"Adult in a wine bar" is definitely my grown-up version of "kid in a candy store". As a lover of the genre, I definitely thought that Skin Contact delivered, and then some. We stopped by last Saturday night after grabbing some dinner just down the street and were grateful to be seated immediately in the back area. The vibes here are very chill and the excellent, exuberant staff really know their stuff and get excited to chat with you about wine. We went with wines by the glass and I appreciated the confidence of the menu: it was small enough to not feel overwhelming, yet curated to have something for every palate and preference. My first glass was an unfiltered orange wine from the Alsace region of France (Tout Terriblement Maceration). It was funky and almost pithy in texture, with notes of apple and apricot. Definitely great if you're looking for something a little intense and off the beaten path. For my second glass, I felt like a lighter red, so I went with the Puszta Libre, a chilled Zweigelt from Austria. While it was slightly more standard than my first glass, I loved its funky nose and red and tropical fruits. I can't remember exactly what my husband had, but he loved his drinks, too. I remember one of his glasses smelled intensely of salty buttered popcorn. We weren't going to order any food, but the couple next to us had the chocolate lava cake and it smelled SO good, so we decided to go for it. It was served simply and deliciously, with vanilla ice cream and cherry sauce. read more

This spot offers a genuinely unique selection of wines, making it a great place to try something a little different. The small outdoor seating area adds a nice touch for enjoying a quiet glass. Service is minimal, but the vibe works best when you're just there to sip and relax. A simple, pleasant stop for wine drinkers read more

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I stopped by Skin Contact for a glass of wine on Sunday, because it was too beautiful of a day not to. Skin Contact offers a great list of wines by the glass (many more by the bottle), as well as a few non-wine options (beer, vermouth, spritzes, and NA drinks) and some food (I didn't try any, but the menu looks simple and delicious). The space is great - lovely seating in Orchard Street when the street is closed to vehicle traffic. I sat inside at one the barstools at the window and enjoyed a glass of Austrian skin contact wine. I'd have stayed longer but I was short on time. I'll happily make up for that in the future with a longer visit and more wine! read more

Skin Contact - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Came here with two friends for a glass of wine before dinner! Absolutely loved it, coming back for sure! Service was amazing, and there were lots of seating. We got the layered potatoes and figs with creme fraiche. Layered potatoes was absolutely divine! So creamy, potatoey, cheesy. Please try it! We aren't that familiar with natural wines, but the staff recommended one and we ended up loving. read more

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Amazing wines! Super friendly staff! Love coming here when the weather is good, getting a table outside and just people watching. It's a favorite, will continue coming here! read more

Skin Contact - On a lovely fall day! - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

One trillion zillion stars for taking care of a single diner looking to relax and recharge. The party was outside today, awesome people watching. Interior is cozy and dark but I was feeling this perfect fall day. Bartender team of one gave amazing service and let me swap out wine after I didn't like my taste. Just be aware bites are small but pours are good! read more

Skin Contact - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

nice, small initimate place in LES, my fav for wines. really outstanding knowledgable staff and the selection is thoughtfully curated.. came when it was not too busy. Our server was genuinely helpful when it comes to recommendations, whether you're a seasoned wine lover or just exploring. They take the time to understand your preferences and guide you to the perfect choice. must visit spot highly recommend read more

I really had high expectations about this place but the dish wear was dirty, plating was very unintentional and messy...the wines were meh the bartender nick was passive aggressive, overcharged my card twice, and made it very obvious that i was unwelcome and a bother. For being such a cute spot they should really think about hiring someone who has a heart and actually cares about hospitality read more

My friend and I came here last Sunday afternoon for some orange wine! It was my friend's first time trying orange wine, so definitely needed to take her to try some! I'm a huge fan of skin contact wine, so I was especially looking forward to coming here. This was my first time coming here, so I was excited in trying their stuff! The wine bar has a front bar section and a lounge in the back for smaller groups. Our server/bartender was courteous and knowledgeable on the wine selections! We started off with a bottle of Tragolargo (Moscatel + Malvasia), which is a good medium bodied orange wine with a good funk. The server was attentive and checked back in occasionally. Overall, very quaint and nice spot to drink wine and chat!. Also we noticed there was a larger asian crowd in this bar, only to find out this was an asian owned establishment! Very awesome! Would come back and recommend others to try orange wine! read more

