The Cellar Wine Bar truly lives up to its name, as it is just that-a trip to a wine cellar and one you won't want to leave! This has become one of my favorite spots in south OC to just hang out! I mean if I had my own wine cellar this is what it would look and feel like! The Cellar is dark, comfortable, stylish, and cool. Upon entering The Cellar I noticed I immediately felt relaxed, and I hadn't even had a glass of wine yet! I realize this could be a conditioned response, but the place is really laid back-none of the "upper crusty" attitude to be found at this spot. I sat at the long bar with a view of the well displayed bottles of wine. They also have a nice selection of beer as well. Oh yes, and did I mention cheese? There are many yummy cheeses to indulge in. On my first visit it happened to be Happy Hour (4-7pm, M-F), so I ordered from the Happy Hour menu. I was quite happy enjoying my appetizer with a nice Hook and Ladder Red Blend, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. Apparently, there are some great entrees on the menu as well. However, I did not partake on this visit. The staff is nice, friendly, and appear knowledgeable regarding wine. My server Alex was especially helpful in making sure I found just the wine I wanted! Thanks again Alex-I will be back! As far as location, the Cellar is located on Avenida Del Mar, so the heart of San Clemente. It definitely appears to be a locals hang out and understandably so. I am ready to relocate just, so I can become a regular! I am told they offer live music as well. I will return! read more

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Before hitting up jazz night else were- we decided to come here for dinner. Small restaurant with the bar and tables filled with people. We managed to sit at a community table in the middle of the restaurant. While the live music people were setting up, we shared a bottle of Chardonnay amongst us. A cheese platter came out and the gentleman explained each one with its pairing on spread. Everything on the platter was delicious! I couldn't tell you what was what but just trust- they know what they're doing so just go with it. My friend and I shared two plates because we wanted to try everything but the two were: Special for the night- shrimp tacos and rice: Two tacos with HUGE shrimp/prawns I don't know! I just know it was huge and it was smack in the middle- so if you took a bite on either ends, you'll be screwed. Since I didn't want that to happen- I cut the shrimp into pieces and spread the love around my taco. Other than that issue- it was plumped, flavorful and topped with a mango salsa! The rice was flavored with ginger or something like it which I couldn't care for so had a bit and passed on it. Mac and cheese with short rib: The waitress said they change up their menu often but the Mac and cheese is always on the menu. There must be a reason for that so, of course, I had to try it! A bit greasy but what do you expect?! Carbs at its finest- smothered in cheese and short rib throughout. Cute environment- live music- friendly staff! read more

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It is always a pleasure going here even when I'm by myself the staff is friendly and accommodating! Fun place to meet friends and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere! read more

Another low star review gets upgraded..this time all the way to five stars! I must be getting soft in my old age :) But I really enjoyed my last experience here...the food was very good including the portobello mushroom pizzette and the brioche bread pudding. The ambiance was fantastic with two incredibly talented spanish guitarists providing (a rather loud) backdrop to the proceeding. They were so good that the group I was with didn't mind that a blowhorn was needed to conduct our conversation :) Now it is still expensive which is why part of the crowd looked like OC Housewives Rejects with over peroxided hair and breasts that haven't been real since Reagan was in office starting the trend of skyrocketing federal government debt. With a food discount we still paid, with two wine flights, 3 extra glasses of wine, 3 food choices and tip on the "real" price that it came out to be $120.00 But for us, it was worth it. My friend who had just moved from San francisco said it reminded her of her favorite haunts in that way more sophisticated city...and I agree. I think we will be making our way back to the Cellar again...with blowhorns if that wonderfully talented duo is playing again :) read more

We stopped here when we wanted to have some coffee from Bear Coast Coffee when we were in the San Clemente area. It was around lunch time when we came here so we wanted to eat something light. We had the O.G. salami panini house with pepper jam, provolone and arugula. I don't usually get panini sandwiches when sometimes they're very greasy then it really depends how they put the sandwich together with the spreads and if they put too much butter or oil on the bread. They made this panini really good the taste was well balanced especially when salami usually has a lot of pepper in it that it can taste spicy. This is a small place with limited seating better for couples or a small group of people to enjoy drinks, coffee, wine and cheese or other small potions of food. Service can be slow then just waive the waiters or waitresses over when its not a really busy place. Good place to stop by if you're in Downtown San Clemente even just to quench your thirst and relax a bit before you go somewhere else. read more

