Food is great and love the atmosphere. We ordered the bruschetta, gnocchi and pizza - all of it was fresh and delicious. We even had to wait a little long for a table and they brought us each a glass of champagne. read more

Don't blink or you might miss Sofia Wine Bar! This little restaurant has a tiny sign with small lettering that if you don't pay attention to you might walk right by. It's a very intimate place with the perfect ambience if you were to bring a date. They have another room in the back that can fit more people if you don't want to be crammed all in the front by the bar. As for the food, I thought it was ok. We got the margherita pizza and meat and cheese platter. It was good but definitely not the price that they were charging for. The pizza came in standard 8 slices and the meat and cheese platter has about 4 different types of each. Be prepared for an expensive meal if you want to actually be full. But other than that, it's definitely all about the ambience. If you want to impress a date, I'd definitely bring them here! read more

Sofia Wine Bar - Margherita pizza - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

See all

An absolute hidden gem in Turtle Bay - the wine was spectacular as expected but the food exceeded all expectations. We started with burrata and prosciutto and ended with the eggplant parm, which was the best I've ever had. More than just a wine bar! read more

Very cute spot w the best by the glass options and many! The pizza and apps we ate were delish! The ambience is romantic and friendly ! Just awesome to have a red or rosé w your boo or your BFF! Totally recommend read more

Omg. If you want some pizza and wine, this place is the only place to go. Max venue of 40 people, go before rush hours to ensure a seat. Pizza is light, crispy and delicious. The sauce is amazing, cheese is good but together they are incredible - so good, you develop a craving. The wine is good, white or red. Can't go wrong! Cheese board is okay, other starters are good like the spinach and artichoke, but comes with tortilla chips. Good view of the meats, cheese and platter boards. Defo come here for a date night to impress, focus on the pizza and wine and winning over hearts read more

See all

Terrific ambiance for a cozy romantic date or dinner. Great cocktails, great service. Wish there were more food options for vegans/vegetarians. Great place. read more

I love this place but they let me down by completely ignoring my friend and I when we walked in I even tried to flag down 2 waiters to ask where the hostess is and one just completely ignored me while the other one just pointed me to another waiter who also ignored me This is no way to treat customers To add insult to injury, other group walks in after we walked in who one of the waiters greeted immediately while still ignoring us Suffice to say my friend and I left and not sure if we will ever return read more

On our way to happy hour, we passed by this cute wine bar and decided to try it out. They don't have happy hour, but their wine list is good, mostly Italian. There is a small area in the front for dining and the bar, and there is more seating in the back. The atmosphere is lovely, and when we went it had Christmas decorations. It seemed like a local favorite and not so much a tourist spot. The bartenders were friendly and took care of us right away. We tried a few small plates that were not disappointing, though they weren't outstanding. I had heard from a friend that the pizza was worth trying. The prices for wine and food seemed typical of what you would find at other wine bars in the city. However, I do think this bar is worth a visit (or a few!) because it is cozy, not super busy, and certainly an enjoyable experience if you like wine. read more

Loved this place. I came here for a girl's night on a Saturday evening and we were there until closing, so maybe 4-5 hours? As everyone else has said, the margarita pizza was DIVINE. So delectable and the pieces of mozzarella were super tasty. In the summer time, the open the windows and we had the crisp night are grace us. Must have had four drinks each (3 of us) and we got two pizzas and the bill with tip was around $55 - pretty reasonable. Wait staff was very attentive and so sweet. I will be back! read more

Stumbled upon this east side gem on my last day visiting the city this trip. Decided on a glass of tempranillo, and it easily turned into three. Located in a cozy, cavernous and quaint shop with open windows this is a lovely escape from the bustling streets. Cheese & Meat board is a great add on to any glass(es) of wine! read more

DO NOT GO HERE (especially on a date). I live across the street and this place is a very nice, convenient date spot for a drink. I went on a Wednesday night and sat down at a table with my date. We ordered a BOTTLE of wine, and we were not interested in food (it was late, after 9pm). The waiter would come to our table EVERY 5 MINUTES and ask if we were ready to order food. After we told him "no thank you" about 7 times, he came over to our table again, opened the menu, and placed it in my lap (WTF). I understand if I was taking a table from people who were waiting for dinner. However, HALF THE TABLES IN THE BAR WERE EMPTY AND NOBODY WAS WAITING FOR A TABLE. I felt like I was taking crazy pills. Eventually the manager? (some balding guy with patchy beard) came to our table and told us that we could not sit at the table if we were not ordering food. I literally stared at the empty restaurant in bewilderment. The manager then GRABBED OUR WINE GLASSES and told us to "GO SIT AT THE BAR OR LEAVE." Obviously I told him to get our check even though I probably should have just left without paying (but I was on a date). Anyway, the staff is ridiculously unprofessional/rude and don't deserve the business that they get. DO NOT BRING A DATE HERE. read more

