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    Lea Wine Bar

    3.6 (152 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    Sautéed mushrooms
    Anessa O.

    Not sure how we ended up here (the person I went with always surprises me with new places to dine) but as soon as we walked in we were warmly welcomed by an older gentleman who although told us that we may not get seating due to a private party he graciously focused on finding us private seating in the matter of minutes . Although the place had alot of chatter and pretty crowded the service was still immaculate. The maitre d was very friendly and attentive , the drinks were delectable (you can always spot a mixologist) and the food was absolutely delicious, sides served family style - and we enjoyed every moment. I cant wait to come back .

    Margherita
    Srini V.

    Lea is hard-to-find but conveniently located in the Helmsley Building. It likely goes after the same base of midtown white collars that would go to The Campbell Apartment, but the ones who prefer some peace and quiet in a cozy setting. Lea is a plush-looking lounge with fancy decor, largely in red and black, with gilt-framed paintings and fit-for-purpose lighting. I am a big fan of their thin-crust pizza (tortizza), the grilled vegetables, edamame and several other selections from the tapas menu. Others might find the sushi bar and cocktails to be the draw. Regardless, I am impressed with what Lea has created as a viable, and relative more attractive, alternative to the lounges and bars in the area. They are open late (1am), but not on weekends, except for private events. Lea will leave you wanting to come back, especially if you work in and around the area.

    Lisa F.

    Fantastic wine bar midtown east with a comfortable, contemporary atmosphere. Hidden, tricky to find if you are not familiar where to go. We went off peak so it was not overcrowded. Inviting ambiance, great aesthetically, with wonderful artwork on the walls. Wine, old fashioned and the appetizers (mini meatballs) we had were very good.

    It's just really loud after work.
    Sunny C.

    I must have passed by this place a million times but only recently had the chance to step in for drinks, and I thought it was pretty good (minus the loud after work crowd) The bar is dim, somewhat upscale and because of its obscure location is free of tourists (amen!). The drink menu seemed creative although pricey ($17-19 for a cocktail is a lot, even by midtown standards). Ordered the Lychee Martini and was not disappointed! Wanted to review it because I loved its location right next to grand central but for some reason, it doesn't really stand out for anything else. Would have liked to try their sushi but was told the chef was in Japan (yeah, okay). I could see this as more of an after work drink venue or a late night date spot bc during early evening, you'll have to shout across the table. So yeah, if you want to lose your voice, this is the place!

    Léa's Wine Bar: Manhattan's Secret to a Decadently Romantic Hot Spot!
    Alessandra B.

    Léa's Wine Bar: Manhattan's Secret to a Decadently Romantic Hot Spot! Dark and discreet, nestled inside The Helmsley Building Walkway is Léa's Wine Bar, a hidden gem located under the arches behind Grand Central Station. This was the quintessential, chic, cozy spot to hold Edgewater Markets' Holiday Bash back in December of 2018. Decorated in a decadently romantic way, with its long bar, high party tables, tall bold red walls, accentuated by a yellow-gold ceiling bedecked with artistic reproductions of Italian neo-romantic paintings framed in gilded antique gold. Think late 1800's bordello with wonderful music, or late 80's famous upscale mega-nightclub, Nell's, nesting hole to the "rich & famous", minus the coke denned bathrooms. Beautifully blended influences from French and Italian cultures, Léa's has an intimate feel centered around an artsy wall of liquor, though their apparent focus is on wines from different countries and a diverse scrumptious menu screaming: "Eat Me!" Unbeknownst to the local passerby, this jewel, co-owned by Rick Passarelli, owner of the famous Bobby Vans', with Chef Bobby Dickert at the helm, offers an interesting and marvelous tapas menu with heavenly options, lush in taste and aroma. We were tempted by the succulent nibbles of the Brazilian Pasteis, a saporous corn and palmetto deep-fried chicken empanada, and the chicken satay in an ambrosia of plum-ginger sauce. Both divine. Exciting the sensations, the Wild Crab Taquitos in a chipotle, chives and sesame sauce. The choice Filet Mignon Tips on toast with a caustically delicious biting horseradish sauce. The sushi station was a glorious addition to the delights of savory palmfuls of rice where the Sushi Chef, prepared the most unique flavored Dragon rolls, perfectly paired with the high-quality Chardonnay being served by the friendly staff. Resembling the swooners from the 50's, the likes of Frank Sinatra, Lenny Passarelli, Léa's General Manager, enchants guests with his charismatic old-world class elegance. Everything was prepared close to perfection. The cheese platters were covered with artisanal cheeses. The meatballs, scrumptious. The music wasn't too loud so you could speak to each other. The vibe was amazing. In the city where everything is on display, Léa's Wine Bar is the best kept secret in the heart of New York. The ideal spot for an afterwork "apéro" or delightful nibble! The best wine bar Manhattan has to offer.

