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Cafe Triste

4.1 (47 reviews)
Closed 5:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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Megan A.

Café Triste is such a gem in Chinatown. The vibes were immaculate--relaxed, cool, and effortlessly stylish. I loved their selection of natural wines, and the cheese and chips were so good. A perfect spot to unwind with great wine and even better atmosphere. Can't wait to come back!

Sigma 2024
Atiana S.

Cafe Triste is perfect! The Monday night jazz show was absolutely phenomenal. We started off with glasses of wine as we are relatively new to wines and weren't sure which one we'd like to get a bottle of. My friend got a "pink" wine and I ordered an orange. Both were beautiful choices but the winner for both of us was the pink. It was a nice well priced bottle. The server was so kind with our questions and attentive. We immediately asked for the bread and butter with cornichons and he was able to snag us a piece. The bread was lovely and soft and the BUTTER... it was perfectly salted and tasted amazing. Thank you so much for providing us a perfect night.

View from the bar
L. W.

Very cute wine bar in Chinatown. I wasn't that impressed with the wine selection but the bartenders were extremely friendly and that goes a long way. The snacks were okay but it was still it was a good time.

Jonathan Y.

Stopped by for some wine and really enjoyed the cozy and inviting atmosphere. A great spot to unwind and relax. Definitely coming back!

Prosciutto and Bread
Audrienne S.

Cafe Triste is the perfect spot to catch up with friends! It is an excellent addition to Chinatown. The staff is very knowledgeable on the wine selection and make great recommendations. It can get pretty busy so I would recommend getting in a little earlier at like 7 or 7:30 pm to avoid the crowds and grab a bottle of wine and some bites. The ambience is fantastic and I think it is the perfect spot for a bestie date! With the longer summer nights and the outdoor patio, it is beautiful to catch golden hour at Cafe Triste. I can't wait to come back for some summer dates here!

Interior
Sian S.

Loved the atmosphere, a great place to grab drinks with friends or come on a date. Dimly lit interior and a small outside patio give European vibes. There's a lot of seating inside and plenty of room for privacy if that's what you're looking for. Boyfriend and I came here for post-dinner drinks on our 2-year anniversary. The crowd was very Silverlake-LA but it was nice to be surrounded by people our age. Good selection of bottles, but a lot less selection if you're just doing a glass like we did. Food looked well-priced but we didn't try. Planning to come back with more friends!

Gina K.

Cafe Triste is a perfect spot for a wine night! There's lots of street parking after 6 PM, plus a paid structure right next door, making parking easy. The vibe is trendy and minimal, and the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about natural wines--they recommended the perfect wine for us. Definitely try the olives! We also loved the Carolina gold rice with shrimp and the pork shoulder with passion fruit sauce--the pork was so tender, and the rice was perfectly cooked. Can't wait to come back!

Alis A.

A cute little wine bar in Chinatown. Cafe Triste is apparently more iconic of a spot than I could've expected. I don't know what we drank but I know it was good. They focus on natural wines and bites, but they should really focus on getting idk maybe food heating equipment because what was the butternut squash doing so cold and sad? It made me feel like I was eating from an almond mom kitchen but I get the vibe. I might've made the same butternut dish if I was really drunk and proud in my own kitchen but I definitely wouldn't go out to eat that. It was creative but not it. If it was warm I wouldn't cry. Can I buy you a toaster oven for Christmas, Triste? Anyways, the ambiance here is definitely like you're in your own dim little apartment, except the door is open and it's really sociable, which I loved. We got there early and enjoyed the peace but as we were leaving it was just getting filled with people. Service is also very personal and the staff is very good at that. I'd come back here

holly j.

This place is just the best. I love it. Wines are superb, staff excels, food is fun and delicious. Sometimes on Tuesdays they have tastings, which I highly recommend. If you have good taste and like cool cozy European vibes, you should check out CAFE TRISTE.

