The Birba wine list is a world tour for thrifty and extravagant travelers alike; after having a drink there, you’ll be tempted to bring a bottle home (which you can, as the bar also sells wine to go). I love the selection of dry German rieslings that put their sweet cousins to shame, and was recently introduced to a crisp rosé from the Canary Islands that I haven’t stopped thinking about. Sometimes I switch up my aperitivo with a bittersweet Italian vermouth and a splash of soda. And the dessert pots are my secret Achilles’ heel—one bite of dark-chocolate pot de crème with toasted hazelnuts inevitably prompts an immediate second order. Don’t sleep on Folklores’ breakfast options, either. I opt for the crispy, chili-flecked lentil sambusa (a fried triangular pastry) or the ful (braised fava beans topped with fresh tomatoes, chilies, and onions). The herb-laden salmon scramble with goat cheese, sautéed fresh peppers, and potatoes is another favorite. Folklores is a low-key and friendly, but tiny, operation. Be prepared to wait, and admire the colorful Pollock-reminiscent paintings on the wall, done by local artist Chris Duke.
