New York: Top 10 Tapas Restaurants

1. Alta (Greenwich Village) - Alta, as in "high," as in "haute," at this sexy Village tapas spot.
2. Degustation Wine & Tasting Bar (East Village) - Mannered tapas more about multiple changes of silverware than half-gallon pitchers of sangria. Put on a classy costume.
3. Flor de Sol (Tribeca) - Sexy Spanish tavern with the best sangria in the hood.

4. La Nacional (West Village) - Subterranean Spanish haunt hosts the most authentic tapas experience in NYC.
5. Casa Mono (Gramercy) - Man’s man’s tapas. Meat good. Make happy. Grunt. Grunt.
6. Oliva (Lower East Side): Basque home cooking that’s as wonderfully odd and complex as the language itself. Plus best sangria in the hood.
7. Tia Pol (Chelsea) - Basque in the glow of top tapas. Small plates = small waists. No reservations = long waits.
8. Boqueria (Union Square) - Realest Valencian paella in town courtesy of a guy named Seamus. Melting pot and all that.
9. Mercat (Greenwich Village) - Seared Catalonian tapas as solid as the brick, marble, and wood that make up this market-inspired NoHo newcomer.
10. Harbour Drive (Soho) - Spanish seafood in luxe yacht interior evolves into a rockin’ Marbella party boat.