The doors pull back so it's half outside, great wine selection and friendly service! We had the Fig, jambon and goat cheese tartine and the mushroom, ricotta and truffle tarte - both were awesome! No complaints, a great place to grab a drink and have a bite! read more

Great cozy wine bar in the UWS with friendly staff. Came here to grab a few more glasses of wine and they had a pretty good selection. The charcuterie board was really good too. I'll def be back when I'm craving wine and cheese! read more

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

See all

Cozy, beautiful place on the upper west. It does get busy but there is plenty of seating available. Bartender was very friendly. Good wine selection. Looks like they also stay open late. Would definitely come back! read more

Top tier location within the all the outposts they have simply based on the bartenders and staff. Great selection overall in terms of wine and food that can be enjoyed while you imbibe some vino. They do not provide table service. It is a decent sized location but you must order at the bar and sit wherever you'd like. If you're solo or with a plus one, the bar is the move. Anything more, it's definitely easier to grab a high top to enjoy the conversation. Ordering at the bar is easy and never chaotic no matter how busy they get. They rotate their menu from time to time as well as stock up on fairly similar replacements if a wine is out of stock. They'll allow you to enjoy a taste to make sure you like it. read more

Vanguard Wine Bar - Orange wine and red wine - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Have walked by here and finally decided to try it out. So glad I did! We let the bartender know our preferences and she gave us two wines that perfectly matched what we wanted. She was also super friendly. Will definitely be back! read more

Love this place! Relaxed sophistication, knowledgeable bartenders and fabulous food! And late hours!

I've been here a couple of times with a friend in the early evening. This place fills up!!! It definitely pays to get there a little early--if you run a little later, you may have to wait a bit to find space to sit down. I really like the vibe here, it just seems kind of chill and cozy. But definitely lively as well. They have a good selection of wines --it would be great if they had some sort of happy hour special, but they don't seem to do that. It's a good place for drinks and the snacks, such as cheese and charcuterie and tartines, are good. I enjoy it here! read more

Adorable wine bar in the upper west side! Plenty of seating available inside. I saw a lot of people even on a weeknight. It looked like a great spot to meet up with friends or even go on a date. The wine was delicious. I love red wine, and tried Domaine du Père Caboche, Châteauneuf-du-Pape '21. It had notes of chocolate, blackberry, raspberry and spice. The cheese boards were great to snack on. It's order at the bar and the service is amazing. Everyone is attentive and kind. read more

See all

This is a cute wine bar with a unique, vintage vibe/look. The service is good. Great wine options. Fun and classy wine bar.

Great atmosphere. Fair prices. Fast service. I do wish there were a few more wine options though.

We were in the city looking for a cute wine bar close to everything and this place had a good wine selection to choose from. They do have small bites to eat but it's definitely a place to go to for the wine not food! Have no complaints and really enjoyed the ambiance read more

Vanguard Wine Bar - Wine bar - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Came here on a weeknight for drinks- the bar was quite crowded- some ppl on first dates, friends etc- definitely a date-y vibe and not too pretentious. the service at the bar was great without being intrusive or feeling rushed. the front wall/frontage of the bar opens up so during warmer weather, sitting closer to the sidewalk might be really nice! anyway, didnt get to try the food but the ambience and drinks were excellent. would recommend to others! read more

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

One of the top experiences I've had at any wine bar stateside. The only reason for four rather than five stars is needing to continue making my way through the menu and wine list, which is something I plan to do by making this Vanguard my go-to spot every time I'm visiting Lincoln Center. Service was excellent (bartender and runner, and wow! Did that kitchen turn around that food order quickly. Very impressive considering the freshness of everything, especially the smoked salmon). Every element (ambiance, our order, and the staff) made for a welcoming and relaxed time, even though we were running late and on a very strict clock. The bar seating was comfortable and the noise level (mind you, on a Tuesday evening) was perfect. Vanguard has a very unique balance of being able to equally cater to a wide demographic spread while meeting everyone's needs. In our corner of the bar alone you had a regular with her work and iPad, we opera going (though regular) folk, and a casually-dressed pair, all content. It took me back to being in cafes and wine bars in Stockholm, which was a welcomed departure from NYC. Vanguard is solidly on my recommendation list. read more

