At the super casual East Williamsburg wine bar, you order your wine and food at a counter up front, coffee shop-style. There’s no official wine list. Instead, the sommelier eavesdrops behind the cashier, jumping in to answer any questions about the rotating selection of bottles up front. Come here for a great glass of natural wine pre-dinner and a few nibbles. 

Anthony & Son Panini Shoppe is an old-school gem for over-the-counter sandwiches packed with cured Italian meats and cheeses. Stacked, meaty, homemade goodness – or go for the packed lettuce-wrapped chicken caesar for a 'lighter' (and more viral) order. 

A mainstay since 1974, Emily’s Pork Store is a butcher, an Italian speciality goods shop, a sandwich counter, and a time capsule all in one. Cured meats hang overhead, while cheeses, glinting jars of olive oil and roasted peppers line the shelves. Still peckish? Order one of their legendary pork sandwiches with sharp provolone, broccoli rabe, balsamic vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil from owner Jerry “Gennaro” Aliperti, who started working behind the counter at age 13. Their merch, cobalt blue teeshirts emblazoned with the store name, make for fun insider gifts.   

A tidy, carefully edited vintage haven, Vaux focuses on timeless, wearable pieces – think hard‑wearing denim, classic knits, natural tones, and occasional splashes of bold ’70s colour. While a sturdy jacket or two, in thick leathers or wools, can surely be found, Vaux does the ethereal quite well, like gossamer blouses and tissue-thin slip dresses.