This Tiny Wine Bar Has No Wine List, and That’s the Point

Little sister to NIU Kitchen, this tiny wine bar downtown serves Catalonian-style small plates a few doors down from the restaurant. With no formal wine list and a deliberately short food menu, Niu Wine is the kind of place that rewards curiosity. Led by Barcelona-born chef Deme Lomas, the experience is intimate, flexible, and very, very Spanish. 

What to order

The simple and essential Pa amb Tomàquet is toasted bread rubbed with grated tomato and garlic oil, which sets the tone and pairs with literally anything in your glass.

Our Gilda, known as the original pintxo, is one briny, punchy bite on a skewer. While the traditional has just three ingredients (green olives, salt-cured anchovies, and pickled guindilla peppers), Niu Wine’s version has grated tomato and two types of anchovies: boquerones in vinegar and Cantabrico. 

Lomas’ style of paella shines — this time I swapped the chorizo for mushrooms, and it worked. Salty, crispy, and creamy, it washes down with a light red garnacha from Spain.

The vibe

Early evenings are quiet here, so walk right in, no reservation necessary. But true to Spanish culture, Niu Wine comes alive later. The room warms up, conversations fill the space, and the bar fills with regulars and newcomers alike. It’s cozy and boisterous, and an all-around good time. 

Insider tip

There’s no wine list, so chat with your server and taste different things until something clicks. We started with a sip of Clot de les Soleres, a 100% chardonnay blanc de blanc that our server, Marina, dubbed “rock-n-rolly” — funky and fun with a barely-there fizzy mouthfeel. Next came a bright pinkish Naturlich, a Loire Valley pet-nat with a more aggressive perlant; then La Baladeuse’s Si La Lune, a pretty, light red grenache blend with a subtly effervescent bite.