Northforker Best Of 2025: DRINK!

Who’s shaking up the best cocktails? Where can you go grab a local tap beer? Who’s brewing the best coffee? We’ve got thoughts — and answers!! Check out our list of the best beverages and beverage makers and purveyors on the North Fork for 2025. We really hope you came thirsty…

Best Brewery

On tap: stand-up session brews, creative craft beers and locally spawned collaborations that make these North Fork breweries both reliable for their core options and always interesting for the new things they bring to the table. Grab a pint at one (or all) of our favorites…

Greenport Harbor Brewing Co.

42155 Main Road, Peconic, 631-477-1100,  greenportharborbrewing.com

Jamesport Farm Brewery

5873 Sound Ave., Jamesport, 844-532-2337, jfbrewery.com

North Fork Brewing Company

24 East Second St. Suite A, Riverhead, 631-591-1191, northforkbrewingco.com

Übergeek Brewing Co.

400 Hallett Ave., Riverhead, 631-381-0848, übergeekbrewing.com

Twin Forks Beer Co.

807 Raynor Ave., Riverhead, 631-209-4233, twinforkbeer.com

Best Cocktail Spot

The North Fork (and the East End in general) has come a long way when it comes to downright delicious, well-made drinks. From perfectly crafted classics to innovative creations and combinations, the liquids shaken and stirred at these spots raise the bar every time.

American Beech

300 Main St., Greenport, 631-477-5939, americanbeech.com

Brix & Rye

308A Main St., Greenport, 631-477-6985, brixandrye.com

Léon 1909

29 West Neck Road, Shelter Island Heights, 631-749-9123, leon1909.com

The Frisky Oyster

27 Front St., Greenport, 631-477-4265, thefriskyoyster.com

The Halyard

58775 Route 48, Greenport, 631-477-0666, thehalyardgreenport.com

Best Coffee House

There’s a place for deli coffee, but for the choosy among us caffeine cravers, these coffee spots can’t be beat for their excellent beans and coffeehouse classics (and always a lovely spot in which to enjoy them). 

Aldo’s Coffee Co.

103-105 Front St., Greenport, 631-707-8059, aldoscoffee.com

Macchiatio

13175 Main Road, Mattituck, 631-298-7455, macchiatocafe.com

North Fork Roasting Co.

55795 Main Road, Southold, 631-876-5450, northforkroastingco.com

Panoramica

2745 Peconic Lane, Peconic, visitpanoramic.com

Stars Café

17 Grand Ave., Shelter Island Heights, 631-749-5345, starscafeshelterisland.com

Best Distillery

Spirits by the Sound! We’ve got ‘em on the North Fork. Gone are the rum-running days of Long Island’s storied Prohibition past — today, these craft distilleries are dialing into local ingredients and cocktail culture to make barcart-worthy bottles to explore, pour and shake up.

Long Island Spirits

2182 Sound Ave., Baiting Hollow 631-630-9322, lispirits.com

Matchbook Distilling Co.

230 Corwin St., Greenport, 631-333-2446, mdcdropshop.com

Montauk Distilling Company

24 East Second St., Suite B, Riverhead, 631-727-6326, montaukdistillingco.com

One Woman Wines & Vineyards

5195 Old North Road, Southold, 631-765-1200, onewomanwines.com

Twin Stills Moonshine

5506 Sound Ave. #5608, Riverhead, 631-779-3199, liooldtymer.com

Best Happy Hour

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere … but when happy hour is nigh at these excellent drink slingers, you’ll want to grab a friend and grab a stool to kick back, catch up and sip (at a slimmer price!). We love the nightly deals at these excellent North Fork mainstays.

A Lure Chowder House & Oysteria

62300 Main Road, Southold, 631-876-5300, alurenorthfork.com

Barrow Food House

452 Main Road, Riverhead, 631-779-3379, barrowfoodhouse.com

First and South

100 South St., Greenport, 631-333-2200, firstandsouth.com

Touch of Venice

28350 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-298-5851, touchofvenice.com

The Chequit

23 Grand Ave., Shelter Island Heights, 631-749-0018, thechequithotel.com

Best Sports Bar

It’s game on at these North Fork pint-slingin’ sports bars. Get yourself a ringside stool, a plate of wings and settle in for a couple hours of cheers, jeers and beers. 

