Bar Vivant was a much needed pause with its intimate, dimly lit room with a relaxed, unhurried energy that makes you want to linger for a little while longer. We shared Betsy's Mom's Clam Dip, Mushroom Toast, Bitter Greens Salad, Minted Lamb Meatballs, and duck pâté. The meal opened with the clam dip; cool, lush, and briny, with a creamy oceanic richness that coated the palate; followed by a tangy, salty depth that clung to each crunchy bite of bread. The Mushroom Toast followed with deeper savoriness: earthy, almost forest-floor mushrooms, warm and tender, turning silky as they soaked into the bread, while the edges stayed crisp and toasted, adding contrast to the woodsy umami and subtle garlic warmth. The Bitter Greens Salad provided a bright, palate-cleansing break that included crisp and peppery greens with a sharp lemony dressing that snapped on the tongue, layered with faint fennel sweetness and the nutty, salty bite of shaved parmesan. The Minted Lamb Meatballs arrived richer and more comforting, tender and juicy with a gentle gamey depth, lifted by fresh mint that cut through the richness, and a cool, tangy tomato-yogurt sauce that added creaminess and brightness in equal measure. We finished with pâté--silky, dense, and deeply savory, with a faint iron-rich intensity and buttery smoothness, especially when spread on bread with sharp, briny pickles that added crunch and acidity. Each dish felt intentional and well-balanced for sharing, with varied textures and temperatures that built naturally across the table. I'd happily return to explore more of the menu. read more

This recent addition to the UES is proving to be the most charming little wine bar. I chanced upon this spot after an afternoon spent at nearby museums. I had an hour to kill before my dinner date and so I decided to sit down and have a glass of wine. The next day I came back with a friend and had dinner. Excellent wine selection! Fantastic small plates. The food was delicious though on the pricey side. The staff is friendly enough that if you come here frequently, they'll certainly get to know you. This is the kind of place I miss New York for. read more

Bar Vivant - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Fantastic ambiance with a very unique menu. We enjoyed three different tapas and a bottle of wine. Service was excellent. read more

Bar Vivant - Interior - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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One of those rare, magical NYC moments... stumbled upon Vivaldi Wine Bar completely by chance -- and it turned out to be everything. Tucked away on the UES, this place has the kind of charm you don't expect to just find. The ambience is warm and intimate, the wine list is seriously impressive (Spain, Italy, California, Portugal -- they've got it all), and the service? Spot-on. Our server helped us pick a perfect Italian rosé, and we paired it with a fresh arugula salad and a gorgeous cheese plate. Everything tasted light, delicious, and so well thought out. The whole experience felt so surreal. Already planning my return -- next stop: brunch. read more

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Cute little wine bar in the upper east side! They have a great selection of wine and food. When I got there, the restaurant smelled heavily of oil so we chose to sit outside and then we had the most odd interaction with our server. I arrived before my friend and ordered a glass of wine and the calamari, and then once my friend arrived and ordered her wine the waiter wouldn't let us keep the menu to browse in case we wanted more food. We were told we could ask for the menu back, but that guests often spilled wine on the menu. It was just very odd. My friend would have ordered food, but after he took the menus away it created an awkward dynamic. I only knocked off one star for service and the oily smell in the restaurant because the wine selection was great and the food is good! read more

Bar Vivant - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

What a great neighborhood find! While meeting up with a friend and looking for a new spot to explore, Bar Vivant popped up in our search--and it did not disappoint. I love its philosophy of curating wines from small, female, and family-run producers across France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the U.S. They highlight winemakers who embrace biodynamic, organic, minimal-intervention, and natural wine practices, making for a thoughtfully selected list. We tried the 2018 Château Chatain from France, which was incredibly smooth, perfectly dry, and easy to drink. Our waiter was a true gentleman--knowledgeable about wine, warm, and welcoming, making the experience even more enjoyable. To pair with our wine, we ordered the Bitter Greens Salad and octopus, both of which complemented the evening beautifully. The atmosphere was calming and charming, making for a perfect night filled with good company and laughter. I'll definitely visit again very soon! read more

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This is a cozy, cute wine bar in the neighborhood. Has a warm feeling to it. The walls have bottles of wines and some have cute little santa hats on them, which is a cute touch during the holiday season. I did not have any food here just a glass of sparkling wine. There is no bar area to sit at. The bar/kitchen is in the back and it looks very small. The waiter here seemed helpful and answered my questions I had. I may come back to try some food out. There was a strong ( to me) smell when I walked in of fish which I knew before hand they do have fish dishes here but Didn't think the smell would be that strong ( as I said in my opinion). There was great music playing though. read more

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Walked in with a friend visiting on business without a reservation @ 5pm on a Monday night because it was very intimate and inviting. We both enjoyed the peaceful and warm vibe and the quite. Wonderful small plates to share on offer (think tapas) - something for everyone and excellent service. We tried the minted lamb meatballs - fabulous; the prawns - enormous and perfectly prepared; specialty cheeses and several glasses of wine and port. By 7pm there was not one table available and we were thrilled with our discovery. I highly recommend it! read more

Very cozy wine bar in UES. Perfect for date night or hanging out with small group of friends. Food was all delicious and a lot of interesting variety. All the wine we had was very good, cannot complain. Would certainly be back to try more of their selection. read more

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This is a cozy spot nestled on 88th street, that feels very New York City. It's small but still managed to host a decent crowd of people as the evening went on, yet it didn't get too noisy or cramped. The food was excellent, and just what you'd want if you were looking for tapas. The menu has everything you'd expect- the steak tartare (we didn't get around to the tuna tartare, but maybe next time!), mushroom croquettes, sardines, even some duck prosciutto (which is always going to get my attention as a person obsessed with cured duck). The wines were also quite good- I had my first grechetto, and it was a great introduction. All in all, a great dinner option for an anxious Sunday night. read more

