STEPH JUDGEMENT: Dizzying variety with friendly, knowledgeable staff. Whoa, I can't believe I've never reviewed this place! I'd been a few times but since it's not very conveniently located to me it had been a while since I'd been. The hubby and I were on our way down to San Diego so we stopped in to get a gift for a friend. We wanted to get him a special bourbon but couldn't decide out of the dozens of bottles. One of their helpful staff came by and asked if he could help. He asked about a price range and recommended the Old Fitzgerald, which we'd never even heard of and never tried, but decided to take a chance. We were very impressed with it when we tried it with our friends later on that evening--the most smooth bourbon I think I've ever had. The cashier even went out of her way to find the branded velvet gift bag for the bottle, which was a nice way to present our gift. We were also glad to see that they had a selection of gluten-free beers, as the hubby had developed a gluten sensitivity recently. Great selection with a friendly, professional staff--it doesn't get much better than this. read more

Last time my review was not good because of customer service. This time, I want to leave five stars. This review is for staff member Michael (I hope I got his name correctly from his name tag; he is from France ). My brother is visiting from another country and wanted to buy a few bottles for his wine club. We know Hi-Time has a great selection. He asked a staff member for a specific wine bottle and he said they didn't have it. They spent a few more minutes talking and the staff member left without any convincing recommendations for my brother. My brother kept looking and then Michael showed up. Not only he found the wine he was looking for initially, but he also made some other great recommendations. The whole interaction was polite, friendly, interesting, and enjoyable. My brother walked out of Hi-Time with a smile. Thank you, Michael! read more

Hi-Time Wine Cellars - My brother looking for his wine before Michael showed up. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is my kind of wonderland. You can find everything from beer, wine, cocktails, bar tools, gifts, and so much more. They also have tastings and pairings so check out their schedule. I love going in and asking the staff for their recommendations. They are super nice and informative. I have walked out with many bottles of whiskey that did not disappoint. read more

If you've never been to Hi-Time, highly recommend it if you're in the OC area and are looking for a variety of wines from around the world. The amount of wine they carry here of all price points is incredible. I also went for the Sancerre wine tasting night and it was so much fun. I had no idea there was a bar within the store but it's the best! The staff is also incredible too. read more

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I have been going to Hi-Time Cellars for many years now, and I was a bit surprised to find that I had not included them in a Yelp review! Well, let's fix that right now because this place should be a must-see destination when you are in Orange county. I'm not kidding, this place is an adult Disneyland! The moment you walk in the door it is a visual sensory overload. To the left isn't a complete cigar shop with some of the most elusive and amazing brands. It is definitely a must-see when you go in. The humidor is stocked to the gills, and they have every accessory you could possibly want. As you keep walking, to your left, they have an amazing gourmet chocolate section that is second to none. One of my favorite places to go and just wander around like a kid in a candy store... Literally. You have to go downstairs where the wine selection is. I'm not kidding you, it is like a half a city block long broken down into country, region, varietal, and tight. There are so many bottles to choose from. You can get anything from a $10 bottle up to a $17,000 bottle of wine If you are a bourbon, Scotch, or whiskey fan, you have to check out the selection that they have. They have amazing deals, they work with the distillers to have a great selection of high-end alcohol. Speaking of high-end, behind the glass obviously is the really high-end stuff like pappy, Van Winkle, whistle, pig and many others to choose from. Are they pricey? Yes they are. Are they hard to find, yes they are. Can I afford them? Absolutely not. But they are fun to look at like paintings in a museum. Here's the secret ticket for those of you going in at the back of the bourbon section, right next to the walk-in beer cooler, they have a discount rack where you can pick up bottles for seriously 90% hot. Hot it is definitely worth a look because sometimes you will find amazing deals on stuff that you never thought you could afford. Speaking of beer, you can buy kegs six packs, individual cans of just about any beer you can think of... And even some you did not know existed. It is definitely worth your while to go there and hang out for an hour. I can't end this review before bragging on the staff. Super nice, super helpful, willing to make suggestions, and just making your visit. Fun is the cornerstone of the experience. Super great people kind of like cheers, where they remember your name. Bottom line? You would be doing a disservice if you did not go check this place out. Highly recommended and Dan Leadbetter approved! read more

