Sure, Paris did the whole ice-cream-wine-bar thing first with TikTok darling Folderol. But this Lower East Side gem—which comes from the same team behind neighboring Mắm—is a perfect confluence of thoughtful Vietnamese snacks and a selection of rice wines from Sông Cái Distillery in Hanoi.
There’s a stellar natural wine list, with bottles that span from Virginia to Hungary, and you’re really here to pair it with the house-made ice cream that’s presented daily on a chalkboard menu: Look out for the Mâm, a fish sauce caramel, the Lá Chuối, a pungent banana leaf that’s both earthy and sweet, or the Hoa Cúc, a chrysanthemum that’s just the right amount of floral. —Jessica Sulima
Go for: low intervention wines, baguettes, and chicken liver parfait
When Entre Nous opened up in the Clinton Hill corner storefront formerly occupied by vegan Cuban café Guevara’s, it felt as though something in this world, for once, was right. That’s not to say that the prior tenant was ill-suited to the space so much as it was a shame they only operated during the day due to the nature of their location. This space has windows out the wazoo, and now that the very Parisian-feeling Entre Nous occupies it that means golden-hued light radiating onto the street inviting passerby in. As someone who lives nearby, I am often seduced. The interiors are subtle, with bistro chairs atop terrazzo floors and built-in mocha-and-ochre benches beneath moody chandeliers.
Enough about the vibe, for vibe alone does not a wine bar make. The wine list goes long on low intervention bottles organized by style and region, i.e. “Skin Contact, France”—the “Everything Else” sections bring in bottles from less-wined places like Japan and Argentina, but for the most part expect a heavily European selection. The food is excellent and simple, with La Bicyclette baguettes (a bakery that also operates a coffee shop in the space during the morning) which pair well with the butter-wrapped chicken liver parfait. —C.H.
Go for: low-intervention wines and conserves
Just a few blocks from Fort Greene Park, Rhodora is the neighborhood spot that’s reliable for an impromptu hang with a friend (or several), particularly in the warmer months when the outdoor area sprawls across the sidewalk. The bottle list is long, with most wines $70 and up, but there are always a couple options by the glass whether you’re after a sparkling, white, pink, orange or red, plus there are some cocktails and beer for that friend who, for some reason, isn’t in the mood for wine.
What really makes this low-intervention wine bar unique is the commitment to sustainability—their goal is to be the first no-waste wine bar in the country, with zero single-use plastics, and the exclusive use of ingredients that can be upcycled, recycled, or composted. You usually don’t have to wait too long for a table (if you’re a larger group, it’s usually outside or bust on a busy night though), and though the inside can get quite loud, there’s an energy here. Plus there are small plates like olives and tinned fish, to add longevity to your sipping. —Megan Spurrell