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Ive picked up multiple cheese plates from the head cheesemonger ( I believe her name is Gabrielle) in the shop, because I trust her with my gluten allergy. After expressing to her that I have Celiac she made me feel very safe eating at the restaurant and double checked all my food was gluten free. On the cheeseboards I have gotten, they put their gluten free crackers on the board and serve me bread on the side for those in my party who are not gluten free. Great service, I appreciate the attention to detail with my food allergies, and I highly recommend getting a cheese plate! read more

Love this place...great HH, even on the weekend! No reservations though so make sure you get there before 7pm (6:30ish seems to be the sweet spot) cuz it gets crowded on the weekends. They have live music almost every night and just an overall great ambiance! As for the food, the menu changes quite a bit but some of my favorites include the burrata, the mushroom flatbread (yum) and the mac n cheese (add in the chorizo for an extra $3 - well worth it!) You also can't go wrong w the cheese boards -- they have a great selection and will put something fabulous together for you! The wine also doesn't disappoint -- great wine list and really nicely priced wine flights as well. HIGHLY recommend if you're in the area! :) PS A tip on parking... the street behind them has a few public lots where parking is free and it's usually easier to find a spot there than on the street in front. read more

Wonderful wine selection and the menu is delicious. Both breakfast and dinner rocks - love the pretzel bun with the breakfast sandwich :) Live entertainment in the evenings are always lovely! Our waitress last night, Jessica, was the sweetest. Super personable and awesome sense of humor! Great neighborhood spot :) read more

It's a cute set up - you have your mini cheese shop once you enter the restaurant, tables and booths to enjoy dinner, a bar to grab your drinks, and a piano and drum set up pumpin' out soothing jazz music all night long. At least the night I visited :) Love love loved the vibe. The artist (I don't know her name) is a better Norah Jones. Yes. Her voice is sultry and sexxxy I loved it! It made the entire ambience. The restaurant had a good amount of people the night my bf and I dropped by. We got: - Chimay amber ale (omg so good) - Herbivore Board (selection of roasted veggies, sauce could've used a little oomph) - Haole flatbread (really tasty! jalapeno, ham, pineapple, thin crust deliciousness) - French onion soup (tasty! comes with a piece of bread with melted cheese on top) Had a very enjoyable time. Our waiter was super legit. Wish the live music didn't end so early though! Overall a great experience. Can't wait to be back. read more

The Cellar - French onion soup, flatbread, amber ale, grilled veggies - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Best cheese boards, sidewinder fries, choice of wine and beer and atmosphere. I love coming to the cellar!

This place is one of my regular stops. The coffee and ambiance are by far the best in town. The decor gives you a comfort that makes you want to stay for hours. The food is simple but great all in one. I am not a meat eater so I can't comment on that but the cheese and breakfast foods are outstanding. The almond milk is made daily and my body can tell. Kudos to the owners for great staff selection and to the staff for always being so nice. read more

The Cellar - Honestly .... tastes delicious - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Great cheese selection with knowledgeable staff that can direct you to the promised land of cheese plates? check Wine, with either a great selection and/or a kick ass happy hour? check Good craft beers for those who might not be wine drinkers? check Chocolate selection? There's only good stuff here so... check Adorable interior design to make you feel like you're in a way swankier place than your check will indicate? check I've been going to The Cellar's sister store in the OC Mix since the day before they opened and they all asked me if I'd been to the San Clemente location with a certain amount of hope. I always had to say no until now. And now I understand what charm they spoke of. The Cellar is one of the most comfortable wine bars I've ever been to, because of the decor and the staff. Everyone was friendly to us like we were regulars. I can't wait to return. read more

Such an amazing evening at the Cellar! Great service, great wine and terrific food! Thank you to Jessie who made us feel welcome and created a wonderful cheese board, a highlight of our evening. Amazing live music too! Thank you too to Cole Warner, our friendly & knowledgeable server, who helped us select perfect wines! The Cellar is a truly wonderful place for a great evening! read more

This place was awesome tonight. Met up with a friend to catch up. Not only was the food spectacular, they let us sit and talk for three hours!!!!!!! Burrata appetizer is probably the best burrata I have ever had!!!!!! I also got the Mac and cheese and the sweet potato fries! Everything was delicious and original. Life music brought in a decent crowd and the place got packed the later it got. We finished the meal off with a delicious cookie with lavender vanilla ice cream. I would have given this place five stars, but it would have been nice to have more options on the menu....as a vegetarian, j had salad and Mac and cheese as options. Also, it would have been nice to have lattes as options! read more

