Best of the New Wine Bar Crop
By Justine Goodman, Nightlife Editor
Once upon a time, "wine bar" was just a fancy way to describe a cafe that couldn't get a license to serve regular booze. No longer, as the vino craze takes hold of every 'hood in the city. But just because a wine bar is new doesn't mean it's good. Behold our picks of the best spots to relish in the nectar of the heavens--or at least be a proper wino.
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Solex
103 1st Ave, New York, NY
Amidst the scores of First Avenue dives and dingy hipster bars, a French wine bar that specializes in lesser known wines and pastry-based small plates, sans pretension. -
Xai Xai
365 W 51st St, New York, NY
A candlelit spot where oenophiles--that's a wine aficionado, you unrefined, tasteless delinquent--ditch the old-world wines and sample a variety of South African vintages. -
Buceo 95
201 W 95th St, New York, NY
The rumors are true: Even Upper West Side yuppies need a drink once in a while. Luckily, this local wine and tapas bar captures the homey feel of the neighborhood and adds a European twist. -
Bacaro
136 Division St, New York,
A sliver of Venice, buried in a flurry of colorful Chinatown awnings. -
Black Mountain Wine House
415 Union St, Brooklyn, NY
Just a block off the hustle-and-bustle of Smith Street, an international wine bar that conjures a peaceful retreat. -
8th Street Wine Cellar
28 W 8th St, New York, NY
A Village wine bar that thumbs its nose at tradition--and snobs--bringing the drink of the gods back down to earth. Now if only someone could bring the rest of the neighborhood back down too.
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Bar Veloce
175 2nd Ave, New York, NY
East Village vino bar for the cultivated palate. -
Peasant Wine Bar
194 Elizabeth St, New York, NY
This subterranean wine cellar is perfect for your next affair (or just an after-dinner drink). -
Stonehome Wine Bar
87 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY
A home away from home for Fort Greene's wine enthusiasts.
