7 Places to Enjoy Wine in New York City

Wine in New York City

New York City is a wine enthusiasts’ paradise. With more than 10,000 bars and restaurants that serve wine, it would take you more than 27 years to visit one per day. While you can always find the common French and Italian varieties as well as wines from emerging producers like Chile and South Africa, you can also sample the local wineries from the nearby Finger Lakes or Saint Estephe Bordeaux in neighboring Long Island.

Here’s a list of conveniently located places in Manhattan. Most have happy hours, which offer you the chance to save money in one of the world’s most expensive cities.

Kaia Wine Bar

South Africa is the world’s eighth-largest wine producer. If you’re looking to sample some of their exquisite wines, head to the Upper East Side. Kaia is a neighborhood gem that offers a variety of Methode Cap Classique, which is South Africa’s version of champagne. And this is THE place to go for South African wines.  During happy hour, they offer select wines for $6 per glass.

Nearest subway station: 96 St (4/5/6)

There are also some amazing pizza joints along the 6 train. Here are 6 along the 6. 

Mercado Little Spain

Thanks to Jose Andres and the Adria Brothers, Hudson Yards now offers a smaller but impressive rival to Eataly. Mercado Little Spain is a Spanish food hall, which includes a triad of restaurants along with several other kiosks and a souvenir shop. Wines are exclusively Spanish. You can order at the bar or in one of the three restaurants (Lena, Mar, or Spanish Diner). It’s located in the basement of The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards. The nearest entrance is adjacent to Vessel. 

Nearest subway station: 34 St-Hudson Yards (7)

The 7 train is also known as the “international express.” If you’re curious about what’s between Hudson Yards and Flushing, check out this list of cultural gems along the 7 train in Queens.

Bar Veloce

Bar Veloce claims to be “New York’s Modern Wine Bar.” The brick and column interior has a cozy, modern vibe. There’s a large communal table that surrounds the entire bar, which is laden with an impressive variety of wines. Happy hour is between 5 and 7. You can get prosecco, Rosato, and other types of red for $7, which is well below their average price. Glasses usually start at around $11. In addition to wines, Veloce serves cocktails and sprites, along with (mostly Italian) small plates and desserts.

Nearest subway station: 23 St (1/2)

There’s also a Bar Veloce inside terminal 5 at JFK Airport. It’s a perfect place to spend a short layover. If you’re layover is more than a few hours, here are some ideas for how to spend a layover a JFK.

The Ten Bells

If you want to pair wine with oysters, check out Ten Bells on the Lower East Side. Their food menu has a Spanish influence, while the wine selection leans heavily towards French. They serve organic wines, which are produced from biodynamic grapes. During their 5-7 happy hour, Ten Bells offers $15 carafes and $1 oysters. 

Nearest subway station: Delancey St (F/J/M/Z)

Here’s a list of places to check out along the F train in nearby Brooklyn.

Lois

Surely, you’ve heard of places that offer beer on tap, but how about wine? Instead of serving it from bottles, Lois offers 16 different wines on tap. Prices start around $7 per glass, and go as high as $60. There’s a rotating food menu to pair with the different wines.

Nearest subway station: 1 Avenue (L).

If you want to mix pizza and wine without venturing too far from the East Village, check out this list of pizza to try along the L train.

Vinateria

Harlem resident and an entrepreneur, Yvette Leeper-Bueno, opened Vinateria in 2013. Since then, it has become a neighborhood landmark with its Mediterranean vibe and cozy setting. Vinateria highlights smaller winemakers that provide flavorsome varietals that add spice to the Italian and Spanish-inspired dishes on offer, courtesy of executive chef, Alexis Meyer. This is an ideal place for a group date.

Nearest subway station: 116 St (B/C)

Indian Accent

If you love Indian classic Indian dishes and wine, check out Indian Accent. You can pair white varietals and Pinot Noir with their suggested dishes from around the subcontinent. Their international wine list is curated by beverage director, Anibal Calcagno, while the food menu consists of traditional Indian cuisine with a modern twist, courtesy of (chef) Manish Mehotra.

Nearest subway station: 57 Street (F/M/N/Q/R/W)

After it winds through Midtown, the N/W line runs above ground in Long Island City. There are several worthwhile attractions along the N train in nearby Astoria. 

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