RESTAURANTS: Las Ramblas from five to seven
There's nothing more classy than pouring a stream of wine straight into your mouth from a narrow-spouted pitcher held two feet high in the air. It's called a porron, and it's a Spanish tradition that can be experienced at the tapas restaurant Las Ramblas on West 4th Street.
Las Ramblas offers a wide array of authentic Spanish small plates, including classics like patatas bravas, croquettes with jamon, and tortilla espanola. But the best deals are to be found in their happy hour wine program, where from 5–7p.m., several Spanish wines by the glass are available for $5-7. The tastiest is the Basque region's Getaria Talai Berri Txakoli 2007, which is purposely poured from way up on high (Tom Cruise in Cocktail–style), so that the subtle, natural fizziness of the wine comes through.
Or just go right for the porron (skipping a glass entirely), and try not to spill the wine all the way down your shirt.
