Porchlight, the first standalone bar in Danny Meyer’s restaurant empire, takes its inspiration from the South — but it’s less the grand verandas of Savannah and more the dirty South of Nashville. If you could turn Justin Timberlake’s music into a bar, this would be it. The space feels like a barn that’s been crossed with an industrial loft, with exposed brick, steel columns, a large bar made of reclaimed wood at the center of it all, and, yes, an actual porch, which will host musical and spoken-word acts. It tries to accommodate the many things that happen on Southern porches — and succeeds. There are banquettes, long tables, bar seating and a lounge area for whatever kind of canoodling y’all want to get up to, with a rec room to come in the back. The cocktail menu is a “salute” to the drinking traditions south of the Mason-Dixon, with house-made fruit syrups, purees and even cola. Stay All Night is a surefire date-charmer of vodka, peach preserve and black tea. The Sherry Cobbler with orgeat syrup is not something your mom would serve, but your cool aunt might. Bar bites will include fried frog legs, a bison burger and warm bourbon mixed nuts. Porchlight
271 11th Ave.
Opens March 2; closed on Sundays
Review: Stay a while at Porchlight, West Chelsea’s Southern bar
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