Cello Wine & Cocktail Bistro

I feel like this place is a hidden gem and everyone needs to discover it. The food was so delicious and I mean every single dish that was served. We ordered appetizers and drinks. The old-fashioned was not only a great drink but when they smoked it in front of you, it was taken to another level. And the service was also top-tier. Extremely attentive, very kind, and welcoming, never left waiting for anything. I can't wait to visit again, I highly recommend a visit to this restaurant.

Atmosphere is soooo nice. Dark room, feels like you have total privacy. Spicy mango cocktail was really good

On our first night in New York, we wandered around and stumbled upon Cello Bistro — and what a beautiful place it is! We were immediately drawn in by the wonderful atmosphere. As we walked in, we could see the chefs preparing food, and it looked so good that we decided to order a few nibbles. Well, what can I say — the food was amazing! The flatbreads were incredibly tasty, and the dip we had was out of this world. I absolutely loved the place, and if I return to New York, it would definitely be one of my top spots to revisit.

Carlos and Steven are the absolute best!!! We visited from Boston and the second we walked in we were welcomed with warm friendliness. Steven takes his time and puts love into his food. He takes his craft serious. Carlos makes an amazing drink and has a great personality. I will be back!! Truly enjoyed my time with these guys 💕

Small, intimate wine bar with plenty of options. The flatbreads and spinach & artichoke dip were SO GOOD! It’s a smaller space so I’d recommend a booking just to be safe. I also liked the music that was playing while I was there :)

A serious weekend of city walking only has one outcome. A summers evening sangria. Christ. I’d go back to New York just for a sip. The perfect ratio of 10:1 (red wine:other ingredients). The perfect clink of the ice cubes. The perfect glass shape - massive, yet dainty… say what you like about that. This was a treat. Jim xx

I can’t believe I hadn’t been to Cello before this week! It is the quintessential wine bar - intimate feel, dimly lit and a wonderful vibe! I had two glasses of the happy hour Sauvignon Blanc but definitely want to return to try some of the delicious items on their menu. Special shout out and thank you to Yasmin for the wonderful hospitality and service! Highly recommend!

They have great wine options and fun cocktails with wine. Really enjoyed the quaint atmosphere.

Having lived in the NYC area my whole life and tried countless wine bars and restaurants, I can confidently say this is, without a doubt, the best food (and drinks) we've ever had. The experience is taken to a whole new level with the chef and waitress/bartender, who are not only incredibly talented but also warm and welcoming. Their personal touch truly elevates the whole evening. It's not even a question--Cello is a must-visit. You won't regret it.

Great little spot! I had some extra time while waiting to meet up with others and popped in for a drink. The servers were really sweet, especially Gigi! She helped me find a wine on the happy hour special that I really enjoyed. They weren't serving food the night I was there, so I can't comment on it, but Gigi let me (and others) know as soon as I sat down which I really appreciate. The drinks are yummy, the music is fun, and the decor is a super nice modern cellar feel. I definitely recommend stopping by to check out Cello!

Cello is a cozy spot with a decent selection of drinks (beer, wine, spirits) and small plates. The interior is really charming, with wood and exposed brick making it feel more like a relative's home than a bar in midtown Manhattan. There's bar seating, and a few small tables. Overall not many seats, expect a wait if you try to come at peak times. Drinks were fine -- good beer selection and a list of cocktails that was balanced, without being overwhelming. Service was excellent, the bartenders were very friendly. Definitely worth a visit for a more intimate get together or a date!

Another great NY spot for cocktails! Was able to find a spot at the bar pretty easily, the atmosphere felt professional, eclectic but still warm. Seemed like a nice after work spot. What REALLY made my experience so amazing was our bartender, he was so personable and extremely knowledgeable. He was so much fun, it really made the experience. The first drink that I ordered I liked but didn't love and he could tell even though I didn't want to make a big deal out of it and he immediately made me another drink without charging, so thoughtful please do yourself a favor and check this place out!