Is Sofia owned by a Coppola? I jest (though c'mon, aren't you, too, thinking of those tiny cans of pink Champagne?!) I will give it to you straight: my three stars are STRONGLY influenced by the fact that Gail B and I drank here just about as throngs of after-work types descended upon it. Because, god, what a gorgeous fucking place. It's downright perfect in that dark, cozy old wine/cafe dripping with candlelight etc. glory. So old school New York cafe that is more West Village than Uptown. And, and! They specialize in Italian wines, my favorite! This place has my name written all over it and yet... unfortunately it doesn't. Essentially the feeling that you don't really matter here prevails. The last thing in the world that I want when entering a wine bar that feeling like you're really just one of a thousand people about to walk in and request a table so maybe, just maybe they'll let you sit at one of the prized empty tables. I really think those days of "you're lucky we're letting you two sit here" (even if you're probably going to drop about 200 dollars because a couple about to spend a thousand dollars on wine and small plates is likely to walk through the door and then we'll really regret LETTING you sit here) should be over, thanks to the likes of Yelp and overall improved customer service in cities like New York. I'm getting all cranky just reliving the initial hour we spent here. "If you're not eating, we ask that you sit at the bar" we were briskly greeted with (where, by the way, there were no seats. I'm not standing as I drink a 14 dollar glass of wine, thank you). WTF kind of greeting is that? Never mind the fact that we'd likely spend way more on booze than we ever would on food, but OK, fine, you twisted our arm and so we ordered the 20 dollar cheese plate that should have been 14 dollars at most. I don't really care about the mark-up and will pay it when you have a really lovely atmosphere like this. But, please don't make me feel like you're trying to hustle me out of there. By glass #3 of Montalcino, I was feeling no pain nor angst. I was in love with Sofia and even made friends with the incredibly cool door guy that looks like one of the Baldwins (just head on downstairs for wining alfresco, by the way). Look, I'm rarely if ever in the neighborhood, except, of course, to meet friends after work so it's unlikely I'll be able to be fortunate enough again to be privileged to spend my money here, but take it from me, try and come NOT at "happy hour" (I really don't miss that whole fake happy hour thing in Manhattan bars that don't have specials because they are mobbed regardless). And then people wonder why I prefer not to go north of 14th St... read more

Swung by for a quick bottle and bite on Saturday. At 6:20, there was a corner table available, its wooden beams made more sinewy and inviting by flickering votives and low light. A strapping, suspendered, Aussie-accented man brought leatherbound menus, which must have included 100 wines by the glass. I asked to try a Nero D'Avola and a Chianti Classico, and was assured that they trash any bottle open more than 24 hours. Not bad. A second suspendered young man delivered the bottle of nero d'avola ($45), white ceramic share plates, and the pizza margherita ($14). Both were great. Had to duck out quickly to head to a party, but I will definitely be back to sip and nibble next time I'm in the neighborhood. read more

Sofia is the sultry petite brunette who captures your attention with her vivacity. European chic, classy, but with a rock n' roll edge that makes her different, fun, and oh-so-very intriguing. They say that good things come in small packages and this cozy, romantic, sophisticated wine bar delivers a bomb. Looking for a romantic intimate date spot that's still lively and fun? Go to Sofia, she knows how to show you a good time. Seduction is an art form with Sofia. It's a charming and engaging wine bar with dim lighting, exposed brick, beautiful dark wood, a really fabulous wine selection, an assortment delicious savory viands served to you on one of her tables perfect for a tete-a-tete. Who says that romance is all hushed tones and a slow pace? In Sofia's mind, an upbeat tempo and lively ambiance sets the speed at which she likes to cruise. A fun, eclectic mix of beats enliven what would be just another lovely little wine bar in Manhattan into a something a little more special. This is romance done with old-fashioned chivalry, but with modern veneer and manner. Sofia is on my list as one of the top date spots in New York City. It's also a great locale to bring a small group of your best girlfriends for a girls' night out. Let Sofia seduce you. read more

