Books and wine in a cute location with velvet, green, and gold touches. Really my dream place!…read more I liked the library card self-service pour system. You can choose a taste, half glass, or full glass from about 8-10 selections (at least one non-alcoholic). It was a pleasant way to spend time without any sales pressure (or not even a tip option). All three wines I tasted were really good. I went with a friend, but I can imagine coming solo to read books. Note when I first walked in, it seemed really intimidating because I had never been in a place like this, and my anxious brain was telling me spin around and leave. But the woman working there was very helpful. I am glad we stayed.

This place is adorable! I would have loved to stay for my friend's book launch but had to leave…read morebecause I had my 7 year old in tow. I was sad to leave but understand their limitations as a business with a liquor license. I will definitely be back with friends and no kids.

Everything about this place is perfection. Great food. Fantastic staff and a charming ambiance…read more Great selection of wines from Spain and beyond and also a wonderful menu! Make sure to order the linguica sandwich - it's phenomenal!

$18 for a simple sausage sandwich and $18 for a glass of Pinot Noir. Perfectly nice place, but, at…read morethese prices, I don't know why I go out anymore. It's become a luxury I can't afford anymore.

If you've ever been to Les Deux Magots in St. Germain, this is the spot to check out, hang out,…read moresip, while snacking on something freshly made in front of you. The ambiance will get you first, the attention to detail say's a lot about the love put into La Loulou. The service is fabulous, they will remember your last drink. I'm a quirky 'orderer' and they remembered the nuance of how I like my drink. Also, don't forget to checkout the bathroom. Merci!!!

I visited La Loulou several months ago and wanted to give it some time before writing a review…read more After recently having a wonderful experience at another wine bar, I realized the difference in hospitality was too significant not to mention. I really wanted to like this place. I'd walked by several times and loved the interior design, and the videos on Instagram made it seem like such a great spot. I stopped in one evening by myself, ordered a glass of wine and the warm olives (which were delicious), and was looking forward to a relaxing night. Unfortunately, the service was the biggest disappointment. The restaurant was packed, and the atmosphere felt more concerned with maintaining an image than making guests feel welcome. I understand some restaurants embrace a more reserved European style of service, but this came across as cold and pretentious rather than intentional hospitality. As a solo diner especially, I didn't feel acknowledged or valued as a guest. It also didn't help that the dining room had a noticeable body odor smell that took away from the experience. On a positive note, the bathroom was clean and beautifully designed. I originally thought this would become my go-to place to grab a glass of wine while waiting for a table at the ramen spot next door, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Reading through other reviews, it seems I'm not the only one who had this impression. Oakland's charm has always been its people. You can open a French-inspired wine bar, but hospitality translates into every language. If you're going to bring a Parisian aesthetic to Oakland, don't mistake indifference for sophistication. Guests should leave feeling welcomed, not judged.

A fine, and even devenir experience. Went when it rained last December. The bartender was kind,…read moreendearing and very knowledgeable about wine. I had a delightful Italian Chardonnay (yes Italian). I even got educated about the relative cost of some higher end champagnes (was imparted with a value proposition about wine cost which I consider invaluable). Ambience was very much svelte and chic! Great 1st or 104th date spot! Wine so Cru, wine so cool, South Berkelean vino school.

"You telling me that wine is better than Pepsi? Huh, no way wine is better than Pepsi." - George…read moreCostanza, Seinfeld da Scene: Yelped them for pre-dinner spot. Kinda hidden on a corner right off University & 5th; make the right onto 6th & scoot around to park on 5th or University. They buzz you in, best to make a res., but seems like walk-ins are ok. Very modern, yet welcoming feel, tables spaced well for intimate encounters and a bar with Hightop seating. da Grub & Libation: I had res. for a buddy & I and belly up to the bar; they offered a table, but we're bar flies by nature. Very diverse wines by the glass & bottle so we had 4 different glasses w/ a modest charcuterie plate. da Service: Excellent, warm, friendly and genuinely so. I look forward to my next visit, whether it's for a contemplative glass in solitude or with the wife on a pre-dinner excursion. Hidden Gem, find them and enjoy!

This place is constantly hosting several events in the area and plenty of pride events!…read more The wine here is chef's kiss and you just have to grab a bottle after doing some tastings!

This was my first time ever at this point Lou winery and they had a cool little pop-up with other…read morevendors!! I honestly loved their set up with a wine tasting room in the front and tables in the back as well as areas for a food truck or a pop-up to sell in cater to you as well. The lady serving me was very friendly and helpful. I commented on this cute picture of a forklift and she said that was her as a little girl in the back!! So freaking cute!! Great Space and I could see live music being played here if they don't do that already. I'm new to the area so I will definitely be checking out there local events!! I really like their reds and their white wine that they served. I would love to do a food pairing which they didn't have available, but I love the aspect of different food truck vendors in the back. Granted a food, allergies and both the vendors had things I'm allergic to. I know my friend loved the noodles she got!!

