SPES is a wonderful restaurant for anyone looking for a great dinner in the East Village. Their innovative way to pick wine while serving delicious dishes are just a few reasons to visit. Although the restaurant is small, the service is phenomenal. Erica and Andy makes you feel so at home, as does the rest of the team! read more

SPES - Lobster Spaghetti with a twist - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Amazing wines and service!! Your wine is selected based off of a chosen mood word and color of wine. The food was not amazing, but the ambiance is cozy and cute, perfect date night spot. Chairs are set up outside in summer as well with a small enclosed patio for winter. read more

Cute natural wine bar! You pick a wine off of vibes, the waitress was v nice and gave us rec. their pasta is very al dente I really liked the texture. It's a little pricey ($30ish for pasta + $15-20ish for wine) but it's a cute date spot i got the carbonara and liked it! Instagram - @joangela.eats read more

SPES - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Spes has a fun unique gimmick when it comes to their wines, which are all natural and organic. You choose the color of wine you'd like and then an adjective to describe the wine and they bring you 2 options to try that match that description. Psa a glass is ~$21 so it's not cheap. But the wines are all unique and the ambiance is great. I've only ever sat outside but it looks nice and cozy inside. The food is surprisingly good. Last time we had the octopus which I'd recommend. The bread they use for various apps is really good. I loved the sourdough that came with the mozzarella and anchovies. It's a great local spot for a small group (4ppl or less). read more

See all

The best secret gem of wine in the whole city. Never disappoints. Such knowledgable friendly staff, food is fantastic, if I could live inside this restaurant eating cheese and drinking biodynamic organic small batch wine, I would in a heart beat! 10000% recommend. read more

Perfect place for a date! Everyone is super nice and they have live music sometimes. The wine list is amazing and its definitely a hidden nyc gem. read more

SPES - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

If I could give more stars I would! This place was amazing. Not only was the food delicious, the service was also so great. T specifically was so so amazing and really made our whole experience great. Would definitely recommend!! read more

Natural wine is finally having it's moment. There seem to be a new natural wine bar popping up every week, and I'm not sad about it. Spes is a tiny, cozy Italian natural wine bar (in the old Terroir space!) with mismatched dishware and walls lined with wine bottles making it the perfect spot for the cooler days ahead. Instead of a traditional wine menu, they use a wine wheel where you spin to choose a mood and wine color, and they bring you a few options that match your choices. If that's too much pressure, you can also just tell them what you're in the mood for, like we did. I love this unique concept, but not knowing the glass/bottle price may lead to some anxiety/sticker shock at the end of the meal. For food, we ordered the burrata to share and I ordered the special ravioli of the day. Both were great, although the burrata would be a little easier to share if the bread was served on the side instead of underneath. read more

SPES - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This restaurant is really cute. It is smallllllllll, i mean TINY. The decor is absolutely adorable. The vibe here is really nice. I came here alone and was seated at the bar. When i walked in, i was only given the option of outside or the bar. There were tables available. None of which seem to be a set up for two people which means you will also have to sit outside or at the bar which is crammed. The seats a backless bar stools. You face a wall. Its not a true bar top so it's a little awkward. Although it is a small space, you can still be forgotten about by the staff. I had to flag them down when i was ready to order. I ended up asking for recommendations on the drink. I got the espresso martini which was absolutely delicious. I wish i would of gotten two. I also ordered the grilled octopus. It came with sweet potato puree and spinach. The octopus was soft but perfectly crispy on the outside. It had a strong grilled taste but the sauce, pure of sweet potato and spinach was a good bite together. They finished it with flaked salt which i though was really good. It was a nice pop. I highly recommend both the drink and octopus. They have this little game that you can play. Its a spinner that allows you the randomly select a wine color and flavor. I played it but still decided to order from the cocktail menu. The wine also doesn't have a price menu so that can be a surprise when the bill comes. The cocktails and food items have the price on the menu so that's perfect. Overall this place is really nice. It's a good spot to grab a bite to eat with 3 or 4 people. I recommend making reservations. read more

