The best liquor stores in New York

This wine and spirits emporium has been serving the ‘hood for many years, and now also holds special classes and demonstrations at the upstairs Astor Center, but the main draw here is the super-low prices and er, the absinthe. On top of that, the service (including helpful notecards describing each product) and frequent tastings seal the deal.

Shopping for booze can be intimidating, especially if you’re not a drinker. But this user-friendly shop is perfect for both wannabe and professional winos alike. Each display is impeccably organized by themes and categories, so you can meander through the shop with confidence. Ordering in tonight? Make a beeline for the Chinese food container, where each bottle is specifically paired with local take-out menus. And if you’re shopping in search of a standout gift, the inventory ranges from “Someone you barely know” to “The Boss.”

This shop is just as equally charming as it is fully stocked with excellent spirits. The prices here skew a little higher than normal, but rare bottles abound such as Fuenteseca Tequila ($629) and Cognac Tesseron ($647). Whiskeys from Brooklyn’s Van Brunt house, Uncouth Vermouth, Seneca Drums Gin and Westchester Wheat Whiskey are among the many locally made spirits available.

If a wide selection and deeply discounted prices are all you care about while shopping for booze, the Warehouse near Astor Place is your go-to. This joint is pretty popular, so expect cramped aisles and long lines at checkout. But if you’re more interested in buying than browsing, this one-stop shop for bottles is your best option.

Taste 48 different wines via the store's tasting machine, and check out the many events that are hosted here. The international wines start at $10 and run the gamut up to a $1,200 bottle of French red wine.

If you’re seeking a beverage that falls under the obscure category, this Midtown East shop is a must. Geared toward the spirits enthusiast, Scotch and Whiskey fans will appreciate the extensive, but pricey, selection. We're particularly fond of unusual finds such as Pow Wow Botanical Rye, a saffron and orange peel-infused rye whiskey and Bloom Gin, a London Dry flavored with honeysuckle, chamomile and pomelo.

The aisles inside this shop might be narrow, but the breadth of this shop’s selection is anything but. You’ll find walls aligned with amari, numerous Scotches and gins. The classics, such as Tanqueray Gin ($29), Maker’s Mark Bourbon ($34) and Dolin Vermouth Rouge ($17) are reasonably priced compared to other competitors.

Even if you don’t know your chardonnay from your chenin blanc, you can still easily pick up a decently priced bottle from the 3,000-strong vino collection at this brick-lined oenophile’s paradise. If you’re still unsure about which merlot you like best, the Vault holds free tastings—usually on Fridays and Saturdays. What’s more, it rents out storage space in its cellar for folks in studio apartments.

Brooklyn native Fernando Yong is behind this airy Carroll Gardens wineshop. The stock includes 175 international labels and a small collection of staple spirits. And winos will love the staff’s recommendation on their extensive malbec and sauvignon blanc varieties.

Along with all the wine and spirits you’d expect at a liquor store, Park Avenue Liquor is known for it’s extensive collection of roughly 400 different types of scotch and whiskey. The shop exudes a warm, old-timey New York atmosphere and the staff is pretty opinionated, so trust that their recommendations are legit.

Like its produce companion, the Trader Joe’s wine shop has reached cult status among those whose top priority is getting the most bang for their buck. The vast selection of $10-or-less reds, whites and rosés (they may not impress a wine snob, but they’re all decent quality) makes this a go-to destination when stocking up for a party. The secret is definitely out, though, so be prepared to stand in line to snag those rock-bottom prices.