Probably my favorite wine bar in the midtown east area that I have been frequenting recently for their $8 wine happy hour till 7PM! Servers are all nice and you can't beat an $8 wine - they measure the pours too so you know what you are getting (I always get the sauvingnon blanc). Their flatbread is pretty good too, as well as the mac and cheese! This is definitely my go-to spot :)

I really like this place. It is a really small wine bar with more seating in the back. I popped in with my friend for happy hour. They had Bourdeaux, sauvignon blanc, sparkling moscato, rose, prosecco, all for $8. They measure each portion before pouring, so everyone gets the same amount. The Bourdeaux was actually pretty complex, full bodied for a happy hour wine. The process was sweet and reminded me of strawberries. The bartender very nice and offered to charge my friend's phone when we were trying to figure out what to do. Will definitely return if in the neighborhood.

Came here to catch up with a friend and we were here for more than a few hours! Such a nice ambiance with amazing mac and cheese and truffle burrata. Definitely recommend!

Great spot for happy hour and a date night! The wine is $8 from 4-7pm. There are small bar too tables, bar seating as well as normal dining tables. They had 3 choices of wine for happy hour: Souvignon blanc, Bordeaux or a dry rose. I had the souvignon blanc. We saw a guy making pizza in front is us with mushrooms and decided to get it- it was the fat tony, a delicious white pizza with ricotta, mushrooms and truffle oil. There was a weird surcharge on the receipt, not sure what kind of surcharge it was, should have asked. Overall, a super cute and intimate wine bar.

Rude service. They were busy, but I had to wait almost 20 mins, then I had to find my own seat and seat myself. Then the server (he's the younger guy) took away our menus and said we didn't have a right to be annoyed because we should understand they're very busy. Never in my life have I been spoken to a server like that for poor service. If you have time to talk back to your customers, why don't you talk back and ensure to your management that there's enough staff to assist, seat, and actually perform your job?

Great place to hang out after work! Top notch service and great wines from selection.

If you're looking for an intimate night out with your special someone, this wine bar is just the place. The wine selection is extensive, and the staff are really friendly and helpful. And the pizza they prepare right in front of you is really delicious! We had a wonderful time and can't wait to return!

I was looking for a wine bar and stopped here on a whim. It's a cozy space with excellent wine and light bites. The service was standout! I would definitely go back.

Found this place on Yelp and based off of the rating though that I had found a hidden gem, boy that wasn't the case. Let me just preface by saying, this is elevated bar food. Don't get me wrong, you wouldn't go to the bar and order figs and crostini, but their food just isn't good. We got the Margherita pizza with prosciutto and the meat was cooked onto the pizza. Not fresh on top like the other pictures show. Additionally, there wasn't basil and it looked like they pulled this pizza out of the freezer and put it into the oven. Nothing fresh about it. I came here on an empty stomach and was ready to enjoy a nice Saturday dinner and was truly disappointed. We did get the kale and spinach dip which was pretty good, then we proceeded to get the truffle figs. The only reason we got the figs was because of the goat cheese and it looked like mozzarella (tasted like it too). The bartender was nice and friendly and ambiance was good. I'm attaching photos just so you all can relate, but I truly was disappointed here. Great for maybe a wine date, but no point in ordering food. Spent $60 for what tasted like a $25 meal. Would go back just for drinks because I'm sure that's what it's known for (it's what everyone was there for).

Perfect place for after work. Or a mello easy going date. The food was delish. I wish I had of taken photos but I was too hungry. Definitely recommend the cheese plate from Murray's cheeses. I will definitely be coming back.

I don't understand the negative reviews under this business because Cello Wine is anything but negative. The wines they offer are delightful, and the food menu looks absolutely delicious. If you're able to go for Happy Hour than you are truly one lucky duck! The wines are delicious, and I love the ambiance. Do not let the negative reviews let you think otherwise!!

Cute little spot for wine and snacks. Aesthetically pleasing inside. Both millennials and gen z will think it's pretty decent. Got a hummus platter (v basic) and two glasses of wine each. Cheese plate looks decent and would come again for a date night.

Service was great. Best happy hour in the area. Didn't try apps but they looked great. I would definitely be back and recommend.

