Taking flight

Birds (West Village)

BARS • First Round

A new jazz bar from Sip & Guzzle head bartender Steve Schneider, Birds offers immaculate vibes, acoustic perfection, and a weekend waitlist that can reach the hundreds.

It’s a brilliant concept from Schneider and team, a captivating West Village space that’s both intimate and energetic, composed of a dimly lit bar, cozy two-top tables, and plush banquettes. Every seat offers a prime view of the band. The bar program is equally impressive with its classics-only menu organized into three tiers — well, call, and premium, priced at $17, $20 and $23, respectively. A tight food menu offers items like oysters, steak tartare, and boquerones with romesco.

It’s not impossible to get in: Reservations go online at 630p for the 730p set and at 845p for the 930p set. Walk-ins are accepted all evening based on availability, starting at 5p. You’d be particularly hard-pressed to find a more ideal date night in Manhattan than an evening at Birds. –Lee Pitofsky

→ Birds (West Village) • 64 Downing St • Wed-Thu & Sun 5p-12a, Fri-Sat 5p-2a.