Wine, olives, cheese

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Stumbled on this place with my family. Had wonderful wines on the street patio. Staff were pleasant. What a lovely gem.

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2 years ago

Vibes great wine bar Euro cafe vibes. If location weren't kinda outta the way I'd go here all the time.

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2 years ago

great atmosphere, cute people and delicious food! really impressed with the quality of ingredients and thoughtful dishes.

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Cafe Triste Reviews in Other Languages

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Review Highlights - Cafe Triste

I would call the ambiance "funky Downtown LA", which I thought was "cool" for this little wine bar.

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Wife and the Somm

Wife and the Somm

4.4
(330 reviews)
3.3 mi
$$$
Locally owned & operated
Outdoor seating

"I know a dark, secluded place A place where no one knows…read moreyour face A glass of wine, a fast embrace It's called Hernando's Hideaway, olé" --Ella Fitzgerald, 1963 OK, this may date me, but this is what I immediately heard playing in my head when we finally found Wife and the Somm this weekend. Glassell Park is a hidden neighborhood in Los Angeles, anyway, and if you don't know what you are looking for, you might zip right past W&S, as we did. Parking is hit and miss, but there are side streets and you will find a space if you give yourself an extra 15 minutes before you come. The neighborhood is mysterious to me, sort of pricey grunge & hipster, iykwim. But! Once you are inside, you are in a completely different world. Bright, clean, genteel, muted, with dappled sunlight dripping through various apertures and alighting in a soft glow here and there on shining metal tables. It's beautiful. Some catchy upbeat contempo-pop music streamed steadily at just the right volume overhead. I found myself resisting the temptation to get up and dance. There are several rooms from which to choose, but I wanted to be seated on the wine-red suede banquette that gave me a view of the whole restaurant and out onto the tree-canopied street. From the time we arrived to the moment we left about an hour later, we were showered with warm smiles and attentive service. And the food? Exquisite. See my pictures. It was hard to choose. One tiny disappointment was they were out of the biscuits that I wanted to start with, but I enjoyed the crusty tender Clark Street bread slices served with warm creamery butter instead. It only got better from there. The two bowls we ordered were filled with fresh vegetables, cooked to perfection, topped with an egg prepared as we requested, i.e., over medium. The portions are modest and it was all so good, we didn't take anything home. We ordered coffee and were brought two tall steaming mugs of Americano, smooth, dark, and delicious. Best of all was the Lemon Lavender cake, a seasonal specialty. Honestly, it might be one of the best, moistest, most flavorful and elegant cakes I have ever had. So fantastic, that I just ordered some lavender buds (if I don't collect them from our garden) to replicate it at home. I don't drink much alcohol but if I did, I would head here for one of their experiences or tastings -- they have a formidable list. Check all this out. And hurry if you want to have Lemon Lavender cake.

The restaurant already made a poor first impression, as there was an unpleasant smell inside as…read moresoon as we stepped in. Everyone also didn't feel particularly welcoming, from the hostess to the waitress (no smiles). Thankfully, we were seated outside for some fresh air, although the warm murky smell still lingered a bit outdoors. The menu seem fairly limited since nothing really stood out to me as especially exciting. I've studied the menu prior before going, and was only looking forward to their burger, but they didn't have it during dinner apparently. While the dishes were descripted very well on the menu, there was no depth in flavors. I'm talking about the pork belly, lamb chops, tartare, Spanish octopus, and especially the seasonal pasta. I'm happy that it wasn't overly salty, but overall the food tasted mediocre and felt a bit basic. I'm only saying this because I could make it myself, at least the lamb, fatty pork belly, and pasta. Portions were also on the small side. Service was a bit slower as it took some time to get seated and receive our food, and one of our dishes was forgotten until we reminded the staff after already finishing most of the meal. On the positive side, we were able to find easy street parking about a block away, and the restaurant itself has a cozy ambiance that would probably be great for a chill dinner with some wine. However, my group left still feeling very hungry and unsatisfied. To be fair, we came in hungry, and the portions and long wait didn't help.