Vanguard Wine Bar - Wente '19 Merlot, American & French charcuterie, smoked salmon tarte - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I visited Vanguard Wine Bar today for the first time for a glass of wine and a snack. I can't really fault it, but I did not find it very interesting. For what you get it is overpriced, and I don't intend to return. I ordered a glass of Chablis, which was just okay ($17). The snacks I ordered were Hummus and a smoked salmon tart. Both were underwhelming ($13 and $18). They were served with a curly, flaky bread (I prefer pita). Not much imagination there. Also, the salmon was not of the highest quality and very thin. The place is comfortable with the bar stretching the length. They have no kitchen, but prepare the snacks behind the end of the bar. The service was very fast. read more

Pleasant wine bar by Lincoln Center. I stopped in with my date for a glass of the good stuff before taking in an IMAX screening at the AMC theater a block away. The place was busy and had just one bartender serving all the guests. He did a great job, but service could be slow, and getting his attention proved difficult at times. I enjoyed the glass of white wine I ordered while my date rejected her initial Riesling after getting a taste of it. The second selection proved more palatable. We shared a ham and cheese tartine, an open-faced mini-baguette prepared with the bar's humble frood prep apparati. Decent bar snack, though one should look elsewhere for a substantial full meal. Prices are reasonable and the wine list is well-organized, seemingly with something for everything. There's a Vanguard location right by my apartment and I'm now highly motivated to check it out. read more

I used to go to the wonderful Le Pif by Lincoln Square for all my carousing but they were a casualty of the pandemic. Very happy that Vanguard made it through, despite being shuttered for months. It's such a cozy space, with lots of bar-seats and booths in the back. Perfect for grabbing two or three close friends and enjoying some wine and small plates. Menu isn't huge but I was happy to see a riesling being offered, particularly one on the sweeter end (don't love the dry options). The bartender, Jacob, was so kind when I needed a minute (or three) to pull up my vaccination pass and let's just say he gave supremely generous pours. At one point, my friend's glass contained enough for two glasses at other places, but not complaints at all. For food, we ordered the meat/cheese combo plate, the salmon/creme fraiche and mushroom/ricotta flatbreads. Their bread is absolutely delicious, toasted and drizzled in olive oil. Mushrooms were seasoned and cooked well. A lot of wine bars tend to skimp on the food options in favor of the drinks and I appreciated the care that went into Vanguard's presentation and taste of the nibbles. Overall, an awesome neighborhood drinking spot. read more

I have come here twice and enjoyed myself both times. The manager allowed to place my large bags in a safe place as I sat at the bar. The first time I came here was to buy some time before eating at nearby sushi place and this place had the perfect selection of red and white wines. The Vanguard house cuvee was the first choice and was really pleasant. This time I got the Cuvee Sabrine which was even better. Complex, deep flavor... Come here for the wine, stay for the ambience and the apps. read more

Vanguard Wine Bar - Cuvee Sabrine - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

I discovered this place a few years back and absolutely love it! Such a hidden gem on the upper west. Wine selection is great, snacks are yummy and just an overall great vibe and energy! Definitely need more places like this on the upper west that are great for date nights, catching up with friends and even an after work glass! read more

Having just come back from Paris and reminiscing about the Parisian cafes and vibes, this place does a decent job of hitting the spot. It's located right across my apartment which is fantastic for my alcohol consumption and pre-dinner drinking but not so great for my wallet or liver. I've come here maybe 5 times in the last 3 weeks and am showing now signs of slowing down -- especially seeing that Chris Rock came here in one of the photos on yelp. They check vaccinations and IDs at the bar which is great and the front wall is usually open which allows lots of air to flow in if you're sitting close by. They have an ample wine selection and snacks/charcuterie that look to be very delicious and popular. A range of ages tend to frequent here from what I've seen and I've never felt like an odd one out. It can sometimes be hard to flag down the bartender and a long time to receive the drink but that's to be expected in a bar of this size with and the number of patrons. There is usually a old movie playing and they can be festive. It's around Halloween time and they were playing Nosferatu, which sparked lively conversation with my fiancé and I. Overall, minimal complaints, stay as long as you like and enjoy the fun, retro vibes! read more

