Bar Veloce

From Citysearch

Just steps from the Village East movie theater, a portal to Milan has opened.

In Short
One of three Veloce outposts, this sophisticated Italian wine bar is surrounded by a sea of frat-friendly, cheap beer-serving locales. A late-20s crowd listens to instrumental jazz while sipping sake, grappa, sexo (a red wine with tannic cherry highlights), and classics like sherry, bourbon, cognac and port, all while nibbling a menu of delectable pressed sandwiches. Servers clad in suits and ties, an endless stream of muted black-and-white movies on a big-screen TV, and candles that flicker before an impressive display of wine racks add to the classy vibe.

Hits: A romantic spot to take a date you want to get cozy with.

Misses: Despite strategically placed mirrors along the walls designed to make the place seem bigger than it is, Bar Veloce is so small that claustrophobes would be advised to stay away.

Insider Tips
Wines range from $7 to $17 a glass and may be ordered by the bottle as well ($32 and up).

Not in the East Village? No sweat--there are two other Bar Veloce locations, one in Soho and one in Chelsea.