Passerine: Upscale Regional Indian in Flatiron, With a Real Happy Hour in the Drawing Room
Passerine is a high-end regional Indian restaurant on East 20th, right next door to Gramercy Tavern, from chef Chetan Shetty (Indian Accent, and a Michelin star at Rania in D.C.). The reason it lands on a deals site: the Drawing Room, its lounge-y front bar, runs an actual happy-hour menu — discounted snacks and drinks, including $7 off every wine by the glass — which almost never happens in a room at this level.
To be clear, the dining room is a special-occasion, tasting-menu-caliber restaurant, not a cheap night. But the bar is the accessible way in: a lush, gold-lit lounge where you can sit with a Green Magpie cocktail and a plate of chili-garlic chakli without committing to the full menu. The honest caveat — the happy-hour schedule isn’t published anywhere, so confirm the days and times by phone first.
The Happy Hour
Happy hour is served in the bar and Drawing Room lounge, not the main dining room. The menu itself is real and posted on Passerine’s site: $7 off all wines by the glass, $12 margaritas, a $15 signature martini, a $14 seasonal gin and tonic, and $8 Taj Mahal lager, plus discounted bar snacks — chili-garlic chakli, masala peanuts, koliwada shrimp tacos, Bombay corn ribs, aloo kulcha. The catch worth flagging: the days and times aren’t listed publicly. Call (212) 680-4945 to confirm the current window before you plan around it.
The Room
Passerine sits on East 20th between Broadway and Park, in the former Sona space, with the 6 at 23rd St and Union Square a few minutes south. You pass through the Drawing Room — leaf-printed wallpaper, a moon-like pendant lamp, low golden light — before the main dining room opens up. It’s romantic and grown-up, built for dates and celebrations, and the bar crowd tends to be people who want the cooking and the room without the full tasting-menu commitment.
Who Passerine Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Date night | Low golden light, a plush lounge, cocktails worth lingering over |
| Cocktails and snacks without a big bill | The Drawing Room happy-hour menu — $7 off wines by the glass |
| A serious Indian meal | Chef Chetan Shetty’s regional cooking; no butter chicken |
| A drink near Gramercy or Union Square | Walk into the bar; skip the main-room reservation |
More NYC Happy Hours
SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa · Flatiron
Nozawa’s "Trust Me" Sushi at a Price That Makes Sense
Salswee · Flatiron
The Flatiron Patisserie Making Desserts That Look Like Fruit
Eataly NYC Flatiron · Flatiron
Daily 3–6pm Aperitivo at La Piazza in the Flatiron
Passerine FAQ
Does Passerine have a happy hour?
Yes — in the bar and Drawing Room lounge, with a discounted menu that includes $7 off every wine by the glass, $12 margaritas, a $15 martini, and reduced bar snacks. The days and times aren’t posted publicly, so call to confirm the window.
What kind of restaurant is Passerine?
An upscale regional Indian restaurant from chef Chetan Shetty (Indian Accent; a Michelin star at Rania in D.C.), on East 20th in Flatiron, next door to Gramercy Tavern.
Where is Passerine and what’s the nearest train?
36 East 20th Street, between Broadway and Park. The 6 at 23rd St is closest; Union Square (4/5/6/N/Q/R/W/L) is about five minutes south.
Is Passerine expensive?
The dining room is a splurge — think tasting-menu territory. The bar and Drawing Room are the more accessible way in, especially during happy hour.
Happy hour menu and hours last verified July 2026; the happy-hour days/times are not publicly posted — confirm with Passerine before visiting for the deal.