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Ah, New York City and alcohol -- they’re always a good combination. There are many watering holes in the city to find your craft beers and artisan cocktails. Then there are wine bars. A cut above the usual drinking spot, they are a flexible venue for casual dates, hanging out solo, a post-theatre drink or whatever you fancy. Gone are the days when wine bars were for the older generation. Vino has become popular again with the younger crowd of drinkers. Today’s wine bars are hip and trendy. They offer more than a glass of your favorite fermented grape pairing the beautiful drink with chef-made delicacies.
For a proper glass of fine wine, there's really no other place like the Big Apple. The city is one of the most dynamic wine markets globally, meaning you can find anything, from wine made in the most respected French Chateaus to the Napa Valley's very best.
We asked Franco Salzillo, a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers America about his favorite wine bars in New York and we’re here to share it with you:
1. Blue Ribbon Downing Street Bar
The wine list in this beautiful bar in West Village is impressive. With over 250 selections, you'll surely find a bottle to satisfy your cravings. Sake, cognac, and liqueurs are well represented too, and they're all best enjoyed with the creative food coming from the kitchen. The ambiance is thrilling, even on weeknights.
2. Lelabar
Elegance meets comfort at Lelabar, a dim-lit wine bar in Hudson Street. A dramatic and upscale decor contrasts with the young, energetic crowd that comes for a bite and a glass of wine. Don't miss the guided sommelier wine tastings or choose one of the 700 distinct wine bottles with your eyes closed; the wine list is curated with passion, and every label is special in a way. Lelabar has held the title of Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for 2017, 2018, and 2019.
3. Ruffian
Ask around, and everyone in the East Village will point you to Ruffian for a fantastic wine dinner. This bar has been around since 1861 and has a rich and colorful history. The 250 label wine selection is nothing but inspiring, and it's daring, too; there are over 30 orange wines listed. Complemented by Southern French and East European food (think: smoked olives, zucchini bread crostini, and ratatouille), it's easy to see why Ruffian earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand award.
4. Aldo Sohm Wine Bar
By far, Midtown's trendiest wine bar, Aldo Sohm embodies New York City's vibrant atmosphere while providing a laid-back oasis amongst its bustling streets. The bar is an offshoot of Le Bernardin restaurant and is named after its famed chief sommelier. Expect 40 types of wine by the glass and over 200 bottles from all over the world. If you think wine is the primary focus here, wait until you try the food, it's designed to create the most creative food and wine pairings.
5. Tannat
This is not your average New York wine bar. Tannat is all about natural wines, those funky wines that changed the way we see our favorite fermented grape juice forever. It is named after the French grape varietal. There's farm-to-table pizza too, and that's the kind of pairing we love. They also offer affordable four-course, three-course dinners as well as entree with toast and house pickles -- all made fresh from local Hudson Valley produce. If you're around Northern Manhattan, don't miss out on Tannat. It is located at the foot of Fort Tryon Park, below the Met’s Cloisters in Inwood.
There you have it, folks! The best wine bars in New York city with well-thought-out bottle lists, dynamic by-the-glass offerings, and scrumptious chef-driven delights to match.