The Cellar - Bar area! - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

It's been two years since I last ate at The Cellar, but it has easily lived up to my fond memories. If you can wait for seating on the patio fronting Avenida del Mar, I'd highly recommend it. We drank a variety of white and rosé wines, all were excellent. Try one of the flights. The cheese board is nothing short of miraculous. I ordered the game hen, which was perfectly cooked and served with a fresh, summery succotash. My dad ordered the tri-tip pot pie special, and it was absolutely worth the 25 minute wait. We all agreed we hadn't tasted a more delicious pastry crust. Stop by in the afternoon for an excellent coffee from Bear Coast!t read more

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EXCELLENT! I'm so happy a place like this exists. Live music, really cozy atmosphere and delicious food! The customer service was excellent as well. I'm not really a wine drinker, but to not order wine here seems a bit silly. So, I asked for a suggestion based on our food selection and it was awesome! We ordered a few things that stood out to most people here on the Yelp page. Short ribs and the Cellar Burger. Both very flavorful. The short ribs were tender. The Cellar Burger was also bursting with flavor. I still remember that sweet Bell pepper flavor engulfing my taste buds. EXCELLENT. I personally enjoyed the Cheese Board the most. We ordered the Spanish cheeseboard and it was a treat! Seems simple enough, but cuts of cheese, meats and olives. So simple, yet so amazing. Let alone, I LOVE CHEESE! All the flavors on the cheeseboard paired SO well. And to have a perfectly paired wine to it.. I believe it was the Tepranillo Finca? Awesome. Love the vibe here. It's truly a local TREASURE! Excited to try The Cellar's bro/sister locations closer to Irvine. read more

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This place definitely deserves five stars for food, wine, ambiance and service! The hubs and I ventured here after a couple of recommendations from people. Although the place was packed when we arrived around 5:30, we were able to snag a table and our waitress Katie greeted us almost immediately. She informed us that it was still happy hour which was cool for a Saturday (they have happy hour every aka ecstatic hour every day of the week!) We opted for a few glasses of Pinot, a cheese plate, and short rib grilled cheese. The cheese plate had three different types of cheeses, accompanied with bread and roasted nuts. When it was delivered, each cheese and accompaniment was explained to us. One of the cheeses was served with a strawberry-jalapeño jam that was to-die-for. The short rib grilled cheese was also delicious and the bread was perfectly toasted. The service was outstanding. My glass was never empty, and the manager was walking around the restaurant checking on all of the tables. They have a cheese shop at the front of the restaurant. We wanted to buy the strawberry-jalapeño jam but they were out. They have live music every day of the week, although we were there too early in the evening to catch it. We had such a great experience and will be back soon! read more

The Cellar - Wine and cheese, a perfect combo! - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Came here for the Sunday brunch. Brunch buffet was $19, and $6 extra for bottomless mimosas. Brunch selection is limited, but everything they have is fantastic. There was a wonderful cheese plate with craft jams, jalapeno bread pudding, scrambled eggs, bacon (of course, a must), baby pickles, fruits, among other goodies. Particularly filling was some kind of cinnamon banana bun, which was rich, gigantic, and topped with cream cheese frosting. That was a favorite among our party. I could only eat a few bites. Live piano music. Great atmosphere and location. No wait at all. Had a great experience! read more

I was highly recommended to go to this restaurant by a good friend of mine who is a local. I definitely know why! Most Excellent and friendly service by Christian and Travis!! I met my sisters and nieces there for a birthday celebration for one of my sisters. We were greeted immediately with such a warm welcome and served right away with delicious coffee! We shared a few recommended entrees so we could taste a lil bit of everything....French toast, chilaquiles, avocado + the works all so savory! Then Travis surprised us with a birthday dessert which was the most delicious chocolate bread pudding ever!!! Thank you so much to all the staff and chef for a wonderful dining experience! I can't wait to go back!! read more

Yet another great meal in San Clemente! Just ate here with the boyfriend and it was definitely on par with Vine down the road. We started with the cheese plate & wine/beer. Let me tell you, they know how to pair their flavors! Boyfriend had The Cellar Burger, which he actually thought was better than the Kobe Burger at Vine! It was topped with goat bleu cheese which is what really sent it home for him. I had the Margherita Flatbread with a side Arugala salad. Was a lot of food! A lot of delicious food (: Overall friendly staff, will be returning! read more

The Cellar - Margherita Flatbread, Arugala Salad, & Cellar Burger - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

