16 Best Bars in West Village, New York City

Famed for its enormous and iconic whimsical angel mural on the wall, this popular and beloved subterranean cocktail bar is also well-known for its rules: only parties of four or fewer people are allowed to enter, no split parties, no reservations, and there is no standing and drinking allowed—just seated revelry, please. That said, once you obey the rules of this 65-seat Japanese cocktail bar, you're likely to stay awhile, sipping on one, two, three of the 27 signature cocktails on the menu, many of which have been mixed with Japanese ingredients.

Don't be surprised if you see some snickering Italian tourists taking a selfie in front of this bar-café's sign on the facade. The name means "small penis" in Italian. The interior is nothing to laugh at. Imagine if, by some divine miracle, a prettied-up antique bar in Milan or Rome suddenly materialized in the West Village. That's the vibe at Pisellino. The high-ceilinged, wood-and-marble-clad space is stunning. During the day, sip espresso; in the evening, stop by for a perfectly made Aperol spritz or a Negroni.

A popular Tokyo cocktail bar, Sip&Guzzle's New York City outpost is arguably better than the original. This bi-level bar has a split personality: Guzzle, the ground-floor bar, is for walk-ins and slightly more raucous than Sip, the much more sedate and refined half of the establishment. Whether you're in the G or the S, you're guaranteed to have some expertly mixed and creative cocktails and equally excellent and inventive bar snacks to boot. To experience the downstairs Sip, make a reservation.

This prototypical jazz club, tucked into a cellar since the 1940s, has been the haunt of legends like Thelonious Monk and Barbra Streisand. Today, you can hear jams from the likes of Bill Charlap and Ravi Coltrane, and, on Monday night, the sizable resident Vanguard Jazz Orchestra blows its collective heart out.

Opened in 1961, this lovable neighborhood saloon serves what many think are some of the best (and most affordable) burgers in town. Once you actually get a seat, the space feels nice and cozy, but until then, be prepared to drink a beer amid hungry, sociable patrons.

No matter who's performing, the big, gay audience hoots and hollers in support of the often kitschy talents at this music-scene staple on busy Sheridan Square, open since 1951. Singers and comedians hold court in the cabaret theater, while those itching to take a shot at open mic head downstairs to the lively piano bar. Warmer seasons bring a most welcome outdoor seating area that offers some of the neighborhood's best people-watching.

The dapper, white-coated bartenders at this cocktail bar mix delicious, well-thought-out tipples with debonair aplomb and freshly squeezed mixers. Sip one in the dimly lit bar area, and you might feel like you've stepped back in time—if it weren't for the crush of trendy West Village locals and visitors at your back. Look for the green awning that says "EO" and the neon "Psychic" sign out front. Tasty, if pricey, fare is served in the restaurant at the back.

The nightly parties at this laid-back West Village HQ for the Sapphic set attract young professional women, out-of-towners, and longtime regulars. Because the DJ and pool table quickly create a crowd, though, lesbians arrive early to stake their claim to a spot, especially on weekends.

One of the last true dive bars left in the West Village, you can spot Johnny's bar by the neon sign that lights up Greenwich Avenue, simply reading "BAR." Inside, the narrow space is bedecked with bumper stickers and posters and there's always some classic rock, soul, and funk on the jukebox. As befitting of any dive, well drinks are poured with a heavy hand and bartenders are always happy to chat.

Regardless of whatever "Marie's crisis" was or is (each employee seems to have a different story), all the customers here know all the words to show tunes you've never even heard of. Down enough drinks at this ultrafun West Village joint and you'll be singing along, even if you don't know all the lyrics. There's only one rule here: no songs will be played (and sung) by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

This "Monster" is a friendly one. This local-favorite gay bar has anchored its prime corner spot since 1969 and still serves as a lively piano bar and watering hole at street level, with an energetic disco downstairs that features a variety of nightly events, including Sunday tea dances.

The initials stand for "Sounds of Brazil" (no, not what you—and everybody else—might think), and this is the place for reggae, African, and Latin music, with some jazz gigs sprinkled into the mix. Tito Puente Jr. sometimes holds court here, as does calypso's Mighty Sparrow when he's up north. Don't miss the Haitian dance parties, the after-work Latin-groove happy hour, or the Bollywood-themed bashes. There's usually about a $25 cover charge, and while there is a food menu, it's better to just come for the music.

In 2021, two female beer aficionados in Brooklyn founded Talea Beer Co. a brewery that puts an emphasis on fruit-flavored beer in the hope they could get non-beer drinkers to love this hoppy beverage. It worked. At least enough for them to open a small handful of taprooms around the city. The West Village outpost has 20 brews on tap, including crisp Vienna-style pilsners, IPAs, and fruity brews, of course. There is a small menu of beer-friendly fare, such as plus-size Bavarian pretzels, but you can also bring pizza slices from L'Industrie next door and eat it while you sip the sudsy stuff.

This two-room spot is one of the best wine bars in the Village, thanks, in part, to the fact that it offers over 100 different wines by the glass. So you can spend an evening here switching up your libations and locations, going from Napa to Rioja to the Republic of Georgia to even Slovakia. Tasty snacks include beef meatballs, cacio e pepe cheese puffs, and Calabrian chili-topped deviled eggs.

This 144-year-old tavern got a revamp in spring 2019. The new White Horse has a cleaned-up interior and a much more inspired gastropub menu to boot. Prices went up, too. The burger, now a whopping $28, is still good, though. Poets and history buffs should make a point to have a pint here: according to New York legend, writer Dylan Thomas drank himself to death in this watering hole in 1953. When the weather's nice, try to snag a seat at one of the sidewalk tables for breezy people-watching—just don't overdo it on the whisky like Thomas.

Combine the cozy atmosphere and frothy pints standard at Irish pubs with a well-heeled West Village crowd and you get Wilfie & Nell, a candlelit bar full of communal tables for making new friends. This perpetually crowded neighborhood go-to, with its low ceilings and locally sourced food, is a popular singles spot as well as a good match for night owls: food and brews are usually served until midnight.