Theo Lieberman's 18 favourite wine bars and restaurants in New York 2024
Laid-back neighbourhood gems, steakhouses and top notch wine bars. In this guide Theo Lieberman, Star Wine List's new ambassador in New York City shows you his favourite wine places in the city – as well as two venues north of Manhattan.
-
![]()
Phone: (212) 580-3572
Address: 94 Chambers Street #1, New York
Sustainable Wine List of the Year New York, presented by Lingua Franca 2024
While many of the key players from Racine’s are still around, there is something unbelievably fresh and new about the feeling at Chambers. The food menu is charmingly broken up into the categories of First, Then, Followed By, and With. The food is extremely seasonal, driven by what is available that day at the market, and while the vibe is down-to-earth, the food and ambience are elegant and exciting. The wine list at Chambers is an absolute gem, which is no surprise as Pascaline Lepeltier is one of the partners. There are glasses of wine starting at $9 (a thing that is slowly disappearing f...
-
Phone: (646) 869-9310
Address: 60 Canal Street, New York
Corner Bar at the Nine Orchard Hotel is the newest venture from Mattos Hospitality (Estela, Lodi and Altro Paradiso). The menu, like the wine list, features new American cuisine with plenty of European influences. Don’t skip out on the raw bar; on my last visit, that was an absolute highlight. Right through the lobby you will find the Swan Room, a beautiful lobby bar that transports you back to its former iteration, the Jarmulowsky Bank building which was built in 1912. While the whole wine list is available throughout the entire building (yes, in your room for room service too!) the focus her...
-
![]()
Phone: (929) 367-7370
Address: 87 MacDougal Street, New York
Best Short List of the Year New York 2024
Dame is arguably one of the hardest seats to book in New York City, and there’s good reason for that. Chef Ed Szymanski’s food and wine list is playful, serious, reasonable and delicious all at the same time. This self-proclaimed “micro restaurant” has just 22 seats, but the playful English seafood restaurant is packed thanks to the lively bold flavors combined with a farmers' market sensibility that it offers. Think oysters with chartreuse and the best fish and chips you have ever had. While Dame uses the same seafood purveyor that you might find at any 3-Michelin Star restaurant, Ed and Patr...
-
![]()
Phone: (917) 261-2009
Address: 289 Bleecker Street, New York
Andrew Quinn and Cedric Nicaise both met at Eleven Madison Park where Quinn was a sous chef and Nicaise was the Wine Director. After years of working together, the two teamed up to open a neighborhood, accessible restaurant. The seasonal menu is consistently changing to highlight local produce and farms. The team wants you to feel relaxed, “Like going to a dinner party, but a guy from EMP is doing the cooking”. The wine list focuses on classics and is heavy on Burgundy and California with a few more natural offerings spliced in. There are roughly 400 references with 100 of those being under $...
-
![]()
Phone: (917) 261-6791
Address: 90 East 10th Street, New York
Owners Chase and Josh have had a lot of time to plan their perfect restaurant and, boy, does it show. The duo met when Chase was working as the Wine Director at Momofuku Ko and Josh was the Corporate Chef for the group. They wanted a restaurant that combined the vibe of a French and English bistro, with the cuisine representing the French food woven through Josh’s history, with some Asian flair snuck in. The wine list in its entirety hovers around 800 references; however, there is a daily shortlist with a more navigable 250 references, 50 of which are under $100. The list is sorted alphabeti...
-
Phone: (917) 663-6223
Address: 63 Clinton Street, New York
There are very few teams in New York City that have worked together as long as Chef Sam Clonts and co-owner Raymond Trinh. They started their work career 10 years ago at 3-Michelin Star Brooklyn Fare, and then moved to 1-Star Bar Uchū. Finally, they decided to open their own concept, with the intent that fine dining doesn’t have to be pretentious. The food blends French, Japanese and southwestern cuisine into a tasting menu meant for people for all walks of life. The owners wanted the feel to be akin to having been welcomed into their home—boy, do I wish I had food like this at my house. The...
-
![]()
Phone: 929) 367-7370
Address: 215 Union Street, Brooklyn
The team from Popina has opened another restaurant, this time inspired by a British chop house. When opening Gus’s Chop House they decided to “New Yorkify” a French bistro/ London chop house, while remaining an everyday restaurant that caters to how people like to eat in New York. While the focus is on the chops, the market sides are there to complement them. The menu changes frequently and the starters are incredible too; think hash browns with trout roe, pâté, and rillettes. The goal of the wine program was to create another great neighborhood restaurant that's also a wine destination with...
-
![]()
Phone: (833) 446-8666
Address: 98 Kenmare Street, New York
Bar Pasquale is the newest venture from Delicious Hospitality, the group behind Charlie Bird, Legacy Records and Pasquale Jones. (Full disclosure: I am the Beverage Director for the whole group.) While Pasquale Jones has always had its heart in Naples, Bar Pasquale focuses on Sicily. Both the food and the wine list are inspired by the time the team traveled together throughout the region. The wine list has a big focus on small producers from many of the sub-regions of Sicily. While Sicilian-focused, the list keeps a fair number of bottles on hand from the rest of Europe, as well as a small s...
-
![]()
Phone: (212) 970-2202
Address: 85 10th Avenue, New York
Best Short List of the Year New York 2023
Disco Ball pizza oven, check. Epic playlists, check. What feels like a gift to the neighborhood by Melissa Rodrigues and the team behind Al Coro, Mel’s serves as a more casual sidekick to the fine dining Al Coro. With artisanal pizza selections accompanied by seasonal fare, don’t skimp on the array of dipping sauces for your pizza crust. If you feel like partying afterward, try your luck at getting into Discolo, the 85 Tenth Avenue team’s Cocktail Club. The wine list at Mel’s is compact, with roughly 65 references. While that might seem on the smaller side, the list is constantly changing, so...