I've been to Sofia several times now, since it's close to my job and easy to swing by after work. I like to sit in the back room, which is dimly lit and a little more romantic. I think they have an outdoor patio as well but I haven't been able to get out there yet. Service is good (sometimes a little eager haha). The wines are all yummy, at least the several that I have tasted. Cost for a glass is like $12 to $16 on average, with some going as high as the $20-30 range. Only reason to be 4 stars is that the food menu is very limited, and very carb-heavy. I mean, I know it's an Italian restaurant, but damn. Hahaha. read more

This is a hard review for me to write for a few reasons. Our first experience was superb. Literally one of the best food/drinks experiences I've ever had. The wine was perfect and the food (sunday lasagna and molten chocolate cake) was delicious. Our second experience...well...was abysmal, and not in the Joey Tribbiani kind of way. Because we had such a great experience the first time, we decided to take my Mother there for her birthday when she came out from California to visit. Boy was that a mistake. We arrived around 8pm and the place was packed, which was honestly no problem for us. We had already eaten and were only coming to drink some delicious wine. About 30 minutes after we arrived we were told our table was ready, but we weren't seated until 10 minutes after that. During our 40 minute wait we sat at the bar but no one took our drink order, so basically, we were sitting in this incredibly packed tiny place, at the bar, staring at each other. That was weird. Anyway, so once we were seated we ordered our wine, then our wine was brought out and we drank our wine. Then we sat, glasses empty. Even our water glasses were empty. Our waiter came over once to see if we wanted something to eat, but since we had just eaten we politely declined. Then he disappeared. He was conspicuously absent from all the tables around ours too, but they had all ordered bottles of wine, whereas we only ordered glasses. Every time I saw him I attempted to make eye contact and emphasize our empty glasses to no avail. Finally, my mother motioned to him while he was behind the bar, intending to ask for another glass of wine. After a few minutes, a different waiter appeared with our check? I informed the other waiter that we did not want the check, we wanted another round of our now 30-minute-empty drinks. Then, the original waiter came over to the table to ARGUE with me in front of my Mother and boyfriend and all the other tables around ours. So does one horrific experience overshadow one terrific one? Unfortunately for Sofia, on this particular occasion, yes. read more

This has become our "go to" bar in the neighborhood. Romantic lighting, friendly waitstaff, fresh organic ingredients, great selection of wine - what's there not to like? The waiters let us try a few wines to make sure we got exactly what we wanted. We ordered some food, not expecting a gourmet meal. Was very pleasantly surprised. The salad was delicious - with truffles and pickled artichoke. Stuffed mushrooms were perfect - mozzarella, bread crumbs, sour cream, and a touch of prosciutto. And a margherita pizza for the main course - expertly cooked. A super chill and relaxing place to hang out. I like that they don't allow people to work on their computers there! It's a wine bar, people. I'd give them five stars, but I'm scared that Yelp will think they've paid me to review and will end up filtering me! read more