Isabel and Jacob create the most warm, welcoming, and fun environment. I always love coming here when they are on shift because they take so much care to maintain the fun ambiance that makes Vanguard special. The bar is always spotless, and the location + effort on their part attracts a really great crowd of people (and regulars!). 11/10 as always - and shout out to Manny, who is amazing too!! read more

Pros: Soft, dim, intimate, cozy ambiance Fast service Extensive wine options Cons: Bit overpriced ($17 for wine? $8 for hummus?) Could be hard to find space to sit Pretentious bartender I'm not sure if you'd put this under a pro or a con, but it's not uncommon to see (or hear) a couple making out at Vanguard. Do with that what you will! read more

See all

I love this place! My wife and I often come before or after a show. They have a nice selection of wines, and a beautiful cheese plate. The plate tonight had a local goat cheese as one of the cheeses that was fresh and tangy and delicious. The decor is cool--inspired by French cinema--and they always have an interesting movie playing (sound off, but showing that whoever chooses the movies is a move lover). read more

This is a cozy little wine bar with an excellent selection of wines. Highly recommend!

Amazing wine selection and great small bites! It can get a little busy on Thursdays and Fridays but worth the wait

Great little wine bar. There are long tables for seating and you usually share tables with other people. Its a romantically lit spot too, with some lovely posters on the wall. Reminds one a little old and older and romanticized New York wine bar Good service, helpful wait staff and a good selection of global wines. They make good recommendations as well and are accommodating if you would like to try before you buy a glass or bottle. great place for dates or where you would like to sit and talk, you can hear each other and it closes pretty late, I think we left from there at about 1 but its open later than that. I definitely recommend this place and will be back for the apps and for drinks. read more

This is my friend and I's favorite spot for a late night drink on Monday's. Ryan is the bartender and he is so friendly and the service is always perfect. The atmosphere is great as well! We have become regulars now because of the bartender! read more

The ambiance is SO cool! The prices a a bit stiff - but what else can you expect from a nice wine bar! The pourers are really helpful, the wine is delicious, and the cheese/meat board was lovely. I will definitely be back. read more

Vanguard Wine Bar - Inside seating - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Great place for a late night cap or a first date. They show old movies on the background screen and the bartender is friendly. Also flat bread is very tasty. read more

Delicious wine at decent prices! We also really enjoyed the atmosphere after our show on broadway, it was not too busy but definitely a popular spot. read more

Guess who did I meet at Vanguard.. Chris Rock!. Haha And for that reason, i give them 5 stars :))) read more

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

This is a sweet and unpretentious and very cool spot on the upper west side, located close by the Lincoln Cinema and Lincoln Center, we have very much enjoyed several light meals and glasses of wine. read more

My second time here and I loved it as much as the first. The food looks great, though yet again, I was only here for drinks. Great wine list, love the ambiance, friendly and knowledgeable service. Worth a stop if you're a French wine lover. read more

Went here on a Tuesday night with a friend. We arrived around 7PM and it was a beautiful evening so they had the front window door area open which let in a gentle breeze, it was soooo nice. There were two bigger high top tables that had room to sit with some other people already at them. The bar was full and so was the back end of the restaurant. But it seemed that everyone who came in had the chance to sit. Not sure how it would be on a Friday or Saturday night though. I got a rose and my friend got a glass of the chateau cambon- both were excellent! They definitely had a good selection of wines to choose from. The service was interesting. You go up to the bar and tell the bartender where you're sitting and order up there. I don't mind ordering like this but the bartender had a little bit of an attitude that I didn't like, but maybe she was just in a bad mood that day. We also got the cheese & meat platter which came with a good amount of bread (I hate when places give you an uneven bread to cheese ratio!) and we also got the little kale, roasted garlic & ricotta tartine, it was very tasty. The cheese and meat platter was good too but I think $22 was a little much for what was there. I feel like 18 max would've sufficed. Overall a good experience, will definitely come back. read more