-
![]()
Address: 367 7th Avenue, Brooklyn
I spent eight years living in Park Slope, and all I ever wanted was a restaurant like Runner Up. Chef Daniel Eddy (formerly of Rebelle) has finally given this perfect neighborhood a perfect restaurant. When we were chatting, Daniel made a point to say that the food is made to be paired with wine – it’s always a good sign when a chef loves wine as much a Daniel does. With only 12 seats and two induction burners, one would never guess this kitchen had any limitations. It might seem like the straightforward thing to do is get excellent cheese and charcuterie; the pro move is to build yourself a...
-
![]()
Phone: (917) 909-0434
Address: 231 Court Street, Brooklyn
Located in Carrol Garden’s, June Wine Bar has long been a staple of the Brooklyn natural wine scene. This laid-back neighborhood favorite has recently been given an exciting boost when they brought on executive chef Diego Moya (formerly of Racines). Diego has always cooked some of my favorite food in the city, focusing on off-the-beat and path flavor combinations. The wine list definitely leans on the more natural side of things, there is even a section called “????????”. The champagne section is always full of exciting growers, but make sure not to skip “Not Champagne, but tastes damn good”...
-
![]()
Phone: (917) 909-1427
Address: 348 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn
On the border of Park Slope and Prospect heights is the ever difficult to get into, Fausto. Erin Shambura’s menu is full of incredible house made pastas, but I can never resist the chicken and the arancini. I always joke that you can judge everything you need to know about a restaurant by their chicken, and it certainly applies here, because both are great. The wine list has a great selection of wine from all over, but mostly focuses on French, Italian & American wine. There are always hidden gems on the list, some with a great amount of bottle age. My move is to have a cocktail at the bar w...
-
![]()
Phone: (212) 401-7986
Address: 16 West 22nd Street b/w 5th & 6th Avenue, New York
Cote has been self-described as a Korean Steakhouse, but it feels like so much more. For $65 you can opt for the butcher’s feast, which incorporates four selected cuts of A5 beef and a slew of accompanying sides. While the steak Omakase isn’t cheap at $185 a person, it’s one of the best dinners you can have in New York. During covid lockdown I ate quite a bit of take out, and trust me, the food travels well too. The wine list at Cote is what initially drew me in, which makes sense if you look at the folks who run it. They love large format wine, and you should definitely book a large party a...
-
![]()
Address: 104 East 30th Street, New York
From the chef behind the ever-popular Atoboy came the 12 seat, reservation only Korean fine dining restaurant Atomix. Chef Junghyun Park’s “New Korean” tasting menu draws inspiration not only from his home of Korea, but also nods to his time working as a chef in London and New Zealand. The current menu is nine courses, and the menu tends to lean very heavily towards vegetables and fish. While the food is incredibly complex and technique driven, there is always something comforting about the flavors. The wine list at Atomix is first and foremost there to compliment the food. Due to the menu’...
-
![]()
Address: 1 White Street, New York
Best Long List of the Year New York 2024
One White Street is a culmination of two great minds in hospitality, Chef Austin Johnson and Master Sommelier Dustin Wilson. Located in one of the most iconic buildings in Tribeca, this restaurant keeps true to the allure of the address. There is a more casual restaurant (some might call it a fancy wine bar vibe?) downstairs, with a tasting menu upstairs. No matter where you wind up, you are in for a serious treat. The wine list at One White Street is separated into categories like: “Bright and Refreshing” and “Floral and Fragrant” for the whites. For reds we have: “Noble Red Fruit” and “Rou...
-
![]()
Phone: (917) 748-3248
Address: 517 West 38th Street, New York
Best Medium-Sized List of the Year New York 2023
Recently re-opened after a long covid closure, Legacy Records is finally back and serving chef Ryan Hardy’s Italian inspired fare. Handmade pasta, raw bar and an incredible honey lacquered duck breast are not to be missed. In typical Delicious Hospitality fashion, the lighting is dim, the music is loud, and the decor is on point. Don’t forget to grab a cocktail at Ada’s Place upstairs before or after your meal. There’s Tarragona Chartreuse waiting for you… The wine list focuses heavily on French and Italian wine, but there is a smattering of wines from all over the world. Due to covid closure...
-
![]()
Phone: (914) 366-9600
Address: 630 Bedford Road,Blue Hill at Stone Barns
Sparkling Wine List of the Year New York, presented by Nyetimber 2024
Just a 45-minute train ride outside of Manhattan is one of the greatest culinary destinations in New York. Chef Dan Barber’s seasonal tasting menu is hyper local, sourcing most ingredients from their 80-acre farm. Sustainability and low waste have always been on the forefront of this restaurant, so much so that they even launched Row 7, a business that sells seeds for more flavorful and sustainable vegetables. The wine list is beautifully curated with a focus on both classic old-world regions and championing small producers from exciting new world regions. There is an impressive selection of...
-
![]()
Phone: (914) 666-8044
Address: 11 Kittle Road, Chappaqua
California Wine List of the Year New York 2024
I went to high school three minutes away from Crabtree's Kittle House, and very few people I know even know it exists. Tucked at the end of a cul-de-sac in a very sleepy town, this is one of the greatest wine lists in New York. The venue is also a bed and breakfast with a surprisingly good brunch buffet (oysters, shrimp cocktail and lots of roasts). Grab some friends, book some rooms and have an epic dinner on Saturday night and chase the hangover away with just as much wine as you had at dinner for the Sunday brunch. With 45,000 bottles in the cellar, there are certainly many options on th...
