1,800 Bottles Deep and Worth Every Penny
Flatiron · New York · Italian and French · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed March 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You open the wine list at Café Carmellini and it has weight — physically and philosophically. Nearly 2,000 bottles curated across France, Italy, Austria, and beyond tells you immediately that someone here actually cares. The sapphire velvet booths and neoclassical grandeur of the old 250 Fifth mansion set the stage; the wine list doesn't disappoint the room.
This is a serious cellar masquerading as a restaurant wine list. Burgundy gets real estate — Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Vieilles Vignes and Domaine De Villaine Bouzeron anchor the mid-range, while the list reaches back to gems like Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe 1995 for the deep-pockets crowd. Austria gets a surprisingly thoughtful nod with both F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner and Tement Sauvignon Blanc on offer, and the inclusion of Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko from Santorini signals a list that isn't just chasing the usual suspects. The Italy representation feels appropriately proud without being provincial — Vajra's sparkling rosato from Piedmont is exactly the kind of discovery a list this size should deliver.
Eighteen by-the-glass options is a real program, not a token gesture. The range runs $22 to $55, which is Manhattan pricing but the selection earns it — you're not stuck choosing between a Pinot Grigio and a Malbec. Rotation and curation appear intentional, with pours like Pierre Paillard Grand Cru Les Parcelles Champagne available by the glass, which is the kind of decision that builds loyalty.
Domaine De Villaine 2021 Bouzeron — $40+
Aubert de Villaine's lesser-known Aligoté project in Bouzeron routinely punches above its price in a cellar context. At a restaurant of this caliber, finding it at entry-level bottle pricing is a quiet steal — it's Burgundy credibility without the Burgundy markup.
Vajra 'N.S. Della Neve' Rosato Extra Brut
A sparkling rosé from one of Barolo's most respected houses is easy to overlook on a list this size, but Vajra's extra brut style is electric — bone dry, precise, and wildly food-friendly. Most tables will walk right past it chasing Champagne. Don't be most tables.
Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe 1995
A legendary bottle from a legendary vintage, and priced accordingly — then some. Unless you're celebrating something that warrants a truly splashy spend, the markup on trophy Bordeaux at a room like this will sting. The wine is great; the value proposition is not.
Domaine Sigalas 2022 Assyrtiko + Crab mille-feuille
Sigalas Assyrtiko brings volcanic minerality and citrus tension that cuts through the richness of the mille-feuille's buttery layers without overpowering the delicate crab. It's the kind of pairing that makes you slow down mid-bite.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Café Carmellini is the real deal — a wine program that matches the ambition of the room and then some, with staff who can actually navigate 2,000 bottles without breaking a sweat. The markups are steep, but this is the list you bring someone to impress, and it delivers.
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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