Arlo & Esme: What’s better than a cafe with Ms. Pac-Man, a pool table, a DJ, and free Wi-Fi? How about a cafe with all that and nighttime wine and cocktails? Arlo & Esme, a new bi-level lounge in the former East Village Yacht Club space, is attracting espresso nerds to the upstairs cafe by day and village scenesters to the 4,000-square-foot brick basement at night. Got a friend who’s straight-edge or in AA? Bring them here, where the joe is served all night, along with Numi tea. There’s plenty of seating and make out nooks in the basement’s four rooms. It’s obvious that owners Harry Joannides and Gage Pray (both managers at Bar 6) wrote many-a-check to their interior design team, so it’s worth a trip just to witness the good looks. Now if only Arlo & Esme were as widespread as Starbucks, we might feel better about our caffeine addiction. |
