Wine After Work

Sometimes the best way to end a weekday after work is to enjoy a nice glass of wine and some delicious small bites together. Take your friends or your coworkers out to a spot in Lincoln Square and appreciate good wine while taking in the atmosphere of this special neighborhood. Check out the following businesses offering wines and small plates or tapas.

Vanguard Wine Bar

On Amsterdam Avenue, a recently reopened neighborhood bar lives up to its name with an impressive list of wines organized by flavor to make choosing your glass simple and fun. Vanguard Wine Bar at 189 Amsterdam Avenue (at West 69th Street) serves a number of red and white wines from New York to Spain as well as sparkling and rosé options. Try one of the mild-mannered reds with a meat and cheese plate or a Goat Cheese and Onion Flatbread with a glass of Riesling from upstate. Contact the restaurant or check out the menu on All Menus here.

The Empire Rooftop

Head to the top of the Empire Hotel at 44 West 63rd Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue to enjoy a stylish bar with a view—The Empire Rooftop. Take a seat inside or outside on the patio with wide views up Broadway and over Lincoln Center’s campus. A most ideal spot to enjoy the sunset, they even have a signature Sunset Cocktail! For wine, try pairing the Chardonnay with the Crispy Rhode Island Calamari or the Pinor Noir with the Maitake Mushroom Flatbread. Click here for the menu.

Bar Boulud

Take a seat inside or outside on the sidewalk terrace at Bar Boulud at 1900 Broadway (at West 64th Street) and indulge in gourmet cheese plates or charcuterie with Chef Daniel Boulud's daily selections of pâtés, terrines, and cold specialties for an after work treat. For wine, don’t miss out on some special French pours including a Sablet Blanc from Côtes-du-Rhône or a Mirabeau Rosé to beat the heat, and much more. Click here to browse wine options. Bar Boulud highlights different wines weekly with its Unique Pours program, so don't miss these special large-format bottle pours. Also, as of July 19, Bar Boulud is now open 7 days a week.

Le Botaniste

For plant-based options, take a seat at Le Botaniste at 156 Columbus Ave (at West 67th Street) for small plates and organic, natural wines. Try the Young Coconut Ceviche with a glass of French Sauvignon Blanc or the Red Beet Caviar with a French Grenache and take a seat outside or inside of the eatery. The curated range of natural wines are all sulfate-free and change regularly, so you have to visit the restaurant for the menu. Click here to view the online menu for Le Botaniste’s small plates.

Le Pain Quotidien

Head to West 65th Street and Broadway after work for a bite and wine from well-known bakery-restaurant Le Pain Quotidien (60 West 65th Street). Order a seasonal Quiche Lorraine or try a Toasted Paris Ham and Cheese Croissant with a glass of the restaurant's own brand of red, white, or rosé wine. Click here to browse the food menu online and ask a waiter or waitress about the house wines when you order.

Porter House Bar & Grill

At the Bar at Porter House Bar & Grill, on the 3rd Floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle, you can unwind after work with some elevated small plates from the bar menu and a nice selection of wine by the glass (or half bottle!). Order a plate of oysters from the east and west coasts paired with a glass Grüner Veltliner, a glass of Riesling with Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, or a Salumi Board with the Chianti Classico, and more. Click here to view the menus online before you stop in.  

Ascent Lounge

For a more up-scale lounge experience as you enjoy wine and bites, stop by Ascent Lounge on the 3rd Floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle. Take in a full view of Columbus Circle and Merchants' Gate at the southern end of Lincoln Square with a tasty plate of almonds, olives, and cheese paired with one of the bar’s champagne or sparkling wine options, or the Truffle Mac & Cheese with a Riesling from the Finger Lakes, and much more. View the menu options for wine, Champagne, and snacks from Ascent’s Open Table page.

MO Lounge

Another lounge in the neighborhood with views, MO Lounge sits high up in the Mandarin Oriental, New York at 80 Columbus Circle overlooking Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. Ride the elevator up to enjoy light sharable plates and high-end bubbles and wines after work. Order some French-style Croquettes with a glass of Zinfandel, or try a three-cheese plate with Chenin Blanc, and more. Click here to view the menus.

Shakespeare & Company

Also, if you’d like to take a moment to sit with a book and sip on some wine, head to the outdoor seating area for Shakespeare & Co.’s café at 2020 Broadway (near West 69th Street) and order a glass from their small selection of French and Italian wines. Find your next read and then get started with a glass of Château Ducasse Blanc or maybe a glass of Prosecco Brut. Visit Shakespeare & Co.'s storefront for the menu.

Of course, most of our wonderful restaurants offer wine selections and more for you to enjoy with a delicious full-sized lunch or dinner meal, so check out our Neighborhood Guide for more restaurant options around Lincoln Square.

Photo credit (top to bottom): Vanguard Wine Bar, Le Botaniste