Food was straight up amazing. You can tell they actually care about quality. Great spot to eat, relax, and enjoy some seriously good food. Ridwan and agnes good excellent serviced

The establishment was clean, cozy and not loud, save for a few rude guests behind us who were taking a business call during dinner... Our server was polite, and came by often to refill waters and ask how we were doing. The food: Salt and Pepper Squid - 3/5 - Tender and crispy the shrimp could have been great, but I felt like it was under salted and could have even used additional spices like white pepper or some of that pink peppercorn in such a dish. Tangy Glazed Shrimp - 4/5 - nicely sweet and sour, this Shrimp came in a good portion and had a nice bite to it too. It came on a bed of these jelly noodles, which seemed unnecessary, and were too slippery and too tender, slipping out of our chopsticks or breaking. It did carry the orange flavored sauce decently well though. Black truffle steak cubes - 5/5 - Great dish, you can taste the black truffle and onion sauce, the steak was tender enough for me, although could have been a bit more tenderized somehow. It came with mushrooms and snap peas that were great in breaking up the flavor and texture. Crispy fried chicken - 5/5 - another great dish, the skin was flavorful and crispy, and the meat tender. Not much more to say other than the chef did a great job with the prep and plating, no bones in the meat and pre sliced akin to Peking Duck. Sesame ice cream - 5/5 - simple tasty refreshing. If you like sesame you'll love this. Fried milk custard - 5/5 - served with some sticky condensed milk, this blew my mind. Crispy on the outside but with the texture of flan or custard inside. I don't know how they did it but the condensed milk added the perfect sweetness I will think about this dessert for a long time to come.

Came here with a friend for lunch and had a wonderful experience. The restaurant has a cozy, homely vibe (at least to me)—clean, comfortable, and welcoming. We sat by the window, which gave us a great spot to enjoy both the food and some quiet, natural light. We ordered the double-cooked pork belly, which was rich, savory, and had just the right touch of heat—paired beautifully with nutty purple rice. The cucumber salad with garlic gravy was one of those deceptively simple dishes where less truly means more: crisp, refreshing, and appetite-opening. We also tried the jellyfish salad. It was light, delicately seasoned, with that perfect chewy texture that makes it such a satisfying cold dish. The service was incredibly friendly and courteous. We were even treated to lychee ice cream on the house, which was a lovely surprise! I ordered the tea-smoked duck fried rice to go, and the waiter thoughtfully came back to confirm whether I wanted the regular portion or the lunch special (which I did)! A small gesture that showed real attention to detail! I truly appreciate this level of care and hospitality. Great food and great service! I’ll definitely be back!

I noticed a $14 lunch special that was too good to ignore. A main dish, white rice, two mini egg rolls and a side of pickled cucumbers—what a fantastic deal for NYC. That sign is what pulled me into Twilight Lounge, a newly opened Sichuan and Cantonese restaurant in the East Village that’s already showing serious promise. For the lunch special, I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken, which came with white or purple rice, egg rolls and pickled cucumbers. The chicken was tender with just the right amount of wok-seared edges, tossed in a glossy sauce that struck a nice balance between sweet, savory, and just a hint of spice. Crunchy peanuts gave it texture as well as the egg rolls w plum sauce and the cool, vinegary cucumbers on the side refreshed the palate between bites. For $14 in Manhattan? A steal. I came with family and we ordered a few dishes off the regular menu to share. The Spicy Cumin Lamb was a standout. Sliced thin and stir-fried with whole dried chilies and cumin seeds, the dish had a smoky, earthy depth that lingered in a good way. It packed some heat, but it was the kind that builds slowly—warming, not overwhelming. The real surprise for me was the dry-style Sichuan Beef Noodle. I usually expect something heavier or soup-based, but this version came tossed in a savory, umami-rich sauce that clung beautifully to the chewy noodles. The marinated beef slices were flavorful and tender, and the overall dish felt comforting yet bold. It’s the kind of meal you could crave on a rainy day—or after a long one. The Twilight Fried Rice also deserves mention. Unlike typical fried rice dishes, this version arrived with a crispy bottom layer—almost like a socarrat from paella—adding a delightful crunch to each spoonful. It was savory, aromatic, and loaded with bits of egg, scallions, and diced vegetables. It's a clever and satisfying twist on a classic that I didn’t expect to love as much as I did. We also tried dishes like the beef pancake roll, which was like a scallion pancake rolled around savory beef slices, the wife and husband sliced beef in chili oil, spicy shrimp, and the spicy fried fish filet, both of which leaned on the hotter side, so be warned if you’re spicy –sensitive (or tell them to adjust the spice level). I found the lotus root stir-fry refreshing and light, with its mix of squash, wood ear mushrooms and lotus root slices. And a special shoutout to Jonathan, who took care of our table with warmth, efficiency, and always with a smile. Twilight Lounge an East Village gem that brings the heat, flavor, and hospitality. Definitely one to watch.

