Murray Hill Wine Bars

Thai

407 Third Avenue 10016
Cross Streets: 28th & 29th St.
212-679-7772

Hours: Daily: 11:30am-Midnight

Reserve, a newly opened Thai-inspired tapas and wine bar, hopes to assist you with your spicy food and wine pairing abilities.  In fact, the owners’ (a brother/ sister team along with a wine connoisseur friend) aim is to help you easily pair anything from a robust cabernet sauvignon to a crisp chardonnay that complements the sweet, spicy, salty and sour flavors of Thai cuisine.  According to the website: “The wines at Reserve have been personally palate-picked to complement and, at times, challenge the complexities of Thai flavors. In fact, every bottle of wine, wedge of cheese and pour of beer – although produced in different pockets of the world – embody a Thai essence: the intermingling of notes, aromas, tastes.”

The wine list features 17 wines sold by glass and an international wine list including wines from Spain, Italy, France, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Australia, Oregon, Chile, Argentina. Those frustrated by low-end labels at other Thai spots will be happy to know that there isn’t a Pinot Grigio in sight. On the red side, there’s a Malbec from Argentina ($8 a glass) and an Italian Lacrima ($10). If you like white, try the Slovenian Tocai ($9). If you’re in the mood to do some more heavy-duty tippling, bottles range $28–$35.  They also have a good beer list featuring craft beers like Troegs and authentic Thai beers.

Reserve offers charcuterie and cheese platters in addition to its diverse Thai and tapas menus. The menu is filled with French, Italian and Spanish influences on the Thai dishes. A crab cake appetizer ($6) is served with a sweet, spicy vanilla sauce; a basil chicken empanada ($3.50) is paired with a cucumber salad. Panang curry beef ($6) and som thum salad ($5) are still on the menu as well as green-curry pizza topped with chicken, fontina, and salami (~$10) and smoked salmon deviled eggs with Thai spices ($4).

For the otherwise nutty Kips Bay places, Reserve seems to be a good place for a date or three/four friends to chat comfortably over wine/small plates while enjoying mellow music and flat-screen TV viewing.

Word is they have a WTF happy hour (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) from 4-8 p.m. – $5 wines by the glass and $6 cocktails.  Sunday and Monday (all day), they will take 30% off any bottle of wine and Tuesday 20% off. And to be confirmed, but also a current deal is a special 3-course tapas prix fixe dinner menu that comes with a glass of wine for only $19 (available every day).

Murray Hill Wine Bars

Mediterranean/ Natural

161 Lexington Avenue, 10016
Cross Streets: 30th & 31st St.
212-686-1352

Hours: Mon-Fri 4 pm-1am, Sat-Sun 4pm- 2am

We have a few organic/natural wine bars around town, but is Lallisse the first wine bar dedicated to only Mediterranean natural wines?  Quite possibly.

The same consulting sommelier who selected the sustainable wines at the Tangled Vine, Evan Spingarn, is responsible for this list, too.  Which means this wine bar will have an 85-90 percent sustainable/ organic/ biodynamic list consisting of artisan wines produced by old and historic estates of the Mediterranean run by small organic producers… 100 small-production, hand-made wines: 40 selections of which will be available by the glass.

Mediterranean climates bring so much variety to the table. Think of the smells and the variations of temperatures (due to the wind from the water vs the land) and the variety of soils – all which add to the characteristics of the grape… and inevitably the wine.  And, now think about wines from the exotic lands of the Mediterranean that have no with no pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers, and fermented using native yeasts (as opposed to laboratory ones).  Now, who doesn’t want to try a sexy, bare-skinned wine?

And, because the true focus is Mediterranean based wines, look for the section of the list called Fertile Crescent, consisting of “conscientious selections from Greece, Israel, Lebanon, and Turkey.  However, as an extra bonus is they’ll have a “fall focus on the historic 2009 vintage in Beaujolais.”

Look for simple, soulful, sustainable Mediterranean foods to pair with your drink.

*Organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines characteristics: no herbicides, no pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, no enzymes, oak chips, reverse osmosis, or other bizarre tricks of modern wine making, native yeasts rather than laboratory ones, old barrels more than new ones, old vines more than young ones.

Murray Hill Wine Bars

43 W 32nd St., 10001
Cross Streets: Broadway & 5th Ave.
212-563-1500

Hours: Mon-Wed 6pm-2am, Thu-Sat 6pm-3am

According to their website: Go back to 1986 and experience the fascinating world of wine!

It may not be a big open-spaced bar as it is located on the second floor of Stanford Hotel, in the middle of Koreatown. However, it is a laid back and cozy place with a pleasant atmosphere. The wine menu, though not exhaustive, serves up a good selection of some fine wines from all over the world. It is an ideal place for anyone to sit back and relax, and couple themselves with lively conversations with family and friends.