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Keeping this simple, there is no better place for beer, wine, spirits, cigars, chocolates and treats in one single location. I have taps at my home and they can get me any beer that I have ever wanted. Craig at the beer desk always figures out and finds me a distributor for a unique beer. Their beer selection is second to none. Only Total Wine can compare with selection. read more

This place has so many options from tequilas to wines and everything in between. These mini tequila bottles have been pretty hard for me to find in store except for when I checked here. The employees are also very knowledgeable and helpful when you are trying to look for something in particular. I would recommend coming in next time you are looking for something. read more

Hi-Time Wine Cellars - La Gritona Tequila & Madre Tequila Flask - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is HUGE! This is the biggest combination of cellar, liquor store, wine store, wine tasting bar and restaurant that I've ever been too. I was very taken by surprise by the size of this place. I was told if I had trouble finding a specific wine, that this place would have it. And sure enough... they had my Freddo by Field Recordings. read more

Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Found the Freddo! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Love Hi Time Wine Cellars always have a great selection you can find everything also have a cool wine bar with events during the month so check them out! Incredible beer selection Family owned they really take care of you here! read more

We loved this cute lil gem. Free parking in big lot that is well lit. It's a very large wine/liquor store, complete with walk in craft beer cave. Best part is the wine bar downstairs. Bartender Siri was great, she offered a lot of good recommendations and filled us in on weekly socials and upcoming events. Other patrons at the bar were very friendly, good vibes overall. Sadly, we didn't try any food because we had dinner reservations elsewhere. We definitely plan to go back and make it a regular haunt. read more

This family-owned store has been around for decades and has it all - spirits, beer, wine, cigars, gifts...you name it. And not only does this store have all this stuff, but the selection is very extensive across all the categories. I mostly come here for the whisk(e)y and beer and feel that I'm decently knowledgeable in those categories, but the staff is super knowledgeable about anything that I need help with in terms of all the other stuff here - spirits, wine, cigars, etc. I've come here looking for many gifts over the years - for others and myself, haha. It was my favorite spot to shop in Orange County when I lived there. There was a time where I would for sure go at least twice a month (if not more) and made a Saturday morning out of it while getting donuts across the street. It's still one of my favorite spots to shop/stop by when I'm in the area. I can go on and on, but will just say this - the selection here is fantastic and the pricing is reasonable for the most part (you will pay up for the ultra rare items). They also do a lot of private barrel selections as well, so even if it's a brand of say whiskey that you are already familiar with, you can grab a barrel selected special offering and the taste is that much better assuming your tastes is in line with the person selecting the barrel. Because this place has been around for so long, I feel like it helped as well in terms of their parking. Always easy to pull up and find a spot. Never had an issue. read more

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This store is a bit of a drive for me but totally worth it. Great selection, friendly/helpful staff. If there's a spirit or wine that you're looking for, I'm sure they'll have it. Purchase online in advance and swing buy to pick it up. read more

Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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my SW stranger airplane row mate suggested I come here & lemme tell you this much: did NOT disappoint. Tasting bar is a cute gathering of guests, can make this a gossip-filled GNO & wHine about la vida loca OR a super fun date night since can sober up around nearby restaurants. Cab Sauv night had 8 tastings and had me crip-walking outta there HA. read more

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It's been a source of high end and rare wines and whiskeys for me for 3 decades. Wines are stored under controlled conditions. A big plus if you're looking for older examples that did not spend a decade a room temperature. Hi-Times is an established alternative to big box wine chain stores that often charge more. read more

Fantastic wine shop and wine bar. Wine stored at cellar temp. Huge selection. Hard to decide what to buy

Amazing selection. Kiersten is extremely helpful and always so friendly. Highly recommend!