Andy’s

34 Front St., Greenport, 631-333-2525, andysnofo.com

Digger’s Ales N’ Eats

58 West Main St., Riverhead, 631-369-3200, diggerspub.com

Founders Tavern

55500 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-3100, founderstavern.com

Legends

835 First St., New Suffolk, 631-734-5123, legends-restaurant.com

Phil’s

1856 Wading River Manor Road, Wading River, 631-929-0508, philsrestaurant.com

Best Wine Club

Long Island’s wine country offers a multitude of choices when it comes to wine clubs, but these producers give a lot more than just quarterly boxes of bottles. From discounts to special invitations and other insider extras, you’ll get a lot of juicy bang for your buck from these winery clubs.

Borghese Vineyard & Winery

17150 Middle Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-5111, castellodiborghese.com

Chronicle Wines

2885 Peconic Lane, Peconic, 631-488-0046, chroniclewines.co

Mattebella Vineyards

46005 Main Road, Southold, 631-655-9554, mattebella.com

Peconic Bay Vineyards

31320 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-735-9192, peconicbayvineyards.com

RG/NY

6025 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-298-0075, rgnywine.com

Best Winemaker

Finding the juicy center of where art and science meet, these winemakers make us proud of Long Island wines (and thirsty for them, too!).

Byron Elmendorf

Macari Vineyards, 150 Bergen Ave., Mattituck, 631-298-0100, macariwines.com

Old Sound Vineyard, 9650 Old Sound Ave., Mattituck, oldsound.com

John Leo

Clovis Point/Leo Family Wines, 1935 Main Road, Jamesport, 631-722-4222, clovispointwines.com

Robin Epperson-McCarthy

Chronicle Wines, 2885 Peconic Lane, 631-488-0046, chroniclewines.com

Osprey’s Dominion, 44075 Main Road, Peconic, 631-765-6188, ospreysdominion.com

Roman Roth

Wölffer Estate Vineyard, 139 Sagg Road, Sagaponack, 631-537-5106, wolffer.com

Roanoke Vineyards/Tulio’s NY Wine Bar

165 Love Lane, Mattituck, 631-298-7677, roanokevineyards.net

Zander Hargrave

Pellegrini Vineyards, 23005 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-4111, pellegrinivineyards.com

Best Winery

Sort of like picking the best pizza, favorite wineries are kind of a personal choice and we highly encourage you to seek out and find yours (even if you disagree with us!). But these are the wineries we find we keep going back to over and over, year after year. Long Island wine has come a long way in over 50 years — try our picks and then compare and contrast with your own faves (and drop us a line and let us know which ones you’re excited about!).

Bedell Cellars

36225 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-7537, bedellcellars.com

Lenz Winery

38355 Main Road, Peconic, 631-734-6010, lenzwine.com

Macari Vineyards

150 Bergen Ave., Mattituck, 631-298-0100, macariwines.com

Paumanok Vineyards

1074 Main Road, Aquebogue, 631-722-8800, paumanok.com

Raphael Wine

39390 Route 25, Peconic, 631-765-1100, raphaelwine.com

Best Wine Shop

From local cab franc to California cab sauv to Chianti classico, these wine shops not only have the right bottle (at the right price) for the right occasion, their knowledgeable staffs can guide you to the best bang for your buck, no matter what you’re looking for. Cheers to that!

Bogey’s Wine & Spirits

54655 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-5435, bogeysny.com

Greenport Wines & Spirits

132 Front St., Greenport, 631-477-6701, greenportwinesandspirits.com

Michael’s Liquors

802 East Main St., Riverhead, 631-727-7410, michaelsliquors.com

North Fork Craft Wines & Spirits

122 South St., Greenport, 631-477-0024, northforkcraftwines.net

Vintage Mattituck Wine & Liquor

10095 Main Road #13, Mattituck, 631-298-8100, vintagemattituck.com