Best Bars for a Date in SoHo in New York

Pearl Box is a glamorous, carpeted SoHo cocktail lounge with a swanky date-night feel. Nearly every table orders the caviar service alongside ice-cold martinis or cherry americanos. The townhouse has three rooms: the Salon on the first floor, the Parlor for dinner on the second, and the Attic at the top, billed as the room to end the night.

Milady's is a former SoHo dive reborn as an upscale cocktail bar, with elaborate drinks and bar food like coconut shrimp and loaded potato skins. Book a table or grab a stool along the long marble bar: the place is polished but never stuffy. Nights here run lively and loud. We recommend a jalapeño cornbread popper alongside a fancy cocktail such as the appletini. Sidewalk tables open in warm weather.

Lacquered red walls, oxblood brick tiles and soft lighting set the scene at Bar Mercer, where checkered floors give the room a timeless feel rather than a retro one. Cocktails are organized by spirit, and the wine list is long with a few surprises. Snacks run from deviled eggs to branzino sliders and a full raw bar.

SoHo Cigar Bar is a luxurious SoHo cigar lounge with dim lighting, a cozy mood and strong ventilation. The decor would suit a 1930s film, and cocktails such as espresso martinis are served to pair with a cigar, so the cozy room is easy to settle into together. The staff are friendly. The bar opened in 1998 under the name Circa Tabac.

Raoul's has been open in SoHo since 1975, and its dark, sexy room suits a late dinner out in New York. That setting makes it a great pick for a second or third date. Walk-ins only at the bar, which is also the best seat in the house. Want the peppercorn burger? Only the bar serves it.

At West Broadway and Broome, Broome Street Bar keeps things simple and classic. People-watching from the corner suits the bar's unpretentious feel. For talking, head to the back room, which is calmer and set apart from the main bar. Young SoHo artists used to gather here back in the 1970s.

Spring Lounge is a classic, unpretentious bar for drinks that dates to the 1920s. Two sharks caught by a former owner hang in the front room. It blends dive bar with after-work hangout, and weekends get loud with singles. It can be a scene, so go when it opens for a calmer visit. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 4am and Sunday from 10am to 4am.