See all

Overall this is a very nice natural wine bar with a good range of italian dishes. The space is very small and quite cramped but there is a certain charm to it that is instantly discernible when you peel back the curtains in the entranceway. There is no traditional wine menu, instead you must order from a spinning dial that allows you to select both mood and color. So if you like aristocratic reds or muscular sparkling whites, this is your place. Service was fine, a bit chaotic but friendly and helpful. read more

spes has become one of my favorite drink spots! so pretty inside & out. the drink menu is unique, if you're picky about wines it's kinda perfect because you can try so many options :) i've had both slow and fast service (depends on the time) but these olives turn any bad day into a good dayyyy go get emmmm read more

SPES - fruity sparkling - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I cannot say enough good things about Spes. From Diego, Andy, and Maribel on waitstaff and in the kitchen to the energy of the joint, Spes Is my go to dinner spot and home away from home. Spes is quintessential New York: good food, people who make you feel at home, and a little bit of spice and flair. Either bring a date or bring your girls to gossip about a date read more

Came here for wine and some prosciutto. It is such an amazing concept! You pick your wine by color and your mood. We got orange + friendly. You get to try two wines and pick from one of them. We fortunately enjoyed the 2nd one as the 1st wasn't to our liking. I also ordered the speck which came with toast and honey. Softest bread ever! And the speck was exceptional (they ran out of prosciutto). We sat at their bar, so we were able to see the food that was going out, and my friend and I just knew we need to come back! Don't skip this! read more

See all

We came here after looking around everywhere for a cute wine bar and this was the only place that had some seating, even though it was outside. we were immediately not impressed. the outside seating is tiny and like on an incline so we felt super cramped to being with. we wanted to get a charcuterie board and some wine and their meat and cheese selections werent the best, and we felt were a bit overpriced. we paid $45 for two cheeses and one meat. we liked the concept of the wine selection, but i hated not knowing how much i would be paying for the glass of wine, and the staff isnt forthcoming with the prices, so i ended up paying around $18 for a glass of wine. the concept of the wine is fun, but i also felt that i was getting basic wines like a pinot noir or a chianti and that price just didnt feel worth it. the staff was very friendly and knowledgable but we spent almost $200 between two people and didnt even have a full dinner. read more

This wine bar was opened just a few months ago and is such a wonderfully intimate and romantic space-- love coming here just to read. You'll get a fun wheel of wine choices, but instead of the tradition list, you'll point two arrows to 1) A feeling/ vibe of the night; and 2) A preferred type of wine (variations of red, orange, etc.) Highly recommend. If not for the wine, the ambient buzz of life, or the authentic Italian desserts, ... then for the toilet. Seriously, it's pretty cool. read more

SPES - an open book and a glass of wine on a table - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I came here with a friend last Wednesday where we sat at the bar. The restaurant is on the smaller side, with a cozy and intimate vibe. The staff was attentive and friendly. They have a fun game to help you determine what kind of wine you should get - it's kind of like a clock design with one hand pointing to the wine type and another hand pointing to your mood. We got a Nebbiolo ($18 per glass) with the suggestion by the waitress. We also got the meat and cheese plate, daily pasta special (tomato, caper, olive, and tagliatelle $27), and branzino. Yes it was indulgent, but it gets better - we got the tiramisu ($18) at the end to top things off. VERY NICE Anyways, I had a great time and definitely recommend for a cute and cozy spot. read more

See all

The ambience and natural wine options at Spes are great, but the food was disappointing and overpriced. A friend and I both ordered the crab pasta ($33), which had little to no crab and was dry with minimal sauce. The salad ($20!) was a bunch of things thrown together (lettuce, quinoa, olives, walnuts, carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, etc.) and the dressing only tasted of olive oil. We did like our appetizers (burrata, formaggi e salumi, artichokes) and the tiramisu, but I wouldn't visit again for the food! read more

Food is overpriced and you don't know the cost of the wine that the waiter brings you. We accidentally ended up with $23 glasses of wine while having a casual meal because it was the waiter's recommendation based on the spinning wheel of preferences at each table. Overall, not a place we would come back to. read more

