El Pingüino

This new Spanish seafood bar exudes “check out my graphic design portfolio” Greenpoint charm. On any given night, you’ll find a transistor radio playing indie music in the bathroom, a cartoon poster of a wine-drunk penguin hanging behind the bar, and a pack of neighborhood people wearing glasses and baseball caps seated in tiny wooden booths. In addition to their well-made cocktails and curated list of wine, sherry, and amari, El Pingüino also serves an impressive raw bar selection. You can spring for a $90 seafood tower extravaganza or eat some aguachile with saltines while you’re here—but you should know that the menu isn’t conducive to having a full meal. Come for drinks and snacks with a date or a friend, and keep in mind the daily Happy Hour from 4-7pm when oysters are half off and martinis cost $12.