A small stoop of stairs leads you up to Sofia's entrance, which is located on the first floor of a charming brownstone. But, even before you walk up the stairs, the buzz of people laughing and mingling can be heard nearly one building away. This is thanks to a floor-to-ceiling, double-paned window - enclosed by an opera balcony - that opens on to 50th Street. Once inside, you realize that Sofia's space - separated in to two areas: Bar and dining room - is quite small and intimate. Modern tunes blast through overhead speakers at a piercing level where, at times, you have to yell to speak. Odd, considering Sofia deems herself as a "wine bar and cafe" which, at least to me, conjures soothing jazz music. But don't let the tunes keep you away, folks. For it's Sofia's hearty eats + 100 wines by-the-glass + cozy and rustic interior that, ultimately, will make you fall in love. Picture it: Exposed brick walls throughout, French chandeliers, hardwood flooring, dim lighting, twinkling candles, old-fashioned chotchkies, handmade wood carvings, and some of the sexiest suspender-clad male servers/bartenders on the island. What more could you ask for? After greeting one another, the six of us "press folk" began receiving courses, served family-style. Each paired with a wine... Spinach & Artichoke Dip, $14 served with a flute of prosecco -- The fact that this American/TGIFriday's-style starter was even listed on the menu suprised me, considering that the rest of Sofia's offerings are Italian. Alas, upon inquiry, our table learned that the dip is actually made with Italian cheeses... Served with blue-corn tortilla chips, the creamy, slightly pungent dip was laced with wilted spinach leaves and chunks of artichoke hearts. I noticed that some of the other tables in the dining room had also ordered this sharable starter which, I suppose, was a good sign. While I found the dip tasty, I would not pay the $14 price tag if I were to dine here on my own dime. Mac n' Cheese, Mozzarella, Stuffed Mushrooms served with a glass of crisp, white wine -- Mac n' Cheese, $12: Orichette pasta was enveloped by a trio of cheeses, including fontina and white cheddar. The casserole was finished with a thin layer of breadcrumbs, then baked. Personally, I would have preferred a creamier, better-melting cheese blend to the greasy cheddar and fontina. Mozzarella (price not listed): Made in-house, thick slices of mozzarella were topped with small, fragrant basil leaves and drizzled with olive oil. Stuffed Mushrooms, $14: Mushroom caps were crowned by a blend of buttery breadcrumbs, artichokes, salty pancetta, and sour cream, before being baked to a warm and golden brown. Bruschetta Trio, $16 served with a glass of red wine -- Toasted country bread segments were finished with a trio of different toppings: Tomato, eggplant, and ricotta with orange-blossom honey. Of all of the appetizers/starters we sampled, this was my favorite. The toppings were so flavorful and fresh! What a lovely presentation, to boot! Cheese lasagna, Meatball (prices not listed) served with red wine -- *Note: Lasagna is only served on Sunday evenings* The only component of this dish that was not homemade? The flat noodles for the lasagna. Everything else, my friends, was made-from-scratch. Layer upon layer of noodle - ricotta cheese - tomato sauce was finished with freshly-shredded parmesan cheese and a sprig of basil. I made sure to include a chunk of Sofia's fluffy, all-beef meatball in every bite of the lasagna. Brilliant! Margherita Pizza, $14 served with red wine -- In my opinion, Sofia truly "saved the best for last." Hailing from a family of professional pizzeria owners and bakers, Chef Tommaso DeGrezia knows a thing or two about making a perfect pie. And this means only using dough that was made day-of. By hand. Crushed tomatoes, handmade mozzerella cheese, and slivers of fresh basil arrived bubbling atop a charred, not-too-thick/not-too-thin crust. I would return to Sofia, alone, for this pizza. Yes, it was that good. Cannoli, $5 for 2 pieces served with Vin Santo (sweet dessert wine) -- And this is the dish that rivals Sofia's excellent pizza pie: Cannoli imported from Sicily. Yes, you read that correctly. A thick-ish, cinnamon-y, fried dough "tube" was liberally filled with the best cannoli cream that I have ever tasted in my life. Rather, the best cream, cannoli or otherwise, that I have ever tasted in my life. It had this insane texture that was a cross between sugar cookie icing and traditional cannoli cream, with an incredible density that keeps lingering in my mind. Hell, I've just got to get back to Sofia this week and calm this raging craving... Seriously. read more

At this moment, Sofia is my favorite wine bar (and among my favorite anythings) in the city. In the way that the skill of a master novelist gives the reader a sense of comfort knowing the he is in good hands, Sofia is clearly the product of an incredible lineage of trial and error leading a family of restaurateurs who know what the hell they're doing. The place pretty much fires on all cylinders, but more importantly has a certain intangible gift of charm that I almost hate to deconstruct (but which I will try to do anyway, because this is a review site after all). First, all the basics are covered. The wine selection is varied and expert. This is no small achievement. Go the nearby wine bar dumps and you'll know that you've chosen badly just from the first drag of crud cheapo South American or Australian filler wine or the ever popular red table swill from Italy with a rustic label. I have not sampled all the wines at Sofia but I've taken enough random samples to know that there are probably no bad wines on the list, while there are amazing amazing choices at reasonable prices. The interior is warm and intimate, but also fun. This is a magical date spot, but also a place to go with friends. I think part of the quality of Sofia is the small front dining/drinking area. The bar and the seating are perfect and human-scaled in the way the small streets of medieval European towns always feel more embracing than America's wide-road car-friendly developments. The staff, some of whom have fascinating tattoos, are not perfect, but they are damned close. There's skill in the hiring and management, because everyone is friendly and the service is, for the lack of a better word, responsive and caring. This is the kind of genius Danny Meyer has. It's an understanding that the manner of the apology or correction is so much more powerful than perfection. One remembers major errors much more than one remembers flawless service, but errors corrected in a warm and timely way are powerful and unforgettable. I wish I knew how someone could make so many good hires--waiters who know the food and the wine selection and who are always pleasant even when dealing with whiny new yorkers. I assume this is another benefit of being from a family in the business. I have to say, the more I think on it, the more a wine bar seems like the best of all worlds for a restaurant/bar owner. You can have food, but there's no need to carry a ton of low margin necessities. You have wine, which is easy to store, easy to price and tends to have a price point between liquor and beer. You also get a crowd of drinkers, yes, but usually a less rowdy group. I have never seen a fight in a wine bar, though I've often wanted to kick the ass of some snob carelessly tossing out BS terminology like an art history boor correcting a museum tour guide. Within the parameters of such a great business model, it's surprising that more wine bars aren't as good as this one, but I think it's a matter of numerous details. As James Bond creator Ian Flemming wrote in Goldfinger, "As soon as Bond had hit the shot he knew it wouldn't do. The difference between a good golf shot and a bad one is the same as the difference between a beautiful and a plain woman -- a matter of millimeters." How well that applies to any restaurant! In the case of Sofia, the product of the details exceeds their sum. Some specifics Be certain to say hello to owner Tommy, whom my Australian friends say bears a resemblance to Eric Bana and who is invariably at the bar to oversee the proceedings. My favorite wine here was his recommendation, the #232 (Valpolicella, Allegrini Palazzo della torre, Veneto Italy 2005). Like the movie scores of Erich Wolfgang Korngold (the Errol Flynn version of Robin Hood being the best example), this wine flirts on the age of impropriety without ever crossing the threshold. It is neither overly fruity nor thin/watery nor too plump. It is damned perfect. I could drink gallons of it. The meatballs (Tommy's Mom's recipe) are obnoxiously good, made completely of beef (no pork filler or second-hand veal) and the sauce is neither tart nor sweet. She told me some of her secrets, and I probably should not reveal them, but they have to do with breadcrumbs and sweet onions. You'll have to buy me some #232 if you want to know more. I just tried the margherita pizza tonight and it was good. I was not blown away, but it was exactly as I thought it would be, and that is enough. I've been told the mac & cheese is incredible, but I have not tried it yet. Chocolate lava cake was for a while (like tuna steak in 2003 or truffle oil in 2005 or $16+ hamburgers in 2007) a staple dish badly abused by inferior hands and overzealous microwave ovens. At Sofia, it is exactly what you expect if you expect a firm but soft shell and a well-melted core. I fear that if I continue eating here, that will become an apt description of my physical condition. read more

