Downtown's Italian Wine List Done Right
TriBeCa · New York · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Locanda Verde lands with the confidence of a place that knows exactly what it is. Five hundred selections, Italy front and center, with Piedmont and Tuscany doing the heavy lifting — this is not a list built by someone who Googled 'popular Italian wines.' Wine Spectator handed them a Best of Award of Excellence in 2024, and the list earns it.
Piedmont is the star here: Barolo and Barbaresco from names like Giacomo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa, and Gaja fill out a section that could hold its own against dedicated wine bars. Tuscany keeps pace with serious Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico Riserva, Sassicaia, and Ornellaia — the heavy hitters are present and accounted for. The depth skews heavily Italian, which is exactly the right call for the kitchen they're running, though explorers looking beyond the boot will find slim pickings. For a focused, Italy-first program, it's hard to argue with the execution.
Twenty to thirty options by the glass is a generous program, with prices running $15 to $30 — expect rotating pours that reflect the bottle list's Italian focus. The staff knows what's on the pour list and can actually tell you about it, which is more than most TriBeCa dining rooms can say. It's a solid glass program for a trattoria of this caliber.
Chianti Classico Riserva — $50-$70 (bottle estimate)
Sangiovese at this level in a room this nice is the move — it's the entry point to serious Tuscan wine without breaking into three-figure territory, and it belongs on this table.
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco
Everyone reaches for the Barolo, but Giacosa's Barbaresco is often the more complete bottle at the table — slightly more accessible, no less serious, and frequently overlooked by guests fixated on the big name.
Sassicaia
It's a great wine. It's also a wine every restaurant marks up aggressively because the name sells itself. You're paying a premium for prestige here, not for an undiscovered bottle — save it for somewhere that prices it more honestly.
Giacomo Conterno Barolo + Lamb Chops
Conterno's Barolo has the tannic structure and earthy depth to match the char and richness of lamb — this is the kind of pairing that makes the whole table stop talking for a minute.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Locanda Verde is the rare hotel restaurant where the wine list is a genuine reason to show up, not an afterthought. The markups sting a little, but the depth, the staff knowledge, and the Italian focus make this one of the better places in downtown Manhattan to drink serious wine with your dinner.
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
West Toledo / Reynolds Corner · Toledo · Italian
There's one reason to come here for wine: Thursday. Half-price bottles on a standing weekly basis is a genuinely good deal, especially on the Santa Margherita. Any other night, the markups are steep and the list doesn't justify them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian
Carrabba's Toledo isn't a destination for wine — but it's not an embarrassment either. The Ruffino Chianti Classico alone earns its keep, and if you stick to the Italian side of the list, you'll drink reasonably well without drama.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.