    Mike L.

    I liked this place....larger than I was expecting, there were about 10 chairs at the long bar and a bunch of tables/booths, and hightops spread across the rest of the space. The menu was light fare from flatbread pizzas to sushi rolls...the wine list was pretty good and ranged across a broad range with one or two varietals from specific Regions. Not having the biggest appetite, I had a flatbread pizza and a side of sweet potato fries...and a couple glasses of wine. This would be a great place to grab a couple glasses of wine, a light bite to escape the crowded streets for awhile!!!

    Tahara M.

    A little on the pricey side but the service was excellent. We got the trio burger, tacos, and truffle fries and everything was delicious. Great place if you are in grand central and want to go somewhere close.

    The reserved card says 'Lea'. Take a look at our receipt - Bobby Van's

    Disappointing!!! This is no longer Lea's. It has been bought by Bobby Van's Steakhouse. We called the previous day to make reservations for 4:30 pm and were told that it was not necessary since it was early. When we got there, the restaurant was quite full. They gave us a high top table in the corner. The restaurant was packed by now, with noisy loud patrons. The next thing that surprised us was the menu. The menu that we saw online (Four Square) mentioned tapas, sushi and cocktails for around $12 - $15. That was Lea's menu...which no longer exists. Bobby Van's has their own menu, all cocktails were $6 more. This is false advertising. Not to mention stinking bathrooms. Our dinner out felt cramped and loud, a total disappointing experience!

    Sam P.

    Oh Lea, how you are suffering from a location problem! I think this bar is gorgeous and a lovely little surprise in the East Helmsley walkway - as Lauren C put it - an "oasis" in the strange, bustling desert of midtown east. Fabulous cocktails, a gorgeous staff, and I not loved the sexy, stylish decor and awesome staff, I clearly would not have chosen it for a Yelp Elite event. But here's why it's 4 stars instead of 5. The two times I visited this place before deciding to hold the event here, it was full of some very uptight corporate types in light blue shirts and grey slacks who were all in serious need of a drink. Decidedly not my crowd. And secondly, while the management staff couldn't have been more wonderful - thanks again Mario and Sheila! - the bartenders were simply not up to snuff. Several people told me they were rude, and there was no care whatsoever taken in mixing the drinks for the event. It doesn't makes sense to me for a bartender to have attitude about mixing comped drinks as long as people tip - and my Yelpers always tip. It's not like you're getting a cut of what the bar makes in charging for drinks! But aside from some unfortunate attitude behind the bar, this is place is quite lovely, and I love knowing about it. A great place to take a friend for a drink who's in town on business and won't get to see much of NYC beyond Grand Central. Or just sexy place to pop in for a drink if you work in the neighborhood or happen to find yourself there.

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    4 years ago

    Amazing drinks and even better service! Fun bartender, great for happy hour. Would def go again.

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    Little Ned - the lil' ned wagyu katsu sando

    Little Ned

    4.7(55 reviews)
    0.9 miFlatiron

    I was looking for a spot in the area to meet a friend, and after a quick search settled on Little…read moreNed. As I walked in and saw just how swanky this place is I panicked - there was no way we could just walk in here without a reservation, right? But the hostess was, thankfully, so down to earth. I was straight up like hey I totally messed up and thought we could just walk in here, she was like you know what, let me see what we have. Lo and behold, she did have a table for us - as long as we were out in an hour and a half, which was just the right amount of time. Stepping into this place feels like you're in some secret, super special cocktail club. Decor is super high end, vibes are upscale AF. The cocktail menu is incredible -- and incredibly pricey, but truly worth it. I ordered the Valentino which was strong and sweet, really well made. They gave out a complimentary nut mix that was also delicious. Service was swift and gracious. If you're looking for a spot to impress a date, this is it.

    Come to Little Ned for fantastic cocktails in an intimate setting, you won't be disappointed…read more The space is gorgeous, with bar and table seating on the main floor, as well as some standing tables next to the bar if you can't find a seat right away. There's also seating on the second floor, perfect for couples or small groups. I tried two of their cocktails when I went. The first was the Eastern Julep, a delicious twist on a classic. The mint Moroccan tea gave the drink a cool, refreshing taste on every sip. I also tried the Silver Screen, the closest drink I could find to an old fashioned. It was interesting, there was definitely a hint of a buttery taste. Overall a really balanced bourbon drink. I walked in and found room at the standing tables. A bar seat eventually opened up but I was already on my second drink by then. Definitely make reservations if you're planning a visit!

