The Best West Village Bars for a Night Out

One of the more versatile options on the list, Due West is a great option for cocktails and burgers around dinner time or a bustling drinking scene on weekend nights. It's a small space so there might be a wait to get in but it shouldn't take long. I recommend ordering the espresso martinis, which are *chef's kiss*

The Garrett is the only speakeasy on this list and definitely one to check out in NYC. Whether you're looking for a cocktail in a lounge at the beginning of the night or a rowdier party scene toward the end, you can find both at The Garrett. To get there, enter into the Five Guys on Bleecker & 7th Avenue and walk to the back (toward the bathroom). From there, you'll find a bouncer checking IDs and then a staircase up to the bar.

Wilfie & Nell is a consistently packed bar on West 4th Street that, for one reason or another, tends to attract a largely British crowd. My single friends and I love to come here to start our nights, as it's a great place to meet people (especially if you want to meet someone with that oh-so-beautiful British accent).

The Spaniard is probably the most popular and well-known bar in the West Village, and for good reason. The space is massive, the bar is two-sided, and the ambiance is perfect for striking up a conversation with someone new. Whether you come here for happy hour and appetizers at the beginning of your night or close out the night talking to a stranger, you really can't go wrong at The Spaniard.

Employees Only on Hudson Street was ranked one of the World's Best Bars in 2018, and for good reason. Their cocktails are to-die-for and the swanky cocktail atmosphere is probably exactly what you imagine bars in NYC to be like when you booked your flight here. Beware that the line can get long as the night goes on, so try to come early and stick around for a while as the crowd files in.

Galway Hooker Bar (excuse the name) is one of the more casual, unassuming, but still super fun options in the West Village. Located on 7th Avenue & 10th Street, this bar is great to go to watch the game in the evening and then stay for the lively crowd that comes at night. There isn't much of a cocktail list here and you'll probably just be getting draft beer and well cocktails, but you'll have fun while doing it.

Blind Tiger, located on the corner of Bleecker & Jones St, is a beer-only bar known for its impressive selection of craft beers. Whether you choose to come here for a quick afternoon beer and a bite or for a more lively atmosphere at night, it's a casual but sophisticated bar that's worth checking out.

Art Bar, located on Hudson Street between West Village and Meatpacking, is another unassuming joint with a super-fun vibe. Inside you'll find a standard bar in the front and then the back is full of couches and endless pieces of art lining the walls. It's definitely more of a sit-down establishment, so you might not be chatting with a ton of strangers, but has a great and unique vibe nonetheless.