Bua

"I know there's an endless supply of sexy date night spots on every block in New York but all I need is Bua. It checks all my boxes: dimly lit, brick walls, low ceilings, and candlelight. The bar seats are positioned so that you have to sit together extra close. The menu isn’t packed with frills, but they have everything your heart desires, like a perfect Manhattan, and cheese curds with ranch. Pro tip: the bathroom fits two people."—RG" - brennan carley

"There are a lot of pubs in the city, and most of them are cheesy places meant for lost tourists and 19-year olds with fake ID’s. But Bua is the rare pub that feels alright. Sure it’s on St. Mark’s, but, unless it’s a weekend, it shouldn’t get too crazy. They serve a good, simple menu of sandwiches and fried things, there’s a decent cocktail list, and they have some great beers on draft. We suggest you grab a table with some friends and hang out and drink until someone comes up with a better idea. If no one can, that’s fine too." - bryan kim

"Bua has happy hour every day (Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on the weekends from noon to 4 p.m.), serving draft beers for $2 off, $18 wine carafes, and select cocktails for $8. It also has cheese curds to cater to the Midwestern transplants, plus a killer fried chicken sandwich. The bar has a casual vibe, especially on its sidewalk patio, but the cocktails aren’t afraid to experiment, as with the margarita that has cocchi americano and mezcal for a touch of smoke and bitterness." - Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya, Serena Dai

"There are a lot of pubs in the city, and most of them are cheesy places meant for lost tourists. But Bua is the rare pub that feels alright. Sure it’s on St. Mark’s, but, unless it’s a weekend, it shouldn’t get too crazy. They serve a good, simple menu of sandwiches and fried things, there’s a decent cocktail list, and they have some great beers on draft. We suggest you grab a table with some friends and hang out and drink until someone comes up with a better idea. If no one can, that’s fine too." - Katherine Lewin