A Wine Lover's Playbook to New York City: Lower Manhattan Edition

Hey guys!

This week’s newsletter is going to be slightly different. The question we get asked more than anything else is: "Where should I eat, drink, and buy wine in New York?" While I’m not a Michelin-starred guide or an established food & wine critic, I do have a solid list of places where you can enjoy a great meal and an even better bottle of wine. So, this week, we’re kicking off a series of guides on our favorite wine-focused spots in different neighborhoods across New York City.

For this edition, we’re diving into Lower Manhattan, which essentially means everything below 14th Street on the island. This includes neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, West Village, SoHo, Tribeca, the Financial District, Chinatown, Lower East Side, the East Village, and more. There’s an ultra-concentrated collection of restaurants, wine bars, and wine shops, so including everything is going to be tough, but I’ll try my best. Enjoy 🍷

Wine Bars🍷 

Sometimes it feels like there’s an endless selection of wine bars in New York, and it’s probably true. With so many great options, it can be tough to narrow it down. Whenever I go out, 9 times out of 10 it’s to a wine bar, so here are a few in Lower Manhattan that I love:

St. Jardim, West Village 📍 

St. Jardim in the West Village is a gem. By day, it’s the kind of café that feels like it’s straight out of a New York fantasy; sunlit, with massive windows and sidewalk seating that wraps around their entire corner space. But don’t let the café atmosphere fool you, you can grab a glass of wine here any time, and it’s always a good choice. By night, the place transforms into a laid-back wine bar, pouring a phenomenal selection of fun BTG options. And the staff? They’re incredible. Knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. It’s the kind of spot where you could easily end up staying all day if you so desire.

Cellar 36, Two Bridges 📍 

Cellar 36 in Two Bridges doesn’t try to be anything it’s not, and that’s exactly what makes it stand out. Exposed brick walls, about six or seven wooden tables, bar seating, and empty wine bottles literally everywhere you look. I saw someone online describe a great wine bar as a house party you feel like you showed up late to, and that’s exactly how Cellar 36 feels. The place is small, but it’s always buzzing. And the wine list is big, like packet-sized big. The selection is packed with natural wines from all over: oxidative Jura whites, deeply macerated Georgian oranges, and carbonic Australian reds. It’s relaxed, unpretentious, and all about high quality wine. Also, full disclosure, I pick up a shift here once a week, but that doesn’t stop me from coming back most other days.

Ruffian, East Village📍 

Ruffian holds a special place in my heart. It was here that I learned wine isn’t just from France, Italy, or the USA. I’m pretty sure I tasted my first Croatian, Georgian, and Slovenian wines here. They’ve got hundreds of bottles from Central and Eastern Europe, and if you’re lucky, the owner, Patrick, will sit down with you and talk your ear off about all of them. The food is perfect for those looking for light bites, with a menu that’s mostly vegetarian. The space strikes the perfect balance, cozy yet refined, doing just enough to feel special without going overboard. Every time I’m here, I leave feeling like I’ve discovered something new, which is always a joy.

Other Spots to Save: Lai Rai, La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, Le Dive, The Ten Bells, Skin Contact, Parcelle Chinatown, Parcelle Greenwich Village, Casetta, Terroir, Elvis, Sauced East Village, Somm Time, Moonflower, Adore, Shmoné Wine

Restaurants 🍽️ 

This part of the list feels like an impossible task because of the sheer number of restaurants in New York. I usually gravitate towards places with phenomenal wine lists, and thankfully, that often means they have a solid menu as well. Here are a few favorites in Lower Manhattan:

Chambers, Tribeca 📍 

I truly believe that Chambers is one of the best restaurants to drink wine in New York City. This opinion is largely shaped by the incredible sommelier running the show, Pascaline Lepeltier. She’s one of the finest wine minds anywhere, and her expertise shines through in every aspect of the dining experience. The food is, of course, absolutely delicious, but it’s the wines that truly steal the spotlight. I’m not here often, but when I am, I find myself closing the wine list and letting Pascaline take the reins, knowing I’m in the most capable hands. The experience feels like a symphony, and she’s the conductor. I’ll admit, this place definitely a splurge, but if you love wine, it’s not to be missed.

