I love that this store has changed ownership and stepped into the modern era with a beautiful new wine-chilling unit, but this review is really about Michael--a gentleman who has somehow survived multiple iterations of ownership and remains, quite simply, one of the best things about the place. Michael makes placing an order genuinely enjoyable. He has that increasingly rare ability to make you feel not merely like a customer, but like a valued one. There is a warmth, class, and old-school graciousness about him that you simply don't encounter very often anymore. He remembers, he engages, he is accommodating, and he understands hospitality in a way that cannot be taught from a training manual. I truly appreciate him, and I sincerely hope the new owners recognize what they have in Michael and do everything possible to keep him there. Employees like him are not interchangeable; they are the reason customers develop loyalty to a business in the first place. And if anyone thinks they're simply going to find someone better than Michael, I have news for them: good luck with that! He is an absolute gem. read more

I went into Columbus Avenue Wine & Spirits today looking for a couple of bottles of Chardonnay for a dinner I'm hosting. Before I could finish explaining what I needed, the sales assistant cut me off and said he doesn't drink Chardonnay, then started pushing a different wine he personally preferred. I told him I wasn't interested in his personal taste and just wanted a Chardonnay. He responded rudely, saying he couldn't help me because he doesn't like or drink that wine, then just walked off and left me standing in the aisle. A wine shop employee should have broad product knowledge regardless of personal preference. Refusing to help a customer because a wine isn't to your own taste is unprofessional, and the attitude made it worse. I left without the bottles I came in for and won't be going back. read more

Just moved to the neighborhood and Jesse was super helpful. I'm definitely coming back for his recommendations. We tried this at a house party and it was a hit. read more

Columbus Wines & Spirits - Chilled chocolate Negroni - inside their fridge - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - New York, New York

I don't even live on the Upper West Side and I will only come here to buy my wine. They have an AMAZING selection of wine that's not overpriced. I've come across so many places in ny that are charging way too much for a bottle of wine that you know is not worth the price they put out. Not only has every bottle of wine I've had here been so amazing but the staff here are incredibly kind and helpful. Ramona is my go-to gal here. Last time I walked in and all we said was "we're having Korean food for dinner, trying to find some wine that will work best with it," she immediately starts researching and asking us questions about the dishes. We walked away with 4 bottles of wine and loved every single one! read more

Excellent liquor store very lovely people very prompt very polite and a pleasure to deal with. I have gotten many deliveries from them and everything is always correct and spot on. Their prices are very competitive and I most highly recommend them. I have actually been dealing with them for several years, and I have never been disappointed. read more

I ordered (purchased) via the Columbus Ave Wine & Spirits web site a bottle of Baron Herzog - Lineage Cabernet Sauvignon which is a Paso Robles and conceivably worth $22.99. Columbus sent a Herzog California 2022 worth perhaps $10 (not nearly the same wine). I sent the owner an email explaining the issue. He called to apologize about the error and sort the problem out. It seems there was an inventory error He actually sent a better bottle of Herzog than I even ordered in place of the one I received . The owner is a mensch and a gentleman and I thank him. read more

Excellent customer service and selection. Care about the community. Very ethical people

Walked in, greeted warmly and was asked if I needed help... the usual stuff right. These ladies were discussing my new Netflix series and you'll have to go see them to know what it was lol. Anyway, I was at Bareburger up the block and they didn't have a liquor license and these ladies were able to help me decide on a bourbon. Their professionalism and knowledge was very helpful. read more

Best neighborhood spot to get spirits if you want reliable recommendations. Neil, the manager, has always pulled through, whether we were looking for gifts, or celebrating a happy occasion, or just wanted something to sip in the park on a warm summer day. He never tries to upsell you, and his knowledge is extensive: wines, tequila, rose, you name it. His team is encouraged to do the same. The other day my husband and I got soju from the store, and the person ringing us up said, "This one is so good." And he was right. read more

Nice friendly environment, knowledgeable staff, and is always willing to go the extra mile for our their customers.... read more