Hello Cello, This seems to be my friend's go-to wine stop. I guess, if you're confined to this area, it's one your only wine options. She's taken me here on two occasions; both times, she's bought the argula prosciutto pizza. I really do enjoy the taste of cured meat contrasted with the sightly bitter greens. It's thinly sliced, so I don't feel like I'm stuffing something into my mouth. The lady next to us even asked what it was. They have good selection of wine, as a wine bar should. Not that I really know anything about wine but there's a lot to choose from. But I'd say at $11 a glass, that's a hefty price to choose from. I don't know if it's because this is a financial district but there are very limited reasons for me to come here outside of happy hour. One of them being, my friend always pays for the pizza.

Stopped by on a whim for happy hour and the bartender Will was delightful and the $8 glasses of Sauvignon blanc were a total steal. Will definitely be back for seconds.

A hidden gem in the UES Midtown. Chef Tony and his food is what makes this place special. The meatballs and the raviolis are outstanding. We are happy that they are back and that the food and service under new management is equal or even better than before. The service is fantastic and the server would help you to get the best wine you want for that night!

Nice out of the way wine bar to grab a quick snack, decent wines by the glass and a small but drinkable collection of beer by the bottle. Not as loud as some neighboring joints, allowing for good conversation. We were in the neighborhood shepherding some Canadien friends around the City. Their midtown hotel gave us a chance to explore Midtown nightlife, and Cello was a bit more of an eclectic choice than the hotel lounge. A good fit if you are looking for an after dinner, after show kind of joint to bookend your evening with some drinks and small plates. Top Tip: Don't come hungry. Portions are small and choices limited. OTOH, plenty to drink. The flatbread pizzas are a worthy choice.

"The Anti-wine bar" If you like wine from Trader Joe's and Phil Collins music cranked at volume 11, you will love it here. The good - not much in Midtown East...so it's open??? The bad - the wine is so average and predictable stuff that retails for about $14 a bottle But the service might be even worse than the wine

Came here for a work celebration, private party in the back room. Hands down it was perfect. The mini pizzas were delicious (the truffle was amazing) and the custom drinks were such a special touch. The environment was cozy and intimate. This would not have been such a great night if it wasn't for Will. Will went out of his way to help pick wines, make us feel welcome and ensure our glasses were always full. A complete gem! I will def return soon!

Cute and cozy little wine bar. I love that they have a lot of vegetarian options. On Saturday, they have "sauce Saturday" which is two glasses of wine and a free flatbread. I think the cheese platter was amazing and the portions were great. The flatbread pizza was ok but honestly I'd go back to try the ten other things on the menu that I was looking forward to trying. It would be a cute date night spot or girls night.

Great wine and pizza and service is excellent as well. Not too crowded which is also nice

I had my birthday party here and my guests and I had the absolute best time! Drinks were so tasty + flowing and the set up in the private room was great. The cello team is extremely sweet and went above and beyond to ensure we had a good time!

Cozy, laid-back wine bar in midtown east! The wine is nice, the small bites are tasty, and the vibes are right. It's not pretentious, but also slightly upsale enough that it's perfect for a range of evenings - date, hangout, happy hour, etc. For happy hour select glasses of wine e are $6-8 and small bites are half off. During weekdays it runs until 7. The food menu is a bit small, but there's a solid wine selection of red, white, and bubbly. There's also a range of specialty cocktails. We tried the House red and Sommelier's selection red - both smooth and great for the price. We also tried the pizza with truffle and ricotta. Because we were sitting by the kitchen (an open corner of the bar haha) we also got to see it get made. Plus, extra truffle smells! It was basically ricotta, mushroom, prosciutto, and truffle oil on a flat bread. Not quite pizza, but tasty all the same! Service was fast and friendly and by our second glass we'd fallen in love with this place. Can't wait to come back for happy hour!

Brilliant place. Tiny but a lot of character. Small bites and great bar. Can get pretty busy and crowded but it has a great feel. You won't be disappointed to take a short break in this lovely place.

Love this place! My friends and I came here and had some great wine, charcuterie, and wonderful conversation with our bartender- Will. We love it and will be coming back many more times. Cant wait for all the new developments and to try their pizza!

