The next gen has arrived in the West Village, so naturally, along with them comes the next cool places to hang. It turns out that Dandelion knows their way around a martini like an old- school pro. We’ll go as far as to say that Dandelion NYC is a standout, for all generations. Even better is that it’s open late until 2am each evening. Because somewhere in you is still that twenty-something that didn’t sleep in the city that doesn’t either.

Atmosphere

The West Village got young. Or maybe we have aged (a few) years. Either way, there’s a new energy in town and we like it a lot. It may even inspire us to live our own matcha latte, pilates, brunch-all-day, West Village girl life. But first, Dandelion, a new cocktail bar, proves that caviar is relevant at all ages.

It’s like the scene of the early aughts is back, or at least the décor — I love that restaurants are putting on their Sunday best again. What could have been a dive bar is instead a sign that the next gen has elevated expectations. Dandelion is everything you want out of a grown-up cocktail bar. The lighting is dark, cocktail tables comfortable, bar has a nice scene but not too crowded. This is the bar you want in your back pocket to impress whoever you’re with late at night with your knowledge of the Downtown scene.

Equally important to the atmosphere of Dandelion is the crowd of attractive twenty-somethings, maybe thirty. Dandelion is where you’ll find them congregating with friends, on date night, or more often, on first dates at the bar. What I really liked was that people weren’t on their phones and ignoring their cocktail companions. Instead, like the place, it was about being social.

Food + Beverage

The cocktails were well done, and there’s a decent (though not notable) wines-by-the-glass list. My martini was shaken to the point of almost having an ice rink on top, and the side car was just the way that I like it. I also really enjoyed my lychee martini, which wasn’t too sweet. Dandelion isn’t resting on its laurels as a buzzy influencer spot, but rather bringing merit to their popularity with a leveled up food and beverage program.

Speaking of which, the superpower of Dandelion is their small bites, which otherwise could be known as “girl dinner.” I wish that when I was in my twenties, this was the standard for our West Village bars. There’s caviar on the menu for starters, which shines when served with its soulmate, potato chips and a creme fraiche chive dip. Beyond caviar, the other bites were relatively healthy — the carrot guacamole sums it up. There’s also a scallop crudo, nice big shrimp cocktail with roe and marcona almond and fresh horseradish. Most steakhouses nowadays are using the canned stuff so it’s a subtle flex, but one that I noticed and appreciated.

Every dish is elevated with that extra something to set it apart. If you want to be a little naughtier, they have a solid burger and cheddar gougeres to soak up the cocktails. The menu is almost like it’s designed to meet a first date for a cocktail, and see if the evening goes as far as to share a meal.

Service

I showed up with a girlfriend and although we were old AF, the service was as good as we’d get uptown. Because clearly, at Dandelion they were taught to respect their elders. Starting from the doorman (who was the closest in age to us), to the adorable hostesses who put us on the waitlist, service was consistently friendly.

I also liked that while we waited for a table, it didn’t take forever to get a drink. Will Dandelion be around forever? Only time will tell, but for now, even with the age gap, I would go back in a heartbeat. (And bring my friend’s daughters and nieces).

Overall: 8/10

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FAQs

Q: Where is Dandelion NYC located?

A: Dandelion NYC is located at 115 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014 in New York City’s West Village. 

Q: What are the hours of operation of Dandelion NYC?

A: The hours of operation of Dandelion NYC are as follows:

Tuesday 5 PM–2 AM
Wednesday 5 PM–2 AM
Thursday 5 PM–2 AM
Friday 5 PM–2 AM
Saturday 5 PM–2 AM
Sunday 5 PM–2 AM

Q: Do you need reservations for Dandelion NYC?

A: Reservations are highly recommended for Dandelion NYC, which is a poplar cocktail bar. You can try to walk in however expect long waits during prime hours.