The Lions Bar and Grill

Generally, we don’t go to St. Marks in the East Village for a calm night out. But The Lions Bar & Grill—from the team behind The Wayland, Madeline’s Martini, and Bar Lula, which formerly occupied this corner—is neither a neon-filled collegiate hotspot, nor a dive that’s been there for a million years and has the graffiti to prove it. People sit in worn wooden booths, chatting loudly or playing cards, but no matter how many $5 beers or $18 martinis they consume, you can always clearly hear Jack White and other 2000s alt rock legends playing in the background. The relaxed atmosphere is probably due to cheeseburger-induced bliss: with its chopped-thick slice of steamed white onion, and peppery, pink-inside patty, Lions’ burger is worth becoming a regular here.

photo credit: Will Hartman