Recommendations

An intimate Asian bar/lounge tucked behind the back door of a Japanese restaurant.

Guide: Hipster (Isabella)
Location: East Village

Strengths

• Angel's Share is a sexy spot for sake or cocktails that's hidden, yet provides great views of perpetually-bustling St. Mark's Place.
• The name is a term for aging wine that evaporates from oak barrels.

Shortcomings

• If I were to imagine what Asian elevator music sounds like, it'd be the live jazz guitar that plays every Wednesday from 9:30 pm to 1am. But since Angel's Share's sensual ambiance is perfect for intimate conversations, I bet you won't even notice background noise.
• They have a strict 4-person limit on groups - and I mean strict.

Insider tips

• Walk in, turn right, and head to the back. There you'll find a dimly lit, velvety plush room that's always less noisy than the main bar area.
• Got a sweet tooth? Skip sake and order a chilly, silly-named cocktail. Pick anything involving plum wine.
• Take advantage of the restaurant next door and order from the snack menu - it's better than the average bar food. Dim Sum's array of tasty delicacies are great for sharing.
• The managers just opened B-Flat, a stately, Japanese bar in a TriBeCa basement.

Anecdotes

• I went to Angel’s Share recently on a second date, before dinner. It was the perfect way to get the evening going. It was cozy, but not overly serious, which lent itself perfectly to flirting and laughing, and teed us up for dinner at a nearby noodle shop.