Skin Contact - a glass of wine and a bottle of wine - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Skin Contact is hands down my favorite wine bar in the city. They specialize in natural wines which really differentiates them from the crowd. Everyone, and especially Stefanie, is super welcoming, sweet, and knowledgeable about wines. No matter if you're a wine novice or connoisseur, the staff will be able to pick something that fits your palate. We came on a Sunday and it was bustling but not full. There is bar counter, table, and outdoor seating. The ambiance would make for a great date or catch up spot. There were plenty of regulars which really attests to how great of a wine bar this is. They get pretty busy Friday and Saturday, so I would definitely come early or make a reservation on Resy! Overall, would 100% recommend that you come check this place out before they become more well-known and hard to reserve! It's a wonderful local business and a great addition to LES. read more

Skin Contact - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Don't know what it was specifically that threw me off here but I wasn't a huge fan. Might have started with the fact that the wine wasn't particularly life changing despite most of the glasses ranging around $17-$19. Beyond that though, the space itself threw me for a loop. Particularly the back room with its blackbox vibe made me feel like I was in a comedy club or a college bar. The front area seemed a lot nicer so perhaps that would be a better experience, but based on the wine that I sampled I don't think I'd choose this wine bar over others nearby. read more

The clever double entendre of this wine bar's name is just begging for a hot date night. Imagine being asked to meet up at Skin Contact? I have visions of playing footsie while drinking Pet-Nat. If it's a quiet date night you're after, I'd advise visiting here early in the week, because their cozy space gets a little crowded on weekends-- but on weeknights the vibes are immaculate. The owner was bartending the night I visited and explained the flavor profiles of different wines without any condescension or assumptions that I'd know anything. I let him choose for me and he brought our a series of different wines he thought I'd like and topped me off with plenty of extra pours, way more than they charged me for, which was quite generous. There's also a small bites menu, mocktails, beer, cider, and vermouth, but definitely come here for the wine and the unpretentious vibes. read more

Pretty nice wine bar with some ok selection. Can get busy but with a smaller group you can squeeze in easily.

Have recently been getting into wine bars and found this one through TikTok. It's a small, dark, cozy place with a nice list of wines. The server was very knowledgeable and able to give recommendations based on what we like. Wine is always about personal preference I'd say, and I think there'd be something for everyone. As far as food, we tried a few of their small plates. We tried the endive salad, burrata, and charcuterie. I'd say everything was just fine, nothing really stood out. They're good accompaniments to the wine as a little snack. I think the menu changes every so often because I was hoping to try some things I saw written about in reviews and didn't see it on the menu! read more

Skin Contact is a cozy and intimate wine bar that specializes in natural wines and also has a short, but well curated list of small plates. We ordered: Butternut Squash and Burrata - This was more of a Burrata salad and I'm not mad about it. The pomegranate seeds took this the extra mile to perfection. Tete de Moine (cheese & baguette) - I expected a standard plate of cheese and bread, but instead we got this beautiful (and delicious) cheese flower. Cucumber Tea Sandwich - This comes with anchovies, but they kindly removed it from one half of the sandwich for me. It's also bigger and uses different bread than a traditional tea sandwich. We liked it so much, we ordered two! For more reviews from a vegetarian point of view follow me on Instagram @this_vegetarian_life! read more

Great spot for a walk-in date and some small bites. We had to get some of the orange skin contact wines... the one the waiter recommended (Kontakt) was a bit too fermented for me, and he gladly swapped for the Bauer. Although, my sister loved the Philip Lardot Kontakt. For food we got the almonds which were tasty and savory. The squash burrata was pretty basic and the squash was a bit undercooked but still edible. The meat plate was fabulous--perfect thin slices and crunchy baguette. Will be back here soon! read more

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Hi everyone, I was recommended by a NY YouTuber to try her favorite wine bar, Skin Contact, in the Lower East Side. To check about reservations, we called ahead and were informed by a gentleman that they only accept walk-ins. When we arrived, the atmosphere was great--the bar was full, with only one table at the back occupied by a group of friends enjoying a wine tasting. However, when we walked in, no one greeted us. There was just one staff member managing the bar and the floor, who eventually pointed out three available tables: two small ones for two people along the wall and a larger table for four. He told us to take any of the available tables. To be considerate, we chose a small table, but it was cramped, barely fitting two plates, and uncomfortably close to the group of friends celebrating nearby. Finding it unsuitable, we decided to move to the empty table for four, which was much more comfortable. Shortly after, the same staff member (who seemed to be acting as the bartender, sommelier, waiter, and host--shaved head, mustache, and tattoos) approached us, visibly upset. In front of the other guests, he loudly said, "This table is for four! Would you mind moving to the table for two?" My colleague explained that we planned to order a lot of food and would be more comfortable there, but the staff member insisted in an aggressive and dismissive tone that we might need to move if a party of three or four arrived. While his point was understandable, his delivery was unnecessarily loud and rude. We were in good spirits but found the interaction disappointing, so we decided to leave quietly. To the staff member or management: I respect the challenges of your job--it's not easy to manage expectations or ensure profitability. However, empathy and professionalism are crucial in hospitality. Delivering exceptional experiences is what makes people want to return. While I hope this feedback doesn't offend you, the interaction ruined my evening, as I was excited to spend my last night in New York at your establishment. Out of fairness, I can't rate the food, drinks, or the rest of your team, so I won't leave a one-star review. But as someone in corporate business development for an international restaurant brand managing 95 locations worldwide, I recognize this as a lack of training and perhaps an overextension of duties. Ultimately, we went next door to Some Time and were warmly welcomed by a lovely bartender/sommelier. Their humble, attentive approach created a simple but memorable experience--a lesson in how good service can make all the difference. Thank you for your attention, and I wish your establishment success moving forward. REPLYING THE OWNER ON GOOGLE : P.S.: In response to your reply: He replied on google and he didn't understand nothing what I wrote... I did not mention about the staff decision, but his behavior. The owner, again, came across as passive-aggressive, much like the behavior of your staff at the Lower East Side. Well done --clearly, the values align, with the guest always being the last priority. This truly reflects what you mentioned about such behavior not being widespread. Good job in standing by your hardworking staff member - at least. Best of luck. read more