This place is sexy. Not ultra-modern, pretentious, W lounge sexy. I'm talking exposed-brick, vintage-chandeliers, deep-cherry-wood, wine-cellar sexy. I have yet to eat or drink something that didn't make me swoon. A thoughtful wine list and some of the most amazing small plates I've ever had. Procsuitto mac and cheese, tuna and salmon tartare, margherita pizza. All perfect. My favorite part, beyond the food and wine, is how inviting the service is. We were as warmly welcomed when we stopped by just to feed our mac and cheese craving as we were when we ordered dinner and bottles of wine. read more

I was looking forward to having a good time at this bar with some out of town family. We were a party of 8, and since the bar does not take reservations we walked in on Friday night asking for a table. They seated us, but one waiter refused to serve us because we didn't order enough. We had ordered two bottles of wine and two pizzas as we had dinner reservations and only wanted a few drinks beforehand. He told us we each had to order an appetizer. We were about to get up when another waiter was walking by and we asked him to take our order instead. As we were leaving they gave us nasty looks. The ambiance is beautiful, and the second waiter (I wish I knew his name) was much more inviting. Otherwise, I would not be visiting this place again. read more

This is a very little cute place and I really liked it. Very nice and cozy atmosphere which you don't really find much in midtown east. It was pretty loud inside but they had a big windows open and it was very airy. The wait staff were also very nice and attentive. Wine selection seemed decent but a bit short for a wine bar? Having said that we were very happy with the wine we had (2 glasses of white, rose, and desert wines). The food was fine but I wish they had more snack food that goes with wine. Also as one of the reviewers said, I wish they were a bit more generous on wine portion... I live close by and would definitely go back there, but probably after 11pm after many young girls have moved to the nearby single bars! read more

By far my favorite wine bar in New York City!!!! Sofia is amaaaazing. I have probably taken over 50 friends there (not exaggerating) and Leo, my now friend for over a month hooks us up every time. If you love life, people, great wine from all over the world, mouth watering chocolate souffles, artistic cheese and cured meat board and an amazing time in midtown, Sofia is the place to go. Every time I have a guest, family member, girl's night out, etc... I take them to Sofia. I stopped in to check it out after the charming host, Leo (I love him) greeted my friend and I on his stoop with a "Ciao Bella!" Normally I want to throw things at men who I don't know who are giving compliments, but Leo was so genuine. I stopped in and starting speaking with him in Italian. My friend followed, we decided to stay for one drink which turned into 4 each, a cheese board, and 3 more friends joining. I always feel so at home at Sofia. So the wine is phenomenal and they let you try whatever you want. Let them know what you are into and they will find you the perfect fit. Don't know jack about wine? They don't care! As oenophiles, it is their job to pair you with your mate :) Unlike many wine bars who are snobby about tasting wines, they are happy to oblige. You treat them with kindness and respect and they will surely take care of you. I love Sofia through and through and can't imagine a better wine bar, with a better atmosphere and lovelier staff. Did I mention that the men who work there are all particularly beautiful? Yes... Sofia is a winner. I'm afraid to take any boyfriends, I want it to be my little spot with my friends and family. I compare it to say... a fusion of Eataly, Ayza, Little Nicks and The Bourgeois Pig, but 500 times better and more reasonable. PERFETTO! BACI read more