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I was recently married and worked with Neil on purchasing all of my wine & liquor needs. He provided excellent service and made me feel like I was his number one priority throughout the whole experience. He did a great job pairing wine choices with our menu and making sure we stayed within the budget. Not to forget there is free delivery, which removed one less errand during the wedding weekend. I'd recommend Neil and Columbus Wines to anyone with wine/liquor/etc needs for a wedding. Thanks again Neil! read more

Highly recommended. Columbus Wines is my go-to local wine store. I love this place. Excellent selection of wines, fast and effortless delivery, very friendly and professional service. Good discounts on mixed and solid cases. Neil Weinstock the general manager is very knowledgeable, friendly and service oriented, provides excellent recommendations including value plays. read more

My first purchase here made me a customer for life. Great selection of wines, great service and fair prices. The owner, Neil, made me feel like a long time customer. I will be now! read more

This place is the best!! They have everything BUT in case they don't, they'll order it for you! I wanted a particular Giffard liquer, and I emailed them about it. They responded in no time and the Giffard was there literally in 2 days!! Shout out to Neil! Thank you! read more

I live in the neighborhood. They are probably the best priced within a 5 block radius, however, customer service is terrible. For walk-ins, they are fine. The cashiers are distracted with texting & bothered to look for stock, but still friendly. They promote the app for ordering, and it is the worst. I have never received a home delivery in less than two hours, and I live three blocks away. They continually screw up the order: not conveying delay, selling items that are out-of-stock, blaming the delivery driver for delay or mistake. The only reason I continue to order, is that they email me coupons. It's not worth it though, unless you have no other options. There are other wine & liquor stores in the neighborhood with better service & comparable stock. read more

Columbus Wines & Spirits - a text message from a customer - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - New York, New York

Went here recently the female security guard doesn't pay attention. And allows customers skip in front of others. Their not too professional at this store , like they used to be at all anymore. read more

I can't say enough about the great service Neil Weinstock provides. Every time I want to order a case of wine he's right in it and gets me whatever I need immediatelyIt's a pleasure to work with him. Just needed to update my review. During this stressful time of Covid 19, Neil has been amazing. His attentive service (even called me on a Sunday morning) has been awesome. read more

Columbus Wines & Spirits, and Neil Weinstock, are a class act. Have been a personal customer for the past 4 years, and this holiday, my company, Campbell Lewis, used them for our client gifts. The process, the service and the advice were all excellent. We had problems with our card printer (not Columbus) and kept pushing our deadline, but Neil still made it happen. Bill C read more

I've been coming here for years and Neil (plus the rest of the staff) always provide great recommendations and are super kind / helpful. Best liquor store on the UWS! read more

Neil is a great guy and went the extra mile. We called from out of town to have a bottle of wine delivered to a friend. It was out of stock, but he got the bottle in the next day, had it wrapped and delivered. Excellent service! Will buy from Neil again. read more

A wonderful wine store which features a large selection of wines from around the world at very fair prices. The French selections are excellent, from generic table wines to vintage bottles from great houses. The staff is genuinely friendly, competent, and accommodating. If you need special advice, Neil, the manager, is a wine connoisseur, and more than ready to help. And the delivery service is excellent: always on time. We are so lucky to have this shop in our neighborhood! Joan Templeton read more

Very friendly staff, impressively wide selection and reasonable prices. Would recommend for uws wine lovers

The prices here are incredibly high. It's almost criminal. A bottle of Bookers Bourbon was $100 there, while it sells for $70.00 at multiple shops in a 5-block radius. Everything seems to be on average 10-20% more expensive than other liquor shops on UWS. And as others have mentioned, the folks at the checkout counter are on their phones and gossiping constantly. They'd be better off working at a bodega where customer service is not really a thing. read more

Great staff, super friendly. Owner is a superstar, putting a bottle aside for me while I hauled ass to get there... Would stop by whenever I'm in the neighborhood again! read more