Photos
Grilled Pacific Halibut over white gazpacho
Grilled Pacific Halibut over white gazpacho
Grilled cuttlefish and pickled persimmons
Grilled cuttlefish and pickled persimmons
August Burger with sauteed mushrooms, leek fondue, worcestershire aioli

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August Burger with sauteed mushrooms, leek fondue, worcestershire aioli
Propaganda Wine Bar

Propaganda Wine Bar

4.7
(270 reviews)
1.4 mi
$$
Free parking
Outdoor seating

Ordered: - Anchovies crostini (4/5): one of my gf's favorite…read moredishes because of the flavors that come together for her but I'm not a big fan of the strong anchovy flavor in this dish. Definitely cool to try but not my personal favorite. - Insalata mista (5/5): a delicious, large salad that was flavorful, refreshing, and just the perfect pairing for the other dishes we ordered. My gf and I both loved this and were so glad we ordered it! - Spicy salame calabrese tartufato pizza (4.5/5): The truffle honey in this was very light but we still loved the flavors in this pizza. Overall (5/5): My gf and I love coming for their happy hour. Vibes are nice, service is friendly, and food is great!

We came to Propaganda during happy hour and had a great time. We ordered wine, limoncello spritz…read moreand a spicy salsiccia pizza. The pizza was to die for when it came out piping hot. The melty cheesy, flavorful sauce and toppings against the crispy crust made it super delicious. The downside is the pizza gets cold by the time you eat a second slice and you just crave experiencing what you had earlier. It is a bit difficult to have an intimate private conversation because the acoustics of the room made the music and conversations around echo. But if you're looking for the louder party vibe it's great! Super friendly staff as well, would recommend if you're in the arts district.

Photos
Patio at Night
Patio at Night
Wine tasting flights
Wine tasting flights
Summer of Spritz

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Summer of Spritz
Del Re Wine Bar

Del Re Wine Bar

4.9
(25 reviews)
0.1 mi

Stumbled across this hidden gem while trying to explore China & Korea Town. The low lighting…read morecreates a subtle date like ambience. I was surprised to see they had food because there wasn't a kitchen. - I was intrigued by the little cooking set up the Chef had in the corner of the bar. My initial thought was rotating chefs or monthly themes that highlight a specific region ; I don't think that's the case here . I would like to come back hungry so I can try the Leeks and the Beef Cheeks. I've been seeing alot of Organic/ Natural wine bars popping up all over and I'm here for it. This is a must try!

Had a great experience here the other evening! Dropped in with my boyfriend, he got the wine…read moreflight, and I got 2 half glasses and a full glass. The selection isn't huge, but very well curated - each wine we tried was delicious. Great classic wines at a very reasonable price. Overall, I think this spot is a hidden gem with great wine selection. The arugula and anchovies were good as well, it was a lovely little snack. Owner was helpful and friendly as well Lots of space/seating, and an outdoor patio as well. Metered parking is available in the surrounding area as well as easy access from the metro. Hoping to come back soon! :)

Photos
Follow the red lanterns at Blossom Plaza right off of Broadway. Enoteca Del Re is suoer close to the Chinatown metro station too!
Follow the red lanterns at Blossom Plaza right off of Broadway. Enoteca Del Re is suoer close to the Chinatown metro station too!
2022 Nebbiolo, Renato Ratti Longhe Ochetti, DOM, Italy
2022 Nebbiolo, Renato Ratti Longhe Ochetti, DOM, Italy
Spotlessly clean and very pleasant.

