The Best Date Bars on the Lower East Side in New York

Bar Goto is a Japanese-inspired cocktail bar on a block calmer than much of the Lower East Side. The room is softly lit and quiet by neighborhood standards, which makes it a good date night pick. Sake, shochu, beer and wine are on the menu for anyone not in a cocktail mood. The Sakura Martini reshapes the classic with sake and cherry liqueur, then tops it with a cherry blossom.

Tigre is a cocktail bar with a glam 1980s speakeasy look, from gold fixtures to ceiling tiles polished to a mirror finish. The lighting is low, which suits a date night, though the music plays loudly. Greenery and comfy couches give the room a tropical feel. The cocktail list runs from known classics to newer drinks inspired by the Lower East Side. Reserve on Resy to guarantee a seat.

On the south side of Dimes Square, Parcelle is a wine bar done in sleek mid-century-modern style. It pours about 10 wines by the glass and opens its full bottle inventory to guests, which suits two people who like talking about wine. The kitchen has a full food menu, though we'd use this as the stop for drinks before dinner.

Subject is a Lower East Side cocktail bar and a good spot for cocktails and mocktails. Tables are small and the room is dark, so you end up leaning in close. It gets moderately loud, since many people use it as the start of a night out. We'd go for the jungle birds, the blue Cabo Crush and the truffle popcorn.

For an easy date pick, try Jadis, a snug wine spot tucked into the northwest corner of the Lower East Side. It stays calmer than much of the neighborhood. Comfortable couches and a dark, laid-back atmosphere set the mood, while the wine stays affordable. The bar is open Monday through Saturday, with a daily happy hour until 7pm.

Double Chicken Please is a Japan-inspired bar with a casual front room serving chicken sandwiches and a dark, refined back room run as a separate cocktail bar. Taptails are the back room's draw: about a dozen cocktails poured from taps, light on the first sip and stronger than they seem. The bar is known for inventive cocktails and chicken dishes, and waits can run long.

Lullaby is a laid-back, intimate cocktail lounge on Rivington with plush seating and warm lighting. It holds only several dozen people, so the dim room stays small and close. The drinks menu is short and tight, with a few snacks. We recommend the Fig & Honey Old Fashioned, which pairs fig-infused bourbon with smoked honey, or the namesake Lullaby, a rye drink with sherry, amaro and arrope.

The Ten Bells is a natural wine bar on the Lower East Side. It opened in 2008 and is a long-time date spot. The room has exposed brick, a low tin ceiling and votive candles, with a handful of high-tops beside a wraparound bar. Natural, organic and biodynamic bottles are the focus here. We'd pair a glass with the spicy baby eels in garlicky oil or the charred mac and cheese. Weeknights welcome walk-ins in jeans.

Apartment 5 is a cocktail bar on Ludlow with several themed rooms that feel spacious yet intimate. Cozy semi-private areas give a date a little more privacy, which makes the bar a good pick for date night.

Wildair is a Lower East Side restaurant on Orchard Street that suits a date night, with strong people-watching. The room is lively and crowded, with a jazzy French funk soundtrack. Sample several glasses, then choose your favorite. We recommend the beef tartare.