Fantastic! We loved this place. It is such a cozy spot to just hang out at. The drinks and wine were excellent and the food is top notch! The pizza was excellent and got to try the Mac and cheese which was wow. Prices are excellent also. The management and bartender Will are excellent hosts. We will definitely return. Well worth the visit. Thank you Cello! Frank & Breck

Great wine bar in the midtown area!! Over the past year they have moved conveniently across the street to a bigger location which is fabulous. Enjoyed a lovely cheese and meat plate, truffle pizza, meatballs (stuffed with cheese) and lobster ravioli. Needless to say, everything was divine! All were flavorful and wonderful. On top of it all happy hour was until 7pm and glasses of wine were 6$ - quite a deal :) All in all, 3 of us dinned and on top of round 1 of drinks we ordered a bottle on wine. Grand total came to about 65$ each which is not bad at all. Great staff too and ambiance. A place to not be passed up!

Nom nom. Still thinking about that pizza pie. Had a midweek date night here after boot camp and came famished. We ordered the: Eggplant pancakes: 6/10 Dense eggplant parm; yum but I'll soon forget it Piggyback Dates: 9/10 Served on a bed of arugula which provided the perfect complement to the fatty, sweet, tangy mix Steamed Edward Mussels: 4/10 Malbec tomato sauce was tasty but lots of the mussel were lost in the sauce; baguette was not herby by any means Aunt Angie Pie (with prosciutto): 9/10 This was the star of the show! Beautifully thin crust, fresh halved cherry tomatoes and perfect prosciutto on this pie. Only complaint was that it was not easy to cut into slices; pie had little notches on the side to indicate even slices but was essentially uncut from there The order in which the dishes were served was a bit odd (pizza first, dates, eggplant then mussels) but I was glad to have the most room for that pie. Will be back to try happy hour and more pies. UPDATE: Came back and it's still pretty awesome in their new space (with a bathroom!). Had the Edamame Hummus, which was a healthy portion. They were generous about bringing more of that delicious warm baguette too. Also had the Portabello Mushroom Ravioli, which came in a top notch roasted pepper pesto. Perfect items for sharing over cocktails.

I've come here once a week for the past two months, and it never disappoints. From the moment you walk in, you feel like you've stumbled upon something special. You can come for the atmosphere alone and you'd be impressed. Exposed brick, old-school Edison light bulbs throughout, wine bottles as decor on the walls. It's a small place and it can get pretty packed with the after-work crowd, but there's a reason people come here. The food menu has a nice selection of small plates to pair with their extensive selection of wine and cocktails, and there are new specials just about every time I'm here. Favorites to try: Truffle Oil Mac & Cheese, Italian Meatballs, Seared Scallops, Margherita Pizza (Pizzas are on flatbread) and the Hummus. If you're lucky (and get there early enough), you get to sit right in front of the chef, watching him maticulusly prepare every dish. It's honestly dinner theater watching him work. Every staff member I've come into contact with is friendly. They actually leave you alone to enjoy you're food and company, but it's easy to get their attention when you need them. All in all a great place to come for a drink with co-workers, casual first date, or a fun 50th date.

Ordered the following: Aunt auntie pizza with prosciutto (frozen dough, tasted bad) Kobe meatballs (could have been frozen too) Mac and cheese (this was decent) Not sure how this place has so such a high rating. Guess it's good for the drinks. Wouldn't come here for the food though.

This place was amazing. Great service, food and ambiance. While it's small, it's got a great vibe

This was one of the worst experiences I've had at a bar. I came here with a friend for happy hour and we stayed for a good while. We both celebrated getting new jobs. We each ordered food and had about 4 drinks each. The manager (I believe she said her name was Emily Brown) and a male bartender were both waiting on us. The manager wasn't too friendly towards us, but we shrugged it off. When the bill came it was $50 over what it should've been. We kindly asked them to apply the happy hour prices to our drinks, but the manager said that she told us in the beginning of the night only 1 of our drinks will count towards happy hour price. I've never heard of any such rule at another bar, but even if it were true, my friend and I knew she never told us anything like that. We then asked the bartender if he could help us in the situation and he instantly got cold and said she was in charge. I think it's also important to point out the fact that my friend and I were obviously younger than pretty much everyone there and we felt they were taking advantage of that. We put our cards down and were trying to figure out the math on our phone to make sure we were correct when the bartender took our cards without asking and swiped them! The cash register was right there, so we said "Sir, excuse me" very sternly a couple times, but he pretended not to hear. When he gave us the cards back and quickly tried to leave I put my hand on his shoulder to get him to stop and listen to us, he yelled "Don't you ever fucking touch me!" We were pretty enraged that he took our cards when we clearly weren't ready and didn't believe they charged us the correct amount. I demanded to speak to the manager again and she gave me the nastiest attitude and kept rolling her eyes at me. She said "There's no way you're getting your money back." I demanded to get her name and speak to the owner and she mumbled that he lived in California and something along the lines of "good luck." On top of that, the chef who was behind the counter started yelling that my friend and I that were drunk and started pointing and laughing at us to other customers. I have worked in customer service in many restaurants and work in customer experience at a startup tech company and would never even think to do this to customers even if they are in the wrong. My friend and I wanted to have a nice time at a cool place, but were treated awfully by each person in that bar. Would never recommend.

