The West Village and Greenwich Village are hands down two of the most bar-saturated neighborhoods in New York City. That said, it comes as no surprise that some of the city’s best bars happen to be right in your very own 'hood. But with the plethora of watering holes in the Villages, how does the average bar-hopper separate the bad from the good, and the good from the great? Relax - as usual, we’ve done all the hard work for you. Below, you'll find a definitive list of the neighborhood’s best bars based on ratings, reviews and of course, our own fieldwork (it's a tough job). So, whether you’re into classy wine bars or dirty little dives, we’ve got a spot to suit your tastes.
First honorable mention is Cabrito, crowned the city’s ‘Best Tequila Bar 2010’ by New York Magazine. But don't be fooled by the title, the bar offers much more than Patrón in fancy shot glasses; its 'distinctive, felicitous' beverage selection scores an enthusiastic thumbs up from The New York Times former food critic Frank Bruni, who uncharacteristically rhapsodizes that Cabrito has 'just enough sophistication and upscale trappings, manifest in the quality of its cocktails and length of its tequila and mezcal list to be the plausible cynosure of a fun night out, not just a grubby refueling station.' The bar also scores kudos from Citysearch reviews (five-star average) and Yelp (where its signature 'Cabrito Margarita' is passionately praised). And despite being a fancy little spot, it's surprisingly not too pricey - especially between 4-7 p.m. on weekdays, when you can score sweet Happy Hour Specials ($5 margaritas, $3 drafts, $6 sangrias).
[Editor's Note: Cabrito is now closed]
Looking for someplace a little more low-key? Why not try 'Critic's Picked' Irish gastropub Wilfie & Nell, famous for its good, simple drinks and locally-sourced nibbles. Described by local food blogger The Right Pick as a 'laid back' watering hole that's both 'simple and on-trend' yet 'rollickin' and boozy,' this West 4th joint has a beer selection that's described as 'bomb' (Lagunitas IPA, Chimay and Victory Prima Pils on tap, and killer cocktails like the Spicy Margarita with jalapeno-infused agave). Even The New Yorker couldn't resist commenting on Wilfie's no-frills atmosphere (that boasts the 'dark, claustrophobic dampness of an English pub') with food simply 'meant to sop up the beer' (hot dogs wrapped in bacon, grilled cheese). It's also been labeled by New York Magazine as the 'Best Pickup Bar' of 2009, where West Village singles can cruise and booze in an atmosphere that's unpretentious and rustic.
If you want to go even divier, then you can't beat Off the Wagon (what our news team swears is the dive to hit up in the Village). And it's clearly not just us that thinks so: the Macdougal Street watering hole makes NYC's Best Bar's top bars list for its 'strong drinks and lightning-fast bartenders'). All drinks are $2 for ladies, and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons you can even score $3.50 pitchers of beer, no doubt to help you during your round of foosball and/or beer pong, played upstairs. As one Yelper proclaimed: 'Yes, it can be crowded and there's beer pong and it's dirty. Yes, I am far enough out of college where I really shouldn't be going to bars like this one...but they have $2.75 Bloody Mary Happy Hour.' Enough said.
Next bar on the list is Staff Pick (and New York Magazine 'Critic's Pick') Blind Tiger Ale House. Blind Tiger gets a reader rating of 10/10 from NYMag, a 4/5 star average from over 200 Yelp reviews, 4.5/5 from Citysearch reviews, and Shecky's Nightlife will have you 'believe there's hope in the Village pub/bar scene after all.' More importantly, the bar's been described as 'kick-ass' by one of our Editors. Another Staff Pick for its killer margaritas and sangritas (house sangria mixed with a frozen margarita) is Agave bar-restaurant on Seventh Avenue South. Yelp reviewers swear it's the 'quintessential West Village Happy Hour spot,' the spot was voted one of the United States' 'Top 10 Tequila Bars' by Playboy and it recently won the prestigious 'Agave de Oro' Award (the most coveted award in the tequila industry).
For those wine connoisseurs, make sure you stop by the classy, upscale Jody Williams-owned Gottino wine bar on Greenwich. Another New York Magazine 'Critic's Pick,' the beautiful establishment (lined with wine bottles, cookie jars and anchovy tins) scores Zagat raves for its mulled wine, and Yelp praise for its tasteful selection of prosecco and nebbiola. Even Urban Daddy is impressed, commenting that even with the abundance of wine bars in New York City, Gottino 'gives us a reason to see one more.'
The West Village and Greenwich Village's Best Bars
Cabrito is located at 50 Carmine Street, near Bedford Street.
Wilfie & Nell is located at 228 West 4th Street, near 10th Street.
Off the Wagon is located at 109 Macdougal Street, near Minetta Lane.
Blind Tiger Ale House is located at 281 Bleecker Street, at Jones Street.
Agave is located at 140 Seventh Avenue South, near 10th Street.
Gottino is located at 52 Greenwich Avenue, between Charles and Perry Streets.
