Botanica is the bar equivalent of the cool older sibling: doesn’t care about your persona but won’t judge you for caring, been around long enough to have seen it all but not so old that you worry about your own bonafides, unquestionably down to go the distance time and again but just as happy for you to pop in for a quick ‘hello.’
Strictly speaking, Botanica isn’t a bar but a lounge. The designation is now little more than a holdover from the bad/good ol’ days of the mid-90s when newcomers to downtown Manhattan’s nightlife landscape sought to distinguish themselves from anything in the pub mold. These days all the appellation means, in effect, is that while Botanica has bar at which to sit, capable bar staff with a je ne sais quoi, and weekend DJs–most of its seating consists of thrift-store finds tucked into dusky corners.
Located on the ‘Ho’ of SoHo and famous for its happy hour, Botanica is the perfect place to duck in for a quick one on your way to or from. But it’s also easy to while an evening away. Take a group or a date. Sprawl out in the back room or tuck into a nook. Earnestly divey, indy-sleazy, chic bohemian-y vibes. Botanica makes you feel hand-in-glove. Like whatever you’re doing, you’re doing it exactly right.