The 10 Best Wine Bars in New York City
Evan Sung/La Compagnie
There’s a refreshing fluidity and freeness to the best wine bars of New York City, which can appear in many forms—a sleek power-lunch hotspot, a cozy bar on the Lower East Side, or a tranquil backyard in Brooklyn. “To me, a wine bar serves limited food and is more focused on the beverage at hand,” explains Chase Sinzer, owner of wine bar Penny and restaurant Claud, both in the East Village. “It might feel more ‘casual’ in that it invites guests to maybe peruse the bottles on the wall or pour their own wine from an ice bucket.”
This widening definition also means it’s never been easier to enjoy globe-spanning varietals in different corners of the city. “You can drink Meursault Roulot in Brooklyn now! Before, a wine like this would have been allocated to the top restaurants in Manhattan” Aldo Sohm, wine director at Le Bernardin, says of the legendary French producer of Chardonnay. “You diversify and it makes people excited about wine, even in more-casual places.”
Whether you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of Croatian orange wines with five of your closest friends, or simply want to try a Premier Cru Burgundy without dipping into your savings account, there’s a wine bar in New York City for that. Here’s where—and what they're best for.
For a deep retail wine list: Parcelle
At its original Chinatown location, online-bottle-shop-turned-bar Parcelle nails the living room feel that so many wine bars attempt: Guests lounge on emerald-green corduroy armchairs while leafing through a 500-bottle-strong menu that, refreshingly, offers a generous range of picks for under $100, as well as a tidy sake selection. This is one of the few wine bars (especially in this neighborhood) that caters to natural wine devotees as well as fans of, say, rare Bordeaux.
And the newly opened Greenwich Village location of Parcelle sits more firmly in the restaurant category, which makes it better for a full meal; heavy-hitters include the rigatoni with pork and fennel, duck confit, and yellowtail tartare. This location boasts an entirely different wine list from the original, and all of the wines served on-premises are available for delivery through Parcelle’s retail business—meaning you won’t have to go to great lengths to track down that stand-out pick you ordered over dinner.
For gluten-free and vegan dining: Ruffian
This is the perfect wine bar to take a party full of dietary restrictions; much of the food is vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free—even the four-course, prix-fixe menu, which is the antithesis of any fussy, over-tweezered tasting experience. Since 2016, this natural-wine powerhouse on the city’s Lower East Side has been pouring over 250 wines by the bottle, organized into cheeky yet helpful categories like: “stoop sipping,” “toothsome reds,” and “roasted whites.”
It’s easy to step outside your tried-and-true grapes with this bottle list, which features wines you’re unlikely to come across at every other menu in the city. There's an emphasis on Eastern Europe—think Kekfrankos (commonly known as Blaufrankisch) from Hungary, and Greek Malagousia, which is described as a stand-in for Chablis.
For classic and non-alcoholic options: Compagnie Vins Sur Naturelles
If you’ve ever struggled to find a wine bar that your pregnant best friend, your annoying colleague who can’t stop talking about low-sulfur wines, and your Barolo-loving in-laws would all enjoy, Compagnie has been the answer all along. The SoHo location opened in 2014 and remains a pillar in the city’s wine scene thanks to beloved events with fun focuses, like Orange Crush and Bojo (as in Beaujolais) Burger Mondays.
While the wine list emphasizes a breadth of French wine, it also boasts a satisfying selection of options from Germany, Spain, and the United States. You’ll also find plenty of nonalcoholic options (over 20 bottles, to be exact) that include fermented teas and dealcoholized wines, some sparkling. The sleek new Flatiron location opened just last month with even more seating than the original and an entirely new menu. Expect stand-out snacks like wagyu skewers, za’atar and feta chickpeas, and some delectable gougeres.
For groups: Corkbuzz
One of the few wine bars in New York City that can accommodate larger groups, even as walk-ins, it’s surprisingly easy to find a pocket of seating here that makes this bustling space feel surprisingly private. There’s also almost always a class, tasting, or industry event going on, which makes it as much a community hub as it is a wine bar.
Corkbuzz’s original Union Square location is a must-visit for its thoughtful wine flights, which range from sommelier’s choice to Iberian hits. The bottle list has some serious range, with cheap and cheerful Beaujolais for $50, as well as Premier Cru Burgundy—and then there’s the outstanding Champagne selection, offered at retail price. Feeling peckish after a few glasses? The charcuterie spreads are generous and always play nicely with the seasonal, rotating flavors of popcorn.