We hosted a private event at Best Friends. They did a good job communicating with us and getting…read moreready for the event. Our guests loved the space and the staff was great! Separately, we also bought more wine for another event. They have such knowledgeable staff and guided us toward wines that we loved and helped us get them down in price to our budget. Overall, a really thoughtful crew, would recommend!

Strolling through Solano Ave, our group stopped here for a drink and to chill. Located at the…read morecorner of Solano Ave and San Pablo, Best Friends is a cozy wine bar where you can have a drink at the bar or at one of the bar tables and tables. Their logo on their sign is a dog drinking from wine glass. Yes, they are a dog friendly shop and several customers had their dogs including our friend. Their wine offerings consist of international wines and wines from local small wineries. They also had two craft beers and some light bites. The wine pourer was helpful and answered questions about the wines and gave samples for you to try before ordering. We also ordered marinated olives and Marcona almonds to have with our drinks. Nice place to relax and to have a glass of wine, beer or non-alcoholic offerings where you an bring man's best friend.

Although not located among the vineyards in the Napa or Sonoma AVAs, the wines at Noria outshine…read moremany wineries located therein. Wife and I shared the Pinot and white wine flights. The Pinot Noirs, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc,Gerwurztraminer, and the sparkling wine were some of the best we had at the price point resulting in us joining Noria's wine club and also purchasing seven bottles of the wine we sampled. The atmosphere of the tasting room is very laid back and unpretentious. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. Highly recommend.

The wine was really good here, some of the best in the Gilman district. We appreciated getting an…read moreexplanation of the brand and of the wine selection from the owner. Our favorites were the sparkling Rose and the Sonoma County Pinot Noir (which was carried by ANA in its first class cabin!)

It a really welcoming vibe…read more I have gone there for the live music on some Thursdays with super talented Berkeley High Students that like sound professional Jazz artisits. Don't forget to tip the musicians. ; ) Love the diversity of staff and clientele. So BEREKELY! Appreciate the family run business. It's a bit fancy and the portions are a bit small.

Met friends here for a dinner. We were able to make a reservation for 8 ahead of time via…read moreOpenTable. Small menu but a good variety of choices for everyone. We ordered the skirt steak and ceviche for two. The ceviche came out first and it was mouth watering. The chiles added that extra kick of spice. The skirt steak was a little undercooked as we had asked for medium but still very tasty and tender. Our waitress was super friendly and was able to help us narrow down our choices with suggestions of her own. A variety of drinks are available from cocktails, mocktails and beers. The drinks took a while to get to us but otherwise a good experience. Definitely a nice place for a date or hanging out with friends.

Love their organic wine, and so many options!! I stopped by here after seeing them on Instagram,…read moreand 1 wine tasting later- instantly sighed up for their wine club!

Very nice staff, fun location with a really nice outdoor seating area, interesting wines!…read more We didn't try any of the snacks, but they had some that we might try next time. We did teo flights of wine and they were very light and crisp. The staff was super nice and walked us through the wine selections and helped us to an outside seating area where we got to enjoy the sunshine. The outdoor seating area looks to be great for groups as it's large and covered!

Right around the corner from Cheeseboard Collective, this is the perfect spot to grab a glass--or a…read morecouple glasses--of wine and enjoy their cute outdoor patio. Inside, you'll find a fun selection of unique wines and a super laid-back vibe. The staff were incredibly helpful and even let us sample what they had for the day before making our final choice. I also had to take a few photos because the whole spot is so Instagrammable. Highly recommend, and I'd definitely come back!

If you are looking for exquisitely curated wines from around the world, with special attention paid…read moreto affordability (huge selection of great wines under $30) then this is your place. I've been a patron of Vintage for years, and what's not to like? The location is gorgeous (a former pumping plant thats been transformed into a cozy, intimate space with a garden out front that changes with the seasons). And the shop is nestled right in the heart of Berkeley's Gourmet District with Peets, Saul's Deli, Cheeseboard Coop and Pizza, Andronico's, and Chez Panisse as next door neighbors. Inside you will find wines by color, grape, and region. It's not an enormous collection, but a lot of thought and experience has gone into presenting customers with something new and surprising. If I can't find myself making an easy decision, the staff have always been patient and helpful in finding the right bottle for my needs. Vintage also offers several different wine clubs for people who like a monthly or bimonthly grab bag of adult grape juice (including the occasional bubbles!). This is the wine store I wish I had as a neighborhood shop. For now, it's a well deserved destination (along with Kermit Lynch Wine Shop) that has yet to disappoint. Give it a try!