Craving “girl dinner?” Have your next one in style at one of these NYC bars and restaurants. These spots not only serve girls-night-worthy cocktails and bites but offer some of the most stylish interiors and exteriors in the city.
It doesn’t get more girly than a pink townhouse wrapped in a bow. Tiny’s stands out in Tribeca for its coquettish exterior, and inside, its allure continues with an antique, rustic vibe. The aesthetic of the book “Yellow & Pink” by cartoonist William Steig, was the inspiration for the design, according to founder Matt Abramcyk. He says the decor — which includes vintage wall art, pink curtains, and tufted banquette seating — was found sans internet. “We often found our most special pieces at an architectural salvage facility or secondhand reseller of oddities and collectibles,” he said.
The dinner menu has a raw bar section, salads, small shareables, and larger entrees ranging from comfort food like a burger and roast chicken to fancier fare such as duck and steak au poivre. Cocktails have a tropical twist with ingredients like coconut, pineapple, and mango. There is a full wine list, too.
Since 2011, Maison Premiere has been serving up oysters and absinthe cocktails in an unassuming space on Bedford Avenue. But through the doors, a small but sumptuous bar area leads out into a secret garden. “We are inspired by the hotel lobbies and grand restaurants of New York, Paris, and New Orleans, replete with late-night diners brooding over bivalves and wading through glasses of pastis and absinthe,” the restaurant’s website reads.
Maison Premiere also claims to have the largest absinthe menu in the United States and over thirty oyster varieties, “all sourced through direct, established relationships with the farmers.” Plus, enjoy full caviar service and small plates to nosh on. The cocktail menu — heavy on the absinthe, of course — also features a dedicated mint juleps section.
Instead of leaving New York, you can have a girls trip right here in the city. “The inspiration for Bowery Garden was the Tuileries Garden in Paris and the Gardens of Italy,” said a spokesperson for Public Hotel in Nolita. “We wanted to offer locals and guests the perfect al-fresco dining experience with our expansive open-air terrace, which will transport them to Europe without ever having to get on an airplane.”
Public Hotel is home to the restaurant Popular and its adjacent garden terrace, Bowery Garden. In time for summer weather, it’s a great place to impress out-of-town guests or just get gussied up and feel a little “bougie.” The menu caters to the summer crowd with light and fun items such as ceviche and Sticky Prawns Chow Mein. The garden has a whimsical feel to it, with colorful rugs under each table, French bistro chairs, and climbing vines.
Heading to Broadway for a show? Skip the pub scene and head up to the ninth floor of the EDITION where you’ll find an unexpected reprieve from the crowd and a tropical garden vibe. “The furniture offers a blend of luxury and comfort, with custom leather sofas, walnut surrounds, and velvet-upholstered chairs. The bar area features green St. Laurent marble with custom barstools with rich red velvet seats and 19th-century Antique Venetian mirror above the bar,” a spokesperson described.
They continued: “The landscaping of over 300 potted tropical palm trees and plants further enhances the ambiance by creating an indoor garden in the sky. Inspired by l’Orangeries, the garden oasis is adorned with tropical palm trees, hanging ferns, ivy-covered ceilings, and an eclectic collection of imported hanging lanterns.”
This is a great spot for a vegetarian crowd as its menu is described as “vegetable-forward” with dishes like carrot bolognese, mushroom carpaccio, and whole roasted hen of the woods. Grabbing drinks and bites before the show? There’s a “sunset menu” from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. featuring light fare like shrimp cocktail and oysters.
Looking for happy hour with a view? Located right on the East River atop the historic Beekman Tower, Ophelia’s wraparound terrace is the perfect spot to unwind after work and take in water views along with unique, craft cocktails. The menu consists of elevated appetizers like duck confit spring rolls, roasted carrot hummus and wild mushroom and root tartare. With jewel tones and a black and white checkered floor, the interior is decorated in an opulent art deco motif, a nod to the building’s history as a 1920s womens-only club and hotel. Doesn’t get more “girls night” than that.
Originally known as the Panhellenic Tower, the tower originally served as a “clubhouse and residence for professional women affiliated with Greek-letter sororites,” according to the building’s wbsite. “In 1932, the tower made accommodations available to men, and in 1934, the building was renamed The Beekman Tower.”
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