A date plan
Hangout · Lower East Side · Romantic
A convivial evening crawl through the Lower East Side's best drinking dens — starting with organic wines and oysters, moving into a laid-back dinner, and finishing at a sommelier-staffed wine bar that'll keep the conversation going past midnight.
Lower East Side · $$$ · Restaurant · Oyster bar restaurant
The Ten Bells is the kind of dark, candlelit cave that makes everyone look good and feel immediately at ease. Pull up to the zinc bar, order a round of natural wines, and let the oysters do the talking. The organic, Euro-centric list rewards the adventurous — ask the bartender what's pouring well tonight and trust them.
~7 min walk (0.3 mi). Walking from The Ten Bells on Broome St to Ernesto's on East Broadway takes you through the quieter, residential edge of the LES — peek down the side streets for some of the neighborhood's best old-school signage and fire escape views.
Lower East Side · $$$ · Basque restaurant · Spanish restaurant
Ernesto's is one of those places that feels like a genuine discovery every time. The daily-changing menu of Basque pintxos and mains means no two visits are the same — order aggressively and share everything. Globe lights, an unfussy room, and food that punches well above its surroundings make this an easy group favorite.
~7 min walk (0.4 mi). Ernesto's to Somm Time is a short hop back up toward Broome St — note that Somm Time sits just a block from where you started the night, which makes for a satisfying, full-circle loop through the neighborhood.
Lower East Side · $$$ · Bar · Wine bar
Somm Time is the rare wine bar where every person on the floor is a certified sommelier — and the 200-bottle list more than backs that up. Let them guide you through something from a small producer you've never heard of, and don't skip the tuna crudo tacos if the kitchen's still running. Thursday nights hit the sweet spot: the energy is up, but you can still hear each other.