We had a blast at the Bloody Mary bar and listening to live music on St. Patty's day weekend! This Wisco couple loves Galena! read more

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Laid back place to get a unique cocktail and enjoy some music. Bartenders are friendly and have great suggestions. Huge drink menu. Don't expect a quick (or common) drink here, plan on relaxing and enjoyable experience. read more

The Grape Escape is the best!! Live music, drink specials (Wednesday martinisare my favorite), great food, awesome employees!! They even have a back patio where you can relax and have a smoke. And the Airbnb upstairs is the only place I stay! read more

The Grape Escape - Martinis!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

Great bartenders - personable and 'wow' they make a good drink! I had a dirty martini (they have 3 level of dirty!) my husband have a Manhattan. Both were dang near perfect! There was a band, a friendly crowd and plenty of seating. Go here after shopping Main street, you won't be disappointed! read more

My favorite place in downtown Galena for cocktails! There are so many to choose from and it's hard to just pick a couple, they truly are all delicious! This is a small town local bar but feels so much more than that. Our bartender was really nice and friendly. She gave recommendations and also helped me figure out what I would like the best. My fiancé tried a mezcal cocktail and enjoyed it, it was well balanced and had a good amount of Smokey. I tried the tiramisu martini and ughhhh it was phenom!! Creamy, smooth and sweet! It was a great dessert martini. read more

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The cocktail menu here is above and beyond! Lots of options for everyone. Can be a bit chaotic here on the weekend so come early if you want a seat. The night we went (Saturday) there was a live performer who was phenomenal! (Can't remember her name). Really fun to sing along with some good drinks. read more

The Grape Escape - Menu - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

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The staff is lovely, the drinks were a good price, the place was packed, and the live music was fantastic. Would recommend to anyone looking for somewhere fun to go on a night out in Galena. read more

The Grape Escape - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

Pizza was mid. You can bring in dogs. This makes it sweet. The dogs can even go on the couch.

This place appears to be a perpetual party Which is fun. Thorough bar, friendly service, and a reasonable selection of brown liquor (my vice), especially for a small town bar. Pretty limited menu. The pizza that I ate satisfied the old adage that "there is no such thing as bad pizza." But it might have tested the limits. Come here for the fun...not the food. And there IS fun!!! read more

They have lots of outside seating and lots of bug spray (bonus) and sanitizer everywhere. Then of course they have a fun wheel you spin for a $2 shot. Staff couldn't be friendlier and make great drinks which is the important part of a bar as far as I am concerned. Would definitely recommend stopping in for a drink. They also have a couple slot machines if you are feeling lucky. read more

The Grape Escape - Dirty martini $12 and beer - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

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They are have a fantastic wait staff. Very attentive. The vibe of this place is very fun. The cocktails are next level. You should definitely come here and order a drink. read more

My absolute favorite place in Galena! The owner (Ms. Kitty) was incredible. She could tell my friends and I were out for a girls night (my birthday) and she took great care of us. I asked her if I could keep the menu as a souvenir, and she printed out a new one in the back! Our server was super nice, the ambiance is great, I love the art and decor. Live music, great lights, catchy drink titles which I live for. The drinks were great, and tasty didn't like the "bruschetta" it was bread with mozzarella cheese, and pesto. I recommend the cheese plate, cannot wait to return read more

The Grape Escape - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

Great place for drinks and food with friends! Ambiance is great! Employees were friendly and the vibe was just all around great! We came during the Galena night of the Luminaria and Living Windows, so Main Street was busy. It didn't phase the staff at the Grape Escape. They all seemed to really enjoy their jobs. They were dressed very festive, bar tenders wearing Christmas suit jackets, we really got a laugh out of that! Hostess was very friendly. Drinks were really good. Ordered a pizza for the road and it was delicious! Can't wait to visit again. read more

The Grape Escape - Seasonal, apple martini. Tastes similar to apple cider. I can't remember the specific name but it was very good! - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

Always a fun atmosphere, great service, live music & fun owner, Miss Kitty! I enjoy the martinis, the double twist or key lime our my favs. Fresh with great flavors. They have a wide choice of beers to choose from, too. Don't be afraid to make new friends on a busy night. They will seat you in any open spot. Miss Kitty also owns the Tap House, which we have also enjoyed for a casual bite & local brews. read more

What a fun place! The Bloody Mary bar on Saturday was perfect. BBQ vodka was delicious! The music and energy is fun in here. Loved the variety of hot drinks and they had mock tails too which I think are a nice choice too. read more

The Grape Escape - Bloody Mary bar-bbq vodka! - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