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Spotlessly clean and very pleasant.
The Cellar - A Wine Library

The Cellar - A Wine Library

4.5
(612 reviews)
7.4 mi
$$

Great wine selection. We went on a Saturday around 5:30 p.m. before the evening rush and ordered a…read morecheese and fruit charcuterie board along with several glasses of wine. We ended up staying until about 9:30 p.m. and never felt rushed or pressured to order more. The staff was very friendly and made excellent recommendations, especially considering we were a bit picky -- one vegetarian, one pescatarian, and the other only likes dessert wines!! Definitely coming back with less picky people

Waiter Manuel. This…read moreis a review reflected on you, solely. Being kind is the moral of the story, from the beginning you were passive agressive with your comments and tone. Being in a party of 4 girls coming from high tea, we were dressed in elegant dresses, first comment was asking if we were coming from church, followed by eye flutters, short "okay" with an upward inflation to a joke about the day, an impatient comment about hurrying up and trying the wine while we were talking, asked for water when we were out, were left to pour the rest of our wine, didn't ask how the food was all the while was attentive to the table behind us, the cherry on top comment was when we were discussing the bill at the end, he was hovering at the table behind ours, then when we were ready, we asked to split the bill into 2, my portion on mine and the rest on another card, he then said "this isn't like a drive through, we can't do it that way" so I asked him to explain his comment, cause it was passive agressive and rude. After he wasnt able to becuase he wasnt expecting me to call out his rude comment, I had to then break it down and specify what I had ordered, he then sold "okayyyy....so how much, cause we don't itemize?" I had to again express for him to specify how they do it cause he has still yet to explain where his attitude is coming from and explain how they do their check splits, from my understanding it just felt like he wanted to play dumb and make me to the math, one I did he was like "ohh, okay" should have asked for the manager but we paid and left, I hasnt had this experience before being a returning customer, but he needs an attitude adjustment as his attitude was completely out of pocket. Do better Manuel, you alone got your place of work a 1 star. The rest of the staff was kind, facility beautiful and food and wine was good. This restaurant is not reflected in the 1 star.

Photos
The coolest atmosphere.
The coolest atmosphere.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Wine selection for the night

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Wine selection for the night
Covell

Covell

4.3
(523 reviews)
3.9 mi
$$

Covell was such a great experience! I wasn't sure what wine I wanted because I enjoy both red and…read morewhite wines, but the bartenders were incredibly knowledgeable and helped guide me to the perfect selections. Their recommendations were spot on. The atmosphere is intimate, cozy, and honestly perfect for a date night. It has such a warm and inviting vibe that makes you want to stay for hours. Unfortunately, we arrived just after the kitchen had closed, but that only gives me another reason to come back. The service was truly top-tier, and the wine was absolutely divine. I even enjoyed both a white and a red during my visit. Normally mixing wines can leave me with a headache the next day, but the bartenders paired everything so thoughtfully that the wines complemented each other beautifully, and I felt great afterward. I can't wait to return and experience both the food and wine together next time. Highly recommend!

Another reviewer nailed it when she said this wine bar had great vibes and was reminiscent of some…read moreof her NYC haunts. I absolutely agree. There was a split second, when we were sitting outside, I totally had a NYC summer flashback having drinks with friends in friendly neighborhood bars. The staff here is friendly and helpful. Even if you're a wine newbie, it's not intimidating. We'll be back.

Photos
Cheese Plate with 3 Cheeses
Cheese Plate with 3 Cheeses
Cheese Plate and Pate
Cheese Plate and Pate
Scottie-Boy natural orange wine. From Buellton. Sweet with a semi sour finish.

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Scottie-Boy natural orange wine. From Buellton. Sweet with a semi sour finish.
Dunsmoor