Wife and I dropped in while staying in the neighborhood. Had several glasses of wine during happy hour. They were enjoyable. Service and atmosphere were outstanding. We were heading to a dinner date so we didn't have time to enjoy any food but it looked wonderful. I like how the chef was preparing food alongside the bar - in full view of the patrons and more than willing to answer any questions that might arise.

We came here on a Thursday early evening for happy hour with a bunch of ladies and it was absolutely wonderful. Better than we hoped. The happy hour deals are fantastic and the food was yummy! (I just got burrata mozzarella + prosciutto & someone got hummus and Brussels sprouts). Dirty martinis were perfectly on point, Negronis just right, and of course the wine was lovely. We were served by a man (may have been a manager) and a tough-but-cool woman. We will most definitely be back, we loved it!

Absolutely love this quaint spot! As many yelpers have stated, it's like being welcomed into someone's brownstone. It's elegantly decorated, intimate, and full of class. We decided to dine at the bar as most spots were taken up (even on a Tuesday night!). It was entertaining to be able to watch the bartender pour the wine, but also even more enthralling to watch the chef bang out orders one after another! It's very neat to watch the chef work, and definitely adds to the experience. The chef himself is polite, witty, and darn good at his job. We were only stopping for a snack and some wine, but we decided to have the Mac and cheese balls as well as a brie, fig, and caramelized onion pizza. It was l absolutely to die for! A new take on pizzas for me, however, i could not stop indulging. This is definitely a go-to spot for dates. The food, the wine, and the staff make it a great spot that I've already recommended to many friends and colleagues.

Super cute little spot! The perfect cozy neighborhood "rustic hole in the wall" spot that feels naturally that way and not (we are trying to hard to look rustic) way. We went on a Saturday evening and it was low key and laid back! I hate wine bars that are elbow to elbow with loud music and everyone shouting above the echo. Excellent service and delicious food. The charcuterie platter was perfect and plentiful for the price.

Great unassuming wine bar. A true hidden gem. Friendly and knowledgeable owner and servers. Reasonably priced quality wines, and tasty menu filled with "lite fare" items. Good vibe - not too loud, nice décor. One of the better date spots you'll find. Can't beat HH prices/quality as well (until 7pm).

Such a disappointment! The margherita pizza did not even have basil on it and I swear the crust was a frozen crust you'd find at Trader Joe's. Also got the "truffled figs" that didn't even have an ounce of truffle in the taste and the "goat cheese" looked/tasted (or lack there of) like cream cheese. The prices were reasonable and wine was good but the apps and pizza were awful. I would've rather spent my money ordering in from the comfort of my own home. Will most likely not be coming back here nor would I recommend as a dining option.

After scrolling through a couple of nearby bars in the area, my friend and I decided to be spontaneous and gave this place a chance. We came here on a rainy Saturday night after dinner and sat at the bar. Upon entering, the bartender gave us a fair warning that a large party had just arrived and she was the only bartender on site so we'd be waiting a while before receiving any service. Luckily, the crowd wasn't rowdy so we were able to chat while waiting. There's also live music from 9:30 - 11:30pm so this spot makes the perfect place for catch ups or dates! I ordered the Tempranillo and Bordeaux both of which were sweet and not overly fruity. There are also a variety of white wines and other liquor on the menu in case red wines aren't suited for your liking. I believe all wines are moderately priced at $12-14 so it's a place to bookmark in case you're on a budget. Definitely a place I will be returning to and maybe pop in at a time when Happy Hour is still in session!

