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Christopher St (PATH)
Houston St (1)
W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
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Jeff P. and I were in the West Village/Tribeca area and got thirsty after our Sukiyaki dinner at Shabu Tatsu so I yelped the nearest bar and Lelabar it WAS!
Its a intimate, sophisticated wine bar with a beautiful oval shaped bar in the centre. I had a wonderful Gerwutzstraminer (sp?) - the lady who served us was kind enough to give me the label because I loved the wine so much! Wines average about $14 a glass?
They also offer meat and cheese plates to go with your wine. It's a chill place - great for after-dinner wining :D No airs but still very grown-up.
PS: $1 oysters from Wed - Sat (u can be sure i'll be there to check that out!)
People thought this was:
I start salivating even thinking about those $1 oysters from Lela Bar. Cindy C and I started our girls night out at Lela Bar sipping on happy hour white wines and downing those succulent oysters. We went on a Wednesday night right at 5 PM, there were enough seats for us to sit and there was no wait. We ordered a bottle of white wine from the happy hour menu to pair with our lovely oysters. Seeing the oysters get chucked right in front of you makes the experience so much better. After finishing up the bottle of wine, we decided to order some more food, a salami pressed sandwich. By that time, there all the seats were filled around the center bar. It did take a while for them to make and send us the food, they only had one chef (the guy who chucks oysters and makes all the bar food) working the shift. The salami pressed sandwich was delicious; freshly hot and pressed sandwich with strands of mozzarella separating each slice apart. This was a great accompaniment to the wine and the oysters.
I'm not a wine connoisseur or nor do I know that much about it. But the bartenders were super friendly to help us out, I definitely did not get the wine pretentious vibe from them. They really know their wines and were more than willing to advise us.
The set up pretty much is a long oval bar with seats around it. My favorite part about lela bar are the wine glasses that are hung upside down from the ceiling.. so chic. I would say it fits approximately 30 people. On a weekend night, it does get a bit busy. I don't think this is the place to go with a big group of people, maybe max 4. I absolutely loved the experience from the decor, the outfits of the bartenders to the food and of course the wine.
Yay! I'm a fan!
The bartenders were super nice and accommodating, trying to help us get seats at the bar and very knowledgeable, explaining our choice of wine to us.
Between 4 girls, we shared a bottle of Riesling, one of my all time favorite wines, and it was one of the best I've had. The vibe is casual and relaxed, people here to catch up over a glass/bottle of wine. The space is a little small, but it's cozy, and not loud - perfect for great conversations paired with great wine.
Definitely a spot I'd check out again, especially if I'm in the neighborhood....or if I'm craving $1 oysters!
People thought this was:
4.5 Stars
Def one of the cutest little place I've been. It was a real shame that we went after an amazing dinner and had no stomach room for any of the food there, although from looking around, the foods were real impressive.
I thought the communal bar/ seats was quite interesting, and fun if you're in the mood of meeting new people, it's a bit unavoidable. The bar-tenders were super friendly, attentive, and just in general nice. Friends and I ordered a bottle of German Mosel Riesling to share and it was amazing. I don't think I've had similar tasting Riesling before, it was sweeter than most, and it's more full-bodied than usual whites, and it was super delicious! Top drinkability. Super fruity, smooth, and just leaves me wanting more and more.
Will def aim for Wed $1 oyster nights next time I am in town.
People thought this was:
Cute place! Met a friend on a Tuesday night to catchup w/ each other... despite the small space, the room never got too loud or overly crowded so we could carry on a conversation easily (in fact we ended up staying there chatting until it closed!)
Decor & Ambiance: dimly lit w/ dark wood furnishings; depending on the staff, music varies (that night it ranged from pop rock to classical); oval-shaped bar w/ 2 men staffing it; comfy stools; bathroom w/ sliding door in rear of bar
Food & Wine: not being too hungry, we tried the beet carpaccio and the endive salad both which were excellent; my riesling was a little too sweet (but that didn't stop me from downing 3 glasses of it!).... sorry! didn't bother trying different wines!; my friend had a red (forget which one)... skip the chocolates although the ganache was good. 3 plates and 5 glasses of wine ran to a little over $100.
Service: spotty and slow although they did check up on us from time to time... still didn't deter my friend and I from having a good time!
