There was a time when you could walk into Libertine in the West Village and briefly convince yourself you had been transported to Paris. The only giveaway was the bill—and, of course, the fact that someone nearby was probably discussing real estate.
Located at 684 Greenwich Street, Libertine opened in 2023 from restaurateurs Cody Pruitt and Jacob Cohen, with chef Max Mackinnon leading the kitchen. The French bistro quickly developed a following for its old-school approach to cooking, natural French wines and unapologetically buttery menu.
The restaurant’s menu leaned into classic French comfort food, but with enough personality to keep things interesting. Standouts included oeufs mayonnaise with trout roe, jambon persillé, lobster chou farci and duck deux façons—a two-part duck extravaganza featuring breast and confit. The latter became something of a signature, because apparently one preparation of duck simply wasn’t enough.
The room played along, too. Libertine embraced the Parisian bistro fantasy with imported furniture, Art Deco dishware, mirrors and a red-leather bar. It was stylish without feeling like someone had opened a French-themed restaurant inside a mall.
Critics took notice. Condé Nast Traveler called it a truly great Parisian bistro, while The Infatuation gave it an 8.2 rating and praised its cooking.
But every New York restaurant has an expiration date.
Libertine closed on May 23, 2026, after three years in the West Village. The good news—or bad news, depending on your attachment to the duck—is that the space didn’t stay dark for long. The same team transformed it into Capitaine, a seafood tavern that opened in June 2026.
So Libertine is officially part of NYC restaurant history.
And somewhere, a perfectly cooked duck is probably still wondering what happened.