For star power: Aldo Sohm Wine Bar
It’s impossible to talk about New York City’s wine scene without mentioning Sohm, who helms the wine program at Michelin-starred Le Bernardin and also wrote Wine Simple, an accessible wine book full of tips on how to find wines you’ll love. His eponymous wine bar, Sohm (which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year) offers cheap and cheerful Lambrusco and Cinsault alongside a slew of special reserve wines served via Coravin, all of which will run you upwards of $50 per glass.
Befitting of its Midtown location, there’s a prix fixe lunch menu that’ll get you in and out within an hour—few other wine bars in the city are open during the day, which makes Aldo Sohm an ideal place to take a networking meeting that might have otherwise been relegated to sad salads shared on a park bench. Another rarity: There’s a full back bar, which goes a long way with guests who want to switch sips up with a Negroni or spritz.
For natural wine & dollar oysters: The Ten Bells
Restaurant years are a lot like dog years, which makes the Ten Bells’ 16 years (and counting) run serving up natural wine on the Lower East Side nothing short of a triumph. Dimly lit and often packed to the brim with industry professionals, enthusiasts, and groups pregaming dinner at nearby Wildair or Cervo’s, the Ten Bells can feel like a daunting place to ask about that Georgian skin contact wine listed on one of the chalkboards on the wall. But don’t be dissuaded—the staff here is consistently knowledgeable and wants you to find a glass (or three) of something you’ll fall in love with. Come before 7:00 PM to take advantage of oyster happy hour ($1.50 a pop, or $1 at the newer Brooklyn location), and be sure to order a few tapas from the ever-changing menu, which always includes classics like boquerones, jamon croquettes, and fried ravioli to soak up extra-generous pours.
For Brooklyn vibes & billiards: Frog
Far too many spots claim to be a “neighborhood restaurant,” but Bed-Stuy’s Frog, with its consistent cadre of locals typing away at their laptops thanks to extended weekend hours, dogs with sizeable Instagram followings, and friends playing pool, is a wine bar that actually fits the bill. The wine list here is undeniably natty, so don’t feel awkward about asking the staff questions before diving wallet-first into a bottle of Slovenian pet-nat you’ve never seen before. Outdoor space is precious in the city, and Frog’s sizeable backyard is a big draw—it’s just right for ordering a grilled cheese and round after round of orange wine underneath the string lights.
For Riesling and comfort food: Terroir
Making your way through the binder-sized menu at Terroir feels like reading a hand-scrawled letter from a good friend who cannot stay focused on a single topic if their life depended on it, but in the best way possible. Owner Paul Greico is known for his obsession with Riesling—“Rudolf Steiner urged us to become aware of one’s humanity. By drinking Riesling, you become a better person,” reads one page.
You can dive into the terroir-verse by snagging a ticket for The Summer of Riesling, an iconic, three-hour booze cruise Greico organizes every year, or just sidle up to the bar and ask the staff about their favorite pours. While Riesling certainly is the main attraction, there’s also plenty of variety from France, Germany, Spain, and beyond, as well as an impressive vermouth list. Not one for the usual wine bar charcuterie and tinned fish spread? The food menu offers more substantial fare like smashburgers, Tteokbukki, and a stellar shaved Brussels sprouts salad.
For a sleek raw bar: Penny
Shellfish and Champagne go together like peanut butter and jelly, an adage that couldn’t be clearer at Penny. This sleek, L-shaped marble counter is widely exempt from the New York City reservation hunger games, as most seats are saved for walk-ins—that doesn’t mean you’ll sit down quickly, but there’s standing room at the front to pass the time with a few rounds of razor clams and one of the 800-plus bottles curated by owner Chase Sinzer and wine director Ellis Srubas-Giammanco.
Order an icebox packed with oysters, shrimp, mussels, and scallops, and pick a bottle from the stellar selection of Loire Valley white wines, or a Chardonnay from the trendy Jura region in Eastern France. The only real mistake you risk is skipping the brioche ice cream sandwich for dessert.
For an economical date night: June
Between the charming backyard patio and the snug, candlelit interior, there’s a reason to go to June on a year-round basis. Part of the Oberon Group, which also operates Brooklyn institutions like Rucola and nattier-leaning sister wine bar Rhodora, June has been a date night mainstay since 2015. The by-the-glass list is priced entirely under $20, and all bottles are 20% off between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00 PM.
While the list definitely shows favoritism to natural French wines, you’ll also find some hidden gems from San Luis Obispo, Umbria, Galicia, and beyond. Come in with a group (but definitely make a reservation) and ask for the magnum list—you won’t regret it.
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
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