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It took a while for the concept of wine bars to catch on here in the good old U.S. of A. Practically ignored in the 1980’s, they began to gain popularity through the 1990’s. By the early part of this century, wine bars were becoming very popular in metropolitan neighborhoods.
In some places, they’re giving coffee shops and local bars a good run for their money. The whole idea behind wine bars is to change the sometimes snobbish association of wine with upscale clientele and overwhelming wine lists, and replace it with a more casual and relaxing atmosphere.
Judging from the wine bar success here in Philadelphia, seems to be an idea whose time has come.
Here’s the concept. You don’t have to shell out hundreds for an entire bottle. Buy it by the glass or sample size and pay as you go. That’s it – simple, neat, affordable. No second mortgage required.
Maybe you’ve been looking for a good wine bar. Maybe this is the first you’ve heard of the whole thing. No worries. Got you covered with the following list of area wine bars you should try.
Bar Ferdinand (1030 N. Second Street, Philadelphia)
If it’s a taste of Spain you’re looking for without the pricey airline ticket and lost luggage, here’s the place to go. Bar Ferdinand is hip, chic, casual, and comfortable. Almost as if it were lifted whole from a European corner somewhere and dropped here in the Liberties Walk section of Northern Liberties. The reviews are in and they all look good. There’s something special here – truly affordable, tasty food, in a perfectly-designed room with well-priced alcohol. And yes, you just might hear Franz Ferdinand on the sound system. Check out their website for menus, etc, or call at 215.923.1313 and shout “Olé!” just for fun.
Chick’s Cafe & Wine Bar (614 S. Seventh Street, Philadelphia, PA),
Not ordinary or run of the mill, Chick’s restaurant specializes in a great wine selection and unusual and delicious small plate fare with a focus on Italy, France, and Spain. Easy dining. Heart-attack free prices. Can you be a neighborhood bar with a dash of sophistication and diversity in the food and drink menu? Yes! Again yes! With much of the original architecture and spirit intact, Chick’s Café invites you to time warp with them back many decades. Call 215.625.3700 for more information or just to say, “I love you, man.”
il bar (14 N. Front Street, Philadelphia, PA)
In case you were curious, il bar at the Ristorante Panorama features the largest wine preservation and dispensing system in the world. This system allows for the vitality of 120 open bottles of wine at one time. Each bottle is pressurized with an inert nitrogen gas to present a range of fine wines in optimum condition. Go ahead and say it. “That is so awesome!” il bar takes its philosophy from a great American philosopher you may have heard of a time or two, Benjamin Franklin. “Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.” They aim to be fun, informative, informal, unintimidating, exciting, and enlightening. Hey, six out of six ain’t bad! More information can be found on their website, or by calling 215-922-7800. Don’t forget to shout, “Hear, hear, you made my year!”
Tria (1137 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA)
REAL wine, cheese, and beer served here. Tria really loves what they do, as is evident by their Sunday School and Fermentation School. Sunday School is held on…you guessed it…Sunday. Drop by to learn about a different not-so-common wine, cheese, and beer. Prices are at least 50% off this special time of week. Maybe more. Rank amateur or industry professional, Tria’s Fermentation School is the place to learn about wine, cheese, and beer – all while consuming the class syllabus! If an establishment is to be judged by passion for what they do, the Tria Café rules! More information about Tria can be found on their website, or by calling 215-629-9200. “Class is in!”
Vintage (129 S. 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA)
The focus here is on wine and the food it complements. Choose from over 60 wines by the glass and another twenty or so by the bottle. Travel the world in an evening. The wines represent regions and countries known for taste and character. Cocktails, international beers are always here, and seasonal entrée’s posted on a chalkboard menu. Try the Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro. The website has more information, as will the person on the other end of the telephone at if you call 215-922-3095 and shout, “Give me Vintage or give me death!” Don’t worry. We won’t really kill you.
There you go – a handful plus one of the wine bars to luxuriate within, all in the Philly area. Try one. You might like it better than beneath the blaring television set and two seats down from the Fran Drescher wannabe at your local watering hole. There’s a time and place for everything. I think it’s time for you to try a wine bar.
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