Hear ye hear ye! I'm going to let you in on a little secret... The Cat House & Grape Escape is where it's at!! The hospitality & generosity of Miss Kitty & Rick are second to none. The amenities were comfortable, clean, cozy & quaint - everything we were hoping for on our Christmas vacation. Their dog-friendliness is unmatched & the view of main street was the cherry on top. If we ever come back to Galena, this is where we'll be staying! The Grape Escape downstairs was a home away from home - a hub of amazing cocktails, scrummy pizza, talented & entertaining musicians or just a quiet place to spend your Christmas Day, doggies & all. I couldn't imagine a better way to have spent our Christmas than all together in a bar with Miss Kitty & her guests. From the moment we rolled into town & Rick patiently helped us get settled in, to the moment we left & Kitty sold us a memento from her Cat House, we felt welcome & cared for. A colossal Christmas Tea cheers to our hosts! ps. Be sure to hit up the Galena Juicery behind the Grape Escape during your visit. Brandon is a juicing wizard! pps. Shout out to the Grape Escape bartenders, who greet you with a glass of water before your cheeks hit the chair. Each & every one of them was genuine, friendly & fun to be around. read more

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it was great seeing such high-end cocktails in a smaller town. fun atmosphere and Maggie was a great server. highly recommend the bruschetta. read more

Great martinis, live music. Unique old fashioned drinks. Cosy atmosphere. A little pricey but to be expected in Galena.

Always had the best times at The Grape Escape! I cannot wait to return. Aside from the awesome drinks, there are always great bands or events.... A favorite spot when visiting Galena. read more

Ms. Kitty was so welcoming, funny and just a joy to be around! Drinks were an amazing price and it was dog friendly! There was live music and the vibe was perfect for a chilly Sunday brunch! read more

Lobster rolls in Galena Illinois, oh my!! The Grape Escape has rolled out this delicious gem. Enjoyed with a tasty beer, ended with a perfectly crafted Martini. The Grape Escape, great drinks, great food, great staff, don't miss out, grab one before they are gone. read more

The Grape Escape - Lobster roll. Yes, it's as delicious as it looks! - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

Great experience at this bar. It's in a great location, right on Main St. They have a TON of beverage options. I tried a local Iowan pale ale, which was cool. They had live music going on with a singer that was great, though, we sat outside. The outdoor seating arrangement is really nice. The staff and all were great. Really took care of us. Maybe we should've ordered more of our food there. We did apps and drinks. They were really cool and didn't complain when we picked up some pizza from across the street. A great find. Thanks Grape! We will be back one day. read more

During dinner on our first night in Galena, we asked our waitress for a recommendation on where we could get cocktails. She immediately suggested The Grape Escape, and she was spot on! This place had a huge cocktail menu, including a variety of hot drinks that were perfect for the January chill. Everything we ordered was tasty, and the service was kind and prompt, even though the bar was crowded. They also had live music, which is always fun. I would absolutely return! read more

Terrible service and not great pizza. Waited an hour for below average pizza. Staff sent pizza to "wrong table". Could have cared less and no compensation for long wait and poor service. First time I have ever not tipped. read more

Man these people are rude. My friends were seated at a table and apparently if you walk past the hostess stand they throw a shit fit like you jumped the Berlin Wall. read more

I visited multiple bars in Galena while on a girl's trip and this was BY FAR our favorite stop. We loved everything about it: service, drink selection, dog-friendly, board games... I could go on! My group had ordered a mix of everything: beer, martinis, shots, and everything was delicious! We could have camped out for hours. Our server was awesome and tolerated our raucous-ness. He made it really easy for 4 of us to get separate checks too (not everyone in Galena was so easygoing). read more

The Grape Escape - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

What a great place with friendly staff. We can't wait to go back. Thank you Miss Kitty for taking such good care of us.

One star is being generous. Our party was immediately profiled as we were immediately treated with disrespect less than 5 minutes upon entering. The owner then continued to harrass us as we tried to have our drinks. The treatment toward us was completely uncalled for and caused us to leave before our drinks were even had. Do not support such an awful, disrespectful business. read more

My favorite spot in Galena! Service is excellent, cocktails are fabulous and love the live music! Very friendly atmosphere, perfect for a girls night out or a date night. Excellent Bloody Marys on Sunday too. I could go on, but it is defiantly our go yo place. read more

bartender was the ONLY staff member there at 8pm on a Sunday. The bar was full and eating area empty. We called ahead of time to make sure food was an option which we were told it was. Upon arrival the bartender looked irritated that more customers were coming in and took about 15 minutes to take our order. We wanted to order 2 pizzas, meat platter, and bruschetta. We were told that they have only 1 oven and that if we order all that food it would take a long time. We decided to just order the pizza and drinks. 25 minutes later as the bartender was delivering us our drinks he said "I'm just now getting around to put the food in". At this point we paid for drinks and left.....I'm sorry but if your not able to handle an order then don't offer food past 4 or 6 or have another staff member on. This place might be a fun place to hang out for drinks if you come in obliterated to begin with but the service and ability to simply make food isn't there. Customers shouldn't feel as if they are a burden which sadly is exactly how the only staff member present made us feel. We for sure won't be coming back and the owner should either have more staff on or make this a bar only. Thank god Culver's was open. read more