Kafana, Alphabet City 📍 

Kafana on Avenue C feels like you’ve been transported straight to Serbia, even though I’ve never actually been to the country. The space has an old-school tavern vibe, and the food is as no-nonsense as it gets: Serbian staples like gibanica (a flaky pastry stuffed with feta) and pileci ražnjici (grilled chicken kebabs), along with plenty of other meat-heavy dishes. Vlad, the owner, along with his partner, Masa, run the show, moving from table to table, opening bottles like they’re hosting a dinner party at their home. Kafana boasts, by far, the largest Central and Eastern European wine list in the city, and it’s also one of the best-priced lists in New York. I’ll admit, I probably know less than 10% of the producers on their list because of the sheer number of deep cuts they have, and most of the time, I’m choosing with blind faith. But every bottle is a winner. One of my favorite spots to eat in the neighborhood. Oh, and by the way, it’s cash only if you go.

Wu's Wonton King, Chinatown 📍 

Alright, so this one’s a bit of a cheat. Wu’s Wonton King is a BYOB spot, and it’s a favorite for anyone who wants to skip the corkage fee and enjoy a night of great food and wine without breaking the bank. The setup is simple: gather a few friends, everyone brings a bottle or two, and dive into as much Chinese food as you can handle. There’s something so comforting about this place, no pretension, just the freedom to enjoy your wine the way you want, paired with dumplings, duck bao buns, and noodle dishes that never disappoint. I’ve found an off-dry Riesling and a Northern Rhône Syrah usually pair perfectly with just about everything. And before you leave, make sure to grab a video of all the bottles spinning on the Lazy Susan.

Other Spots to Save: Demo, Foxface Natural, Smithereens, Claud, Penny, Noreetuh, Foul Witch, Ho Foods, Le French Diner, Ha’s Snack Bar, Corima, Bridges, Frenchette, King, Pinch Chinese, Libertine, Zimmi’s, Wildair, Roscioli, Lord’s, Bar Fedora, Heroes

Wine Stores 🛍️ 

One of the many things I’m thankful for about living in New York City is the incredible access to wine. Wine stores are where I spend most of my time and money because, quite frankly, it’s a lot easier and cheaper to buy wine and drink it at someone’s apartment. That said, here are some of my favorite stores in Lower Manhattan:

Discovery Wines, East Village 📍 

Discovery Wines is the wine store I frequent the most in New York, not just because I live nearby, but because I genuinely believe they have one of the best selections of minimal intervention wines in the city. Trevor, the store manager, is incredibly knowledgeable and cares deeply about every bottle the store carries. Whether you're a natural wine enthusiast or completely new to the scene, he'll always take the time to help you find a phenomenal bottle. Make sure to check out the back wall where they have some rare gems too.

Wine Therapy, Nolita 📍 

Wine Therapy is one of those wine shops that feels like a record store. You walk in, and you're hit with walls of bottles stretching up to the high ceilings, each one with a different label staring back at you. I often wonder if anyone ever bothers asking for a bottle from the top shelf, it’s that out of reach. But the selection here is really top-notch. The staff is also fantastic. Always down to chat about whatever’s exciting them at the moment, never rushing you out the door. Every visit feels like a mini adventure, whether I walk out with a bottle or just some new knowledge.

Chambers St. Wines, Tribeca 📍 

Chamber Street Wines is a New York institution. Founded by David Lillie and Jamie Wolff, it’s been a reliable destination for minimal intervention wines since 2001. Today, they offer a wide range of bottles from various regions, varieties, and vintages. They even occasionally have back-vintage cellared wines that they put on the shelf just for fun. I recently went wine shopping there, you can check out the video here:

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Other Spots to Save: Urban Wines and Spirits, Orange Glou, Convive Wines & Spirits, Verve Wine, The Wine Hut, Terry’s West Village, Jones Street Wine, Magazzino

That’s it for this week! I know there were a lot of spots listed, so I really appreciate you sticking with me. While all of these Lower Manhattan spots are fantastic, I’m sure I missed quite a few that I’ll probably kick myself for forgetting. Plus, with new spots opening what feels like every week, this list will likely look a lot different in just a few months and will be in need of a refresh. Until then, stay tuned for some more guides!

Thanks so much for reading along and, as always, drink responsibly 🥂