LOWER EAST SIDE, MANHATTAN

Bistrot Ha

A cramped, joyful French bistro by the Ha's Snack Bar team — escargot fried rice and a flambéed bombe.

Illustration of a French bistro table: steak frites and wine — Illustration · not a photo of this venue

From the couple behind Ha's Snack Bar around the corner, Bistrot Ha is a New York take on the Parisian bistro, run through a Vietnamese pantry. The room is cramped and boisterous, the tables close, and the bar seats are worth fighting for.

Order leeks vinaigrette with Maggi and marinated mussels, fried yuba with shrimp and sweet nuoc mam, and tomato fried rice with escargot. If steak frites is on as a special, take it. The fish-sauce martini starts things off, and the flambéed ice cream bombe, built for a table of two to four, ends them.

Editor’s tip

Book the minute reservations open, or join the walk-in line before 5pm for bar seats.

Make an evening of it — beautiful stops nearby

SOHO, MANHATTAN

Crosby Street

SoHo's working back lane — cobbles, fire escapes, and no performance.

Beautiful Street · Free

~10 min on foot

SOHO, MANHATTAN

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe

SoHo's living room — a donated library, a mezzanine balcony, and a café where every dollar does good.

Shopping · Free

~11 min on foot

Also in the neighborhood

Illustration

LOWER EAST SIDE, MANHATTAN

Dhamaka

Provincial India, loud and uncompromising, inside Essex Market.

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Google rating & reviews ↗

Illustration

LOWER EAST SIDE, MANHATTAN

Bar Goto

Kenta Goto's Japanese cocktail bar — yuzu highballs, shochu, and the city's best-known okonomiyaki.

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Google rating & reviews ↗

Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 14, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.