See all

Lovely little spot hidden in that puzzling area where Amsterdam is actually west of Broadway. I say hidden, because you wouldn't expect to find a cozy wine bar just steps away from the highly-trafficked (read: clusterf***) 72nd street hub. But one exists, and it goes by the name of Vanguard Wine Bar. Came here on a Saturday night around 8:30 and this place was absolutely packed. I gather this was because a) simply, it was a Saturday night, b) Vanguard is centrally-located, as mentioned, and c) the atmosphere lends itself to a nice variety of occasions. Let me dwell on c) for a moment. While Vanguard is indeed a wine bar, it's not at all intimate. Most wine bars that I've been to are dark, lend themselves to more hushed conversation and are just generally more romantic. This is an observation and not a judgment - Vanguard is not any of those things. It's bright and overflowing with gregarious energy. So while you could certainly come here on a date, I think the ambiance lends itself more to a fun night with a small group of friends. Almost everyone was ordering food (we didn't, but we were surrounded by beautiful charcuterie) and drinks were a-flowin'. Staff: Friendly and knowledgeable. One slightly annoying feature - which is only annoying because I'm a lazy bum - is that there's no table service. You need to put on your big boy/girl pants/skirt/bottoms of choice and order at the bar. But once you get there, you can expect to be greeted cheerfully, which is always a treat. The bartender helping us let me taste a few different wines before I settled on my glass, which I always appreciate. Re: selection. The wine menu at Vanguard is conveniently divided to help simplify the decision process. By this I mean that if you want a red, you can look at categories such as "earth, spicy reds", "mild-mannered reds", etc. So if you're not a wine connoisseur, the menu can at least help steer you towards your preferred body. My choice was a Zinfandel, which was delightful! Lastly, props must be given to the beer selection. After my first glass of wine, I suddenly realized that I no longer wanted wine. Not exactly a good problem to have if you happen to be at a wine bar. Thankfully, Vanguard offers a small but solid selection of beer, one of which is an Ommegang Belgian dubbel, which hit the spot at the time. I'm guess they've got a rotating menu here (nothing on tap though), but I think it's safe to say you'll have some decent options if you're not feeling wine. read more

Vanguard Wine Bar - Nuff said - Wine Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This place is great on the "off-nights" ie, the best time to go out in NYC, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Those are the ones. Grab a spot at the bar and grab some wine. The food is actually pretty good too. They show "old movies"....which I think are awesome, you will be staring at them and you will wish there was sound on, all in all a cool distraction. I mention the best nights to go because on weekend nights it can get to be too much and you will stand around with no drink in your hand for far too long. Good for them...bad for you. read more

The vibe is good. Not too much crowded but you gotta really speak loud to catch each other's words. We had some white wine like Riesling and Chardonnay Chablis, etc. fair well price for a relaxing night drink. read more

Very cute and cozy wine bar on the UWS. You order at the bar, there's no service if you choose one of those benches along the wall. The bartenders are usually very attentive, and if you want to ask for wine recommendations, they are spot on. The food, on the other hand, is average. It does get busier as it gets later, I've only come here twice to grab a quick drink before dinner, and both times I came in when it opened at 5pm. By the time I left, close to 6:30pm-7pm, it was bustling. Additionally, both times I came here, I wore my infant baby in a carrier with me, and they had no problem with that. Not that I would recommend this place as a "baby friendly" place, but if you are a new mom nearby and need a glass of wine to regain your sanity, this is not a bad choice. :) read more

On a Saturday evening, my friends and I arrived and were able to snag the last open table in the back. It was bustling at 8pm! With the interior decoration, marbled tabletops, and pillows, the place very super cozy. There's also seating available at the bar area. During the hour or so that we were here, the place was consistently full and this added to the great vibes to this place. I had a glass of wine here and I enjoyed it very much. I didn't get any food here so I can't speak to that. Service was great! For good vibes and alcohol, this place is definitely a place I would recommend if you find yourself in the Upper West Side! Definitely a great place for a hangout with friends or a cute date. read more

Cozy, delightful French wine bar. A great spot for a date night or to enjoy wine with a friend. Good wine options with descriptive blurbs to help you pick. While the food options are not expansive (meaning you shouldn't rely on them for a dinner option), they are delicious and are wonderful for a small bar. Would recommend the Goat Cheese, Ham and Gruyère, and Camembert tartes!! Will definitely want to return, and when I move to the city I can see myself becoming a regular. read more

This place always has a wonderful atmosphere! A great local spot that has familiar faces coming in and out until 2 AM, even on weekdays!