The food here tastes like it does in Italy, very rare for a NYC Italian. The pastas are some of the best I've had, and everything is clearly made with top quality ingredients. The sommelier really knows what she is doing-- it's a great wine program. And the ambience is classic LES date spot, where you are packed in like sardines but everybody is enjoying themselves. So why only four stars? The answer is the opaque wine pricing. Folks, just give us a wine list like every other restaurant! Despite this annoying gimmick to hide the high wine prices, I'll be back. read more

Spes is an amazing relaxed, small, intimate and dim lit wine bar with delicious food. Loved the octopus and carbonara! Attentive service and overall perfect experience, highly recommend for a cozy winter weeknight dinner with a glass of wine. read more

SPES - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

My friend and stumble upon this place and the ambience is everything! We enjoyed picking our wine by the mood board and the staff was very sweet. The only down fall is we waited 40 min for our food and my Tagliolini with Asparagus was cold. We saw people sit down before us and get their food. Ambience great service sucks read more

Spes is one of the best restaurants ever! My boyfriend and I went on Friday night and loved it so much we went back again Saturday night! The staff is excellent, the ambiance is very beautiful and romantic, the food is terrific, the music is such a vibe, and the wine experience, knowledge, and taste is wonderful. We had Andy as our server and he was just so kind and amazing. The staff really improves your experience there. I look forward to our next reservation! read more

See all

They do not have a menu here. Instead you tell them the color or wine you want and the vibe. I was with two friends and we got two bottles of wine which were recommended by the server. When the bill came we realized that east bottle was about $100. This was incredibly frustrating as no one asked what our price range was. Wine was good, ambiance was cute, but that bill ruined the evening. read more

SPES - Orange wine and olives - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

100000% recommend for a date night spot. Beautiful cozy interior and ambiance. Here's what we got: - burrata (4/5)...burrata, evoo, basil and tomato was delicious but the bread was OK - pasta (5/5)... we all had a bunch of different pastas and they were all exceptional. Cooked to perfection. - tiramisu (5/5)... huge portion but probably the best one I've had in a while. - gelato (5/5)... we had the chocolate and raspberry and the raspberry was particularly exceptional. On food alone I'd probably give it 5 stars but there were a few other things that were EH... we were a party of 3 and were basically sharing a table meant for 2 ppl. It wasn't comfortable. They don't offer a regular wine menu. It's a cute concept to have waitress's help you choose but I went into it blind not knowing cost. I'd most definitely like to come back here now that I know what to expect! read more

This place had the cutest dang ambiance. It's such a fun vibe & intimate space for dinner with friends. The wine was delicious & loved the carbonara. read more

See all

I hate to leave a negative review. I never leave reviews. I have a dairy allergy and clearly expressed it to my waitress. She was great and took note. However, the chef didn't just serve me cross contaminated pasta, the note of my dairy allergy was completed missed and I was served sauce made with Parmesan cheese. The chef told me I would be fine it was just a little and didn't understand the gravity of the situation. I had to run to CVS to get medication to avoid a full blown allergy attack. If you have an allergy you understand the trust placed in the kitchen staff to be cognizant of an allergy. read more

I ordered the rigatoni ala carbonara and my partner ordered the cacio e pepe gnocchi. The gnocchi was pillowy and heavenly soft but I'd say very overpriced for the portion. The rigatoni, however, was too salty and the quality of the food was mediocre. The restaurant space itself is charming and stylish, if not a bit cramped. The wait staff was polite and nothing notable. read more

What a nice surprise. A small, cozy wine bar with fantastic food in the East Village. We were only going for a drink, but wound up staying for the gnocchi, stracciatella and tiramisu. We canceled our dinner reservations elsewhere because we were enjoying ourselves at SPES (Goddess of Hope) too much!. Live music the night we were there and wonderful, warm knowledgeable service with delicious natural wines. The same Italian team behind Have Meyer wine bar in Brooklyn, which we love. Can't wait to return. xo read more

Passed by this place 2 weeks ago and was drawn by the music - they have a live band every Thursday! Came back last night and it was lovely: the service was great, warm atmosphere with candles and wine on shelves everywhere, small tables. Very intimate! read more

