garden when the weather is nice.
How to find it: Located directly to the right of the Chelsea Inn, look for black awning, go down stairs and ring the bell. Go during the week and try to get there before 9pm to have a chance at a table.

Flûte
Bar / Lounge, Champagne / Wine
40 E 20th St (btwn Park Ave & Broadway), South side of street; 212.529.7870
Notes: Crowd level varies on any given night, but good spot with intimate couches and bar area, champagne, wine and cocktails available, dj on the weekends so go for a date during the week, could be a little pricey.

Barbounia (Bar Area)
Restaurant, Greek / Mediterranean
250 Park Ave S (at 20th St), Southwest corner; 212.995.0242
Notes: Restaurant with limited seating at the bar or high table in front (try to grab two seats here) for drinks and maybe a few apps, very cool décor.

Uva (Upper East Side)
Restaurant / Wine Bar, Italian
1486 Second Ave (btwn 77th St & 78th St), East side of street; 212.472.4552
Notes: Cozy, rustic restaurant and wine bar, try to grab a small table in front (seating at the bar also available) for drinks. If the weather is nice and it is on the later side, ask to get a table in the back garden or outside in front by the sidewalk.

Alternatives Nearby
Vero Uptown
Wine Bar
1483 Second Ave (btwn 77th St & 78th St), West side of street; 212.452.3354
Notes: Narrow, often crowded wine bar with decent wine selection and food available, full bar.

Sake Hana (Closed)
Sake Bar, Japanese / Sushi
265 E 78th St (btwn 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave), North side of street; 212.327.0582
Notes: Good sake bar on the UES for a date, cozy and dim-lit atmosphere, sit at one of the small tables or at the bar, nice variety of sakes to choose from, interesting décor, surprisingly on the quieter side for a sake bar which can be good for conversation.

Casellula Cheese & Wine Café (Hell’s Kitchen)
Wine & Cheese Café
401 W 52nd St (btwn 9th Ave & 10th Ave nr 9th Ave), North side of street; 212.247.8137
Notes: If you or your date likes cheese, this is the place to go. Comfortable spot with focus on cheese, wine/beer pairings, order some wine or local draft beer and a flight of cheese to try some of the many offerings, other food items available all based around cheese, great date spot, small-ish so expect to potentially have a slight wait during peak hours.

Alternatives Nearby
Agua Dulce
Restaurant, Pan-Latin
802 Ninth Ave (btwn 53rd St & 54th St), East side of street; 212.262.1299
Notes: Cool, new space with front and back outdoor patios, Latin-influenced specialty drinks menu along with bar snacks, great décor.

Xai Xai
Wine Bar, South African
365 W 51st St (btwn 8th Ave & 9th Ave), North side of street; 212.541.9241
Notes: Unique wine bar focusing on South African wines and a few small plates, cool décor with tree trunks, brick walls and candle-lit tables.

Sofia Wine Bar (Midtown East)
Wine Bar
242 E 50th St (btwn 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave), South side of street; 212.888.8660
Notes: Good first date spot in midtown, a bunch of tables with candle-light, good wine selection, order some pizza or a few apps if you’re hungry.

Alternatives Nearby
Le Bateau Ivre
Bistro / Wine Bar, French
230 E 51st St (btwn 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave), South side of street; 212.583.0579
Notes: Cool, sophisticated wine bar with bar seating and three small tables (try to get one of these) to sit at for drinks on the left-hand side (tables to the right are for dinner only). Good spot for some French wine, especially good for taking out people in their late 20’s and 30’s.

Vero Midtown
Wine Bar, Panini
1004 Second Ave (at 53rd St), Northeast corner; 212.935.3530
Prices: Small Plates: Low-Upper $10’s
Notes: Reliable wine bar, usually crowded with high tables, bar seating and a bunch of outdoor seating on nice nights, food isn’t anything too special.

Barcibo Enoteca (Upper West Side)
Restaurant / Wine Bar
2020 Broadway (btwn 69th St & 70th St), East side of street; 212.595.2805
Notes: Classy wine and small plates spot, same owner as Bin 71 nearby, nice selection of Italian wines with rare Scotches and bourbons as well, educated staff with good recommendations, sit at the bar for a drink or grab a table for some wine and food.

Alternatives Nearby
Bin 71
Wine Bar
237 Columbus Ave (btwn 70th St & 71st St), East side of street; 212.362.5446
Notes: Popular wine bar with tapas, beer selection, always crowded, small, expect a wait, some good outdoor seating.

Wine & Roses
Café / Wine Bar, French / Italian
286 Columbus Ave (btwn 73rd St & 74th St), West side of street; 212.579.9463
Notes: Small spot with bar seating and a bunch of small tables packed in close together, additional sidewalk seating when the weather’s nice, good lighting, romantic but can get crowded.

Vino 313 (Murray Hill)
Wine Bar
201 East 31st Street (at 3rd Ave), Northeast corner; 212.725.8466
Notes: One of the few go-to spots for a date in Murray Hill, typical wine bar setting with a bunch of small tables.

Alternatives Nearby
Cavatappo Wine Bar
Wine Bar
347 Third Ave (btwn 25th St & 26th), East side of street; 212.448.1919
Notes: Small, rectangular, packed in wine bar similar to its upper east side sister spot, decent small plates, pizzas and salads, good wine selection, sidewalk seating when nice out.