This place is the cutest. My boyfriend and I went on a Friday for drinks and dinner. The place doesn't take reservations so we were prepared to wait a bit for a table. When the wait time exceeded what the host had told us (15 mins), he brought us over complimentary champagne for the wait! A very nice touch. The place is quite small and crowded but for me this just lent to the very intimate romantic setting. Plus, it wasn't too noisy, so we didn't much mind the other people quite close to us. The wine list is impressive and the advice is unpretentious (yay). They also had some nice beers (Chimay, Sam Smith's) in case your boyfriend, like mine, thinks that all wine "tastes like death". We ordered the Margherita Pizza and the Meat and Cheese platter. Everything was great and the price was reasonable. I am definitely looking forward to going back! read more

I could have sworn I reviewed Sofia months ago, but it looks like not. So here goes. My husband and I moved to NYC in July and one of the first places we went out to eat after arriving in Turtle Bay was at Sofia. We live nearby and seven months later we continue to go once a week -- we love it that much. The space has so much character, the wine is great, the staff is very knowledgeable about it, and the small plates are excellent. The staff is also very warm and friendly -- they remembered us the second time we came, and at this point we know them all (it's a small staff) -- and it is basically our second home. We've eaten pretty much everything on the menu and haven't found something we don't like. Particular favorites are the margherita pizza, meatballs & meatball sliders, meat & cheese plate, stuffed mushrooms, tuna tartare (which is enlivened by chopped tomato, avocado, and sprouts), the bresaola carpaccio...well, I could name everything, I guess. And I will add to the other reviewers who had good things to say about the spinach and artichoke dip -- initially I thought, "how very 1990s" but after our favorite server Jeremy surprised us with it one time, we became fans of Sofia's. It's not on the menu, but ask for the mozzarella and tomato plate -- they make their mozzarella in house and it is amazing, as is the panini-grilled bread they serve alongside it. The Sunday night lasagna is definitely worth making a special trip. The cannoli are wonderful and we really, really love the tartufo ice cream dessert. The wines-by-the-glass are spendy (hey, it IS Midtown) and they don't do happy hour specials, so don't come expecting discounts at any point. However, the pours are generous, and the staff is great at suggesting a wine that will pair well with what you're eating. They also don't take reservations and there's not much room to stand and wait, so come early or later if you don't want to be hanging out in the small vestibule waiting to get in. We're from the Midwest so we don't have a problem with supper at 6:00, that seems pretty normal to us yet. :) It is small, so when they're at capacity you're very close to your neighbors. We enjoy people-watching and playing "is this a blind date?" since there are lots of couples there. It also seems to be a popular choice for a girls' night where friends catch up with each other. We bring all of our houseguests here, as well as other friends who come to town. read more

Cute litte place. Cozy, very small with wooden tables. There is a front room with the bar and a back room with more tables. I ate in the back room with a friend, with more than 4 people it would be crowded. If you have a lot of people I'd suggest somewhere else. The servers were great, huge men with tattos and suspenders, very funny. Got a bottle of red and ordered the mozarella and tomatoe app, and a cheese pizza. The pizza was very good! I believe cooked in a real brick oven, or it tasted like it was anyway. Delicious. Good place for a date, casual but intimate. read more