The Cellar is located in downtown San Clemente, easily found right off the highway. My friends arrived first at the scene and found a table fairly easily for a Friday night. The room was filled with hip late 20-40 year olds, probably coming off of work and celebrating the end of the week. There was live music- a pianist who sang and sounded a like a mix between Gavin DeGraw and the guy who sings the Toy Story theme song. The five of us shared a cheeseboard with charcuterie. My favorite of the cheeses was the creamier one drizzled with honey. A definite to-try if coming here! Boyfriend also ordered the veggie burger which I had a bite of. It was pretty large, a little bit messy, but incredibly flavorful. Great food, service, and music! Must-try if you're in the area, whether you're with a date or gathering with friends! read more

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An amazing find and hidden gem in Downtown San Clemente! They have 3 other cheese shops around OC but this is the location that serves food, wine and beer. The Cellar is decorated so beautifully full of various types of cheeses, dim lighting, smaller and larger tables, a bar area, a coffee shop in the AM and an entire wall of wine. There is even a shop in the front of the store to take home those delicious goodies The space has a wooden rustic glam feel to it and my boyfriend and I throughly enjoyed our time here. Ecstatic Hour (Happy Hour) is awesome! It is everyday from 4-6pm and the restaurant is seat yourself. Ecstatic Hour features House Red or Whites for $6, draft beer for $4 and food for about $3-4 less than original price. The cheese plate priced at $10 during happy hour came with 3 types of cheeses and wonderful accountrements that paired wonderfully with the cheese. THE CHEESE WAS DIVINE. Nom nom nom. We also ordered the Margherita Flatbread ($8 HH price) which had mozzarella, tomato and basil. Absolutely delicious! Nice crispy warm crust and mouthwatering fresh ingredients. It's so close to my boyfriends house, I will MOST DEFINITELY be back to try the food and other wines. read more

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great service and pretty location right downtown. got the yogurt and granola and it was so delicious and super fresh and tasty. We also got the turkey sandwich and the fries it came with were sweet potato fries - they were so incredibly delicious. Overall very tasty and nice for lunch or whatever meal read more

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A nice place to get some wine, charcuterie, and listen to some live music. It's small but nicely laid out. Service is consistently good.

Great service- friendly and helpful. The Spanish Plate is a good snack/ taste- includes: cheese, meat, and olives. For entrees, the Mac n Cheese is delicious- warning: this may be addicting. For desert, the bread pudding is melt-in-your-mouth amazing, no raisins- I'm a fan!!! Decent wine selection. Cheese shop in the front. Great decor and ambiance. Tip- Happy Hour is 4-6pm everyday! read more

The Cellar - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

Bubbly flight Happy hour really is How do you choose when both the wine and beer are so exciting? Oh, I know, bring a friend! It's not cheesy at all but be sure to get the truffle popcorn Mmmmm bubbles flights:) Enjoy the flight! read more

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My girlfriend who lives close by brought us here, it's their favorite brunch spot and I had to agree, I would eat here regularly if I was a local. Everything was delicious, especially the avocado toast with everything. Today, Sunday, there was a great piano player to liven up the brunch. read more

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Manager Maddy is not nice. I know several kiddos that work here and she treats them horribly. The servers actually get to decide the tips for the busboys and hostesses so they make nothing for working their tushes off. Food is great but I feel sorry for anyone who works here. Unfair pay in the restaurant business. read more

I came here for the dry aged beef ribs which was good but the lamb was wonderful! The cheese monger choice was decadent! The artistry with combination of flavors was divine. We had the flat bread, grilled veggie, bacon wrap, all kind if standard. We had a cozy table outside with our pup and interacted with people not by choice since it was kind of tight, but all good since everyone around us was pretty nice. Would love to try more cheeses! read more

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Great place! awesome bar right on Del Mar street walked to the pier & stopped for some wine. This place also has great food!! Beach & wine day yes please! Flights about $12-$15 read more

The Cellar - Flight of white wine Blind Faith $15 yummy! - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

What's ironic is that I don't even drink wine, but this is my favorite place to eat in San Clemente. There are some small tables strewn about the room inside, a bar, and a bigger high-top table for community seating. My favorite are a couple big chairs in the back facing a couch with a coffee table in between. Some nights there's even small live folky or jazzy acts playing. Today was my first lunch visit, and it was a sunny day, so we scored on one of the few small tables on the front patio. People watching is great on Del Mar Street since you never know who's coming to check it out on any given day. It dates back to the 1920's so it's got that cool old Main Street feel about it. As far as the food goes I haven't had anything bad at The Cellar. My favorite thing on the dinner menu and something I have every single time is the Mussels appetizer. It comes in a big bowl of delicious broth and some long strips of garlic toast for dipping. There's a smaller lunch menu, but sharing a Short-Rib Grilled Cheese and their interestingly unique Burger lived up to the high standards I've come to expect from The Cellar. There's not a ton of meat in the Short Rib Grilled Cheese, but the flavors are sensational on its own with caramelized onion or dipped into the horseradish sauce supplied with it. The Burger also has carmalezied onions, grilled red pepper, and blue cheese cooked to the temp you fancy. I was skeptical seeing the ingredients in print, but it definitely works. There's people coming and going at the coffee and cheese stand up front. I can vouch for great lattes, but they also seem to have quite the selection of fancy fromage people take to go on party platters. Can't wait to go back! read more

