Virgola

I had been looking forward to visiting Virgola since it first opened, so last weekend, I stopped by for a couple glasses. The thing that I found to be alluring about this wine bar is that it’s an alley that was converted into a wine and oyster bar. I think this is probably the most unique setting that I’ve encountered in my journey so far. It’s located in the West Village at 28 Greenwich Ave.

The entrance is so narrow that it’s very easy to walk by it. The only reason I knew it was there was because I had been waiting for brunch at a nearby restaurant a couple of months ago and happened to notice a plaque that said “Virgola”. I made a mental note for when I would review it so that I wouldn’t get turned around like I often do in the West Village.

Virgola is definitely the sexiest alley in New York City. It has a very sleek interior; it’s dimly lit, the brick walls are painted a glossy black, the high top tables are a brushed metal, and a medieval looking chandelier hangs in the center of the room above small tables and tufted leather couches. As you can imagine, seating is very limited and there isn’t much elbow room, but they’ve still managed to create some privacy with the table arrangements.  

All of the wine at Virgola is Italian and glasses are between $12 and $17. All but two of the wines are available in bottles as well, priced from $44 to $96. The selection is great, with some wines that aren’t commonly found in wine bars, even Italian ones. I decided on something sweet for that evening and ordered the 2009 Colombo Moscato Pastu Tardi. The server brought out the bottle and poured a taste for me before pouring a full glass. I like to see wine bars doing this for glass orders because it makes you feel like your business is appreciated just as much as if you had ordered a bottle. The Moscato smelled a little metallic and minerally and tasted almost like a sweet mulled cider with some notes of orange peel. I really enjoyed it! So much that I ordered a second glass of it.

The ambiance here is upscale and a little mysterious, yet chilled out. The service was wonderful and the server was friendly and talkative. He even poured a little extra wine in my glass because I must have looked thirsty. It was the cherry on top of a great experience at Virgola.

I really enjoyed everything about Virgola, from the wine, to the décor and the novelty of it being in an alley. The wine is a little on the expensive side, but the wine that I had was great and if the others follow suit, they’re a good value. This is a delightful little wine bar and is a treat to visit. I give this place a rating of 4.8 out of 5 glasses.

It's literally as skinny as those doors

Oh there you are, Virgola!

my glass of Moscato