Deux Chats opened in 2022 from the Golden Age Hospitality team — the same group behind Le Dive and The Nines — and it's the best of the three for a date. The room does the work before the drinks arrive.
The Vibe
High vaulted ceilings with ornate arched molding, French chandeliers, distressed mirrors, tiger-print velvet couches, and a hand-painted tiled mural of two cats under the Williamsburg Bridge. Candlelight throughout. The whole thing reads like a Parisian lobby bar that got a little looser after midnight. Early in the week it's quiet enough for a real conversation; Friday and Saturday it fills fast and gets louder, but not so loud you're leaning in to hear each other. The bar runs long with wooden stools — a good place to land if you didn't reserve.
What to Order
- Salmon crudo — thick cuts with pickled cauliflower, tobiko, shallots, and dill. More substantial than it sounds and the best thing on the food menu.
- Warm crab dip with baguette — the thing people order first and talk about after. Get this.
- Skip the shrimp cocktail — it's the weak link. The oysters are fresher and the crab dip is more interesting. Spend the money there instead.
When to Come
A first or second date, mid-week, when the room is quieter and a table is easier to hold. Reserve in advance — it fills even on Mondays. Saturday happy hour (2–6pm) is a smart move: $1 oysters and discounted martinis before the room turns over to the evening crowd.
The Bottom Line
One of the strongest date bars in Williamsburg — the room is specific enough to be interesting, the cocktails are reliable, and the format (small plates, raw bar, long night) gives you something to do with your hands.