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    Saturn

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    Yankee Hanky Panky

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    Barlume - Aperol spritz and truffle fries.

    Barlume

    4.2(48 reviews)
    1.3 miFlatiron

    I met a friend here for happy hour on a weekday, and we had a wonderful time. The restaurant was…read morespacious and the marble bar was gorgeous. There's even a speakeasy lounge downstairs. The bar seating was plentiful and comfortable. There is plenty of space for people to stand behind the bar or a high top tables enjoying happy hour after work. If you go at 4:30 or 5, it's a bit calmer as the after work crowd trickles in. And as the evening went on, it started to get more and more packed, and it became a really lively vibe. After my friend left for another function, I stuck around a little bit longer for a little solo dinner. I had a glass of Prosecco off the happy hour menu followed by a dirty martini, and I did request to look at their full dinner menu because there was a couple items that I wanted to try. I wanted to try the duck Ragu and halloumi cheese, both of which were absolutely fantastic. The halloumi cheese was perfectly grilled and flavorful, and the duck Ragu was very comforting. I highly recommend both dishes. I ended up chatting with a woman sitting next to me who happened to work with select apertivo, and next thing I know one of the bartenders handed me a lovely bright cocktail to try on the house. It was a refreshing bubbly Barlume spritz that I'll definitely have to get again next time. Overall, I had a really great time at Barlume. The service was excellent from the servers and the bartenders, and they were all very attentive, personable and friendly throughout the evening. I'll definitely be back for happy hour or dinner with friends!

    Made a reservation at Barlume to meetup with some friends on a weekday evening. Found street…read moreparking right in front the restaurant, as the area gets leas busy around that time. Upon arriving we were taken to our table right away. The restaurant looked slick, with fancy interior and a gorgeous big bar with sitting area in front. The menu had lots of exciting dishes. Among several starter dishes we got the spread sampler that had four different types of spread alongside some delicious bread. The crab meat and Brussels sprouts were excellent. For entree we got the Tomahawk and Branzino. Both were cooked so well, absolutely top class. Our server and all other staff members were pro, providing a sincere friendly dinner service. All the dishes came out within short intervals. Handmade drinks came straight from the bar. Overall we spent over two wonderful hours dining and drinking here.

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    Barlume - Downstairs

    Downstairs

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    Oysters

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    Boqueria Flatiron - Shishito Margarita

    Boqueria Flatiron

    4.0(1.5k reviews)
    1.4 miFlatiron
    $$$
    Outdoor seating
    Full bar

    Boqueria is reliably delicious - I'm usually wary of chain restaurants as they can become too…read more"corporate". Boqueria was not the case. The location was small but provided a cozy and intimate environment, perfect for a date night or a fun dinner with friends. The staff was knowledgeable about the offerings and the food came extremely fast. The dishes come out as they are ready and they just kept getting better and better ( you HAVE to get the octopus and churros ) Truly loved every single dish and the perfect spot to try many different things due to the tapas style.

    Three of us came here on Mother's Day for dinner with a reservation. We were greeted and seated…read morepromptly. First, the restaurant is very attractive on the inside. It's a small area with the tables pretty close together. We were given a table in the far corner, which was perfect for comfort and looking out at the restaurant. Two of us each ordered a glass of house wine, which were "ok." We opted for the Boqueria Experience, which is $65 per person and includes a variety of chef-selected tapas, a paella and an order of the restaurant's special JAMÓN IBÉRICO DE BELLOTA, which is described on the charcuterie menu as aged 48 months, with deep marbling, rich and nutty flavor. We enjoyed most of the tapas, including the potatoes, the beef/lamb balls, the salad and bruschetta. The croquettes were "ok" with the heavy aeoli masking some of the flavor. The seafood paella was good and was different from ones I've had in the past, with the caramelized layer on the bottom. Yum. Honestly, none of us was a big fan of the Jamon Iberico de Bellota. I'm sure it's special and luxurious, but we found it not to have much flavor. Frankly, it was a big disappointment for us. The service was beyond excellent. We were very pleased with the timing of the presentation of the meal, the superb water service and the general enthusiasm and pleasantness of the Staff. We will come back and try different items on the ala carte menu. I thought there would be more seafood and meat tapas offerings in the "Experience". Instead, it was a lot of cheese, vegetables, dates and bread. Although $65 per person likely was a good value for what we got, I think the tapas items were heavy on the lower cost tapas and that it wasn't a true top-of-the-line "Experience". A seafood dish or even a chicken dish (chicken wings) instead of one of the two croquette offerings would have helped.

