Locanda Verde

Neighborhood taverna Locanda Verde, located in trendy TriBeCa, is a bright and open space inside the Greenwich Hotel. Translating to "green inn", its location at the hotel is aptly named. The buzzy atmosphere hits you the moment you come into this Tribeca room, which appears to be always packed—but never cramped, thanks to its lofty ceilings and abundant natural light. People come here for both the excitement and the food, which was created by chef Andrew Carmellini. With a large mix of New Yorkers and visitors staying at the adjacent, extremely elegant Greenwich Hotel, it's a lively scene.

The Alpino, a tequila gimlet pumped up with lime and two distinct herbal liqueurs, is one of the excellent, creative drinks on the menu. On a hot day, though, you can't go wrong with a bottle of Santa Lucia Franciacorta Rosé. First and first, make the sheep's milk ricotta with herbs and sea salt. The characteristic crostini is simple yet delicious (it comes with grilled bread drizzled with olive oil). It's perfect with a substantial pasta (squid ink linguine is a favorite) or the wood-fired garlic chicken for two.

Location: 377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

Website: www.locandaverdenyc.com