I've been a loyal customer of Hi-Time Wine Cellars for over six years now, and the experience has been nothing short of exceptional -- every single time. Whether it's rare Scotch, limited edition releases, or everyday favorites, Michelle and her team go above and beyond to deliver top-shelf service with world-class professionalism. Michelle in particular is an absolute gem -- incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely passionate about helping customers find exactly what they're looking for. She's helped me track down some of the finest bottles I've added to my collection -- always authentic, fairly priced, impeccably packed, and shipped on time, without fail. Their inventory is unmatched, their prices are highly competitive, and their attention to detail in packaging (especially for high-end bottles) shows how much they value both the product and the customer. If you're serious about quality spirits -- especially rare Scotch -- and want a team you can trust with your most special orders, Hi-Time Wine Cellars is simply the best in the business. I wouldn't go anywhere else. read more

Found some items Ive been looking for that I haven't been able to get anywhere. Cashier and others were all helpful and friendly. Wine selection is incredible. Lost track of time in there. read more

Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Yay - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This.. place... is... heaven! If you are looking for a vintage, whisky, gift ideas... whatever.. this place has everything that is related to spirits and joys of life. Their cellar is quite extensive when it comes to wine. You'll have options from around the globe and may lose a few hours wondering their selections. For specialty liquors, you'll find some really good stuff here at reasonable prices. The staff know their craft and spirits. If they don't have it, they can look to acquire or point you in the right direction. They even have a large selection of beers if that's your thing. Not sure when the wine bar is open but they also do tasting at the bar. I think they were hosting a wine class when I last visited. Cigars! If that is your thing, they have a selection here also. This is a local spot that truly caters to everyone and anyone (over 21 of course :P). read more

I don't think I could ever willing step into a BevMo after experiencing Hi-Time Wine Cellars. We visited Hi-Time while on the hunt for flavored vodka for a specialty holiday cocktail. I had heard rumors about how amazing this space was, but nothing other than a visit could do it justice. Our group of four was instantly enamored by this local business. The store had endless isles stacked with liquor, beer, wine, seltzer, and non alcoholic beverages. You could easily spend hours exploring their unique flavors and exotic bottles. Outside of booze they also have a selection of steins, glasses, cigars, and shareable snacks. One isle was even dedicated to the most adorable collection of locally made candies for the holidays - I grabbed some milk chocolate honey comb for my mom! Since we visited on a Saturday there was a number of alcohol distributors offering tastings scattered throughout the store. Their knowledgeable team also hosts a monthly calendar of guided tastings and hands-on classes. This is the best spot if you're looking to grow your alcohol collection or trying to find the perfect gift. I might even come back to find a flashy bottle for an upcoming white elephant gift exchange! read more

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Massive inventory and if they don't have what you're looking for they can order it for you. Go to store for all things alcohol and they have a great section for picnic basket snacks read more

Still an incredible place to purchase high end booze, low end booze, and an amazing cigar collection that has resonable prices. There is a separate beer section as well as a wince cellar that ia amazing. Bring your checkbook and enjoy! read more

Best place to find any spirits you're looking for! I usually go out there to find Caribbean rum and they certainly have it!

Love it here! We have been looking for a very hard to find bottle of sherry found it here and the lady who showed it to us actually knew of it and drink it so that was fun talking to her cigars, booze cheese what else do you need? read more

I always like to have four basic spirits available for gatherings at the house: Tequila, whisky, vodka and rum. I was out of tequila & rum. I wanted Kapena li hing infused tequila fr Hawai'i, and Don Papa 7 yr old rum fr the Philippines. My go to place does not carry either, so I finally checked Hi-Time and they carried both. Kapena is special bc it comes from where I grew up. Don Papa is special bc it is aged 7 yrs, and the sugar cane is from near a volcano that is colloquially known as Sugarlandia. The workers at Hi-Time are nice and super helpful. Unfortunately, the Kapena was out of stock, but the guy who helped me was familiar with Don Papa, and knew where it was located. I also inquired about the wine tastings they have on Thu, Sat & Sun, and they really appealed to me. The only downsides to Hi-Time is you can't check what is in stock, and the spirits are not organized in alphabetical order. We searched for Kapena in several different places, only to find it was out of stock. Nonetheless, if you are looking for spirits that the big chains do not carry, and lower prices on items that the big chains do carry, Hi-Time does the trick. They are really well known in the area for their offerings and service. read more

Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Don Papa 7-yr old rum from the Philippines - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Hi-Time is an amusement park; be sure to set aside some time to look at all the options they provide. An incredible place that I tell people from out of state to visit when they are in town. If you need bud light, I'm sure they sell it, but that misses the point entirely of finding some meaning in your drinking habits. My advice is to drink less but drink better quality; you'll find it at Hi-Time. read more

They have an amazing selection of hard to find imported wines. This store is so fun to visit!