Vertigo Bar & Restaurant
Bar
354 Third Ave (at 26th St), Southwest corner; 212.696.1011
Notes: Slick sports bar, good alternative to wine bar, typical full bar and beer selection, laid back atmosphere, try to grab a small table by the front windows.

Pegu Club (SoHo)
Bar / Lounge, Specialty Cocktails
77 W Houston St, 2nd Floor (btwn Wooster St & West Broadway), South side of street; 212.473.7348
Notes: Solid mainstay lounge, great cocktails, cool décor and atmosphere, many two-person small table setups along with a bunch of bar seating, less crowded during the week, cocktails are a little pricey but typical of similar spots around the city.

Alternatives Nearby
The Room
Bar, Wine & Beer
144 Sullivan St (btwn Prince St & Houston St), West side of street; 212.477.2102
Notes: Mood lighting, on the darker side, wide selection of beers with approx two dozen wines available, first room with bar seating, second room with couches and small tables, brick walls, music levels vary on the night and feature rock and alternative rock.

A60 / Thom Bar / Kittichai at 60 Thompson Hotel
Rooftop Lounge / Lounge / Restaurant
60 Thompson St (btwn Broome St & Spring St), East side of street; 212.219.2000
Notes: A60 – Outdoor rooftop lounge at top (13th floor) of 60 Thompson Hotel, exclusive, impressive spot for a date, nice patio furniture spread across a narrow terrace, great views of midtown and lower Manhattan, thai apps and exotic cocktails, tough to get access unless you are a hotel guest, have a room/access card or know someone who works there.
Thom Bar – plush, trendy spot with expensive drinks but cool atmosphere, bar seating as well as a bunch of couches and low tables for lounging. How to find it: located on the 2nd floor, walk in to the hotel to the right, walk up the stairs and turn right.
Kittichai – Restaurant with bar seating or outdoor tables in front of hotel, if late enough at night, you can sit for drinks at one of the tables.

Bar Veloce (Chelsea)
Wine Bar, Italian
176 Seventh Ave (btwn 20th St & 21st St), West side of street; 212.629.5300
Notes: Reliable wine bar, decent selection of wines, small plates if you want to order a little food and more space than its sister location on 2nd Ave.

Alternatives Nearby
Black Door
Bar
127 W 26th St (btwn 6th Ave & 7th Ave), North side of street; 212.645.0215
Notes: Slick, laid back bar with an extensive bottled beer list, tables and bar seating, a good back room and a solid setting, could be a little quiet during the week.

Raines Law Room
Bar / Speakeasy, Specialty Cocktails
48 W 17th St (btwn 5th Ave & 6th Ave), South side of street; No Phone
Notes: A great date spot, however no reservations and not guaranteed to get immediate seating (may have to give your number and go somewhere else while you wait, have a backup like Flatiron Lounge and/or show up earlier on in the night), may be a little risky for a first date, but if you can secure a table when you arrive, it’s a good place, individual booths where you have to ring for your server, two person seating arrangements and a 20 person garden when the weather is nice.
How to find it: Located directly to the right of the Chelsea Inn, look for black awning, go down stairs and ring the bell. Go during the week and try to get there before 9pm to have a chance at a table.

Bookmarks Lounge at the Library Hotel (Midtown)
Hotel Lounge & Rooftop
299 Madison Ave, 14th Floor (at 41st St); 212.983.4500
Notes: Slick spot for drinks, a bunch of couches and chairs with small tables, good outdoor/rooftop atmosphere if nice out, heated solarium in the winter, nice views, prices typical of hotel bar rooftops.
How to find it: Entrance to Library Hotel on north side of 41st St between Park Ave & Madison Ave (closer to Madison), take elevator to 14th floor.

Alternatives Nearby
Campbell Apartment / Campbell Terrace
Bar / Lounge
15 Vanderbilt Ave, btwn 42nd St & 43rd St on east side; 212.953.0409
Dress Code: No sneakers, t-shirts, shorts, baseball caps allowed (jeans allowed)
Notes: Classy speakeasy-type lounge inside (but apart from) Grand Central Station, used to be a private office for John W. Campbell, can get crowded during after-work hours, best to go later on in the night to have a chance at grabbing a couple of seats, pricey drinks, try the Prohibition Punch, call to confirm no private events going on. During summer months, Campbell Terrace situated outside with a setup that resembles a large living room, comfortable couches, coffee tables, good for after-work when it’s nice out.

La Fonda Del Sol
Restaurant / Bar / Lounge, Spanish / Tapas
55 Vanderbilt Ave (btwn 44th St & 45th St), East side of street; 212.867.6767
Prices: Lounge: Small Plates: Less than $10 – Mid $10’s
Notes: After-work (closes at 10:30pm) focused lounge on the ground floor, good selection of tapas and specialty drinks, bar seating with table seating as well, airy feel with large windows looking out onto Vanderbilt.

Image Source: Jaker30528

FM:What are your favorite first date spots?

This entry was posted on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 3:02 pm and is filed under FreshSpots and tagged with casual, drinks, firstdate, weeknight. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.