Nine red wines, nine whites, and nine dishes. That is the idea behind Nine Cases, a small wine bar in the East Village. And here’s the kicker: they buy only one case of every wine. When that is empty, the wine makes way for a new one, and the menu cheerfully changes along with it. No more decision stress, always something new in the glass. Add to that a good dose of candlelight, brick walls, and nine small international dishes, and you’ll understand why Nine Cases has become a beloved spot. We say: make it a case (easy one). 

From the frontman of a band to a Michelin-starred wine bar: it’s totally possible. The Four Horsemen in Williamsburg was co-founded in 2015 by James Murphy, frontman of the New York band LCD Soundsystem. What started as a small, laid-back wine bar grew into one of the more well-known spots within the New York natural wine scene. In fact, they were quite ahead of the curve with low-intervention wines: wines made with minimal intervention. By now, there are over 900 different wines on the menu, The Four Horsemen won a James Beard Award for its wine program, and a Michelin star was added. Because they take things just as seriously in the kitchen, too. Reservations? Yes.

Buvette of course we know us from Paris, and we like going there, but stud twist: You can find the original in New York. Chef Jody Williams opened her first Buvette in 2011 in the West Village; Paris followed only later. Williams herself calls it a gastrothèqueSomewhere between a French neighborhood bistro, café, and wine bar. And the kind where you actually want to drop in at any time of day. In the morning for coffee and a croissant, later for a glass of wine or champagne at the marble bar, preferably with charcuterie and cheese within reach. Staying for steak tartare and a digestif is, of course, allowed too.

France, but in Brooklyn. Between us Clinton Hill is the little sister of the beloved bistro Fradei and absolutely answers the question of a wine bar. With nearly five hundred different bottles, featuring a penchant for natural and low-intervention wines from the Loire, Burgundy, Jura, and Rhône, there is bound to be something in there that appeals to you. Champagne? Plenty. And because wine on an empty stomach isn't much fun, the menu features oysters, charcuterie, oeuf mayonnaise, rillettes, and other French delicacies. The long copper bar does the rest. Moreover, reservations are by no means always necessary: ​​most seats are kept free for walk-ins. Très bien.

A piece of San Sebastián on the border of Chinatown and Two Bridges. Bar Oliver This is one for the long sit: you can drop in in the morning for coffee and breakfast, and before you know it, you're still there hours later, but with a glass of wine in front of you. Perfect for a day when you don't feel like walking around all the famous New York highlights. The wine is mainly low-intervention and European, the vermouth is on tap, and pintxos, tortilla, croquetas, and pan con tomate appear on the table. All this in the setting of a stylish wooden interior and surrounded by a nice downtown crowd.

The kind of wine bar you wish was around the corner from after just one visit. Della's It is a tiny spot in Tribeca owned by Liz Nicholson, who is also behind the wine shop Frankly Wines right next door. So there is no shortage of wine knowledge. The selection is small but excellent, changes regularly, and a substantial portion can simply be ordered by the glass. Along with that, there is cheese, charcuterie, and small bites – including an Italian beef sandwich as a nod to Nicholson’s roots in Chicago. It fits about 25 people, the windows open as soon as the weather permits, and before you know it, you’ve had three glasses. A neighborhood wine bar as a neighborhood wine bar should be.

From online wine shop to wine bar: Parcelle Chinatown hasn't denied its roots. The wine nerd factor is nice and high, and they don't subscribe to pigeonholing. A funky natural wine sits just as happily alongside a great Burgundy or Barolo. The wine list is a study in itself, but with sommeliers guiding you glass by glass through the cellar, everything will be just fine. Also nice: there isn't actually a bar. Instead, you'll find leather sofas, small tables, and a collection of vintage designer furniture featuring names like Gio Ponti and Verner Panton. Handsome chair, good wine. We're not picky.

More than a thousand bottles of wine and only twelve chairs. The tiny wine bar Stars in the East Village opened in late 2025 and is the brainchild of the people behind Claud and Penny, two beloved New York restaurants. This is not a restaurant that just happens to know its way around wine: wine takes center stage. And fortunately, that doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. For instance, there are listed under the heading 88 Under $88 exactly 88 bottles for 88 dollars or less on the enormous wine list, and there is also plenty to choose from by the glass. And for those who like to pretend they know their stuff: all the bartenders are also sommeliers. Just saying. Hungry? There are small bites, including deviled eggs. To book? nopeThe twelve bar stools are walk in onlyFirst come, first served.