Do you fear commitment and don't like coffee? Do you like a glass of wine to wash away a bad day at work or loosen up before or after dinner? Then you'll find solace at Lelabar where first dates, meetings with old friends or after work venting can flow freely.
Not the largest place but still comfortable, the bar forms a large oval within which the bartenders/waitresses/chefs create the small plates and pour wine to the patrons. We went for their happy hour on a Tuesday where a small selection of wines by the glass go for around $8-$9. Since we'd both worked up an appetite we ordered up both the cheese plate and the charcuterie plate...for research purposes of course.
The food and the wine were both divine though the service was on the spotty side. I don't think it can be helped though since there are only two dames actually making all the food behind the bar. Despite the delays, we had a great time and I definitely want to come back for their $1 (or $1.50?) oysters on Wednesdays!
People thought this was:
$1 oysters on WED and SAT will most certainly draw in a crowd. Right near the corner of HUDSON AND LEROY in the West Village of NYC, this is a gem of a wine bar. Friendly staff and a lively atmosphere make this a great place to come and enjoy some wine.
My GF, her coworker and BF and I all had some oysters, the happy hour bottle of white, a bottle of perseco and pretty much every dried meat they had in the place along with a few cheeses. All in all, things were decent, even the oysters.
May want to try this spot without the oyster special in effect to see if it is a little more sedate and more wine sipping atmospherish...Looking forward to my next go around at LELABAR!
People thought this was:
I'm officially on a oyster kick to break in whats left of the summer.
Wed & Saturday $1 oysters.....
Great ambiance, unpretentious staff, and decently priced bottles of wine for hh.
The oysters were too salty and the place get exceptionally crowded even for a wed. I went out for 2 seconds with a friend and when we came back our seats were nabbed up. Lucky for those d-bags we were on our way out.
Oh and later down the night, ordering food becomes impossible, im guessing its from the overload of people cramming into this relatively small wine bar.
Nonetheless, great place for 6pm drinks! WOO!
Tip: order the oysters 1st when you settle down, they usually take 30+ mins to finally arrive.
People thought this was:
I had a great time here. We came for Fridays happy hour. Their Happy hour menu consisted of 1 white or 1 red wine bottle/glass, both very good and beer from all over the world. For food they have small assortment of pressed sandwiched or you can get an assortment of meat/cheese combo which all complements the happy hour wine very good.
If you don't want the happy hour menu they have an extensive wine menu and a larger food menu (nothing filling, just small snacks that go well with the wine they carry). I would love to go there Wednesday for their Oyster night as they did not have the Oyster special on Friday.
Small wine bar but very comfortable and warming. The bar is 3/4 of the space but if that is all booked there are benches against the wall which still seems very comfortable. Crowd is trendy and young.
Great Place I cant wait to go back again!!!!
People thought this was:
This place is so surprising from the decor when you first enter to trying to figure out that sly bathroom slide door you should put this on your list if you are ever down in this area of Manhattan.
Great spot for conversation with folks you know or some you don't, if you don't leave with a new friend or love of wine/beer I'd think you ended up at a different bar.
While a little pricey on regular nights ($14 for a glass of white wine) you are buying into the atmosphere a little - totally worth it.
Try this place out for happy hour to unwind and I promise you won't be sorry.
Bush was still the president playing cowboys with Cheney; the Dow was few thousand points higher than where it is now, when I first came to Lelabar. Since, I came back again, and again, and again.
Growing up on a sunny hill top in old Europe, my life was submerged in wine cheese and charcuterie.
Ok, so now you got it, I am a wine freak form birth just like my parents, who got it from their parent, who got it from their parent who..........
It is hard not to like the design of the place. The oval shaped bar which enable great interaction across the room and the worm tones are both creating a great back ground to the purpose of this lovely place. Indeed a quick conversation with one of their friendly sommeliers will lead you to the understanding that this place is about the art of wine cheese and charcuterie.
With over 150 wines priced from $30+- to $1500+- , which are offered by the glass, (you have to commit for 2 glasses) this is a true wine playground.
The more you know about cheese and charcuterie the more you will appreciate the unique selection on the food menu.
I personally stay away on Wednesdays.... too crowded for me.
The acoustics of the place could use some work up but it is a minor price to pay for what you get.
