NYCThirst

Due West

A LITTLE ABOUT Due West

Due West brings a little hip-hop glamour to the West Village, like a time-traveling lounge from the '90s Meatpacking District that somehow landed on West 10th Street. If you told me there was a velvet rope leading downstairs to a VIP-only club with bottle service and backup dancers, I wouldn’t blink. This spot doesn’t scream “quaint West Village wine bar”—it slaps with swagger, like a Biggie verse in a sea of acoustic guitar covers.

Step inside and you’re wrapped in a warm cocoon of blue velvet, leather, and low-key decadence. One glance at the crowned portrait of Biggie Smalls and you know this place knows exactly what it's doing. Wrought iron railings lead to caramel-toned leather stools. Cherrywood tables gleam under a black tin-tiled ceiling that gives just the right amount of shine. Every corner whispers, “Yeah, we see you. And you look good.”

The walls are a visual mixtape, filled with photographs of legends—Beastie Boys, ODB, Iggy Pop—making it clear that music runs through the veins of this place. The vibe toes the line between East Coast hip-hop confidence and West Village polish, never slipping into try-hard territory. It's not just for posing, though—it’s a cocktail bar with the heart of a mixtape DJ.

The drinks at Due West? They don’t play. Expect a cocktail lineup that remixes classics and drops some fresh heat. Try the Spring Old Fashioned or Village Manhattan if you’re feeling traditional, or go bold with the Junglebird, Old Diablo, or the Skinny Peach. Draft and canned cocktails are also on deck—Cuba Libre, Green-Witch, and others like Hard Seltzer, Billionaire Club, and Tepache Highball—which you can even buy by the six-pack online. Sober curious? They’ve got you too, with non-alcoholic options that don’t skimp on style.

Happy hour hits Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., and it comes with some tasty upgrades: $1.50 Wellfleet oysters, a $30 craft beer bucket, and—my personal favorite—a free happy hour beer with a sandwich. Just know, this isn’t a cheap thrill spot. Due West is the kind of place where bottle service still rules and style is currency. It’s where the old-school West Village charm meets the beats of a new era. Bring your wallet, bring your vibe, and maybe bring your best fit, too.