V Wine Room

Sitting rather indiscreetly on a quaint street just off bustling Santa Monica Blvd, this open, lofty wine bar/retail outfit, takes its name after a V-shaped white marble bar that commands the center of the room with an olive tree that holds court in the center of the bar. Booths and comfortable armchairs are tucked away on either sides, while hightop tables for parties of four or eight fill the room. It won’t take long to realize that just about every wine on the list is likely foreign to you. Owner “Mikey” Consbruck has curated his list to feature wines from boutique producers he knows personally, weaving each winemaker’s story into every pour. You’ll not only get fruit and floral descriptions, but also short, memorable anecdotes about these small production wines from the staff. And with most bottles falling in the $30-$50 category, its easy and worthwhile to take a few home. A menu of light fare items—nuts, cheeses, charcuterie—helps hunger pains. Overall, the experience is refreshing and the stories help infuse memories of what exactly you drank