I love this one
Enjoy
People thought this was:
Great service and nice intimate place!. Went there after Gay Pride parade and it was such an oasis after the chaotic day. Great wine and beer selection, updated frequently. Awesome Salami and pressed sandwiches. We found exactly what we were looking for. Will def. go back for some tastings at a later date!
Great for 2-8 people gathering on a slow weekend or weeday.
Lelebar is awesome. What more can I say?
I came here on Valentine's day after having dinner, and we spent the next couple of hours having wine, laughs, and conversation. I'll be the first one to admit that I don't know a damn thing about wine, but the bartenders do. They gave great recommendations based off of my date's preference, and came up with an awesome cheese combination to top it off.
The prices are definitely affordable and the interior is intimate and romantic. It's got great lighting, an interesting "round table" bar set up, and some decent music provided by the bartender's iPod. It makes for great chances to converse. I would definitely recommend taking a date here as I would imagine the seating to get a bit awkward if you bring a larger group since there aren't any tables and if you group up with the stools you'll be blocking everyone's path to the potty room.
I'll definitely be back here again.
People thought this was:
Super cute wine bar! The bar itself is set in the middle with seats all around it. Came on a Sat night. Not too crowded. Perfect for small groups to get together and catch up. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Great selection of wines. We even tried the chocolates. Delicious!! Highly recommend this place if you're in the hood and want to wind down after a long day or after a nice dinner.
when u say it gets crowded.... that just means the circular center is filled... otherwise there is still plenty of space around the areas along the walls to sit and hang out... plenty of chairs... never really saw people actively standing cuz they didn't have a chair! very muchso a locals hangout not pretentious at all!
staff is very minimal on weekdays... one girl and one shucker... literally...
happy hour specials are nice! bottles and glasses, tons of cheese/meats to choose from... oh and $1 plump oysters are always good!!! they don't skimp ya at all and even gave us a few extras!!!
just stick to those things really cuz the panini's are just sandwiches using those same cuts of meats/cheeses...
come here, have a few drinks, munch! and then head home very happy!
People thought this was:
I found LelaBar when doing some research for a recent trip to New York and was sucked in by its killer Yelp reviews. I made my friend go by with me after a day of wandering through the village. It's on a really cute stretch of Hudson St. just a few blocks down from Employees Only, which is where we headed afterwards. (I'd recommend doing them in that order.)
We stopped in right after they opened - about 5:00 pm on a Friday. It was nearly empty when we arrived, but filled up quickly and was nearly at capacity by the time we left around 6:30. As noted in other reviews, the bar is on the smaller side (I'd guess it holds about 50 people) but is absolutely beautiful. The dim lighting takes a minute to get used if you come in when it's still light outside, but the vibe is sort of wistful and romantic, but still chic and modern. I'd definitely say it's more for a date or a group of 2-3 people.
The bartender was very friendly and knowledgeable about the wine and helped us each pick a glass. I ended up with a sparkling wine, which I usually never order, but it was really amazing. (So good that I was forced to have two!)
The only gripe I have about LelaBar is that their prices area really steep and they really don't have a very big selection of wines by the glass. The ones that they did have were all around the $15-$20 mark. We ordered off the happy hour menu, but even then there were only three choices and they were $12 a glass. We didn't try the food, but I watched one server prepare a few of their sandwiches and they looked absolutely mouthwatering.
Nice little wine bar with friendly service. The cheese & chocolate platters are nice, but a little on the expensive side.
- The people aren't as classy as you'd expect (lots of drunks).
- Not much room for groups.
- Bar seems to be missing some decor.
- Wine list isn't broad enough.
I recently moved from the West Village (where I was Lelabar's neighbor) to the Lower East Side. Last night I made a trip back to my old neighborhood to visit a friend and I arrived a bit early and wandered into Lelabar for a glass of wine, solo, while I waited for her.
There are LOTS of wine bars in NYC, but it is only in going to others and then coming back to Lelabar that I really appreciate how great it is. Aside from their fantastic selection, the lighting is dim but not too dark, the decor is modern without being too polished, the service is polite but still friendly. It is really a fantastic balance of comfort and quality. A great spot, whether you live around the block or not.