So happy this place opened up. We love Sichuan-style dishes but don’t always feel like waiting for a table to open up at some of the bigger places up at St. Marks. Great food, we got the crispy sichuan chicken, cumin lamb and the green beans. Authentic, great flavor with a good spice level. They serve beer/ wine too. Love the vibes, I plan to visit again with friends and family. The owner JC was friendly too.

This was one of the best Chinese food spots I have been to in a long time! Everything was so good. The beef pancake (perfectly juicy meat and the outside was crispy) and duck fried rice were especially memorable to me. Highly, highly recommend this place to anyone!

Diana Maria Barrero

Absolutely love this place! The atmosphere is great, the drinks are consistently amazing, and the vibe always makes you want to stay longer. Huge shoutout to the bartender/Erkan — super friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about what they do. You can tell they care about every drink they serve. This is hands down one of my favorite spots, and I’ll definitely keep coming back with my friends !!!

Juliana Maia

I been there 2 times already and had the best time everrrr. Shout out to Gabriel and Erkan, best bartenders ever. Help me choosing the drinks and food. And had a great time talking with them: Every drink I had was the best ones in the neighborhood. Best east village bar. I’ll be back soon!!!!!

Amanda M

Staff was super nice & helpful picking drinks. Presentation on all the drinks- super cute & intricate. Highly recommend for a nice time out with great drinks!

Mark Mahoney

Remarkable tapas bar with Mediterranean flair! Beautifully prepared dishes, that taste as good as they look, and friendly, professional staff. Cozy, convivial and comfortable. A great spot to start or finish an evening in the East Village.

Danielle Ingves

From the minute we walked in the door, we felt welcomed. The staff was very attentive, friendly and very happy to be there. We travel to nyc a lot as our daughter is a performer. Well, this gem in the East Village is high on the list of all the restaurants. The tapas menu was perfect for sharing. The Brussels sprouts were the best I ever had, along with the tuna and truffle fries. The experience was so lovely and food and wine so delicious that we just had to try dessert and it did not disappoint. They even threw in some Happy New Year lemon drop shots. I wish I took more pictures of the meal. I can’t recommend this place enough and definitely will be retuning!

Konrad Strumidlo

Found this gem through someone's recommendation and decided to check it out with a group of friends. We ended up pretty much trying most of the tapas and some entrees. Everything was spot on with presentation, preparation, taste and authenticity of the dishes. That figgy piggy bruschetta dish is something else....ended up literally ordering the same few times. Drinks are also something to mention about this place; large selection, well thought out composition and mixture. I was personally hooked on the Havana Sunset. Bottomline, I highly recommend this establishment for a causal night out with friends where you get Best of both worlds: food and drinks. Thumbs up to the chef.

+1

Richard Baldwin

Great happy hour spot for delicious tapas and cocktails. It’s one of our weekly musts.

Ann Suárez

Truly a gem around east village. Found by chance and now on my list of favorites. Prices are fair, all cocktails are the same price $17, best part? They are actually super good. Really nice variety of tapas. Garlic shrimp was one of the favorites of the night, but truly all of them were tasty. It’s a small place so maybe reserve just in case, didn’t seem busy tho Host, server and bartender were friendly and attentive we even got cake and complimentary shots for my friend’s birthday! Really nice of them. Will definitely comeback.

