The Folly
Greenwich Village, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
The Folly is the practical downtown choice when flexibility matters more than a tightly defined dining brief. Book it for an easy Soho-adjacent meetup, casual celebration, or late-running night near Houston Street; choose Lord's, Tomoe, or Arturo's instead if cuisine specificity is the priority.
About The Folly
The Folly in New York City is a casual option with a schedule that runs late, especially on Friday and Saturday. Use it when timing matters and you want a flexible New York City option, rather than when you need a highly specific cuisine, chef, menu format, price range, or awards profile.
Best for flexible timing
A strong reason to consider The Folly is timing. It opens at 3 PM Monday through Thursday and Sunday, at 1 PM on Friday and Saturday, and stays open until 4 AM on Friday and Saturday. Thursday runs until 2 AM, while Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday run until 12 AM.
Do not treat it as the choice for a technical kitchen showcase. If you need a specific chef, cuisine type, tasting format, awards history, price range, beverage program, or service format, confirm those details directly; the practical read is to choose it for casual dress and late operating hours in New York City.
Who should book it
It fits plans where the schedule is the main deciding factor, especially when a group needs an afternoon start or a late-night window. For a special occasion, it is safest to frame The Folly as a casual New York City option unless you have separately confirmed the menu, service style, and any occasion-specific needs directly with the venue.
Decision-makers who care about cuisine, signature dishes, dietary accommodations, pricing, reservations, or a particular seating format should confirm those points before committing.
Where it sits against other options
For comparison planning, Lord's, Tomoe, Arturo's, Citizens Of Bleecker, and Chateau Royale may be useful reference points depending on what kind of plan you are building. The reason to keep The Folly in the mix is its casual dress code and late hours.
Choose The Folly when the schedule fits your plan. Compare it with Citizens Of Bleecker, Arturo's, Tomoe, Lord's, or Chateau Royale if you need another option before settling on the final plan. For broader planning beyond this one booking, use Our full New York City restaurants guide, Our full New York City bars guide, and Our full New York City hotels guide.
Planning details
- Location
- 92 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012
- Website
- follynyc.com
- Phone
- +16467264740
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Folly sits squarely in SoHo's polished occasion-dining lane, where rooms are designed to look as good in photos as they do in person. The copy emphasizes a curated, attentive service style that skews elegant without being fussy, and the crowd—design-industry regulars, weekend visitors and international gallery-goers—keeps the energy current and trend-aware. The neighbourhood’s lived-in character tempers formality, so the room feels celebratory rather than stiff. Overall, the restaurant reads as a refined, design-conscious spot for people who expect a high level of cooking and presentation but prefer a relaxed, stylish tone.
Best For
The Folly is best suited to milestone and celebratory dinners—anniversaries, career markers and family reunions—where guests want ambition in the cooking without the ceremony of a white-tablecloth house. The copy explicitly frames the restaurant within SoHo’s occasion-dining tier, noting that the neighbourhood’s lived-in, less corporate feel makes it a strong choice when a meal should feel festive and personal. It also suits visitors who eat out frequently and expect polished rooms and attentive service, so bookings for special evenings or meaningful gatherings are a natural fit.
Ordering Tips
Signature items to look for include the Lump Crab Mac & Cheese and the Salted Cod Tater Tots; the venue also highlights a Frozen Painkiller as a standout. Given the restaurant’s occasion-driven menu and polished service, plan to order a mix of distinctive snacks and richer mains to capture the kitchen’s strengths. The stated focus on cooking that meets elevated expectations means these signature dishes are reliable choices for sharing during a celebratory dinner.
Venue details
Ambiance
Cozy nautical atmosphere with wooden accents, dim lighting, and lively bar energy enhanced by DJ on weekends.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Lump Crab Mac & Cheese
- Salted Cod Tater Tots
- Frozen Painkiller
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 92 W Houston St, New York, NY 10012
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Citizens Of Bleecker, Notable alternative
- Arturo's, Notable alternative
- Tomoe, Notable alternative
- Chateau Royale, Notable alternative
- Lord's, British Seafood, British Seafood
Restaurant context
How The Folly Compares
The Folly is the easiest recommendation when timing and location are the problem to solve. Its late-week hours make it more useful than Citizens Of Bleecker or Chateau Royale for a loose downtown plan where the group may arrive in stages or continue after dinner.
For a food-led booking, Lord's is the stronger alternative because the British seafood focus gives the meal a clearer identity. Tomoe is the better choice for diners who specifically want sushi, while Arturo's is a better fit for a classic neighborhood-restaurant mood.
Value depends on what the night needs. The Folly earns its place as a low-planning, easy-booking option; the peers make more sense when the group wants the restaurant choice itself to define the occasion.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Folly guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Folly
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Folly | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Citizens Of Bleecker | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Arturo's | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Tomoe | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Chateau Royale | New York City | , | 2025 The New Yorker The Best Things I Ate |
| Lord's | New York City | British Seafood | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #12026 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #1022025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #2422025 Michelin Plate2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #313Pearl Recommended Restaurants |
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How The Folly compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at The Folly?
What should I wear to The Folly?
The dress code is casual. Dress comfortably for a casual New York City outing rather than planning around a formal dress requirement.
Is lunch or dinner better at The Folly?
The hours point to afternoon openings rather than a traditional lunch window. The Folly is open 3 PM to 12 AM Monday through Wednesday, 3 PM to 2 AM Thursday, 1 PM to 4 AM Friday and Saturday, and 3 PM to 12 AM Sunday.
How far ahead should I book The Folly?
What are alternatives to The Folly?
Other options to compare include Lord's, Tomoe, Citizens Of Bleecker, Arturo's, and Chateau Royale. Choose based on the needs of the specific plan you are making.
Is The Folly good for a special occasion?
It can fit a casual special occasion if the hours and casual dress code match your plan. If the occasion depends on a specific menu, seating style, price point, or service format, confirm those details directly first.
Can I eat at the bar at The Folly?
Contact The Folly directly if bar seating or a particular dining setup matters to your visit.