Murray Hill Wine Bars
 
Champagne
 
90 Madison Ave. 10016
Cross Streets: 28th & 29th St.
212-889-7100
 
Hours: Tue-Sat 5:30-Midnight Sun/Mon Closed
 
The lounge is located on the 2nd level of Country and is accessible via a glass bridge leading from the dining room. It offers an unparalleled selection of both high-end vintages and fun picks to quaff in quantity. Five of the sparklers are available by the glass, and there’s also a lighthearted menu of champagne cocktails: the Au Pear’s liqueur-soaked pear bits perfectly complement the sweet-tart wine’s ripe flavor. A round white marble bar sits in the corner of the space with barstools that afford views of the entire venue. This nook boasts enormous windows, plush velvet couches and rich brown lounge chairs, inviting guests to sit back, chat and enjoy. A full wine and spirit list is also offered as well as canape options.

Murray Hill Wine Bars

International

2 Park Ave South 10016
Cross Streets: 32nd St.
212-725-8585

Hours: Mon-Thu 11:45am-11pm Fri 11:45am-Midnight Sat 11am-Midnight Sun 11am-10pm

After an olfactory assault at the door – where you’re hit with the pungent aroma of Muenster, Taleggio and 200 other varieties aging gracefully in the boutique cheese cave – indulge in full-fromage festivities from appetizer (gougéres) to dessert (a splendid tarte Tatin with a cheddar cheese crust).

Artisanal has an outstanding selection of wines by the glass and a terrific array of cheeses from across the world. (They even have a Fromagier to help with your selections.) The wine menu boasts over 100 wines by the glass to pair with your cheese, so feel free to go to town.

Check out the wine list here via Wine Chap:

Name	Location	Neighborhood/Area	Total Rating	Good For
Artisanal	New York	Murray Hill / Gramercy		Old World, New World, USA, French

Artisanal is a cheese wonderland, so their wine and cheese plate makes for a fabulous light meal. The beautiful brasserie design is appealing, with a fromagerie shop in in back that slices cheese to go.

Murray Hill Wine Bars

Italian

323 Third Ave. 10010
Cross Streets: 23rd & 24th St.
212-683-3035

Hours: Mon-Fri Noon-2am Sat/Sun 10-3am

The crowd is typical for Murray Hill but the setting is nice with low lights and modern decor – a different vibe than its LES sister. With an all Italian wine list and very helpful wine director you should be able to find a glass or bottle you and your friends will enjoy exploring.

Check out the wine list here via Wine Chap:

Name	Location	Neighborhood/Area	Total Rating	Good For
‘inoteca vino, cucina e liquori bar	New York	Village / W Village		Biodynamic / Organic, Quirky, Italian

The extensive “small plates” menu is all in Italian – and although there is a glossary in the back and the waitstaff translate – you must realize, with a place this crowded, service time definitely is decreased. The bruschettas, the egg toast and the paninis are getting a lot of thumbs up.

Murray Hill Wine Bars

41 E 30th St. 10016
Cross Streets: Madison & Park Ave.
212-481-0197

Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30-2am Sat 4pm-2am Sun 11-12am

Nice selection of wines, by the glass from 8 to 13 bucks, with a lot of other stuff by the bottle. The $30 special (a bottle and a couple of small plates) is one of the best deals going. The owner Volkan is an instantly likable person and the staff is laid back as well. Reports say “The food here makes this a wine bar even a teetotaler could love.”

Murray Hill Wine Bars

International

201 E 31st St. 10016
Cross Streets: 3rd Ave.
212-725-8466

Hours: Daily 5pm-2am

Built on the concept of an extension of one’s living room, this Murray Hill wine bar injects their European cafe ideal into the middle of all of the sports bars and bodegas. Along with a 200 bottle strong wine list (30 by the glass) which spans the globe, they turn out a full menu of appetizers, entrees and small plates. Keeping with the sophisticated ambitions, expect standard fare with an upscale twist; like sliders with Wisconsin Black River blue cheese, onion and paprika mayo; as well as cheese, antipasti and charcuterie plates. So if you find yourself in Murray Hill with a hankering for a grown-up experience, this laid-back locale should hit the spot.

Murray Hill Wine Bars

USA & New World

380 Third Ave 10016
Cross Streets: 27th & 28th St.
212-779-1380

Hours: Mon 4pm-1am Tue-Sun 11am-1am

A multi-function venue with a surprisingly ample wines by the glass and bottle list. However, a simplistic one. Most are typical California Pinot Noirs, Merlots, Cabernets, Chardonnays, Pinot Grigios and Sauvignon Blancs. But, if you are just starting to discover the basic flavors, this spot offers very affordable wines by the glass $8 and bottle $32. So, you won’t feel that bad if you aren’t stepping out of the box. Atmosphere is typical of this area with young professionals stopping in after work or girlfriends meeting up for a chat.

Murray Hill Wine Bars

Italian

477 3rd Ave 10016
Cross Streets: 31st St.
212-679-2551

Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30am-10:30pm Fri/Sat 11:30am-11:30pm

CLOSED in 2010

In Italy’s stylish Veneto region, the proseccheria is a relaxed gathering place – a setting to share good times, sip the area’s acclaimed notable wines and indulge in fresh, light, trattoria-style fare. It’s an inviting idea that is rapidly spreading throughout Italy and the world. Pasticcio restaurant created this separate intimate wine bar with its own large bar area and additional seating for the same purpose. Within the wine bar, sample all of the main restaurant’s cuisine while experiencing an intimate exclusive atmosphere. Enjoy good wine, good food and good company in a friendly, casual atmosphere.