Excellent spot for those looking for quality wines and a selection with a large international variety. Have gotten friendly service from the owner each time I've stopped in. Pricing may steer me back to Whole Foods or PCC since I have cheaper taste, but if I'm in the neighborhood and feel like spending a few more dollars on better wines, I'll shop here. read more

WHY NOT FIVE STARS? It's the owner. He is lacking any interest in customers. "Interesting people are interested." - Dale Carnegie He is only interested in going through the motions of shallow customer service niceties. "Have a nice day." That's about all you'll get. Attempting to engage him in a conversation is met with a cold stare and subsequent ignoring your comment. His focus is limited to the transaction. The wine selection is amazing. It must be the reason he survives. And, the location in a nouveau affluent neighborhood. This guy is 180° from the former owner, who was molto simpatico...and had a great Shop Dog named Giacomo. Every visit was a delight. Compared to those wonderful visits, this dullard is a big drag. He doesn't "get it" and never will. It's only a business. Senza cuore e anima!!! The Three Stars are for the wine. "Arrivaderci!" read more

Stopped in to take a gander at their wine selection. Small store with very reasonable prices. I thought about purchasing a couple of bottles, but realized I didn't have any more room in my luggage and I didn't feel like paying for shipping. I had a wine tasting later and opted to wait to see what wines I could taste prior to purchasing. Friendly and informative staff. Doesn't hurt to look - you may find a good deal. read more

Such a fun and dangerous place to browse. Despite the thin selection in some areas (South Africa, South America, very particular US AVAs), there are tons of gems here in all price ranges, and it's very easy to walk out with at least a half case of exciting finds. If they don't have it, they can order it or help you find something similar. read more

I'm giving this place 3 stars because, I've lived near it for a couple years and I've only been in a couple times. When I have gone there, though, the owners were very nice and helpful and I have always found what I was looking for. The carry many wines that you can't find elsewhere. They also have tastings every friday from 5-7 and cost $3-$5 for a taste of three types of wine. read more

City Cellars Fine Wines - the outside of the building - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I have been shopping from the bargain wine section for many years. Michael has always been helpful in answering my questions about wines that I am purchasing for the first time. He also gives me great advice when I am selecting premium wines or champagne for special occasions. --Suzanne read more

City Cellars wines are very well-chosen and the service is always friendly and well-informed. They bring in some fantastic imported selections and also feature quality Northwest choices. You also can get great case discounts. I bought all my wine for my wedding here. It was deceptively inexpensive and extremely drinkable. My favorite part by far is their bargain wine section, which features wines $10 or less, from all around the world. Every bargain wine I have purchased drinks like a wine that's at least twice more expensive. I have been a star at many a gathering thanks to these excellent finds! read more

Honest and awesome! These folks know their wine and are completely approachable. Over the past few years I have developed from a wine novice to somewhat less of a novice and have been completely helped on the way. I love going in the store and just asking whats good and being directed to variably the bargains in the 100 for $10 section or something a bit more in the rest of the store. There is never any pressure, honestly I question the business sense. I guess that's why they are so warmly rated. Thank you City Cellars - You make me a tasteful wino! read more

Poked our heads in here this weekend, didn't buy anything, but the lady working the counter was way helpful and friendly. The selection was great, the store was very simple, but very cute. They also had 100 wines for under $10, win! I'm throwing a wine party for New Years.... This is definitely going to be one of my stops for supplies! read more

Great place. I forgot to review this one awhile ago. Love the staff..they are very very smart! Their customer service is excellent. No wine snobbery here! They are the neighborhood wine tasting place that I love to go. I appreciate the variety! Will go back soon! read more

Nice place, very polite staff. I bought a gift certificate her for a friend's birthday, as I would never dream of picking out wine for her as she would never buy me dance music--it's a mutual respect thing, yo. She loved her certificate! 'Nuff said. read more

The wine selection is quite good, and at all ranges too, with a clear preference for European product (particularly French). The wine guy doesn't seem very enthused or particularly helpful, though, and I've come in multiple times with always the same experience. I asked how long the store had been open, and he said 20 years, so at least they have staying power. The discounts are good - 10% at 6 bottles and 15% at 12 if you pay with cash or debit, less if you pay credit. I've gotten two half cases and was happy both times with my wine. I did get one corked bottle, but they wouldn't take it back; first place I've known to refuse, but I guess that's what happens when you go for the good deal. All in all a good place if you live nearby. read more

I've been buying wine from Michael and Leslie at City Cellars for many years. They are really knowledgeable and always steer me in the right direction. I love the wine club, and getting to try a few new wines each month. They also have a great Friday night wine tasting event every Friday. read more

My boyfriend is a wine collector. So of course we had to find some fun wines while vacationing in Seattle. City Cellars wasn't too far from our B&B so we stopped in on a Sat. afternoon. Leslie who works there poured a little wine tasting for us with WA state wines. She was extremely knowledgable and helpful. We found this little shop to be a delight! Will definitely return there next time we're in Seattle. read more

I purchased a gift card here only to have it stolen out of my car a few days later. The staff voided the first card and issued another at no charge. They were very responsive and kind. While I was picking up the second card I did some browsing and saw a wide selection at very reasonable prices. Based on the customer service I experienced here, this is my new spot for wine and very much worth the extra stop. read more

One of the best features of my new neighborhood is City Cellars. They have a fantastic selection of wine in a store that's not crowded and not claustrophobic. The owners are very knowledgeable and can translate your requests into wine with ease. Every time I've described what I've wanted in a wine, he's given me a selection of 3 or 4 to choose from and it has tasted exactly like I've wanted. read more

