Best Wine Bars in Manhattan
The 10 best wine bars in Manhattan, natural wine, classic French, by-the-glass focused. Picked by locals, sourced from Eater, Wine & Spirits, Time Out. No paid placement.
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- 1Nolita · $$$ · 249 Centre StMap ↗verified 7w ago
A Nolita basement French wine bar, Centre Street entrance, low-lit, French-classical-leaning by-the-glass program with one of the deeper Burgundy bench in downtown Manhattan.
Because Compagnie des Vins runs a genuinely serious by-the-glass list with old-vine producers from the Cote d Or that the rest of the borough only pours by the bottle, and the somm staff actually pours blind tastings if you ask.
Order Sancerre by the glass, plate of charcuterie, cheese flight to share.
Sit at the bar at 5 p.m., the room fills for dinner by 7, but the bar at the open hour is empty and the staff has time to walk you through the by-the-glass program.
From @lacompagniecentrestreet on Instagram, shown through Instagram's own embed player.
Good to know
- What is the best wine bar in Manhattan?
- Our current #1 reflects a blend of editorial sourcing from Eater, Wine & Spirits, and Time Out, plus live community votes. The list re-ranks as votes come in — what is first today may not be first tomorrow.
- Where can I drink natural wine in Manhattan?
- Several spots on this list are natural-wine-leaning — typically a Loire-and-Jura-heavy by-the-glass list, with occasional Italian and German producers. The Lower East Side and East Village have the deepest natural-wine bench.
- Are wine bars in Manhattan reservation-only?
- Most are walk-in friendly with a small reservation list — the bar counter is usually first-come, the few tables typically book a week ahead. Show up at 5 or 6 p.m. for the easiest seat.
- How much does a glass of wine cost at a Manhattan wine bar?
- Most by-the-glass programs run $13 to $22 per pour. Higher-end Burgundy and Champagne by the glass climb to $30 to $50. Bottle markups at the better wine bars are typically 2 to 2.5x retail rather than the 3 to 4x of restaurants.
- What food do Manhattan wine bars serve?
- Most run a small plates menu — charcuterie, cheese, anchovies on toast, gildas, deviled eggs. A handful of spots on this list have full kitchens with seasonal entrees designed for pairing.
