New York City's Best Wine Happy Hours
Most New York happy hours will land you in a dive bar with discounted prices on already cheap beer. This week, elevate your happy hour at these NYC wine bars. By Adrienne Smith.
Amelie
22 W 8th St
New York, NY 10011
(212) 533-2962
www.ameliewinebar.com
Amelie offers more than 300 bottles of wine, many of which are available by the glass. Duck into the West Village space during happy hour, from 4 – 7 p.m. any day of the week and choose between $12 customized wine flights or $6 wines by the glass. While preselected wine flights are available on the menu, you can also pick your own three options to sample.
More: NYC's Best Cheesy Dishes
Miriam
79 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 622-2250
www.miriamrestaurant.com/
Park Slope bar Miriam offers one of Brooklyn's best happy hours – if you can land a seat at the bar. From 5 – 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, dive into 2-for-1 tapas and 2-for-1 glasses of wine or beer. The meze options, which come out to $3 a small plate, are endless. Start with the meatballs with pomegranate sauce and the burekas, or puff pastry stuffed with greens, leeks and feta.
Terroir
413 E 12th St
New York, NY 10009
(646) 602-1300
www.restauranthearth.com/Terroir
Terroir, sister bar to the East Village's Hearth, offers happy hour seven days a week. The deals are wide reaching, with $8 glasses of wine; $2.50 sherries; and rotating "bar snacks" for $3, "fried stuff" for $4 and bruschetta for $4. And if those deals aren't enough, Terroir's loyalty card will give you a free 13th glass of wine after you've purchased 12.
8th Street Wine Cellar
28 W 8th St
New York, NY 10011
(212) 260-9463
www.8thstwinecellar.com
8th Street Wine Cellar offers a rarity in downtown Manhattan: affordable wine. The underground bar's 90+ bottles of wine are all under $100. Partners in crime Michael Lagnese and Jonny Cohen, both long-serving bartenders at the Union Square Café, select primarily boutique wines for the space. Happy hour is daily from 4 – 7 p.m., with glasses of house wine at $6 and select bottles at $18. While you're there, try the pigs in a blanket ($7) and the bacon and figs with aged balsamic and mascarpone ($13).
Lelabar
422 Hudson St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 206-0594
www.lelabar.com
For a fancier night out, head to the West Village's Lelabar. The elegant space is small, with a circular, dark wood bar around which to sit. Lelabar's 300+ wine list can be pricey, but the bar's happy hour carefully curates wines for discounted sips. Every day from 5 – 7:30 p.m., one white and one red are available by the glass for $8. Or, order a $28 bottle and add one a meat and cheese plate for $12. If you show up on Wednesday or Saturday, $1.50 oysters are served.
Ten Degrees Bar
121 St Marks Pl
New York, NY 10009
(212) 358-8600
www.10degreesbar.com
This bustling East Village wine bar offers happy hour daily from noon until 8 p.m. While you may have to hustle for a seat come evening, the 2-for-1 glasses of wine are worth the effort. What's more, come on Mondays for half-priced bottles of wine all night. The wine list has extensive notes on each selection, so you can learn as you sip.
Jadis
42 Rivington St
New York, NY 10002
(212) 254-1675
www.jadisnyc.com
This Lower East Side spot sticks mostly to French wines, with a few New Zealand, Spanish and Chilean wines included for variety. The space is inviting, with couches scattered about and warm exposed brick walls. Head downtown Tuesday through Saturday for $5 glasses of wine and $6 Prosecco. On Mondays, wines over $30 are 30% off. Consider Jadis' thoughtful charcuterie and cheese plates to nosh on while you partake in happy hour.
For more from the Best Of New York, follow us on Twitter!
Adrienne Smith manages Lifestyle & Entertainment content for CBS Local. Follow her on Twitter here.