People thought this was:
Any place with a great selection of wine and $1 oysters is A-OK with me. It also doesn't hurt that this place is in my favorite neighborhood. Or that they offer half bottles of wine. It's on the small side, but it's perfect if you're just looking for a chill place to have a couple of glasses of wine with friends.
Must try if you're craving for oysters; otherwise it's just another wine bar with cheese and finger food.
Minimalist, small horseshoe bar. Quiet, rather classy, not pretentious. Good for snack before dinner.
It's not cheap, even though they serve $1 oysters on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. Order wine, a few rounds of slurping, and you'll walk out with a $80 bill.
Had a bottle of white wine, La Pare Balta or something, for about $20. Ordered three dozen oysters with a friend for her birthday. The bar serves Blue Point most of the time, which is light and decent, but not as delicious as Kumimoto.
Walked out with a bill of $80 or so, then had more food in Chinatown.
People thought this was:
After moving out here from California, this was my first exposure to a non-NYC wine bar, and I have to agree with a lot of positives that have been written. Prices are justified and the wine selection is broad enough for my palate to find comfort and adventure.
The bartender was sensible about wines and hip without being pretentious. This is a stop that I will make again.
I think I'm in love. Really it was meant to be - this bar combines so many of my favorite things: Hudson Street, good wine, a charmingly quirky staff, a warm atmosphere, brilliantly subtle decor - a stately oval bar, translucent leaf lampshades, wrought iron filigree - good food, it was a match made in heaven.
I popped in here to catch up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while at his suggestion and he gets major credit for finding my new bar crush. Wednesdays they have $1 oysters so we split some - delish. He went with a flight of whites, and I settled on a lovely Verdejo (I was even informed that it was a new wine on the menu and that I was the very first person to try it). Eventually we ordered food - two delicious paninis. I will say they took a little too long to arrive, but that's not enough to mar my love for this place.
Come, linger, listen to Miles Davis and Etta James as you sip wine, slurp oysters, and relax. I feel very certain you'll find me there.
People thought this was:
seems like the cousin of vino vino (is it)..but more communal, with better food (recommend: beet carpaccio, soppressata, ooey gooey brie) and a longer wine list. easy to rack up a bill with $17 glasses however.. but the riesling by the glass is perfection!
Love this place.
So much so, that it pains me to Yelp about it so others will know about this.
Oh the sacrifices I make to keep my Elite status (hear that Sam P??)
Cute little wine bar to unwind after work.
Great wine, calm soothing atmosphere, and chill people.
Totally unpretentious, and totally my cup of tea (or glass of wine, really).
I'll let you, my Yelp friends, know about it. But don't you dare tell your obnoxious, loud co-workers about Lelabar.
People thought this was:
I work across the street & have been meaning to go to Lelabar since it opened. Somehow we always end up in the other direction at Ear Inn, but Friday night after work decided a glass of vino was in order.
Lovely little place. Kind of like where I would like to hang out every afternoon if I didn't have to work. Cozy, not crowded (though it was 6pm & snowing, so I'm not qualified to make that claim about a normal night). The bartenders were all so friendly. Happy hour wine selection was short but sweet - much appreciated because I get overwhelmed.
Also enjoyed the stemware!
My boyfriend found this place on yelp and decided to take me there since it got such great reviews. This place wasn't exactly what we were envisioning. We pictured a romantic, intimate wine bar, however lela bar was more of an atmosphere for an afterwork group of friends. It was very loud and crowded. The wines were ridiculously overpriced. The bartender recommended a st. emilion for 17 dollars a glass (which was on the cheaper end of their selection). This wine was way too young, and definitely not worth the 17 dollars. The cheese selection wasn't bad and was fairly on par with competion, pricewise. However, if you're looking for a romantic winebar with decent reasonably priced wines, I would not recommend going here.
An elegant, understated "grown up" venue. The wrap around bar probably seats around 25 or so and there are a few other seats around the bar. Great place to hold a real conversation or get some light bites after work...
i'll be honest, i'm intimidated by wine bars. i think it's because i don't really drink wine and i still feel like i shouldn't be hanging out at these places (i think it's the baby punk in me).
that being said, lelabar suprised me because, well, i actually enjoyed being here! the service was very friendly, not snooty, and were really on top of everything. my friends wanted to come here for the $1 oysters during happy hour and i think we cleaned them right out. the oysters were fresh, delicious, and the shucker took great care opening up each one and putting them on the plate. (i know, because i was sitting right in front of him). it is a place better left for small groups and we had a group of 11 people hanging out in the back of the room. luckily it didn't get too crowded the entire time we were there because we took up half the room.
i'd go next time to try the $12 happy hour platter of 3 cheeses or meats.
they played blondie for a while, which was a star in my book.
don't forget that to open the bathroom door, you have to slide it open like a sliding door.