+4

Emily Shepard

Such a cute spot! Went with 1 friends for a girls night. We made a reservation but they had to move us due to other reservations. They felt so bad they had to move us. They made sure we were taken care of because of that. The food was incredible. There was great music and Christmas decorations. I loved the food and would definitely come back. Each server came to apologize to us for moving moving and so did the owner. Everyone was super friendly

Christina Cleary

Owner Jesse greeted us! Our first time! Our server Arturo was amazing and so friendly. The food was fabulous!! We went across the street and bought a real Xmas tree 🌲 Happy Holidays☮️❤️

Eric

Staff are very kind, friendly! We had a date here and the staff took great care of us. Drinks were well made (tiramisu martini and French 75s) and the food was tasty (pulled pork sliders) Server brought us some nuts to compliment our drinks, found out my date had a nut allergy and gave us an order of fries on the house. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.

Rachel Kohl

We stopped in for a pre-dinner cocktail at Aura on a whim and were so pleased we did! Best martinis we've had in a long time! Awesome vibes and we had a great chat with the bartender. We didn't have an opportunity to try the food, but our mouths were watering watching the dishes go by! Will definitely stay longer & order more next time!

Michel Nee

This place impresses discerning customers. The team delivers consistent quality in service and cuisine. Their meals preserve authentic flavor profiles. AURA Tapas & Cocktail Bar won my complete loyalty. Wishing you an enjoyable meal.

Leoo G

Ok, well listen is my first time here One table one person just myself and this place was amazing I didn't take a pic of the prosciutto burrata but, was good I dont say is the best of the best but was good and the salmon omg perfect it was medium BTW AND THE DRINK that Erkan recommended muy delicious ( para mi estaban muy bueno todo ) Again this is my POV OK ( Some people they're just too picky tho )

K

This place is a treasure trove. It's a rich source of something valuable. The experience was a complete 10/10 They did not fall short on expectation not one bit. We were in town trying to find a nice bar that captured the "new york noho" essence. The staff here is amazing and the food and drink is definitely worth every squeeze. If you are looking to bring a friend or lover or a big party it is really advertised as accurately, overall great aura. Shout out to both Bruno and Erkan. They were fantastic. They made this experience a must visit again. They were both very passionate, you can tell they actually enjoy what they do, and that really does matter in any establishment. key difference.

Maria

Incredible!!! I can go on and on about how amazing this restaurant is, the drunken gnocchi and their cocktails alone have me going back and they have such fair prices considering their location which I was very impressed with!

vsanchez79

Last night I shared an amazing dinner with my closest friends in the most cozy beautiful setting at Aura. The gorgeous patio seating area and intimate ambiance was a pleasant surprise paired with well seasoned, flavorful dishes and crisp cold Pinot Grigio (I discovered a new favorite wine). We were a party of 4, and literally everything we ordered was delicious. I will be back for the Steak Bites, Garlic Shrimp, and the Truffle Fries are a must. I’m still thinking about that steak, which was buttery, tender, and cooked to perfection with a spicy sauce drizzle that was heavenly. I also sampled the Shrimp Scampi pasta and the Calamari which were also amazing. I would like to add a 6th star for service as our server Arkan was impeccable in his attentiveness and warm interaction with us the entire night. He definitely brought the good energy and vibes to our special gathering. I can’t say enough good things about my experience at Aura other than we will be back and I feel like we truly found a hidden gem last night. - Veronica

+1

Abinaya Swaminathan

Beautiful restaurant with delicious food and attentive service. We took the shrimp scampi, figgy piggy, chicken sandwich and garlic shrimp everything tasted just right. We felt light and great after having so much food, everything had enough greens and portion size. You’ll feel welcomed and comfortable. Definitely recommend if you are around. They offered a shot on the house in the end. There’s plenty of money plants in the entrance super pretty and gives nice vibe. Overall fantastic dining experience.

+7

Came here for a late lunch and left with a pretty hefty bill. The place was clean and was pretty modern—service was decent as well. We ordered suan cai yu, which they used flounder as the fish. The fish was a bit flakey and didn’t taste amazing but the broth was good. It wasn’t too oily like some other places so that was a plus. We also had the crab roe tofu which was pretty good as my partner reallly liked it. And had the seasonal vegetable stir fry which was simple but delicious. For the price we paid after tax + tip I expected higher quality food but overall I’m not super mad about it because the portion sizes are good.

