Bar Carrera
(212) 375-1555
175 2nd Ave
New York,
NY
10003
40.7305
-73.9864
Neighborhoods: Downtown, East Village
What People Are Saying About Bar Carrera
The Editor
Erin Behan
Citysearch
The Scene
There's a certain austere modesty to the interior of this wine and tapas bar. From the outside, its ribbed, opaque facade completely obscures the space. From the inside, the panes become a blurred moving picture of shapes, colors and flashes of light, gently dimming the street buzz. A serene concrete bar, backed by obsessively arranged wine bottles and topped with a bonsai tree and Siamese fighting fish, calms the East Villagers who come to muse.
The Draw
Start as they do in Spain, by ordering a tasty "pincho" (tiny tapa) like the small plate of Spanish olives (arbequina and manzanilla) and toasted almonds or the savory tower of cheese, pineapple and charred bacon. Then dip into the reasonably priced list of wines hailing from the Iberian peninsula. On one end of the spectrum is the light, refreshing Peitan Albarino with hints of fruit--on the other, the full-bodied Guelbenzu blend that bursts with blueberry.
User Reviews
drink_club1
April 10, 2009
What happened to all those annoying yuppies and the annoying girls who like them? You've found 'em! They pack this little place radiating everything you hated about the 90s. We had reservations for six, but they had no table. "We don't take reservations." Then, "Just wait a minute and we'll do something," said the waiter on duty. 30 minutes later we left and went to a great place right across the street. We can't tell you about the food. We didn't have a chance to have any. --Drink Club is a roving group of NYC drinkers.
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manhattanlady
September 11, 2008
had an awesome time last night with my girlfriends. the service was top-notch and the ambiance was excellent. great place for groups, alone time or a quiet date. the best place to enjoy Spanish wine and tapa dishes in Manhattan. we began our evening at the bar, then moved on to the dining room. i just got back from spain and i feel like i never left. oh thank you my lovely friends for taking me to bar carrera. this is one of those places that makes me thankful for living in NY. amazingly cute and original tapas and sangria place that takes you back, or puts you right in, spain. the contrast of busy trafficy streets of NY, yet welcoming attitude of the staff is magnificent. after only few minutes you truly forget about the world outside and start to indulge distinct wines or sangrias. the level of noise and laughter is a vital sign happy customers everywhere around. then, the tapas arrive. pleasantly stimulating, fresh, all items were tasty. how can you not love it? this is not a place to sit and stuff yourself. this is a place for enjoyment of great company (elbow-to-elbow folks waiting to sit at the bar or waiting for a table in the dining room), with little bites of tapas and excellent selection of wines just to turn it up a notch. ok, maybe tons of notches ;) not pricey at all and worth every penny, because it's truly the most authentic spanish place I've been in NY. the staff is warm and humble (meaning, they appreciate your business). can't wait to go back for more!
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129999999999
September 03, 2008
This is a great night to spend in Barcelona, NY that is...Takes you away for a bitt... make sure to bite into their egg in the blanket..xO...truely a chill & fun atmosphere..great for a session at the bar or in the dining rOOm that's truely cozy...nutzo tapas with a twist toO... a few by WD50 chef Wiley Dufresne....try sOme Cava from a pOrrone.!!!..u wOn't want tO forget it....njOy....eVeryday...eAt and drink....well
read full reviewThe Details on Bar Carrera
Look Good:
Show off your knowledge of the region and ask for a glass of txacoli, a traditional drink in the Basque region. The bartender pours the effervescent white wine from a great height--and the greater the height, the better the bartender.
The Extras:
Proprietor Frederick Twomey also runs the adjacent wine bar, Bar Veloce.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
