Cora: A New-American Wine Bar and Restaurant

Wander down Cornelia Street in the West Village and you’ll find Cora, NYC’s buzziest wine bar. Opened in September 2024, it’s the latest venture from the team behind Figure Eight, its culinary next-door neighbor.  Every detail of this concept, from the carefully curated wine list to the seasonally driven food menu, comes together in a space that feels intimate yet grand.

Cora’s wine program is driven by Emmeline Zhao, Managing Partner and Sommelier, whose love for North American wines shines through in every pour. The list features nearly 20 wines by the glass, spotlighting producers from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with a special nod to women, BIPOC, and sustainable winemakers. The lineup feels fresh, mindful, and full of personality. Every glass has a story to tell. Maybe it’s a bold, unexpected red from the Finger Lakes or a bright or a biodynamic white from Valle de Guadalupe of Baja. Either way, you’re in for something interesting.

The wine list isn’t the only star here, Executive Chef Joseph Bliffen’s menu is just as thoughtfully curated, built around peak-season ingredients and the kind of dishes that make you want to order one of everything. It’s refined without the fuss, comforting but far from boring. Sunflower Pull-Apart Rolls with cultured butter kick things off on exactly the right note, while the Beef Tartare, bright with salsa verde and topped with a glossy cured yolk, is an easy favorite. Larger plates like the Berkshire Collar with sour cabbage offer richness and depth. Pastry Chef Jung Hyun “Janice” Sung delivers desserts that surprise and delight. Janice plays with flavors like a magician, Beetroot Hibiscus Sorbet with chocolate rye crunch is proof, an earthy, sweet, and tasty illusion.

The space itself? Small, but in that perfectly designed, every-detail-matters way. A sleek terrazzo bar with just seven seats, a few well-placed tables, and a heated backyard patio that makes lingering over wine a year-round sport. It’s intimate without feeling cramped, a spot that invites long conversations over great wine rather than rushed meals.

Reservations are a good idea, especially for the dining room and garden, but bar seats are kept open for walk-ins, making it just as ideal for a spontaneous glass of wine as it is for a carefully planned night out. Stop by for a quick glass or stay for a full meal, Cora nails that rare balance of polish and ease, making it one of the city’s most exciting wine bars.