Divine Bar: East & West
There are very few elegant eateries in the vicinity of Times Square that aren’t teeming with tourists. If you’re a New Yorker looking for some vino and a meal (or if you’re a tourist that hates the traps), then check out Divine Bar (236 West 54th St.). Also brother to an east side location, Divine Bar specializes in a great wine list and tapas.
The atmosphere is very hip – with dim lighting, leather seating, and a large bar on the lower level showcasing their extensive wine selections. If you’re looking for something other than pubs or sports bars in midtown west, this is the place. At my most recent outing to Divine, my friend and I each had a flight of merlot to start off the evening – a great selection of four wines for only $9.50. Since tapas are their specialty, we also shared an artichoke dip ($10.50), a brie pastry with nuts and dates ($10.50), as well as a delicious spinach salad ($10.50). The tapas are very generous and we could have easily filled up on two.
For a Friday night at 8 p.m. we were able to have a quiet meal upstairs (while a large crowd was at the bar below) but were still able to hear each other and enjoy our meal. The waiter was knowledgeable and pleasant – and gave us the thumbs up when we ordered the brie. Divine also has "vinoversity" - where you can sign up for wine tasting classes that are apparently quite popular. One thing to note: not a great place to go with a large group unless you call ahead – most tables seem to be suited for groups no larger than four. Either way, I felt the experience overall was simply…divine.