It's on 1 of my list. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Cost$60 tasting menu / $55 wine pairing
- Address125 E 7th St, New York
- From my guide, updated September 2026.
Ruffian is a shoe-box East Village wine bar with an Eastern European accent. Globally-themed, the bar’s mostly vegetarian menu highlight new regions quarterly. Each changing season highlights cuisines and wine-making traditions from the oldest regions in the world (from the Republic of Georgia to Macedonia, and everywhere else in between).
Arguably the quirkiest wine bar in New York City, Ruffian’s dynamic wine list exceeds 250 bottles (there’s more than 35 orange wines on offer). To get the full experience my recommendation is to opt for the four-course tasting menu ($60) and wine pairing ($55).
Unpopular opinion. Unpopular opinion. Dive bars are more fun than rooftop bars, and I’ll stand by that forever.