Stopped in just before closing on 3/27. The owner was literally locking the door and asked what I needed. T I told him and he kindly let me out asks it before they closed. He also let me know that I can now call ahead and pick up or arrange for delivery. If there was ever a time when I needed a glass of wine and some kindness, it was yesterday. Thank you!!! read more

Great online selection and fast delivery, even during coronavirus. They made sure we could have our virtual happy hour. Support a great small business! read more

Decent selection and variety but nothing too unique or special from other stores in the area like Roma Wines or Gotham Wines which are both a few blocks over. The problem is the frustrating check out and inventory that lead to delays because they can't scan the wines and spirits or locate the right label. Also the mixed customer service from the people who know the wines and spirits (good) to the cashiers (bland to say the least). Who knows though the cashiers might be that way because of the poor and dated computers read more

The manager is so full of himself it is comical. I live a block away and will walk a full avenue just to never go there. I've ordered online and always a call comes in "sorry! Out of that..." or it has never shown. They call the next day "sorry!" It is a mess. Likely you will go anyway cause it is local - trust Me, Whole Foods is way better. read more

A little on the expensive end if you ask me...well, not if you ask me, it's the truth! Compared to liquor stores closer to Broadway...this wine store will cost you more. But you're paying for the store. It's a larger space, more room to walk around, more help on the floor to help suggest a bottle... It's a cleaner space as well. Everything's out of its boxes and on the shelves. One bonus: you'll frequently find tastings going on during the weekend of a new bottle just stocked. read more

Best kosher wine selection in Manhattan. Wide variety and lots of good options for under $20 and $30. Considering the area, this makes a lot of sense. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful, too. They also have discount deals here pretty often. ("Buy 1 bottle for x% off, 2 for xx% off, a case for xxx% off" etc.) And they don't put stickers on the wine bottles indicating the price, which puts a load off on my mind -- I've been embarrassed in the past by forgetting to remove these myself then giving the bottles to others! As someone else here wrote, you can get hard liquor for cheaper on Amsterdam one block away. read more

Even though it's about 35 blocks away from me, I consider this to be my neighborhood wine shop. I don't come here for booze so I can't speak to their selection or prices. In terms of wine, they have a great selection of reasonably priced bottles. And I've come across some new favorites here after popping in for their tastings. The staff is friendly and I just love coming here! Given that i don't have a decent wine store within walking distance of my apartment, I am especially appreciative of their free shipping ! I placed my first online order yesterday and needed a speedy delivery. Murray assured me that they would get my order to me between 12-1230 and they were right on time. I look forward to drinking my stash and placing another order stat!! read more

This store has a very nice selection of wines and spirits, and they know their stuff. More than that, they are quite simply, nice people who offer old fashioned customer service. Their recommendations are always spot on and they treat a $20 customer with the same TLC that they treat one buying a case of Dom Perignon. They'll call you to tell you that your favorite rose is back in stock and are happy to do special orders. Free delivery too. The best! read more

Columbus Wines and Spirits are exceptionally courteous and helpful!

Update: The store called and offered an apology, discount and free shipping. Apparently they do care about their reputation. I'll add one star for the courtesy call, and one more as a benefit of the doubt that they probably do better when you deal with them in person. read more

I bought all the alcohol for both my daughter's wedding and baby shower at Columbus Wines & Spirits. Neil recommended what to buy, and how much of it I needed. Delivery was on time and as long as the label was intact, I was able to return unopened bottles. I was very pleased with the service and would highly recommend using this liquor store for all your parties! read more

