A night at Love Thy Neighbor feels like slipping into a sandstone cave in Mykonos or finding a trendy spot at in Mexico City at 1am. Inside, a sand-stoned grotto seats just 45 people — at its best, it’s pure Greece, and it definitely doesn’t feel like the middle of Manhattan. Finding it tucked beneath Christopher Street in the West Village feels like uncovering a well-kept secret. The service is friendly and fun from the moment you walk in, making you feel less like a first-time guest and more like a regular on night one.
The Ambiance
Love Thy Neighbor is about as far from a dingy basement dive bar as you can get. Inspired by its neighbor, the Stonewall Inn, the space is built around the philosophy of “no straight lines,” a subtle nod to queerness that embraces fluidity while feeling perfectly at home in the West Village. That ethos shows up everywhere from curved walls, rounded booths, and a warm monochromatic palette that turn the room into something between a cavern and a contemporary art installation, right down to a bathroom that resembles a geode carved directly into the rock. The soundscape carries the same intention, opening with a low, steady pulse earlier in the evening before gradually building in energy as the night progresses.
The Drinks
The cocktails lean on Japanese liquor and native ingredients whenever possible. There’s a margarita finished with a shiso leaf rim, and a Coca Cola-based bourbon cocktail that’s fat-washed with wagyu. In a city where $20 cocktails have become the norm, it’s rare to come across drinks that genuinely feel original. Here, nearly every glass we tried offered something unexpected. Dare I say, I wouldn’t mind paying $21 for a cocktail if this is the level of creativity it buys.
The LTN Old Fashioned was a standout, pairing Toki whisky with yomogi, a Japanese mugwort often used in mochi, and garnished with a cube of Yokan, a traditional Japanese sweet made from red bean paste. The drink draws inspiration from the Japanese tea ceremony, where Yokan has long been served alongside tea. Equally memorable was the Wasabi Martini which balanced wasabi with elderflower, lychee, and celery. Each sip held a savory note of celery that lingered in a way I grew to enjoy. Not a martini person? It can also be prepared gin-and-tonic style.
Elsewhere you’ll find a few Italian natural wines handpicked from small producers, alongside premium Japanese sake like Hakkaisan Tokubetsu Junmai. They’re labels you won’t find on many New York menus, and it’s clear each were chosen to complement the kitchen.
The Eats
When the menu is called “Splitsies,” you know you’re in for a good time. For a table of two, 3-5 items should have you walking away feeling more than satisfied, since portions lean more meal-sized than tapas. For an easy opener, we started with the Ceviche, a mix of sashimi-grade salmon, tuna, and Hokkaido scallops dressed in a turmeric, carrot, and ginger leche de tigre. Chef throws in cherry tomatoes for a sweetness and a pop of color that keeps things summery. Next was the NYC Pastrami Tartare; grass-fed beef infused with a smoky marinade and then cured with egg yolk cream. Reminiscent of a New York deli sandwich, it was the fan favorite on the menu, simply for how strange and iconic it was.
Then came the Karaage, five pieces of double-fried, umami-marinated boneless chicken thigh, finished with lemon zest and a smoky burnt shishito aioli. Crisp on the outside, juicy within, and large enough that it moved past snack territory, and something closer to a meal — exactly the type of thing you want to graze on between cocktails.
The Tamago Sando is another heavy hitter and a playful riff on tamagoyaki, the Japanese omelette built from layers of fried, beaten egg rolled together in a rectangular pan called a makiyakinabe. That rolling technique is still visible here, but the format is more akin to a sandwich: a middle stacked with soft yolk and egg layers, Japanese egg salad, and ajitama, all tucked into the pillowy shokupan bread, emulating the convenience store classic.
Of course, it’s impossible to see fries on a menu and ignore it. So, we had to try the Okinawan Purple Potato Tempura Fries. To our surprise, the naturally sweet purple potatoes come cloaked in a crunchy tempura batter and paired with the same burnt shishito sauce served alongside the karaage.
The Verdict
Love Thy Neighbor is one of those rare bars that gets every piece of the experience right. A striking ambiance, food that holds its own, delightful service, and delicious cocktails. Tucked into a West Village basement, it’s proof that the best spaces in the city are still the ones you have to go looking for.
Love Thy Neighbor
Website
55 Christopher St, New York, NY
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