VIBE

Set along a cobblestoned street in the oh-so-hip Meatpacking District, this ‘30s-style French brasserie and bistro bar has become famous as much for its perpetual crowds of wine-imbibing, Euro-chic clientele as for its palatable Provençal cuisine. Nights draw hip neighborhood types into its mosaic-tiled interior, and an infectious buzz of conversing gossipers and late night revelers drifts over the packed zinc bar and out onto the sidewalk.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

The hip crowd dresses stylishly casual; aim to fit in with a chic shift top and hot jeans (heels would work too).

GO HERE WITH

A friend; significant other; a date

CROWD

Beautiful jetsetters, fashionable couples and groups of friends, and a handful of celebs.

WHY WE LIKE IT

As a late-night café and wine bar, Pastis has the perfect balance of lively and laidback. We also dig owner Keith McNally’s worldly design, the fabulous French fare, the social scene, and, of course, the wine. Oh yeah, and points for the way the staff remain attentive and always follow through with generous pours despite overwhelming crowds.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The seating is a bit cramped and the tight layout only amplifies rising noise levels. (If only the place weren’t so wildly popular…)

GOOD TO KNOW

If you need space to sit and enjoy a bite, be sure to book a table in advance (tables are situated beyond the bar area). Even if you want to sit at one of the no-reservations-accepted outdoor tables, it’s best to make a reservation and then wait it out for an outside spot (you will likely be given priority). One for the urban historians, this space used to be a wholesale flower market before Keith McNally transformed it. Takeaway and delivery menus are available.

CLOSEST COMPS

Chez Janou (Paris); Le Fumoir (Paris)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to New York City.