Nai Tapas Restaurant

4.7

1017 Reviews

$50 and over

Tapas / Small Plates

Make a booking

2 people

27 Mar 2025

19:00

Booked 2 times today

Neighbourhood gem
Good for business meals
Charming

Welcome to Nai – A Galician Dining Experience

Nestled in the heart of the East Village, Nai offers an elevated take on Spanish tapas inspired by Galicia. Chef Ruben Rodriguez brings his heritage, artistry, and deep respect for tradition to every dish, turning simple ingredients into something unforgettable.

Our seasonal tasting menu showcases Galicia’s rich flavors through Chef Ruben’s creative lens, offering an immersive dining experience that evolves with the freshest ingredients. Whether you’re joining us for an intimate dinner, a celebratory night out, or a lively evening of Flamenco performances on Saturdays, Nai is where food, culture, and hospitality come together.

Reservations are recommended, and limited bar seating is available for walk-ins. Our curated wine list and seasonal cocktails complement the menu, making each visit a unique culinary journey.

Additional information

Dining style
Elegant Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Tapas / Small Plates, Spanish, Mediterranean
Hours of Operation
Fri 17:00–22:30 Sat 12:00–22:30 Sun 12:00–21:30 Dinner Mon–Thu 17:00–22:00
Phone number
(212) 677-1030
Website
http://nairestaurant.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive Chef
Ruben Rodriguez

Location
84 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Area
East Village
Cross Street
5th street and 2nd avenue
Parking details
None
Public transit
Astor place, F train, L train, N R W trains
Additional
Banquet, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Offers

Flamenco Shows Every Thursday and Saturday
Multiple dates available
Sat - 20:00 - 20:15
Be transported to Spain with Flamenco shows every Thursday and Saturday at Nai! Experience an enchanting evening where passion meets artistry, as centuries-old Gitano traditions come alive through hypnotic dance, soulful singing (cante), and masterful guitar. Our performers weave complex rhythms with raw emotion, creating an unforgettable spectacle of movement, music, and cultural expression. Shows feature authentic dancers, guitar, cajon, castañets, and cante. Show times vary - please confirm when booking. ¡Olé! Please request the flamenco room.

What 1,017 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

New York City
Tapas / Small Plates
Manhattan
Tapas / Small Plates

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Nai Tapas Restaurant offers a "romantic ambiance" with impressive Flamenco shows and a "fantastic" tasting menu. Guests praise its "creative and delicious" tapas, friendly service, and "well-priced wine" pairings. Although some found the seating arrangements lacking, the overall dining experience is often described as "unique" and "amazing."

1,017 Reviews

T
Thi
Raleigh3 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Came here with my fiance for his birthday. The Flamenco show is incredible and the ambiance was so romantic. We got the $140/person Tasting Menu which I highly recommend because the ingredients and the technique they use for the tasting menu is more elevated than the regular a la carte menu. Plus, you get to try different dishes when you don’t know what to order. We also got Wine Pairing and it surprisingly only costs $50/person for 8 glasses to go with your 8 courses, plus a welcome sake. Our waiter poured a generous amount every time so my fiance and I ended up very drunk and blacking out towards the end of our meal LOL but it was such a fun night. 100% recommend this place and I will def go back!
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K
Kirk
Dallas2 reviews
3.0
Dined on 15 March 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Great food and wine paring. Best restaurant of my week in nyc
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on 2 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The best tapas I've ever had in NYC. Lovely service. Great atmosphere.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on 22 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Definitely a very cute date spot. The food is amazinggggggg, the staff is very friendly and the flamenco dancers is a bonus. Try the ice cream for desert. You will not regret it!
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K
Kevin
San Francisco4 reviews
5.0
Dined on 15 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food, very creative and tasty. Staff were really friendly too. Be sure to order some bread to soak up the sauce!
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R
Richard VIP
New York City19 reviews
3.0
Dined on 22 January 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 2
Never should have taken our reservation since they had a private party booked for the entire restaurant and they put us on the outside in sort of a glass enclosure off the sidewalk which was very unpleasant and chilly. The food was uninspiring but pricey and not at all what we expected from a tapas menu. The service was fine but all and all it was not a good experience.
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P
Patrick
Montreal2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 7 January 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I been there for so many times, even though they moved to the new location, but they still keep the food level. I love the authentic tapas. Services was excellent.
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M
Melissa
Charleston1 review
5.0
Dined on 14 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Felt very valued and cared for. Food was amazing. Service was excellent.
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W
Wayne
New York City9 reviews
4.0
Dined on 13 December 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Very nice staff and the food is always good. Wine selection is good and well priced. Good for small groups.
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M
Maria
New York City1 review
4.0
Dined on 10 December 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Está muy rica la comida, está escondido el lugar la puerta está detrás de una cortina, si está en la avenida pero no hay letrero
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FAQs

Nai Tapas Restaurant is rated 4.7 stars by 1017 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

27 Mar 2025

19:00

Booked 2 times today

84 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Additional information

Cross Street
5th street and 2nd avenue
Area
East Village
Hours of Operation
Fri 17:00–22:30 Sat 12:00–22:30 Sun 12:00–21:30 Dinner Mon–Thu 17:00–22:00
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Tapas / Small Plates, Spanish, Mediterranean
Dining style
Elegant Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
None
Public transit
Astor place, F train, L train, N R W trains
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Ruben Rodriguez
Additional
Banquet, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://nairestaurant.com/
Phone number
(212) 677-1030

Nai Tapas Restaurant

Make a booking

Additional information

Offers

Flamenco Shows Every Thursday and Saturday

Menu

What 1,017 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Nai Tapas Restaurant restaurant rated?

Is Nai Tapas Restaurant currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Additional information