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Super cute, very small and cozy interior! A bit on the pricier side but to be expected for the area. We got the charcuterie board and a bottle of wine spent about $130. The staff was super friendly, we'll definitely be returning read more

Bar Vivant - Charcuterie board - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This place is so cute. The service was incredible and they even offered to cook half of my steak plain for my dog. The steak frites was delicious and they have a wonderful wine selection. We will definitely be back! read more

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We had an absolute great time here. The food was fantastic (definitely recommend the mushroom toast wow) and our service was great!! Shoutout to Bo, had a lovely time chatting with you!! Also the wine list is fun and explorative :) read more

Bar Vivant is the kind of wine bar every neighborhood needs but few are lucky to have. It's a cozy space but all three times I've come there's been a table for two available. The wine list is exceptional with many interesting choices by the glass --particularly if you drink white, where many places offer few good choices. The cheeses are excellent. The steak frites is out of this world. It's a great place to meet a friend or a date or even go alone for a treat. The waiters have great recommendations and know the menu and wine list. Music is great and at a lively level that doesn't drown out good conversation. read more

The worst bar on upper east side. The bar bartender ( a big guy with big beard) is a total racist or has Asian hatred. He was nice to other clients and was a jerk to me, rude the whole time. When I ordered a glass of wine and asked for a try, he refused and said " just try at your own glass", at the same time all other customers including my friend got their try tasting. I have never seen such a rude bartender ever. if you are Asian, don't go there. read more

This place is extremely obnoxious, Service is terrible and the music is way too loud. you can't hear a thing with the music blasting. This Place overpriced, disgusting and gross. Smells like a meat den. Do not go here. read more

Great environment and lovely wine!! Steve is warm and welcoming. I can't wait to come back here.

Absolutely loved this spot! It has such a charming, cute vibe. The wine selection is fantastic, with something for everyone, and the staff is so friendly and knowledgeable. The food was also so delicious and paired perfectly with our wine! Service was top-notch from start to finish. Can't wait to come back! read more

Relatively new wine bar on the UES. Great selection of wines and bites, we had wine and charcuterie when we went. Good service and great ambience. read more

Wine was delicious, service was excellent. Amazing ambience and Bo was so sweet to chat with and very knowledgeable. This little tucked away spot is a perfect place to stop for a glass with your bestest of friends. Come here now I demand you read more

Really charming spot with an interesting wine selection & VERY nice small plates. Our server was working the room on his own & couldn't have been more hospitable. This was an absolute pleasure from the moment we arrived read more

I was excited to finally get a wine bar close to my apartment. I have been to Bar Vivant a couple of times and although the wine was good, I think the wines offered are expensive for what they are. It is hard to justify paying upwards of $20 a glass for a bottle that lists for $18. I think the wine selection could be better. The food is good, but we ordered a cheese plate and it came with three slivers of cheese - It would be nice to have a small wedge not a sliver . I am a big believer in food coming in even numbers not odd - it's actually a pet peeve of mine. Most people's parties are two or four so why not serve 4 of whatever the item is. The mushroom toast tasted good, but the bread was soggy. The vibe is great - very laid back, and they have outdoor seating! I think they still need to do some work on the menu items - but overall it's a great addition to the neighborhood read more

Can't recommend Bar Vivant enough. Such a wonderful addition to this neighborhood with kind staff (Bo + Anne are amazing), great wine, and a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. We had the charcuterie, clam dip, and some sort of iberico/manchego sandwich that was unbelievably good, alongside multiple bottles of wine! All 3 desserts were great but the banana one stood out to me most. Come support this new, woman-owned business! read more

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So excited to have found my new go-to wine bar! Bar Vivant opened about a month ago and I've already been here twice. The space itself is gorgeous and a perfect cozy spot for the fall/winter season, and you can actually carry a conversation without having to yell (which is the case at many other NYC spots)! I've met both the owner, Anne, and Bo, the server, both of whom are so kind and have made me feel so at home. They also have a very intimate knowledge of the wine list and I've had some delicious bottles per their recommendations. Many of the wines are from female producers, which is also a plus! In terms of food, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu -- there's a great selection of cheese and charcuterie (the Iberico ham is of course outstanding), the clam dip is delicious (I'm not usually a clam person, but this is so creamy and the perfect level of clammy), and the bocadillo is definitely a highlight. Tuna tartare and hamachi crudo are both so fresh, and the mushroom croquettes and lamb meatballs are so unique and delicious. Highly highly recommend a visit to Bar Vivant! read more

Loveeee this place and would highly recommend! Really great ambiance and menu. Definitely coming back

Love this place!!!! Such good food and service. We really enjoyed ourselves- Must visit. Ambiance was perfect Can't wait to go back!:)

Met a few friends here for dinner. Stunning, cozy spot that had amazing wine selection and menu. Our waiter, Bo, was an incredible host and took such great care of us and Anne, the owner, was there and shared great some great tips on wine choices. We tried so many items- the mushroom croquettes were so delish, the clam dip was so creamy, and we loved the mint lamb meatballs. I had the steak au poivre and it was cooked perfectly. Even though we were so full we had to try the dessert and the creme brulee was so smooth! Highly recommend and we are looking forward to coming back for brunch! read more

I went to Bar Vivant about a week ago - it couldn't have been better. Anne, the owner is just lovely with a lot of knowledge about wine and food. The space is welcoming and lovely. The wine selections were great, food was really good with enough selection that everyone would be happy. Wish I lived closer, it would be my neighborhood hangout if I did. read more