A very small, intimate spot dimly lit by quartz candles, lanterns, and chandeliers, Sofia Wine Bar & Cafe is romantic and relaxing, yet simple when it comes to Italian wine bars. A solid midtown East after-work locale and/or a great backdrop for a date. With regards to dates though, I see it being better for late-night. The noise level and crowd intensity at peak hours is simply not conducive to deep conversation. A bar to consider if in the mood for some serious wine indulgence. Waiters will immediately greet you upon entrance. The service here is generally friendly. You can sit either at the bar or one of their wooden tables set up by candles. Sofia offers a variety of straightforward choices, so it takes out a lot of guesswork. Their menu highlight would be their mid-sized thin-crust pizzas with optional toppings of prosciutto, mozzarella, and meatballs, etc. They also offer a selection of appetizers. My partner and I went with the Spinach Artichoke Dip and Meat & Cheese Platter accompanied by glasses of wine. Selection of wine is quite wonderful yet also rather steep, ranging from $12-$18 a glass. Bottles range $50 and above. The Spinach Artichoke Dip, served with blue tortilla corn chips, was an enjoyable sharing plate. Sufficient chunks of artichoke is swirled in oozing, thick layers of spinach and cheese. They also supply a side of sourdough bread. The Meat & Cheese platter was a tasty assortment of prosciutto, sopressata, and cheese. The two appetizers were perfect for sharing and paired great with the wine. A slight drawback would be the lack of a description for what we were having. We'd ask the waiter, but it was simply too noisy in the bar at the time. Overall, Sofia offers a classy ambiance for a very uncomplicated, relaxing dinner. With an extensive Italian wine list, you cannot go wrong when in the mood for some quality wine. read more

This was the first place I tried when I got to NYC and it was the right decision. After a day of traveling, it was nice to find a restaurant that was comfortable and not over whelming. Even when the restaurant became busy over the night, it was comfortable, relaxing and inviting. The place was very decorative with beautiful lights and simple plants. We chose to sit outside and it was a lovely view. Felt like we were in a garden with the buildings of the city providing the perfect shade and the lights were a nice touch to the scenery. The wine we ordered was very good and fine. They served the right amount in the glass as well and it was nice area to enjoy a good drink with friends. The food we ate was the cheese platter as a starter, it came with about 6 different cheeses and bread slices. It was perfect for sharing. The cheese was really delicious and fresh. The menu provides information about the cheese that is served. For the dinner we had lasagna and it was delicious!! Cooked just right and not over done. Just the right combination of cheese, sauce and pasta layers. The meat was also very good. I enjoyed the whole place, from the food to the wine. The service was excellent and inviting. They are patient with costumers and I didn't feel like I had to rush out of there. Would definitely recommend and go again as well! read more

See all

I have been meaning to try this place in a long time, and finally made it out here last week! Friends and I sat at a table right by the window, and it was beautiful weather that night so the windows were fully open facing a lighted tree outside - GORGEOUS. The waiter was fantastic - he was friendly, approachable, gave great advice about the menu and the wines as well. On the small eats - in general all are fantastic- - Bruschetto trio - agree, this one can be skipped - Stuffed mushrooms and artichokes - this was fantastic. The mushrooms had great flavor and quite moist and warm, while the artichokes were a nice colder compliment - Meat & Cheese Plate - the cheeses were very unique and all had different tastes and smells which I enjoyed.. the meats were fresh although could have used a bit more Doesn't get loud here which is nice, and you don't feel like you are going to get kicked out - so you can definitely hang out and if you want to try somewhere different after - just head across the street to Respite! read more

I've been in search for nice wine bars in midtown so I was surprised that I never knew about this place. The inside seemed really cozy but it was a bit loud so luckily we were seated out back. It was quieter and really nice even in the rain. We shared the spinach artichoke dip, prosciutto mac and cheese, and margherita pizza. Everything tasted freshly made. The waiters were really knowledgeable and helpful and let us sample wines. I can't wait to go back again. read more

Sofia is a consistently great wine bar experience! The servers really know their wine...there are few places where I would ask the servers to "surprise me" with their choice. The food is also superb. Be sure to try a pizza while you are there. The arugula salad is excellent and everything that passed our table looked superb. The prices are high, but Sofia feels like a great value! read more

Like everyone says, this place is very cozy, small and adorable! We got the spinach dip and it was REALLY good! I also ordered a panini, which was pretty OK but nothing spectacular like the dip. I ordered a Lambrusco and it was perfect. Chilled, bubbly, sweet red wine! It was also POURING rain so we waited it out while inside. They were very nice and didn't bother us too much, even though there was a bunch of people that were waiting to come in. They seemed very low key and friendly. They aren't snobby at all, and very accommodating. My friend had a big duffel bag with her so they offered to take it downstairs and brought it up when we were leaving. I didn't really have too much of anything else, but I definitely want to come back for more! read more

I loved this place!!!!! My friend that I was staying with in New York and I decided to go on a mid-town East wine bar crawl of our own creation, and this was our second stop! The guys were so friendly to us! I had just had a PhD phone interview that had gone fairly well, and my friend took me out to celebrate! She told the two guys this fact and they couldn't have treated us any better. Great wine, we ordered a bottle of rose prosecco and it was on point. Prices were pretty steep but hey, it's New York. Right in line with what you might expect for an upscale Manhattan wine bar. Didn't get a chance to try the food but would definitely be back! read more

