With its sleek, slate-covered counters and colorfully labeled natural wine bottles on the wall, Wildair looks like an idyllic little place where wine lovers gather to chat about the weather in Bordeaux. But don’t let the exterior fool you. The owners are the same young chefs who run the ambitious little tasting room Contra on the Lower East Side a few doors south on Orchard Street. That means this lively, personable little spot is not only a thick grab bag of interesting wines – the all-natural wine list includes 50 bottles of mostly European vintages, cocktails (try the mezcal Negroni) and artisanal liqueurs (yes, there’s one made from tomatoes) – but also offers some of the best bar food in town. If you’re a meat eater, don’t miss the beef tartare with chestnuts or the excellent pork rillette.
142 Orchard St
10002 New York
phone: +1 646-964-5624
mon - fri 5pm - 11pm
sat 12am - 2.30pm + 5pm - 11pm
sun 5pm - 10pm