While I'm sure it's impossible to try every bar in NY that specializes in natural wine I can say from my experience that this is the best in the city. The atmosphere is great, the service is wonderful, but above all their collection of wines is top notch. Every glass my party of 6 had was stellar, and there was something for everyone. I'm personally a fan of very full-bodied, and funky flavor profiles in wine, and our server nailed every recommendation, but also did the same for everyone else with their much more reasonably requests. I'm so glad I found this place, as it's relatively new (it opened just barely pre-pandemic). Their prices are reasonable, and overall this is a must visit no matter where you're from, or staying in the city. 10/10 read more

Skin Contact - Bar area - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

One of my favorite spots in nyc. Great staff, very knowledgeable about the wines and quick with a tasty recommendation, also very friendly. Fantastic place for a date, or to meet up with friends as it's cozy and dimly lit. The layered potato is one of my favorite treats in the city. read more

Skin Contact - graffiti on a brick wall - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Fantastic wine list, quiet divy vibe, super friendly staff. It came highly recommended by wine enthusiasts friends and I could totally see why. read more

I really enjoyed this spot! It's intimate and cozy and features many natural wines. They have a lovely selection if that's what you're into - and if not, chances are you'll still find something you like. They had lots of good recommendations and were welcoming and made me feel comfortable. We also ordered the chocolate lava cake and it was the absolute perfect addition. Overall a really nice spot to come by for a date! read more

Skin Contact - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Super cute- loved our server. He was gregarious. Yummy wine. This one goes out to the Catalan donkey! Hear hear! read more

Skin Contact - a bottle of wine in a bucket - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

very cute wine spot! dim lit, cozy, and the server was very attentive. went with a friend after work and had a couple glasses of wine, the sandwich, layered potatoes, and olives. the sandwich was delish. read more

Great vibe, wait staff is si nice and they have a great selection. Will definitely be back!

Absolutely love Skin Contact! They have fantastic wine options that frequently change and reasonable prices. The environment is fabulous - you can actually have a conversation here unlike some of the other popular wine bars in the area. Perfect place for a date or drink with friends. The tables outside are great for drinking wine and people watching. On top of everything else, the service is amazing. The staff is very friendly, approachable, and give samples of the wine to make sure you're happy with your choice! Also in a great area with plenty of restaurants if you're hungry before/after. Check out Skin Contact asap! read more

One of my favorite wine bars. I went here with some friends and we had a fantastic experience. The server was so knowledgeable, explained all the different types of wines and gave us tasters. Really nice place to go with a group of friends. read more

Walked into Skin Contact while bar-hopping solo in the area and was a little disappointed in my service. The hosts did not acknowledge my entry and I went up to ask to grab a seat at the bar and they just gestured and said sure. I sat myself at the bar and was given a menu and ordered a glass of wine. I then asked to order some meats and cheese from the food menu, and the person behind the bar did not know what I was referring to, even when I was pointing and showing them the item on the menu. They seemed confused by the whole process. It may have been an off afternoon, but the service was pretty disappointing and the baguette that was served with the plate was pretty underwhelming. read more

