Lower East Side Wine Bars

Chocolate & Wine

21 Clinton St. 10002
Cross Streets: Stanton & Houston St.

Hours: Sun-Wed 8am-Midnight, Thu-Sat 8am-2am

You had us at “wine and chocolate.”

By day they offer a handful of sandwiches (like Smoked Salmon, Tuna and Mediterranean Chicken Salad), cheese boards of three selections and coffee drinks to laptop-toting Wi-Fi-using patrons.  But come 7 p.m., rules of the house mandate that all computers must be put away to make room for quieter, more relaxing space; when the candles are lit and corks are popped.

The short, but thoughtful wine list -filled with many easy-to-drink reds and whites (along with a few sparkling and dessert varieties) – rotates by the glass (from about $6 to $30) and bottle (from about $20 to $100), according to the owner’s personal taste.

With owners who are big believers in all things decadent, the small, dark space is also filled with luscious scents of delicious, handcrafted treats from local vendors, such as Tumbador Chocolate (all Kosher) and Sweet Bliss.  The cookies are made by the owners.

If you’re in the mood for hot chocolate, taste any of the house made options or customize your own using such flavors as “spicy,” mint, dark chocolate and cinnamon. Or just go for the brass ring and get a Shot of Chocolate. ’nuff said.