Flatiron Wine Bars

International

Limelight Marketplace
656 Avenue of the Americas., 10011
Cross Streets: 20th & 21st St.
212-226-7585

Hours: Marketplace open: Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-8pm

Traces of the former Episcopal church’s more recent life as a notorious nightclub have mostly been stripped away and now packs in some 60 retail shops, configured as 100-sq.-ft. ‘berths.’  It’s a lofty, mazelike space with an upscale flea market feel.

Of the eclectic mix of tenants is CANA Wine Bar, an Italian wine bar operated by the folks behind Tracks Raw Bar and Grill in Penn Station.  Perched up on the 3rd floor is Cana Wine Bar, where over 20 wines are available by the glass.

The menu is both pretty substantial and relatively reasonably priced.  They have a small plates menu – such as cured meats and cheeses, caramelized onion and grilled artichoke bruschetta, salads, panini and  seared crab cakes - are available to complement the wines.

The vantage point of the wine bar also allows the best appreciation of the architecture of the former church. It’s not exactly your cozy, intimate, candlelit neighborhood wine bar, but it’s actually a really nice place to grab a drink; albeit in a frenetic, blindingly white, and techno-pumping atmosphere. At the very least, it’ll give you some liquid courage to tackle the rest of the marketplace.

(Perhaps the Biblical name is a nod to the space’s history as a church?  Cana is the town in Galilee, north of Nazareth, where Jesus performed his first miracle by changing water into wine.). Perched on the upper level, the open eatery/ gastropub overlooks two levels below so you can spy on shoppers while sipping a glass of vino or wine and beer-based cocktails like bellinis and the Red Priest (prosecco and pomegranate juice).