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Watchlist // Greenwich Village
cocktail bar · Greenwich Village, ManhattanNO. 09 / 1960

Dante

A 1915 Greenwich Village cafe crowned World's Best Bar in 2019, whose $10 Negroni Sessions happy hour pulls a daily 3pm door crowd.

79-81 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10012

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//The line

Dante's line is a happy-hour phenomenon. Its Negroni Sessions run 3-5pm daily, with signature Negronis at $10 against a regular cocktail list of roughly $18-22 (happy-hour.nyc). happy-hour.nyc reports the room 'fills up the moment the window opens' and calls the bar 'small and reliably busy,' especially during that 3-5pm block and on weekends.

The crush is mostly a walk-in crush. Reservations run through Resy, but Dante's own site says bar cocktails are first-come, first-serve. The Infatuation adds that a reserved table obligates you to order food, while walk-in bar seats 'are much harder to come by' -- so the people waiting at the door are chasing $10 Negronis and a stool, not a booking.

The demand has a pedigree. The MacDougal Street cafe opened in 1915 as Caffe Dante and was named World's Best Bar by The World's 50 Best Bars in 2019 (happy-hour.nyc). damnlines does not run a camera at Dante, so we can't show its door in real time; the reporting here is the reason the line forms, not a live count.

//When the line peaks
Daily 3-5pm 'Negroni Sessions' happy hour is the main crush; happy-hour.nyc reports it 'fills up the moment the window opens.' Weekends run busy overall -- happy-hour.nyc describes the bar as 'small and reliably busy... on weekends.' Saturday and Sunday the cafe opens at 10am (weekdays open midday), per Dante's official hours page (dante-nyc.com).

Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.

//Getting in

Reservations: Reservations are suggested and can be booked through Resy, but the venue also accommodates guests without them, per Dante's official site.

Walk-ins: Walk-ins are welcomed at Dante, per the venue's official site.

Indoor & outdoor dining from 12pm weekdays and 10am Saturday/Sunday; food served until 11pm Sunday-Wednesday and 12am Thursday-Saturday, per the venue's official site.

Official site →

//FAQ

How long is the line at Dante?

No source publishes a minute-by-minute wait. happy-hour.nyc reports the 3-5pm Negroni Sessions 'fills up the moment the window opens,' and The Infatuation notes walk-in bar seats 'are much harder to come by.' damnlines has no camera at Dante, so we can't show a live count.

What's the best time to go to Dante to avoid a wait?

For the $10 Negronis, happy-hour.nyc says to arrive right at 3pm, since the window is short (3-5pm daily). Earlier in the afternoon, between lunch and happy hour, is when walk-in bar seats are easiest to grab.

Does Dante take reservations, or is it walk-in only?

Both. Tables can be booked on Resy, and Dante's site says walk-ins are welcomed. But bar cocktails are first-come, first-serve, and per The Infatuation a reserved table means you have to order food.

When is happy hour at Dante?

The Negroni Sessions run 3-5pm daily, with signature Negronis at $10 (happy-hour.nyc, dante-nyc.com). Regular cocktails run about $18-22.

Why is there always a line at Dante?

It's a small room with an outsized reputation: opened in 1915 as Caffe Dante and named World's Best Bar in 2019 by The World's 50 Best Bars, paired with a $10 Negroni deal that draws a daily 3pm door crowd (happy-hour.nyc).

Does Dante take reservations?

Reservations are suggested and can be booked through Resy, though walk-ins are also welcomed, per Dante's official site.

Can you walk into Dante?

Yes, walk-ins are welcomed at Dante, per the venue's official site, though booking ahead via Resy is suggested.

Sources: happy-hour.nyc: Dante -- $10 Negronis At The World's Best Bar · Dante NYC official site: Caffe Dante Hours & Location · The Infatuation: Respectfully, the best dinner at Dante is a Negroni · Wine Wilderness Wanderlust: $10 Negronis -- Why Everyone Loves Caffe Dante

Dante — The Line & How to Get In · Greenwich Village, NYC | damnlines