The Cellar - Latte and a Cab - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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This was our first time at the celler, we came for brunch. To be honest i believe their brunch menu is moderately bland and underwhelming for the price. Their coffee was strong and full of flavor, while our fritatta was not full of veggies and feta as advertised, due to that it was not a successful dish. We also made the mistake of ordering chicken and waffles which were over cooking and drenched in maple syrup. (Meat didn't taste fresh). I feel as though we would have to try their dinner menu as this reflects just brunch. read more

A nice little brunch spot in downtown San Clemente with more than just the classic mimosa offering for the lady looking for her weekend bubbles! The Strauss yogurt with granola and fresh mixed berries was exactly what I wanted. It comes with honey on top but I asked for it on the side. I am glad I did because the dish did not need any honey. I enjoyed the classic mimosa which was perfection. Not too much OJ - higher concentration of the champs! My girlfriend got "the skillet" which was definitely more of the standard eggs, potatoes and meat brunch option. She also got the peach Bellini. Service was decent, not amazing. It was a good thing water was serve yourself otherwise I would have been parched and dehydrated post boozy brunch. All seats were taken by 12 noon! The bar by the wine cellar is a cool view and may have quicker service. read more

Awesome find for a unique dining experience. We stopped in for breakfast. The atmosphere is fantastic, great wine and beer selection with a phenomenal cheese display. The decor is distinct and makes for a great place to meet friends and hang out. Full service espresso bar and the bakery chef makes some incredible pastries. read more

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I looooove this place. They have a great happy hour from 4-6pm. Their house red/white wine is only $5 and always delicious. You can get a delicious baguette sandwich for $8. The best thing about this place by far is their cheese plates! They all come with some sort of condiment that really compliments the flavors. I'm always intrigued by the amount of knowledge the cheese monger has and the way they pair the cheeses so perfectly. My boyfriend love to share a sandwich and a 5-cheese platter and its definitely a cozy night out together. I definitely recommend The Cellar. read more

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This is our second time here, we always come in early, today at 2:45, it's quite and we were the only ones at the bar. They have Chimay on tap which is a favorite for me! They have a good wine list. We looked for small appetizers but didn't really have anything like that, more bigger meals. It's a nice ambience low light cool vibe. I could only imagine it could get loud on a busy night but the low key is more our style. We also had the Spanish cheese board which was perfect for two!! The staff was friendly bunch of young kids having fun at work made the atmosphere light and energetic! read more

We stopped here for a dinner on a Saturday night. Seat yourself with heaters outside! Really cute date spot. We got the burger and the chicken sandwich. Both were delicious. Burrata for an appetizer. Delicious and came with grapes which was different. The drinks were great as well. Flights of wine and we got espresso martinis. A must! Delicious. read more

What a gem! I just moved from San Francisco to San Clemente and have found most wine lists to be pretty basic, except for the Cellar! Also, there was AMAZING live music. Highly recommend! read more

If you are in San Clemente and you want to make a memory to assign to that city go to this bar! It is amazing, the wine, cheese, snacks they make, the music, environment... We were there last weekend, as a stop on our way to San Diego we decided to look around and have a bite. We asked two lovely girls on the street and they gave us the name... WoW! I will recommend this wine bar to all my friends and any one who wants to have a great night out! Lovely place read more

The Cellar - Wine Bars Near Me - San Clemente, California

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This place is a hidden gem, do yourself a favor and GO! We had a meat/cheese board and everything on it was so unique. We also tried the Mac n cheese and added short rib on top O M G seriously amazing! Jessica was our server and very nice and attentive. We enjoyed trying the blind rabbit wine flight, a rose and finished with a half bottle of moscato. If you like sweet dessert wines, this was to die for We also tried the cookie skillet which was good and had an ice cream that tasted homemade with a whipped cream type texture - YUM! The ambiance was awesome with a piano player playing and signing fun upbeat tunes like Small Town Girl and Brown Eyed Girl and everyone singing along. Think upscale food and decor with hole in the wall bar fun. Seating is first come so you may have a slight wait depending on the time. read more

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