Located in the heart of the midtown- after work fratty bars, is this little hidden gem. Sofia Wine Bar is extremely adorable and romantic. It is dimly lit with candles and chandeliers and offers a vast wine menu, along with a sharing food menu with an italian flavor. I went here on a very rainy Friday night, and this place was still packed despite the very soggy air outside. To lift our spirits from the crappy weather, we ordered the margherita pizza, since it was suggested in all of the yelp reviews I had read earlier. I must say, there are many pizza joints in the city known for their pizza, but this little hideaway has great pizza! It not only looks delicious, but it tastes amazing too. It came out piping hot and was covered in sauce! I am one who loves a very saucy pizza, so the more sauce the better. Also, it wasn't overly cheesy, which I loved! The crust was the perfect level of crunch. Many pizza places tend to burn their crust or leave it too doughy. This crust was just right! I would definitely go back to Sofia to enjoy their romantic ambiance, and sample more of the food on their menu while enjoying another glass of pinot noir! read more

Sofia has it all: great drinks, great food and great service! Perfect casual date spot. My friend recommended this wine bar and told me that the food was good, and she was right. The menu is pretty limited and consists of gourmet thin crust pizzas, mac and cheese and various meat and cheese tapas. We started with two glasses of shiraz and a margherita pizza with pancetta and arugula. It was super delicious. The table next to us ordered a similar pizza and actually got a second one after they finished the first! We realized two thirds of the way through that we probably needed one more small dish to satisfy our tummies so we went with the meatball with fresh sauce and both the meat and the tomato sauce were cooked to perfection. My friend told us the mac and cheese is amazing so will have to come back and try that next time. read more

I came here with a couple of friends after dinner and a little bar hopping. It's a small cozy place with great food and a decent wine list. I'm not much of a wine drinker myself and wasn't in the mood for any, so I went with a pear cider instead. It's awesome stuff, so go for that if you're not in a wine mood. We got a Margherita pizza to share and because that was so good, we got their Crudo pizza (18 month Prosciutto) after and it was even better! I think this would make a great date spot and it was definitly a great place just to hang out with a couple of friends. read more

One of our regular wine bars we like to visit. Cute atmosphere and nice wine selection. read more

Sofia Wine Bar - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

I love this place.. Its my news favorite and I plan on living there. I had a favorite wine bar in TX before I moved here and was struggling to find a place with the perfect mix of high quality wine, friendly service, and cool atmosphere.. This place has it :) I love love love the decor, pizza, cheese platters, waiters, wine, everything!!! read more

Love, love, love this place! It was a nice little surprise I found last weekend. I had been taking pictures of the tree at Rockefeller Center, in the pouring rain (dedication), and all I wanted was a nice relaxing atmosphere and a bottle of wine to go along with it. When I walked into Sofia's, I was excited about the quaintness of the place. The ambiance was perfect for a sophisticated, yet casual dining experience. We sat in the front, where there is a bar and some seating. Seating is limited in the front, although there was apparently seating in the back, as I saw people being directed there several times. My date and I shared a bottle of red wine. We were hungry, but not famished, so we ordered the cheese platter. The platter: delicious!! It was a little pricy but worth it. My favorite part was actually the ricotta spread with the bread. I was a little sad when we ate it all (which we did, with no qualms). It made me want to also order the meat platter, but then I would just be getting greedy. Our server was great. He knew we were looking for a relaxed experience, so he catered to our needs by being attentive but not rushing us. I loved the décor. There were little trinkets and artwork displayed among the bar. I appreciated the holiday decorations. They were around the bar sporadically, but they weren't obnoxious. In fact, they blended in with the rest of the décor, and almost appeared as though they had been there all year long. The crowd was mixed, but it seems like a good date place, or a place to bring a few of the girls for a relaxing girl's night out. Definitely would enjoy going again when I'm in the area. read more

Sofia Wine Bar - Lovely, relaxing atmosphere. - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

This is your typical unreasonably expensive, crammed, hard to find place - with excellent food, a cozy but upscale decor, and a staff that knows what to do with a wine glass. I suppose it's a quintessential new york wine bar. The pizza was spectacular (again, I'm from DC, so I think you new yorkers are paying too much for everything), the wine they paired (yes, they said we'll pair wine with your pizza) was brilliant, and though my elbows didn't have much room to faff about - that's just a new york particular. read more