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    Boqueria Flatiron - Paella de Mariscos

    Paella de Mariscos

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    BRÓCOLI CON AJO BLANCO

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    Vallata - Sea breem

    Vallata

    4.4(80 reviews)
    1.3 miFlatiron

    This is my humble opinion I wasn't asked to write a review…read morenor am I getting compensate for this opinion. This place is top 3 of my restaurant I wasn't going to order a Main dish after I had hands down the best salad ever I had the chickpeas salad. It is to die for and a must have I had the red snapper Now here's the beauty today is the last Sunday before lenting season is over I managed to have great Italian dinner while not having pasta dairy nor alcohol Yet I'm so happy it felt like I had all of that. Here's the best part the bill was way below what I expected. I'm a believer. I don't usually do Manhattan since I'm Brooklyn all day every day. They're going to see me again Great food great music great atmosphere great staff love everything about this place. The chef is awesome

    I was wholly impressed with Vallata. I booked a table for an early dinner on my birthday. From the…read moremoment we arrived I was greeted so warmly and wished happy birthday by numerous employees. We had a nice table tucked in to a corner where we had a view of the kitchen and could sit next to each other on the bench seat. Our primary server, Luis, was helpful and lovely. I was impressed with the way the whole staff seemed to work together to serve, bus tables, ask if we needed anything and talk with us. I really have to say the service was superb. Shoutout to Chris who not only tended bar but worked the floor and to the lovely hostess whose name I wish I had gotten. But really the whole staff was just A+++. We shared the crispy artichokes (outstanding) and the cacio e Pepe arancini (where the fried parsley was especially unique and delicious) to start. I had the eggplant parmesan which reminded me of an eggplant dish I had in Venice -- but better. My husband had the ricotta cavatelli which was also great. For dessert I had the olive oil cake accompanied by lemon curd and --wait for it -- rosemary gelato. I was skeptical about this gelato, but it turned out to be a wonderfully fantastic surprise! My husband had the Apple Crostata which was also fantastic. The limoncello was a perfect way to end the meal. I was told by my husband that I can't shave off a star for Chef Tom not being there himself. So, I won't. Fair enough. But I'm still hoping I catch him another time.

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    Vallata - Visit Tom Colicchio's Italian restaurant near for incredible dishes

    Visit Tom Colicchio's Italian restaurant near for incredible dishes

    Vallata
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    Oscar Wilde

    Oscar Wilde

    3.8(1.7k reviews)
    1.0 miFlatiron
    $$$
    Private events
    Free WiFi

    Oscar Wilde Seen legendary Oscar Wilde treasures such as the…read moreIrish Writers Wall, a 1840s French fireplace, and New York City's longest bar ever seen before at 118.5 feet. Awesome selection of menu, and drink best with a group gathering. Absolutely great vibe and easy-going, fun atmosphere. An amazing, impressive, elaborately designed, Victorian-Style bistro with a long marble bar for cocktails and American bites. An option weekend tea times, 11.00 pm-3.00 pm. Attention: present services are acceptable.

    Oscar Wilde is a bit of a gimmick, I'd say, a hit among the themed-bars crowd and impressive to…read moreanyone not native to New York. I found the hodgepodge of old-timey decor to be a bit kitsch, but to each their own. I came with a group on a weeknight with no reservation. We were seated immediately on a high wood table. Although the bar wasn't busy (there were plenty of empty spaces, small groups scattered throughout the area), the service was quite slow. The server was inattentive and took a while to take our orders. We had to ask her for water three times, searching for her across the room in an attempt to catch her attention. She was a bit absent during the two-ish hours we were there. On the bright side, the drinks were fairly good. I ordered this strawberry vodka cocktail topped with whole mint. I'm wary of vodka for its harsh, unpleasant taste, but I found this drink to actually be very pleasant, tasing like a fruit smoothie you'd get from a local juicer. There was also a burgundy drink served on a wine glass that tasted like the holidays. I liked that one quite a bit. Overall, Oscar Wilde was an okay experience. It's certainly a bar for a certain type of crowd, and the service was lacking, but maybe we went on a bad night. Maybe if you're lucky, you'll be served better than we were.

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    Oscar Wilde
    Oscar Wilde
    Oscar Wilde

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    Lea Wine Bar - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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