Angel’s Share

A large, blue-and-gold mural of cherubs hangs on the back wall, an iconic piece hand-painted for the original East Village location and carefully moved to this new space on Grove Street. It’s not the only piece of history that made the journey – the original front door and an antique chandelier were also preserved, maintaining a direct link to the bar’s influential past. The room is cozy and dimly lit, with 17 seats at the bar and another 48 at small tables, all arranged to feel intimate and refined. Opened in 1993, Angel’s Share was one of the first places in New York to showcase the precision and artistry of Japanese bartending, playing an outsized role in the city’s craft cocktail renaissance. After its original location closed in 2022, the founder's daughter revived it here in the West Village, carrying on the same core concept. The whole operation is built around craft cocktails with a distinct Japanese influence, focusing on balance, nuance, and creative Asian flavors. While the menu rotates, with most drinks named after jazz titles, some signatures have emerged. The Painted Paradise is a milk-washed cocktail with fig-infused shochu and clarified pandan, while Papaya and Friends has a fruit-forward profile balanced with herbal notes of cilantro and kaffir lime. No reservations are taken, and the waits can be very long, particularly on weekends. Arriving early is the only real strategy for securing a spot. The space is best suited for small parties, as the experience is centered on the elevated cocktails and the quiet, focused ambiance.