I live in the neighborhood and shop for wine mostly online but I also check out what's available at Whole Foods, Wine World, and even the locked fine wine case at Wallingford QFC. City Cellars is a neighborhood gem compared with all the rest. Though the selection isn't what you'll find at Wine World (or the others) it is a selection of good tasting wines at very reasonable prices. I think I've only ever dealt with the owner (a gentleman in his early 50s) and he's always been helpful and informative but never pushy. The store has tastings Friday afternoons for - get this - three dollars for three wines. Every time I've dropped in for the tasting I have found either a great value wine, great tasting discoveries, or both. The store selects for the $10-$50 range, though you can find some wines in the $50-$100 range and a very small number of $100+ options. It's a great place to drop in for an I'm-on-my-way-to-dine-and-need-a-paired-wine event. Reliable and reasonable and wines from all over the world (more French and Italian than Washington, I'd say). read more

Still one of my favorite wine shops in the city. Always friendly, always helpful and the best bargain wine section I've ever found. I almost forget to look through the rest of the store... read more

Ok, first you've gotta check out the 100 wines under $10, because they're inexpensive and they're GOOD. Even though they also have some pricey wines and they know ALL about wine and will tell you anything you want to know, this isn't the kind of place where a wine snob will give you that "look". You know the look. I really, really enjoy wine, like a lot, but after all these years I still know next to nothing about them, so I love places like this where I can walk in and say "I want a red wine that isn't too dry and is kind of sweet and fruity, but not too sweet" and then walk out with the perfect bottle of wine chosen just for me. Idiot savant, or just idiot? Who cares, I got the wine. read more

Compact, highly selective wine store, which doesn't mean high prices. How they maintain such a strong selection of 100 wines for $10 (or less) is hard to fathom, but they do. And in these hard times I'm grateful for all they weeding they do--my dollar goes further in this shop. Lately I've been taking advantage of their generous mixed-case discounts. If it were just about the bargains, it would be enough. What makes this place truly great is that it is an informal continuing ed program in wine enjoyment. I'm a curious guy, always asking questions. Over the years, I've learned more about wine from Michael and Leslie than any other wine venue I know. Hard to stump them. The Friday tastings are a great way to try expand one's horizons. The Northwest is very well represented, but I suspect their hearts lie in Europe. All-in-all my first stop for wine. read more

This is my favorite place to buy wine, period. The man who runs the shop always helps me pair my dinners with the right wine at the right budget for my plans on any given day. Whether I'm looking for something extra special for the holidays, a raclette pairing, or a super casual night with a few friends. I've never been disappointed. THANK YOU!!! read more

this place was my favorite place to buy wine in seattle. i found the owners to be quite helpful, their selection superb. they even have a great bargain section, and will give you honest advice about what is in it. read more

Helpful staff who don't treat me like a moron for not knowing the difference between a syrah and a shiraz (hint: same grape, different countries of origin). Affordable wine is always on my list of things to buy and this place fills the bill. Go to the wine tastings for a bit more in-depth information. read more

I am so glad I live near this place - my liver, not so much. I've been going here for a few years. I used be crazy for Wine World but they started to go downhill a few years ago and I started to poke my head in this shop. Then I started sommelier training and this shop proved indispensable in my studies. Michael, the owner is very helpful. I can't imagine how annoying I was spending an hour going French wines and then buying a $10 bottle. But I think Michael was happy to provide info and help me understand the ins and outs of Old World wine. One thing I think is cool is how low-key he is about everything he knows. So much of what people know about wine can be seen as pretense. This is not to be found at City Cellars. And Michael suggests good bargains because he knows I live on a teacher's salary. He is not in the game of impressing anyone - just helping folks find the right wine. The bargain bottles by the door are an awesome mix of Old World and New World - you can't go wrong there. And the rest of the store has a great selection of wines from all different price points and regions. read more

City Cellars is my absolute favorite wine shop in Seattle. It's amazing how many favorites originate here.

Don't expect help if you don't know *exactly* what you're looking for. The person who "helped" me didn't seem aware that people have different palates and interpretations of tasting notes in wines. By the end of my visit, I felt ridiculed for asking about something I really enjoy. I will not be going back (this was my second disappointing visit). read more

Have been going here for more than 15 years and the place has never let me down. They have something for everybody, even me, the picky one. I do drink my fair share of wine! It's all represented, old world and new world, high end and fantastic deals. I'm not sure why a previous reviewer thought the shop was snobby. Michael (the owner) has a pretty laid back style, but if you ask, his knowledge is deep. He won't needlessly hover, but will find a good match for even the most cryptic descriptions given to him. I would highly recommend the place. read more

I have been buying wines here for a couple of years now and I wish that everyone who buys wines at the grocery a block away would drop in here instead. Michael is a knowledgable wine merchant with an excellently curated collection and will steer you right no matter your needs. He has a large under $10 shelf with really tasty wines, too, so it's not like the wine shop is meant for the well-heeled (and there are a LOT of amazing wines in the $10-25 sweet spot, too.) The Friday night tastings are an excellent resource and always educational. I have to say that I have bought very few wines in the last several years that I haven't first tasted and my wine consumption has been much happier for it. Seriously, if you aren't frequenting your local small wine merchant, you do not know what you're missing. read more

The selection here is fine, and there are some OK gems, but the shop keep is needlessly snobby (even for a wine steward he is out there!), and the selections based on my tastes weren't very helpful, or tasteful. I am better at shopping myself, and would honestly prefer going over to Bottleworks next door. read more