Definitely recommend! They have everything you could want! Massive collection at appropriate prices Staff is always eager to help Definitely recommend coming to one of the bars tastings on the weekends! read more

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My brother and his girlfriend invited me to a wine tasting Piedmont Reds last Saturday. I enjoyed the convivial event. The wines were great and my bro bought a couple of bottles. I made a reservation for this Friday Rhone Valley wines. read more

Simply the best place to buy wine and to do wine tastings! The staff is so knowledgeable and even if you are a novice, they make you feel welcome. The wine tasting was amazing! Such a great opportunity to try some high end wines within each tasting. The variety and quality is perfect! You can also order a cheese plate to accompany the tasting. We will go back several times! read more

Great customer service. Quick respond and very professional. Purchases delivery quickly and very good prices. Thank you

Always so impressed by this place that I make sure it's a stop on any trip back to OC. They've got the coolest selection of sometimes hard-to-find and unusual items, many not sold at those massive chain stores. Leave yourself plenty of time to explore the sunken bar area, the amazing sale section, and the AMAZING walk-in cooler full of interesting and quirky ciders and hard seltzers. Even the savory olive, and sweets sections are seriously stocked by people in the know. Super helpful and knowledgeable staff take pride in their work and ensure a positive experience. Excellent prices and plenty of parking round out an all-around great spot. read more

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What an insane collection of all things drinkable! They have every obscure spirit (7 varieties of Sambuca!!) and even a huge selection of alcohol free beer and spirits! read more

Hi-Time Wine Cellars - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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My favorite liquor store. Nice wine seller, great selection of liquors. Only place I know that consistently has Dunhill Red cigarettes. I received excellent service today from the woman in the Dodgers cap in the tobacco and candy area, friendly and helpful. read more

Drove across Orange County to get some rum that I couldn't find anywhere else. Apparently some Jamaican rums are hard to get this year. They had a huge selection of rums, I've never seen so many in one place. After I had found the exact item I had been looking for I decided to try and find a bargain and someone on the staff asked me if I needed help. He took me over to a couple areas that had clearance items and I found a great rum from Martinique that would normally be 50% more. I will definitely be coming back whenever I'm looking for that hard to find item. read more

Don't ever order wine from these jerks. I ordered a 2004 Paullliac from Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse 2004 which they charged me almost $100 a bottle and it was shit wine. I only ordered from them out of convienence because I was rush traveling and when I had it at my destination a 2004 Paulliac tasted like a Rudy what's his name Indonesian relabeled special. DO NOT TRUST WINE FROM HI-Time if this is the shit they are peddling! I spend a lot here and for them to screw me over with this shit will be forever unforgiven!!! Death to the smoochies! read more

Hi-Time has a huge selection of EVERYTHING. But it's my-go to place for rum! I stock up on all my rum staples for Tiki here. They have a lot of Hamilton, Coruba and everything you'll need. If you are a rum nerd, they have some incredible bottles here. Don't forget to look in the case. There are some insane rums here. And prices are the lowest in California. They even ship for a ridiculously low fee. One of my favorite spots on earth! read more

I love this place great selection of everything from cigars to find wine and liquor dark chocolate very unique place very knowledgeable staff very interesting place to visit especially if you're a cigar lover read more

Best liquor store in town, if you can even call it that. It's got so much more than just drinks: a cigar shop, candy shop, and wine tasting room downstairs. As far as the prices go, it's suuuuuper competitive with Costco & total wine. But most of the time they're running sales so the pricing is even lower than total wine. For the price and insane selection there's really no need to shop anywhere else read more

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There's no place like this! I specifically came on my first time to go winetasting with friends. And it was a fun experience. I do wish the bartender who poured knew more about the wine selection and the cheese plate. But it was clear that he was just there to pour. But I could see how people would prefer it this way, To taste and not be bothered. Definitely depends on your preference. I look forward to coming back to spend more time, looking at their bottles selections, and to try the different wine tasting nights! read more

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