Located on the first floor of the Lodge at Columbia Point - right off the lobby and facing the parking lot - with an understated and "ahhh..."-some relaxing vibe this is a good place to start, finish or be your evening. In the three nights we were guests at the Lodge we visited Vine every night.
That was a result of the friendly welcome the bartender, Paige, gave us on the evening of our arrival plus the fantastic cocktails she mixed that we took out to sip in front of the fire in the Lodge's "living room" while we waited on our reservations for dinner at Drumheller's upstairs. On the second night we stopped in Vine to get glasses of wine to enjoy in our room after a long day of exploring the area and dinner out. And on the third evening it felt like 'coming home' to enjoy Vine for a couple of delicious cocktails along with good eats from a small bar-plates menu to share as dinner with Dustin providing great service to take orders and deliver the food as prepared by Drumheller's upstairs. (As "PS", the Drumheller's full dinner menu can also be used in the Vine bar.)
When we were tallying up "favorite things" from the trip, both my husband and I had Vine on the top-5 list. (The others? Tasting at Kiona winery when founder John Williams popped in and we had a chance to say "thank you, sir" to this now octogenarian who put Red Hills AVA on the map, the hospitality of all the Lodge staff, walking the paved river trail accessed right outside the lodge back patio, and our 'welcome to town' lunch at Dovetail Joint.)
Paige's hospitality and mixology skills made us fans of Vine but also the overall "exhale" ambiance. Nicely bright in early evening from big glass doors at front, dimly lit at night but not dark, standard height tables that work for everyone (including me as I have MS and cannot boost myself onto high stools) with plenty of 'elbow room' around them as well as seats at the bar for people who choose to sit there - like the nice guy we met on our first night who said he comes to Vine when in town on business to enjoy wine from the interesting by glass selection. It looks like they have table seating on a small outdoor patio in front - right off the parking lot - in warm weather months.
This is not the frantic, sardine-can-tight, booming sound, high-density high stool tables of other venues of which there are many in the area. This is the harder to find gem of "all are welcome here" setting to take a breath and have conversations with your companions - as some were - or be comfortable as a solo guest working on something as you sip and dine - as we noted others were on all nights.
In addition to serving Vine customers, Paige is pouring wine and mixing cocktails for the guests dining at Drumheller's upstairs as servers send down orders and them down to Vine to pick them up to take them back...so she is making it look pretty effortless to handle the dining room too that "Vine alone" guests don't necessarily know are also being served via this bar.
PRODUCT: Great craft cocktails for standards or from a specialty menu. An array of spirits that include some from NW distilleries that are likely new to you and about which Paige knows a lot. I note in some Drumheller reviews folks mentioned disappointment that their fav (inevitably described by them as 'top shelf') liquor wasn't available to use in their fav cocktail. The same happened to me for a gin drink and I let Paige be my guide for the local distiller options and the outcome was luscious. If you're looking for wine, the selection here by glass and bottle is excellent and Paige can answer your questions about them and make recommendations. Ditto for the beer offerings.
OPEN TO ALL: If you're not a guest at the hotel, you can still visit and enjoy Vine. But we sure did appreciate it was such a 'short commute' from Vine to our room upstairs as guests of the Lodge.
PARKING: Ample amount in private lot.
ACCESSIBILITY: Standard height table seating, ample clear floor space, three accessible (and gender neutral) loos right off lobby.
HH: Some discount on libations and small plates menu from 4:00 (opening) - 5:30 and again from 9:00 - 10:00.
TIP: If the gochujang glazed cauliflower is on the small plates / bar menu when you visit, order that dish. And also try Paige's new and luscious "Cold Brew" cocktail. You're welcome! ;-) read more