Wine in Queens, From Sidewalk Tables to Low Lights
Explore wine lists with different leanings, from a broad selection at a locally co-owned bar to rotating natural wines. Cocktails widen the options, with Friday live performances at one stop and occasional jazz at the other.
Wine Bar Locations
The Patio Option
Claret Wine Bar is co-owned by Sunnyside locals Kevin and Jaci. Find it on Skillman Avenue. Outdoor tables sit under an awning along the sidewalk. Inside, counter seating and tables sit beneath suspended globe lights. Wine leads the drinks list, with specialty cocktails and craft beers also available. Share a thin-crust pizza or choose a cheese plate alongside a glass. Friday nights bring live music, including Flamenco performances.
Low Lights, Late Hours
DiWine Natural Wine Bar & Restaurant opens at 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday. Sunday service begins at 4:00 PM. Inside, dim lighting falls across banquettes beneath woven spherical pendant lamps. A rotating natural wine selection anchors the drinks alongside crafted cocktails. Share a pizza or a plate of pasta from the kitchen. Live jazz is occasional. Thursday through Saturday, the bar closes at 1:00 AM.
Choosing the Backdrop
Claret Wine Bar and DiWine Natural Wine Bar & Restaurant share a foundation of wine, cocktails, and plates for the table, but the setting gives each a different pull. At Claret, sidewalk seating and thin-crust pizza shape the neighborhood experience. DiWine brings natural wines into a dimly lit room, with pasta and truffle mac and cheese alongside the glasses. The distinction is less about what to order than where to settle, sidewalk tables at the first, a low-lit interior at the second.