A pretty close to perfect wine bar in midtown - happy hour specials on wine, delicious bites, and a laid back atmosphere. This was the perfect after-work/pre-activity drink. My friend ordered the mac and cheese, which although small, was very tasty. There is a back room with more tables and space. A perfect place for a date or to just catch up with a friend.

Came in on a Monday evening around 615pm and it looked packed, but there's a slightly hidden back area and the place is bigger than it appears. For a pretty busy place though, there was only 1 guy manning all the tables and the bar area. Poor guy, but the service was really lacking because of it. We kind of did a self-service thing and took off menus from a different table. When my friend dropped her fork, she found the place where they keep their utensils and just grabbed one herself. We ordered the ancient grain salad, 4 cheese mac and cheese, and eggplant pancakes. All the food was really a no-frills type of thing, if you put it nicely. The eggplant was not crispy (as it was described on the menu), but it was good nonetheless. Mac and cheese was the boxed one just with extra different types of cheese. And the salad was very small, with mostly farro and barley with little bits of other vegetables scattered inside. None of it tasted bad, but I felt like it wasn't worth the cost (not that it was even particularly expensive). We wanted the stuffed meatballs, but they were out. It was fine though, because the small table wouldn't have been able to fit another plate. Because we were in the back area, it was almost impossible to get the server for anything unless he happened to check on the people in the back. We wanted to order a pizza and another glass of happy hour wine before it ended, but there was no last call nor did he come around as it got close to 7pm, so we ended up just leaving. This place would probably improve 10-fold if they even had 1 other person working.

First timer. Decent wine selection, not top shelf but decent and the place is really quaint and don't let the brief menu fool you. It's fantastic and delicious! They actually have a brick oven which makes outstanding small creative pizzas. I had the tuna steak and first time I had it made in a brick oven. Can I say are you kidding me lol? Outstanding! There is also a very attractive young blondish lady behind the bar who does anybody really nice job in making sure you know what's good. Very pleasant on the eyes I might add. OK also splurged on a pumpkin cheese cake. Wowza!

The dive bar of wine bars. Came here on a Friday after work with my sister & brother-in-law anticipating a quaint, nice atmosphere like some of the other wine bars in the area. We were seated in the back, which was pretty grungy, stuffy, & not exactly the ambiance we expected, but figured it'd suffice for a drink. It was pretty apparent our server didn't know much about wine, and insisted the Rose on the menu we asked about was "very sweet". It's unusual for a wine bar not to carry a dry rose, so I asked again, since he was describing what seemed like a Zinfandel. He reaffirmed his answer, wasn't too friendly, and never offered to let us at least try it. I later found out the Rose wine he claimed was "very sweet" was actually a dry rose which we wanted. They have 1 bathroom, that was dirty, had no toilet paper, and a slide lock that didn't work. It was fine for a quick drink nearby after work, but I wouldn't recommend for a date or special occasion, or expect servers with thorough wine knowledge.

Every time I try to check this place it, it's packed. Finally made my way in on a Tuesday around 5pm, and snagged some bar seats. Really cute and welcoming bar. Was charmed by the super handsome and friendly Canadian bartender, it was my lucky day. Great wine selection, but Cello does offer cocktails and food as well. If you're in the mood for a glass of wine in Midtown, look no further.

"Perfect date night" Nice hidden gem in Midtown east. Great ambiance, great music and helpful staff. My date and I started by ordering the scallops over a cheesy polenta and chorizo. WOW. Amazing. We sampled many of the wines, the selection is good. I had the Sancerre, a Sauvignon Blanc, and the Pinot Grigio (I was on a a white wine kick). And plenty others to choose from. The bartender was a very friendly lady with glasses named Liz I believe, she was very helpful with recommendations for food and wines. We also commented on how we liked a particular song and she actually let us recommend the next song. Very fun and made us feel like we were VIPs. Loved this place I will be coming here for happy hour in the future and definitely recommend for dates or a nice place to meet friends before a night out.