Vanguard Wine Bar

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***) 72^nd 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.

Very narrow bar but they have a nice selection of wines and great atmosphere. I passed by it many times because it was too crowded. Luckily I was able to check it out early with a neighborhood friend. If you don’t know what you want, ask for suggestions. The wine list is constantly updated. I look forward to coming back and trying something new.

Wish I had a place like this in my neighborhood. Cozy atmosphere, lovely décor, and jazzy tunes. Not to mention great appetizers, cheese, and wine. Nice quaint escape from the busy city outside. Will definitely be back!

Came with a homie, generous pours and comfortable atmosphere.

Unilocal led me here and I Stopped in on Christmas Evening before seeing a movie. Intimate bar with a nice wine selection. The atmosphere was chill and the bartender was friendly and made a great recommendation. I will definitely return and give a better review, as I was only there for 30 minutes.

This is a cozy spot that my friend and I recently discovered. You have to order everything at the bar but it’s intimate and we’ve never waited longer than 10 minutes to get a seat. I recommend!

Met here with a friend who was in town from DC. Our bartender Isabel was absolutely fabulous. This is a great spot for local Upper West Siders who need a place for a first date or casual meeting. The wine selection is reasonably priced (for NYC) and the ambiance is very relaxed. I will be back!

Omgggggggggg this is bar. Walking in here is like the feeling you get when you watch You’ve Got Mail for the first time.
Amazing selection of wines, amazing cheese & charcuterie, tons of candles and a cozy ambiance, high top seating and a huge bar that spans the whole length.
They played Sinatra and old classics while screening a silent version of The Shining on the tv at the bar. Genius.
Definitely going to be my new go-​to on the UWS. Hot yuppie dudes everywhere with mostly lame looking first/​5^th date companions so this place is ripe for swooping too.

It’s a great space with warm ambiance, good wine, and, perhaps most importantly, fantastic service. I planned a small birthday here and the staff was friendly, helpful, and incredibly easy going.

Awesome wine selection. Cozy atmosphere. Friendly staff. Enjoying a glass of Château la Bastide. Great place for a date. :)

I loved the atmosphere inside, but I wish they had table service. They have a bunch of high tables and cozy spaces but then you have to go and wait at the bar just to order a glass of wine. I didn’t eat, but my friends said the food was pretty good, though I think portions could have been a bit bigger. Overall though, a beautiful space, not too loud and good for one or two glasses of wine with someone you want to actually be able to hear.

It was a Friday night in the middle of happy hour and we were lucky to grab the last two seats in the house. The extensive wine selection is what compelled us to check out Vanguard. The barman was excellent, walking through with what we like and look for in wine in order to make appropriate suggestions. With a full restaurant and people piling up on the waiting list I found this extra touch impressive. I was doubly impressed when a regular came in, he greeted him by name, grabbed his favorite glass of wine without asking and let him know the seating situation as far as expected timelines.
We had the cheese plate was okay, we liked two out of the five. We’re selective with cheeses and they were stronger than we prefer which isn’t anything to do with the restaurant and everything to do with preference. Overall the wine selection was exactly as advertised and combined with the service, this creates a very special wine bar. Salut!

Absolute gem of a wine bar. Nice open space with rustic tables to one side and plenty of bar seating on the other.
Wine prices are standard. $ 11 – 16 glasses, $ 40 – 80 bottles. Music is at an appropriate level to carry a conversation without yelling at each other.
Not much more to say about this spot — solid service, good atmosphere, clean tables. Never seems to be too busy, so a great place to bring someone for a chat or a date over a glass of wine.

One wall of the restaurant is open, which creates a lovely ambiance, adding to the solid wine selection. Restaurant is mostly candle-​lit.
They have a few good beers, too, but not your spot if you’re looking for nibbles or hard liquor.

Very friendly service, great selection of wines, and a not-​adventurous-​but-​sturdy (and consistent) selection of quality small plates. The staff knows what they’re selling and you can trust their recommendations. One star off because I think they could push the boundaries a bit more on their small plate offerings. (I am so tired of little slices of salami on a board or slate… snooze fest!!)
One of the rare instances it’s probably better to sit at the bar, since you have to order from there anyway. If you call in advance, they can usually reserve a table for a larger group in the back. Handy if you’re heading over there with half the office.

Amazing wine spot. Great exclusive wines. Isabelle is an amazing bartender! Can’t wait to go back!
Perfect for grabbing a drink with friends, a date, or alone.
Very chill vibe inside and great décor.

Fantastic little wine bar. Very tasty wines and seemingly knowledgeable staff. Lovely snacks too. I will go back with friends and would feel comfortable sitting alone with a book as well.

I adore this wine bar. I came here right at opening time on a Saturday and had such a great night. I split a bottle of wine with my companion, and we ordered the pimento cheese, hummus, and smoked salmon flatbread pizza. All of it was absolutely delicious. The pimento cheese especially just about knocked my socks off. The menu is genius — mostly yummy nibbles that are perfect to let sit and graze on for hours as you finish your bottle.
The bartender was absolutely on point regarding our wine — I had a bunch of questions and asked for recommendations and he talked me through the list and let me taste until I found the right fit.
The atmosphere — the décor and wall art and lighting and spread of tables and seating — was perfect too. Utterly comfortable and friendly. Somehow we were sitting for 4 hours and didn’t even realize how quickly the time had passed. Perfect for a date or a night with a few friends! I wouldn’t say it’s for big groups though — it’s too chill. Is it possible for a place to be both relaxed and classy? This place somehow walks that line. Loved it.

Everyone knows that Lincoln center is a dead zone. There is nothing reasonable in this neighborhood, because the theaters jack up all the prices and the theatre goers make it impossible to have dinner before 8.
Luckily enough for us, they haven’t found Vanguard and Vanguard hasn’t stooped to Lincoln center standards.
A gem in the rough, Vanguard is just the place to get a decent drink with friends, get a sommelier’s opinion and have some delicious bites.

I needed to find a place for a pre-​concert apéritif near Lincoln Center, and came across Vanguard.
This place oozes cool, with it’s French theme, subway tiles, and detail-​oriented décor. Bonus points that the Godfather was playing on the big screen when we were there.
The wine menu is reasonably priced and expansive. You should definitely be able to find something here. The wine descriptions on the menu are helpful, as are the attentive bartenders. It’s rare to find a bar where you’re asked for your drink order by more than one bartender!
We also ordered the goat cheese and onion tarte to snack on. This was so simple, but so tasty. It carried the same strong flavors as Balthazar’s variety.
Next time I’m in the neighborhood, Vanguard will be at the top of my list.