Warming Up: 4 Cozy Wine Bars in NYC
It can be hard to be bright eyed and bushy tailed in weather like this. An interesting time of year in New York surely. Murky days and rainy nights can take a toll on your joie de vivre. But it is also the best time to spend afternoons off in cozy corners of dark wine bars. As I've only been living in New York for the last 4 months, I've found the majority of my evenings off are spent rather close to home.
Are you feeling the early December blues and want to find a little slice of heaven? Looking for a date spot? Here are a few of my favorites!
I got lucky and scored some blue skies while I walked to Cello Wine Bar on East 53rd Street to indulge in a little Champagne. This place boasts the perfect mixture of Steve Miller Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and CCR. snagging a bottle of Louis de Sacy Champagne was my first concern, snagging the front window seat was an added bonus! The place is dressed like a dive bar, with exposed brick walls, solid wood tables, and music selections it is definitely the kind of place I can hang (it's reminiscent of my dad's blues rock jam sessions growing up)
Cello Wine Bar 229 E 53rd St. b/t 2nd & 3rd
Need a date spot? I recently went to Sofia Wine Bar and found the goldilocks of dating locales. Not too quiet to make it awkward (unless you're me and can make anything awkward), not too expensive to make it presumptuous, and with just the right amount of whimsical decoration to set a romantic mood. I'm a firm believer that a first date should not be over dinner but I'm also a very hungry person. So when my blind date, okay it was a Bumble date, I call him Matt Bumble, suggested Sofia's I was pleasantly surprised. Sofia's boasts a comprehensive glass and bottle list and when the garlicy smell of classic Margerhita pizza walked by we (I) couldn't resist. We chose to go for the bottle of Produttori del Barbaresco since his familial origins were of Northern Italy and I love Barbaresco (win, win right? or should I say... wine, wine ha...haha).
Sofia Wine Bar 242 E 50th St. b/t 2nd & 3rd
Looking for a late night spot? Vanguard was so convenient. Open until at least 12:00am (2:00am on the weekends) every night I was smitten. I showed up a little late so opted for a wine by the glass, St. Emillion, my date, a wine novice, but so so so cute, got a little Washington merlot blend that was surprisingly tasty. The clean lines and white marble bar where a sophisticated touch. Our hipster bartender kept the pours generous and the conversation flowed.
Vanguard Wine Bar 1372 1st Ave b/t 73rd and 74th St.
Heidi's House was a blast. A perfect place to reconnect with an old friend. It's funny how New York can put people in front of you never would have dreamed you would run into again in life. The word cozy doesn't even begin to describe this delightful hole in the wall.The atmosphere completely warmed me up from the bone chilling cold outside and the extensive by the glass list made my heart happy. A must in this neck of the woods.
Heidi's House 308 E 78th St. b/t 1st and 2nd
