Birds to Sullaluna: Find a Cocktail Line With a Cozy Finish

Birds on Downing Street is an intimate West Village listening bar where cocktails and small plates meet weeknight vinyl and weekend live jazz. The selectors roam through funk, bossa, breaks, global grooves, and underground records. Settle in rather than rushing the first drink. Let Birds' vinyl cue the evening's opening turn, then leave when the room's pulse points onward.

Phoenix Bar brings drag bingo, trivia, karaoke, and energetic music to East 13th Street. The queer bar also has daily happy hours, generous pours, a pool table, and a backyard patio. When the indoor charge peaks, step outside instead of ending the night early. Use Phoenix's patio as the bridge between music rooms, then return for whatever the calendar has lined up.

Illustrated books share the room with seasonal dishes at Sullaluna on Carmine Street. The library-like bistrot pours natural Italian wines and runs a mostly vegetarian and vegan kitchen, with a patio and private dining downstairs. Browse before settling into dinner. Reserve Sullaluna for the book-lined closing table, where the final meal can unfold at reading pace.