Best martinis in town! No matter what you're in the mood food, they've got a delicious martini to match always poured with a generous hand. They've got an extensive wine selection and a solid lineup of bottled and canned beers. Food is really good. Small menu of apps and pizza but they're all delicious. Live music will keep you moving Thursday's-Sundays and an absolutely amazing staff will greet you every day of the week. Expect the lounge to be very busy Friday's and saturdays. Swing by during the week for a more relaxing atmosphere and incredible drink specials! You will not be disappointed! read more

Pizzas plus alternate menu from Galena Taproom around the corner, which they'll deliver to your table. Food from Taproom was high quality, great atmosphere with live music plus they offered a water dish for our pups. read more

Apart from having no beers on draught, no complaints. Live entertainment the Thursday my wife and I dined. Ok food (pizza), above average cocktail and beer list. Good waitress. read more

Had an amazing time there last night! The musicians were very talented and kept the crowd entertained. The bar staff hustled to be sure the large crowd was never thirsty. The proprietor was present and extremely friendly. Overall great experience!!!! Can't wait to get back there to enjoy those delicious cocktails again. Best night ever read more

This is a great live music restaurant. After other place had dinner, we came to this place for the live band. On 3/11 Saturday night , we enjoyed the nice band and met the bachelors night . Girls were dancing, customers were in this restaurant singing the songs they knew! Very nice band and they keep going and extending their time for requested singing. read more

They moved up the main drag into a MUCH larger place. More room for the live music, which on the nite we visited was a Bob Dylan tribute band, which was a little frou-frou for my taste. They still have numerous martinis. About 25 beers or so on their beer list, but being the beer snob I am I didn't really want any of them. They need some help in picking beers, that's for sure....Was REALLY dissapointed they no longer had Pere Jacques Belgian Ale on tap. IMHO, they lost their magic they had in the smaller spot they were in. Maybe it was just the loss of good tap beer, I don't know. Just didn't feel the same. read more

Another successful weekend at Grape Escape...music...fun...laughter with friends. Always treated Ike the queens that we are. Be back next time read more

This place has a really chill vibe. The drinks are good and the bartender was friendly and provided great service. Thankfully they were having happy hour on martinis when we arrived so I tried the Blue Kammi (very sweet), the Caramel Apple and was pleased. I will definitely be back. read more

The Grape Escape - Blue Kammi Martini and an Irish Mule!!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

I lived in Galena for 5 months years and The Grape somehow manages to be a tourist hot spot and a second him to many locals. These is live music on the weekends, a huge Martini menu, pizzas made to order, and (my favorite) open mic on Sundays. A local couple hosts Open Mic, they provide all the equipment, bring food, and everyone is welcome to join in song. This bar also hosts a slew of local groups, like the boomerang bag group that makes free reusable bags for our local grocery store, to group painting lessons. If you're looking for a party, come late night on the weekends during tourist season- it gets packed! If you're looking for a place you can drink with your pooch, then weekend afternoons are a great time for your pup to cool off while you enjoy a drink My favorites: Bloody Mary Martini, Dirty Girl Scout read more

Once again I found myself at the Grape Escape when I was recently in Galena, IL and once again I had a blast. The new location is really nice! There is a lot more room and yet you still feel like you are in Miss Kitty's living room. Always live music on the weekends and lets not forget the amazing Quiz Show on Sunday nights. And she actually has prizes that you can win! This past time that I was there she was hosting an art exhibit with charcoal drawings by a local artist Alice McMahon. Part of the proceeds went to a local woman's domestic violence program. Bonus points in my book! It seems like every weekend she has something cool going on there. Makes me keep wanting to go back to galena more and more! Thank you The Grape Escape! See you again very soon! p.s.... if you like their facebook page, you can keep up on all the events that the bar hosts. p.s.s... Some of these reviews state that her prices went up. Don't listen to them. I didn't find them to be high at all. After all, you are going to a "wine and martini lounge" -not a dive bar. Most of their beers are micro brews. Yea, quality beer. That stuff isn't cheap no matter where you go. That's why it's MICRO not mass produced beer. (although, I believe they had some sort of domestics too. For the customer on the budget or that just wants a good ol' beer) As for her martinis. YUMM! AND HUGE! You pay the price because they are delicious and packed full of booze! (and the price is pretty cheap compared to my hometown Chicago) They also have a fully stocked bar from well cocktails to top shelf, if that's your fancy. read more