Spoke
This unassuming haunt bills itself as a wine bar, and it does claim one of the best lists in town. But it doesn’t stop at wine. Order an expertly poured cocktail off the chalkboard menu, and suddenly it’s your favorite cocktail bar; try one of the forward-thinking small plates, and it’s a restaurant. And all this, Spoke does without a smidge of pretention. The wine list skews Euro, with small producers and grapes you haven’t heard of but chances are you’re going to like. The menu offers bar snacks like salt and vinegar rye chips and small plates of duck meatballs, house pastrami, and squid ink pasta with bottarga. Come here for a nightcap, and don’t be surprised to see the chef from the restaurant you just left popping by after her shift.
PRO TIP: The few tables are reserved for eating, so if you just want a glass, stick to the bar—but you’d be remiss not to at least try the fluffy flatbread and piquillo almond dip. On “Magnum Mondays,” the bar pours big bottles by the glass.
THE DETAILS: Open Monday to Saturday, 5:30 to 11 p.m.; closed Sunday.