My completely unfounded hypothesis for how Twilight Lounge came to be is that the founders wanted to open an authentic Canto spot but after market researching (AKA talking to the locals), they learned that New Yorkers are crazy for Szechuan food, so they decided to tack that on--because Chinese people are nothing if not people pleasers. And thus this Cantonese-Szechuan menu was born. The above is based on an untrue story. Now on to the food. - Wood Ear Mushroom Salad: Refreshing and perfectly spicy - Lotus Root Stir-fry Medley: Because we all need fiber. Get this classic stir-fry to make your bathroom trips more fun. - Crab Roe Silken Tofu: Soft and tasty, better than I expected. - Wong Fei Hung Prawns: If you look at this name and the Jet Li theme song doesn't automatically play in your head, you're not Cantonese enough to appreciate this dish. But it's okay; this dish is so good, it would win over a vegan. It was easily the star of the show, everyone's favorite. The prawns were plump and juicy, and the peppercorns were crunchy and satisfying--all coming together in the perfect marriage of mouth-singing flavor. We picked this clean like buzzards circling a dead rodent. - Sichuan Braised Fish: Our first taste of their Szechuan offerings, and the verdict is....pass! This was spicy, umami and complex, loaded with mouth-tender fish and veggies, and as comforting and filling as similar offerings at Szechuan restaurants. - Tea Smoked Duck Fried Rice: Not much duck, smoke or tea flavor. Not much duck either. I'd skip this unless you really want to blow money on fried rice. Service was friendly and attentive, and decor was modern chic. Twilight Lounge has stiff competition from the borough, but it surprisingly holds its own--esp. if you're in this neck of the woods and craving umami.

Jeff Ortiz

Very quaint, small place... good vibe, the food was great, very tasty... decent portions. Hostess seemed a little agitated (maybe a "bad day"), but overall, it was a good experience.

+4

Jean Ng

Food is tasty and portion is not too small for a bar like this. The pasta texture tasted like homemade and I personally preferred the drunk gnocchi out of the 3 pasta we ordered that night. The owner and the staffs were friendly and they go around checking and making sure everyone is doing great and enjoying their food and drinks. Oh and the music is not too loud to have conversation. The place is not too big so probably its best to make a reservation for weekend.

+6

Overall, the dining experience was quite pleasant. We arrived close to closing time, yet the staff were still warm and welcoming, showing no signs of impatience—something that truly deserves recognition. From ordering to food service, the process was smooth and efficient, with dishes arriving promptly, which is a definite plus for diners who are short on time. As for the food, portion sizes were on the smaller side, so those with a bigger appetite may want to order a few extra dishes. The flavors were generally solid and reliable—nothing particularly outstanding, but also nothing disappointing. The Suancai Fish was well-executed, with a good balance of sourness and saltiness, making it a safe and steady choice. The standout dish, however, was the Salted Egg Yolk Tofu, which was excellent and easily the highlight of the meal. Overall, strong service and efficiency are the key strengths here. If you’re looking for a place for a quick and hassle-free meal, this restaurant is certainly worth considering.

Having tried a lot of Sichuanese restaurants in NYC, I kind of have a bar and this place failed to meet it. It’s a place for a more Americanized palate. The food lacked flavor and punch and was not served hot enough. The three pepper chicken was tough (didn’t want to even bring back any leftovers), the fried rice with mustard green shoots was good, the Fish Fillet w/ Silken Tofu Pudding was okay as it lacked flavor, the lotus root stir-fry medley was disappointing with big chunks of celery and cucumber and no flavor. They brought out the rice last, meanwhile what are you supposed to eat the rest of the food with? My biggest problem was with the atmosphere. The air conditioning was so strong that the food got cold in minutes add then was not enjoyable. You don’t need to blast the A/C and serve cold food - instead adjust it to pleasantly comfortable. Went to celebrate a birthday but was let down. Won’t go back.