There are many West Village rooms that feel too fancy, too crowded, too moody for a casual night out. Then there’s Donna–a cheery, inviting, casual worker-owned cooperative cocktail bar. A reincarnation of the Williamsburg original, this West Village location is just as accessible, confident, and charming.
The bright room recalls Brazilian Neo-Concretism with its defined geometric shapes and color contrast, giving the place’s minimalism a touch of whimsy. It’s fun, tempered by class with white brick, soft pink banquettes, compact tables with just enough elbow room for a couple to lean in for intimate conversation. Music is present but calibrated to allow speaking at a normal volume, even when the place is full. The crowd skews neighborhoody with a steady trickle of industry folks buzzing around the bar. Service has the relaxed assurance and confidence you get when the people pouring are also the people with a stake. Surprise! Employee ownership and the elimination of wage slavery yield more responsive service! Whoda thunk it?
Drinks are where Donna shines brightest. For anyone who doesn’t do liquor, you’ll find a couple of draft beers and some wines by the glass/bottle. But the cocktailing here is the main draw and it is luscious; a tiki/beachy/tropical-leaning list heavy on fruit flavors but balanced with skill. If you’re looking for dessert in a cocktail, lucky you: they’ve got an entire section for it, like the keylime flip: vodka, lime, cream, cinnamon, biscotti liquor, and eggwhite; pie in a glass. The Coconutty is a more mature standout: toasted coconut mezcal, Montenegro, sweet vermouth, and mole bitters. It is smoky, complex, and grown-up. And yes, fans of the Brancolada, be assured that it has returned—a frozen powerhouse with mint and pineapple.
Food is bar-first but not the oil-soaked baskets of heartburn you’re used to. It’s easy-eating fare, finger-friendly and flavorful. Empanadas with a golden crust and yummy beef or cheese/pepper filling, tacos with birria or chicken, fluke ceviche with pineapple and mango. Almost all the items can be easily pushed to the center of the table for sharing with a companion. And if your body absolutely demands more run-of-the-mill bar food, they’ve got popcorn chicken, sliders, and nachos to which proteins can be added.
Come early in the week and take the bar for a happy hour spin. Monday to Friday, 5 to 7, golden hour light through the windows is pretty and there’s a long list of excellent cocktails going for ¾ of their normal price, both classics and signatures. That’s Donna’s trick: there isn’t one. Just relaxed vibes, inviting drinks, and excellent service. In a neighborhood that feels increasingly inaccessible, this place feels reassuringly human; a worker-owned cooperative whose high standards prove the concept.