Dante Aperitivo

Linden Pride and Nathalie Hudson—the couple behind Dante—always had a soft spot for the corner pocket found on West 4th and Bank Street. Its brass-heavy finishes and pressed-tin ceilings housed the beloved Nat's On Bank and the Riddler, a short-lived Champagne Bar from San Francisco. And while the two weren't initially planning an expansion (minus the coming Dante on Elizabeth Street), they couldn't say no to the opportunity when the property came on the market. A little zhuzh-up later—including the brand's iconic black-and-white flooring—Dante Aperitivo was born. 

The drinks: In true Dante fashion, cocktails are the highlight. But unlike the laundry list of Negronis at its main locale, this spot keeps it light with lower-ABV options for easy drinking (if that wasn't already apparent from the name). It's easy to glide between classic Americanos, made even sweeter with soft strawberry and tomato notes, and Palomas, with fluffy heads that waft the fruit's sharpness to the nose but not to the mouth. Of course, that isn't to say that you can't find a Negroni here; it is Dante after all. The classic 'tail is always available, as are riffs on the former, including a spiced fig and pear rendition and the tropical version with toasted coconut and mango Negroni with nutty flakes sitting over ice. 

The food: Dante puts the large basin by the bar to good use, filling it with ice and chilling all manner of seafood and bottles of Champagne. We recommend snacking over indulging, especially with oysters and granita, puffed focaccia, and caviar tarts featuring lovely pearls of the stuff. 

Time Out tip: A drink over spoonfuls of dessert makes for a lovely date night, don't you think? Looking for a refresh? The granita served right out of a lemon with a nice kick of ginger is sure to wake things up, so you can keep going. But if you are looking forward to cuddling up with your lover, the warm, butterscotch cronut with a quenelle of ice cream will make you feel just right.