Botanica Bar

Botanica Bar
47 E Houston St. Basement
(between Mulberry St & Greene St)
New York, NY 10012

Botanica is less a dive bar than a "I don't-give-a-sh*t" bar. This dumpy basement rec room on the northern edge of SoHo get my unofficial award for least amount of effort put into decorating a bar: inspired interior design decisions include bar stools, vinyl banquettes, and Formica tables purchased from restaurant foreclosures, 99-cent Christmas lights that once served their holiday purpose but hang as idle decoration, and forlorn couches in the back room whose provenance was most likely Craigslist.

But why is this one of my favorite bars in SoHo?

Ever since the rise of mustached mixologists, fancy cocktails, and $15 drink prices, I have yearned a return to drinking basics. Efficient bartenders, simple well drinks, and affordable happy hours. $5 craft beers, imports, and well drinks during prime time. Plenty of room to hang out with your army of one or your 20-person deep posse. And lastly, more neighborly locals than anorexic models whose last meal was a packet of Splenda and a line of coke off the stainless steel counter in the bathroom.