Verlaine Asian Restaurant / Bar / Lounge / Restaurant

Lower East Side, New York –

Named for the 19th-century French poet, Verlaine is an artsy lounge that’s become a favorite for after-work get-togethers and mellow mingling with a diverse crowd of young professionals, local artists, and laid-back Europeans.

Smooth ambient music greets patrons as they enter the single narrow room, where couples and companions huddle around small candlelit tables to nibble Southeast Asian tapas, and singles gather at the glass-covered bar to chat over pitchers of sangria.

A small alcove with brown banquettes and big round cocktail tables offers a relaxing place for stylish guests and their friends to recline in the subdued red glow of a single lamp, while ever-changing exhibits of works by local artists – not to mention the weekly poetry readings – provide plenty of conversation starters.

For patrons with a cultural bent – and a taste for long Happy Hours and specialty martinis – Verlaine is a don’t-miss hotspot for a cool Lower East Side evening.