Dunsmoor

4.3
(659 reviews)
3.4 mi
$$$$

Finally made it to this HOT (both in popularity and live-fire cooking) spot in Glassell Park just…read moreoff the 2 freeway. Apparently they've been open about 3 years, but all the buzz, accolades and crowds seem more recent than that. Reservations can be tough to secure, but recommended. We had a 5:30 opening time res, and I was quite surprised by the length of the separate line for walk-ins. But it appears they all made it in. Their next-door bar only seats walk-ins. Restaurant guests can wait here, but they also have a limited menu that includes several of the popular dishes (like the cornbread) and also a bar-only hangar steak, which replaced the highly lauded bar-only burger. Eagle Rock Blvd is a wide multi-lane street with a center median/parkway. The restaurant has a valet; street parking can be difficult as there are homes and apartments on the side streets. Eagle Rock Blvd has some parking, but across the blvd is FAR and hazardous to cross. A better bet is Bushwick St. behind the restaurant. There aren't a whole lot of businesses nearby, but on Dunsmoor's block there's a bar (The Grant) and a breakfast/lunch/bakery spot (Bub & Grandma's) where Dunsmoor gets their bread. Dunsmoor's Spanish Revival corner space is impressive and lovely. Chef-owner Brian Dunsmoor grew up in Georgia, but the cuisine here is "American Heritage" with definite Southern touches and of course California's abundant purveyors/farms. The menu seems highly seasonal and earthy; I doubt they use tweezers to plate the food here! The space has individual 2-top tables along 2 sides, the middle of the space has 3 long communal tables. There's counter seating right in front of the open fire (great view but hot) and a few more to the right. The fire is a further distance away from counter guests here vs. the spacing at Betsy in Altadena, another live-fire spot. Dunsmoor also has a back kitchen where non-fire dishes are done. We ordered a lot: 1) House Meyer lemonade. Dunsmoor's spirit-free beverage selection is limited. but the lemonade was great, sparkly. Their wine list is pretty large. 2) Chopped chicken liver with bacon, rosemary, onion preserves. Served with bread from Bub & Grandma's. Delish. The thought the rosemary would be overpowering but it wasn't. 3) Edna's sour milk cornbread. Pretty much seen on every table. Cheddar and Hatch chiles flecked through the bread, topped with a mound of melting cultured butter and honey cascading like waterfalls over the sides. A must order. Not spicy at all, thankfully. 4) Regier Farms yellow peaches with farmers cheese, different basils and olive oil. Summer on a plate! The peaches were exquisite. Clearly a seasonal dish. 5) Carolina Gold rice with shrimp and corn. A delish cross between risotto and grits. There was lots of cheese too. An ode to the South. 6) Aunt Emmy's pork and green chili stew. Another top-seller. Homey and substantial, with a slight kick and fabulous house-made tortillas. 7) Beef ribeye with smoked bone marrow and sea salt. Definitely shareable, it's prepared medium rare unless otherwise told. Our slice had a bit of gristle, but it was well prepared. We placed the smoky-rich marrow on top of the steak as recommended. The sea salt was not needed. Would love to try the pork chop and duck someday. 8) Sliced Cherokee tomatoes, simply dressed with apple vinegar, olive oil and sea salt. Another winning seasonal dish. The also have a tomato Caesar dish with more ingredients. 9) Sticky date pudding. Well done moist version of a classic, served in a cast iron dish with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream. Would have loved to try the seasonal stone fruit and blackberry cobbler and the hand-churned ice cream, which on this night was cantaloupe! Overall an excellent and substantial meal. Unlike some past reviews, the service was fine and very friendly. I enjoy a Michelin-starred fancy tasting menu (where they use tweezers to plate) every so often, but a hearty, rib-sticking but upscale meal like this is also great.

The food is delicious. The service, other than the host was top notch…read more I found the front desk host, or maitre'd dismissive and rude. Not entirely in favor of another very high end and unaffordable restaurant in my neighborhood either. Especially if they are going to be outwardly hostile to me upon entering.

Photos
Another view from my seat at the chef's counter
Another view from my seat at the chef's counter
Dressed Lettuces: herbs, vinaigrette | $13
Dressed Lettuces: herbs, vinaigrette | $13
Edna's Sour-Milk Cornbread: white cheddar, hatch chile, cultured butter, honey | $21

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Edna's Sour-Milk Cornbread: white cheddar, hatch chile, cultured butter, honey | $21

Cafe Triste - wine_bars - Updated July 2026

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