The wine and spirits site VinePair has just refreshed its rundown of New York City bars and restaurants worth checking out right now. The roundup covers the coolest, current, and top-notch spots across all five boroughs, and this month’s update adds fresh entries from Amphora, Bar CC, Graciela, Bar Etienne, and Don’t Be Shy.
Here’s what the list covers, broken down by neighborhood and style.
Midtown Luxury: Bar Chimera and Amphora
Situated at 550 Madison Ave in Midtown, Bar Chimera is a component of Gracious Hospitality’s growth strategy, which also includes a new Cote and a planned omakase restaurant. It combines three distinct ideas: Martinis, whiskey, and wine. The emphasis is on premium beverages, highlighted by a vast collection of aged Madeiras, exclusive releases of rare wines and spirits, and classic Martinis crafted from exacting ingredients, including the water used to cut them.
The restaurant Amphora now occupies the spot where wine-focused eateries Veritas and Saint Urban used to sit. It carries on the tradition of those two spots with a strong wine selection. Chef Jack Logue leads the kitchen, producing a seasonal tasting menu that changes with the seasons. Wine director Chris Miller curates pairings for that menu. Guests who prefer to choose their own bottles can instead explore the extensive collection, which holds more than 2,500 distinct labels.
Chelsea and Greenwich Village: Bar CC and Graciela
Chelsea’s Crane Club has expanded into Bar CC, a cocktail spot described as equally luxe. The room features floor-to-ceiling drapery, velvet fabric walls, and hand-blown Venetian sconces. Chef Melissa Rodriguez and restaurateur Jeff Katz brought in acclaimed bartender Harrison Ginsberg, previously of Overstory, to create the cocktail program.
The menu presents refined versions of familiar dishes. A savory olive, pepper, and mignonette brine gives the CC Martini its character, and the Toasted Almond Sour combines gin, toasted almond, lemon, and Italian meringue.
The Argentine tavern and steakhouse known as Graciela comes from Pablo Rivero, who runs the Buenos Aires destination Don Julio. While the showy live-fire cooking and large cuts of meat take center stage, the menu also includes a wide selection of appetizers. The brócoli dip, which is topped with cheese, almonds and breadcrumbs, and the chickpea tart, which has a dense texture and is topped with provolone and smoked paprika, are both standout dishes.
Jirka Jireh Rivera serves as beverage director for the program, and he and his team are willing to discuss lesser-known bottles from Argentina. The wine list extends well past the standard Malbec, with options such as high-elevation Sémillon and old-vine Bastardo available.
West Village and Hudson Square: Bar Etienne, Somssi, and Dean’s
A casual neighborhood spot has taken over the old Bandits space in the West Village. Bar Etienne is the creation of longtime friends and hospitality veterans Michael Bray and Keith Larry. The French bistro-inspired menu features a playful selection of culinary-minded cocktails. Among them is the Banana Question, made with rum and clarified banana, and the Petite Pompette, which pairs strawberry infused Pimm’s with mint.
There’s also a menu of teeny ‘tinis, including classic, dirty, mushroom, and tomato variations.
The Somssi kitchen comes from NA:EUN Hospitality, the same group behind Atoboy and Atomix, and it’s led by Ahris Kim, who formerly served as director of operations there. The menu offers a wide variety of shareable plates alongside a large wine, sake, and cocktail list. Among the dishes worth noting is the Potato, Potato, Potato, and caviar: a creamy pomme purée wrapped in thin, crispy potato strings, topped with a generous heap of caviar.
You can find a great selection of drinks on the menu, so no matter which combination you choose, you’re sure to enjoy your time at the bar.
Jess Shadbolt and Annie Shi brought their King background to the West Village with Dean’s, a British pub-inspired spot. The perfect — and sometimes even oyster-topped — pint pours here, along with a list of English sparkling wine to go with it. The menu sticks to the theme with fish and chips, stargazy pie, and pork scratchings.
Hudson Square and Beyond: Don’t Be Shy and Noury
Don’t Be Shy is a sleek new spot in Hudson Square inspired by the bars of Tokyo’s polished Ginza neighborhood. The signature “Trip to Japan” cocktails showcase Japanese flavors. The Edo is made with sweet potato miso flavored vodka, while the refreshing Echigo combines sparkling sake with Echigo stout beer.
Kiko was created by Lina Goujjane and Alex Chang, a husband-and-wife couple who run Hudson Square’s restaurant. It blends features of a modern Japanese izakaya with those of a wine and sake bar. Patrons can match small plates such as the daily sashimi selection or the house vegetable futomaki with rare bottles of sake or splurge-worthy Champagnes.
Modern Irish Pub: Bar Monto
Bar Monto is a relaxed place that pours creamy pints of Guinness in custom glassware. Its drink list goes beyond beer to include a playful selection of cocktails that are both simple and layered.
Key Facts Box
- New additions: Amphora, Bar CC, Graciela, Bar Etienne, Don’t Be Shy
- Amphora cellar: over 2,500 labels
- Jirka Jireh Rivera: beverage director at Graciela
- Harrison Ginsberg: bartender at Bar CC, previously of Overstory
- Echigo cocktail: sparkling sake + Echigo stout beer
- Somssi team: led by Ahris Kim of NA:EUN Hospitality
The list is a snapshot of a city that never stops serving. Whether you’re after a classic Martini or a bottle from the Argentina cellar, there’s a bar on this list that fits the mood.
Source material: “Where To Drink in NYC Right Now (October 2026),” VinePair.
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