People thought this was:
Lelabar is a sweet little spot for a date or getting together with a couple of friends over wine, cheese, and charceuterie. The space is small and the circular bar takes up the entire room. There isn't even a kitchen--all food is prepped on cutting boards behind the bar. Service was welcoming and friendly. The noise level allowed for easy conversation so is a great place to go if you're hanging out with someone interesting and actually want to hear what they are saying. Wines by the glass are reasonably priced and good. We got the cheese plate and charceuterie plate to go with our wine and I thought they were okay. They were perfectly satisfactory, but I've had much better. The cheese, in particular was nothing special, but it was very fresh and big portions. I must note here that I'm a cheese snob so f you aren't, you'd probably be thrilled with it. Not too crowded, and overall an easy relaxing experience : )
People thought this was:
The thing I love about this place is the actual bar. A gorgeous, wooden oval with high stools creates a wonderful atmosphere for an intimate relationship with the bartenders, who all give great recommendations, and a great place for conversation. The wine is fantastic - the list isn't huge, but it is very well crafted. On top of that, the food tastes wonderful, and the menu has a great number of meats, cheeses, olives, etc to go with your wine. I also appreciate that they allow you to have any of the wines by the glass, so long as you order at least two glasses they will open any bottles!
People thought this was:
went here on a recent saturday night to have wine after dinner. small bar space that could fit roughly 30-40 people comfortably. the staff was very helpful with wine selections, meat and cheese selection and took the time to make small talk with all the patrons, a big plus. $1 oysters on saturday was awesome as well. i'd come here again for a nice quiet time while drinking.
People thought this was:
Nice and cozy bar with friendly yet distracted staff. The bar concept is very smart, the kitchen and bar itself is right in the middle so you can see how your food is prepared. The surprisingly small salad portions and steep prices make it a disappointing experience. Not enough choices of wine by the glass. Simple tasteless decor.
Friendly, knowledgeable staff and excellent wines but they are not cheap. I live nearby and have been several times and usually find it busy but not crowded. It's impressive what they are able to do for food from behind the bar with salads and sandwiches in addition to cheeses and truffles. Nice place for conversation with friends or a date, though it is easy to spend $50+ for a bottle.
People thought this was:
Great wine bar, with a very cool set up - just one large oval table. The batenders were some of the friendliest I've met in NYC - they're enthusiastic, love to give recommendations with free tastings, so you're happy with the wine you ultimately get.
Will definitely go back!
Extensive wine list, great, no-pressure service, wonderful atmosphere. Music was slightly depressing on the evening I visited, but the overall experience was excellent. Strongly recommend trying the chocolates -- lime, honey, sesame, salted caramel, etc. Not crowded on a Monday night.
I was looking for a comfortable wine bar to bring some out-of-town guests. You know "something New Yorkey" (I don' t really know what that means until I experience it) and where you can hear yourself think, and not spend more than 5 minutes waiting at the bar getting a drink. I found it (on Yelp). Lelabar deserves all the rave reviews: it's beautiful, sophisticated, and classy. It's not terribly crowded or loud and a wonderful if you want to have a conversation with your group. The wine and food is fantastic.
This place really is as good as it gets - great service, awesome wines and delicious food. My ideal wine bar experience. I really need to check out one of their special tastings.
People thought this was:
Really great place. Just went here last night and I loved everything about it. The wine was good, the ham and brie pressed sandwich I had was good, and the atmosphere was great. I will definitely be back.
People thought this was:
What a great wine bar! We came on a Wednesday to find out that the Oysters are just 1$. This is as good as it gets! The barman who is trained sommelier was very helpful and knowledgeable. His recommendations for the wine cheese and cold cuts were great. My friends and I had a wonderful time and will go back!!!
Great service with awesome wine list - will definitely go back.
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Wine Bars
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