Best Girls Night Out Approved Restaurants in University Village
5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Spicy Moon West Village
All-vegan Szechuan cooking with real heat, cocktails, and a buzzy West Village room.
Notable Picks
8.7
Spicy Moon’s West Village outpost is a fully vegan Szechuan restaurant where chili-oil-soaked dumplings, dan dan noodles, and mapo tofu anchor a lively dining room with cocktails. It’s one of downtown’s most in-demand plant-based spots, drawing both vegans and spice-seekers for shareable plates and group dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dan Dan Noodles, Dumplings in Chili Oil, Kung Pao Mushroom
What makes it special: All-vegan Szechuan cooking with real heat, cocktails, and a buzzy West Village room.
#2
Shuka
8.7
Since 2017, chef Ayesha Nurdjaja’s Shuka has anchored SoHo’s Eastern Mediterranean scene with mezze, kebabs, and shareable feasts in a loud, lively dining room and garden. Strong multi-platform reviews and a James Beard–recognized chef back up the menu’s balance of rustic spreads, grilled meats, and crowd-pleasing brunch plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whipped feta with pistachios, Fried halloumi, Shuka Feast for 2
What makes it special: Large-format Eastern Mediterranean feasts, lively room, and serious cocktails.
#3
DOMODOMO
8.6
Just off Houston, DOMODOMO pioneered New York’s hand-roll bar, now centering its DOMOKASE tasting and build-your-own hand-roll sets. It’s a go-to for creative rolls and cones that balance modern plating with traditional flavors in a loud, stylish dining room.
Must-Try Dishes:
DOMOKASE Tasting Course, 3 Hand Roll Set, Spicy Tuna Cone
What makes it special: First NYC hand-roll bar, now a Michelin-noted spot for inventive rolls.
8.5
Top Thai Greenwich is a busy Thai and halal restaurant on Sullivan Street, known for big-flavor curries, pad thai, and basil udon served with cocktails in a casual, tightly packed dining room. With well over 2,000 multi-platform reviews and steady praise for comforting classics, it’s a reliable Village standby for groups and weeknight dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pad Thai, Basil Udon, Top Thai Peanut Curry
What makes it special: Lively halal Thai spot with cocktails, late-ish hours, and consistently satisfying curries and noodles.
A modern Chinese tapas and dim sum bar just off Washington Square, focusing on Shanghainese and Suzhou flavors, small plates, and cocktails in a dim, stylish space. Guests mix soup dumplings and dan dan noodles with shareable dishes and drinks, making it a lively choice for casual nights out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crab meat soup dumplings, Porcini mushroom beef rice, Dan dan noodles
What makes it special: Stylish Chinese tapas spot blending dim sum classics with regional Shanghai and Suzhou dishes.