SPES - Ravioli with truffles - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Spes is really cool! They don't have a wine list but rather a "mood board" so you can pick the color of wine and the flavors you're feeling. It can be a bit intimidating if you have a few "tried and trues" like I do, but the waiter was very accommodating and patient. I did try a few sips of their espresso martini and didn't like it (they make theirs with licorice bitters which makes it taste like it has some soap in it, to be honest), and the waiter was very gracious and accommodating. We had charcuterie that came with honey, sourdough and fruit which was delicious; he gave us extra bread as well. The only reason I give this place a four and not a five is because it is incredibly cramped and a bit expensive. We sat outside on the porch and while they made the best of it, it was a little overwhelming to be smushed in so close to folks. The ambience inside is similar in that it's tightly packed, but with better furniture. I would recommend trying to secure a reservation inside if you can. read more

SPES - Charcuterie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Great addition to the neighbourhood. We came on Friday night, 1st week they were open and had a great last minute dinner. It's a very small space- maybe 6-7 tables which makes for a fun atmosphere. Can see this being a regular spot if one can get in after it's found out. Service was great, really friendly and sociable. Have unique way to pick-out wines- will have to see it. I prices are what's typical now for new restaurants , which is $15-17 for a glass. $17 or so for cocktails. Food was great, not the best pastas we've ever had but solid. Would definitely comeback to try more wines and food. This is the 4th restaurant of mini Italian empire in Brooklyn, so they definitely know what they are doing. Great tiramisu. read more

We sat outside on a crooked table but 5 stars for sure! The server was excellent and took very good care us even with a packed house. We tasted the wine before ordering two glasses (bottles were $90+). The food is superb. Definitely a city favorite. read more

This is an adorable little restaurant that was recommended to me. The ambiance is nice, the food delicious and service was good. It's very tiny! Only a handful of tables inside. Will definitely go back. read more

I recently dined at this place with my husband. The atmosphere was cozy but the limited space made it difficult to move around. We ordered the Rigatoni alla Carbonara and Mafalde with Lamb ragu. We were highly disappointed to find both dishes overly salty. However, the Mafalde with Lamb ragu was still edible, while the Rigatoni alla Carbonara was unfortunately inedible. The pasta was too hard. I had to send it back to the kitchen to be remade, but the second attempt was not any better. I would never come back to this place. Also they present the wine selection in an unique way, but does not disclosure any prices. read more

Great Sunday brunch! We got the Sunny Side up and the Pesto & Pomodorini Scrambled Egg. The Sunny Side Up sourdough bread was the best I've tasked outside of San Francisco and the Scrambled Egg was great--flavorable and filling. Definitely will be back! read more

Absolutley loved the ambiance for dinner at Spes! The wine mood wheel was such a fun experience and the pastas were fresh. The servers were clearly very knowledgeable about the wines and we loved our server Beatrice, she was great! read more

SPES - Wine wheel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Had a great time here! I'm not a wine connoisseur so I really appreciated their untraditional wine menu (you let your server know what color+mood you're looking for and they'll pick something for you). I loved the two wines I got, and they did a good job of picking out wines for the rest of my party as well. Overall, a relaxed and cozy spot to enjoy a drink. read more

When you walk in, the ambiance is a 10/10, but this place is a total scam. Their wine list is a 'spinny wheel' where you can pick the 'color' wine and 'vibe' you want. This is just their way of ripping you off. We got the bill and realized the waiter served a $95 bottle of wine to us without a disclosure of how pricey the bottle was. We were also charged extra for bread when the bruschetta only came with one slice of bread for $22. A total disappointment and not a nice representation of the neighborhood vibe of East Village. read more

As an Italian coming straight from the mother land, I can tell you this is IT! From food to wine pairings, to ambience and staff. This is LEGIT Italian food, prepared just like we do it in Italy with actually Italian staff. Couldn't believe it when the past was actually "Al dente"! Totally worth it! read more

I was skeptical about the whole "natural wine" idea. Had an all around great evening out. Such friendly service, brought me multiple wines to sample (although their first pick for me was spot on). Enjoyed a few good glasses, excellent cheese spread, and my friend had pasta that she said was delicious. I will definitely go back. read more