Skin Contact is a fun, cozy space to check out if you're a fan of natural wine, or wine bars in general. I tried to visit one random Sunday to find out they were closed for a private party (hooray for them, boo for me!) but I stopped by a month later on a Saturday night and this party of one was seated fairly quickly. I ordered a really smooth chilled red, and then switched over to a zippy fizzy white -- both were great pours and were under $15 a glass. I also had the layered potatoes, which kept me from feeling too hungry but not too full. As others have said, this is a great date spot, solo or with someone, and makes for a nice place to catch up with a friend. The bartenders were pretty swamped and making moves, but they did a great job of checking in on folks and answering questions about the wine list and menu. Would love to come back when it's a little slower, sit at the bar and make new friends. There's also a nice outdoor dining situation for those sunny days and warm nights. read more

Fantastic array of wines to choose from, and amazing hosts! Very knowledgeable and were able to pinpoint what we liked and make recommendations based off of it. Some days they do affordable bottles of wine which makes it even better Space inside was a bit tight, but outdoor seating was nice with heaters. Will be going again soon read more

Hands down one of the best experiences I've had in the city post COVID. This wine bar is nestled in a busy ass area but still manages to keep the mystery. The staff is knowledgeable and accommodating and the owner is a gem. We tried the Rose(both of them) and if you like dry or or dry/sweet then you'll love both options. We tried two under the skin contact menu and whites as well they were delicious and the bonus was a full bodied delicious red called cotar which is like lambrusco(my faveeee perfect blend of bubbly red) 10 stars for the owner being an amazing bad ass!! read more

Came here with friends made a Resy for 5. I don't drink wine nor do I drink beer or pay for mock tails so I sat with my friends as they enjoyed a glass of red. Even though this isn't the place for me, the waitstaff was attentive and if you love wine this is the place to try. Def has a more romantic/ darkened vibe with modern R&B great for friends and dates. read more

A great place for a glass of natural wine. Staffs are friendly. The bar is on the smaller side, so prepared to wait on weekends. The bar is dark and romantic with exposed brick. But since it gets loud inside when it's crowded, probably avoid on first dates? Actually, forget about dates. Just go and a beautiful bottle of white with friends. BTG ranges from $14-20. They have a patio on sidewalk for those who prefer outdoor seating read more

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Phrases that are VERY offensive to the Jewish community were written on the walls of the bathroom. I've messaged the business on instagram and through yelp and have not heard back. Really disappointing. Will not be dining here again. read more

The place wants to be sophisticated and cozy, but it's actually just another bar in the LES... gross and terribly loud. Worst service ever had. Not recommended. read more

I'm writing this review during quarantine so I haven't actually been to the place, only ordered their wines via delivery. I know how every person is going to see this review, you see that my profile is basically empty and think this is a paid review or something like that, it is not, I can promise you that. I used to be an Elite Yelper back in the day but deleted my account once I got to NYC. TLDR. Anyway, I am signing back on to rave about how much I love the wines that I ordered from Skin Contact. I am friends with one of the owners but this is not a biased review. I am so proud of Salma Zerri. I've known Salma for 5 years now, doesn't seem like a long time but it feels very long. I am happy for her because I know she's been working for this for her entire professional career! I'm incredibly thrilled that her vision is coming through at this wine bar - but during COVID, they are functioning as a wine store for delivery/pick-up. I do not think of myself as a wine expert - sometimes I can't even pronounce those names properly - but I do have good taste, IMHO, and that's not to sound superior, I am a chef, so I know what tastes good and what pairs well. I can say that every bottle that I chose to buy has been amazing so far! I have not been disappointed by anything. Their selection of wines is truly stunning! Their wine selection is small but that's because they just opened before the quarantine, which has been hard on them, like all small businesses, so supporting them is something that I am more than happy to do. I am a big fan of unfiltered and funky wines! I've been buying lots of wine during quarantine because what else is there to do? Every other wine site that I've ordered from has been giving me awesome descriptions but that's it. I'll probably like maybe 1 out of the 6 bottles that I bought. But not Skin Contact, I have loved EVERY BOTTLE! I'm only going to buy wine from them, from now on, during this coronavirus! read more

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The waitress was super fun and helpful in choosing wines. The atmosphere was nice. The music was questionable but that didn't bother me. Good wine selection! read more

Skin Contact - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

came here on a late night just looking for a chill vibe. we weren't able to order food because the kitchen was closed but we will be back to try it. they have a great selection of wines and all of the servers/bartenders were very knowledgeable about their offerings and overall a really cool group of people. the music was amazing & eclectic; so much so that my husband and i shazammed several songs and added them to our playlists. read more

Absolutely fantastic! Natural wine and a great vibe. They know their wine and would love to help you explore it. read more

Skin Contact - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Great food, vibes, and service. Bar tenders know the wine inside and out. Good date or chill vibes.

Without a doubt my favorite spot in the city. Eben and the staff are the friendliest, knowledgeable, and welcoming people! First place I recommend to anyone + all! read more