Avoid this place. The owner (Murray) could care less about happy customers and is after only one thing -- your money. Here's my story with commentary. I purchased 2 cases of a particular cab that I've been drinking for the last two years because my local shop on the UES stopped carrying it and I couldn't find it anywhere else. Turns out I had been buying a 2008 vintage and what I got from Columbus Ave Wine & Spirits was a 2010 vintage. BIG DIFFERENCE. The 2010 is terrible. I mean, it's like razor blades. Completely undrinkable. At first I thought it might just be one bad bottle, but I tried several out of the case and they both were horrendous. (P.S. I'm not a wine snob -- this stuff tastes like NyQuil). So I asked the salesman there named Dave (who is a VERY nice guy and extremely helpful) if I could get a refund on ONE of the UNOPENED cases -- not both because I figured I bought one and tried a couple of bottles and the right thing to do was to eat the cost of one case, even though it was bad. And I told him that if he would hook me up with another great wine, I would buy all my wine from him going forward -- BY THE CASE. Should be no problem, a bad wine is bad wine and any reputable wine shop who cares about providing quality product, attaining satisfied customers, and maintaining their reputation would give you a refund. Seems like a no-brainer, right? Wrong. Dave went to "Murray the owner" and Murray basically told me to go F*** myself (not those words exactly, but that's the gist of it.). Something about how he had to buy "5 cases" just to give me two and now he's stuck with 3 cases he won't be able to sell. And there are always differences between vintages and that's why he tells everyone they should buy a bottle and try it before buying a case, blah blah blah etc. etc. IOW - forget about it, you're screwed. I was shocked. Besides flat out refusing to even consider my request, this guy was willing to throw away a potential customer who would be willing to spend thousands of dollars in his shop over ONE case of bad wine? What about customer satisfaction? Anything Murray? Did the thought every cross your mind as to how it might be worth it to please a customer in return for years of future business? Anything? Nope. Nothing. Unbelievable. I was willing to eat the cost of one of the cases, basically split the difference with him on a bad wine. But Murray was not even remotely interested. Clearly, the ROI on one happy customer isn't worth it to Murray. I guess I should actually thank Murray. For restoring my lack of faith in human nature. 16 years of dealing with good shop owners here has spoiled me and made me forget there are guys like Murray out there. But let me at least commend Dave (the salesman) because he is a gentleman and DOES care about customers. He really did try his best to do the right thing by me, but Murray would have have no part of it. (I have since discovered from others that I'm not Murray's first -- a lot of unhappy customers on the UWS because of him.) Guys like you Murray -- greedy, arrogant, short-sighted people -- don't really care about paying it forward when you can take the money now. But you should, Murray. Care about customer satisfaction that is. Because now you have 'created' a REALLY unhappy, dissatisfied customer with buying power who is going to tell EVERYONE he knows about you. All my friends who live on the UWS, my coworkers, my employees, this website, and any and ALL other sites which allow reviews. I'm going to be a VERY VOCAL and LOYAL ANTI-CUSTOMER of yours Murray. And I hope ONE CASE of bad wine is worth that to you. Bottom line -- do not give your money to Murray. Avoid Columbus Ave Wine and Spirits. If you ever have a problem with anything they sell, you won't get a refund or any kind of satisfaction from Murray. He will tell you to go F*** yourself like he did me. It really is true what they say -- "Let the BUYER BEWARE." UWS NYC -- you have been warned. read more

The best place to go in the entire city for wine

Love this place! Prices are just right and the staff is extremely helpful. A lovely man helped me find the perfect whiskey for my brothers birthday gift. read more

I need to add about my experience here. I'm a novice party planner and Don drink myself. The store guided me through a selection of wines and liqueur that fueled my event. This store has selection, service with a smile and good prices. Even further; they accommodated my unopened goods with a return. Neil met me personally and right sized my order seamlessly. If you want service, selection and good prices, this is the place to go. I'll be back!! read more

Neil the owner bent over backward to offer the very best service possible in fulfilling my request for a bottle of champagne to be delivered to a friend of mine on the UWS. Neil called me back in California a couple of times to make sure the order was processed correctly as I had put the address in incorrectly etc. He even tried to deliver the gift three times and didn't even complain about it but rather kept doing his best to find a solution etc. I greatly appreciate the amazing service. Made me really miss NYC!! Thanks, Neil! read more