The best wine bars in Los Angeles

There's never a quiet night at this Los Feliz wine bar, where each of the 150 wines by the glass comes with a story to tell. Whatever you're in the mood for, an expertly trained member of the staff will make unique wine recommendations based on a few simple questions about your preferences and maybe an adjective or two (think: "fruity," "clean," "funky"). Then, your drink-slinger is off, pouring samples and drawing in the most serious of customers until they crack a smile and get something that’s just to their liking. Ask for a seat at Bar 1 for prime people watching, and discover a new wine from the ever-changing menu as you munch on standard fare like cheese and charcuterie.

This Virgil Village wine bar has one of our favorite patios in the city—and the ever-changing list of small-producer and organic wines offers a compelling introduction to the now-ubiquitous world of pet-nat. Plus, Melody's ever-changing food pop-ups by local chefs and occasional vintner nights add flair to a drinking experience here; depending on which evening you stop in, you'll find anything from wood-fired pizzas to Southern-inspired Filipino food.  Some nights, especially in warmer weather, the converted Craftsman-style house is full-on scene, but the egalitarian ethos and approachable wines keep conversation flowing and vibes generally still quite good. As of late, Melody's resumed hosting live DJ sets on the weekends, plus an all-new Tuesday night drag show, for those who prefer a glass of wine or two with a little extra atmosphere.

Though Suzanne Goin's market-driven small plates might get the lion's share of the glory, this iconic Beverly Grove restaurant (with a second roomier outpost in Brentwood) is also one of the best places in town to enjoy a couple wines or three. Curated by co-owner Caroline Styne, the house wine list is dedicated to boutique producers of the unusual and eclectic (think: small production, biodynamic). A more condensed list is offered by the glass or carafe, for those who'd rather not buy an entire bottle. Take in all of the people-watching action from the indoor communal table among A.O.C.'s usually well-heeled crowd, or head to the charming patio decorated with string lights and plenty of greenery.

This bustling, always scene-y wine store is both a formidable New American restaurant and excellent wine bar—if you can get past the hour-long wait for a table. On any given night, Wally’s is bound to host at least one celebrity sighting, but you might also be dazzled by its 35-plus page wine list heavy on French and California selections. As far as wine bars go, Wally’s food and charcuterie offerings are top-tier. Chef Ryan Kluver’s robust menu includes everything from duck to rack-of-lamb to Wagyu steak in a variety of forms (massive 36-ounce bone-in Tomahawk, anyone?).

With limited seating and absolutely no reservations, Lolo Wine Bar in East Hollywood is a hard sell for anyone trying to corral a group of friends who live across the city. For neighborhood locals, those willing to show up early and people who don’t mind having to wait, this gold-tinged natural wine bar with a small, chic checkered floor patio and excellent food menu is yours for the taking. Lolo's house-made pastas, market-fresh vegetables and other small plates rise beyond the standard wine bar charcuterie fare, all while paired with an extensive list of wine bottles and a few choice wines by the glass. They also operate a wine shop (pickup only), including 6-bottle and 12-bottle variety packs for the regular at-home drinker.

Light, bright and airy, Esters is the wine-oriented outpost of the Rustic Canyon Family, one of the most prolific restaurant groups in Santa Monica. Here, alongside a delicious market-driven food menu, in-house sommelier Randall Middleton oversees a selection of over 250 wines that include everything from unique small producers to tried-and-true classics. Those who'd rather order by the glass will find about 20, with France, Italy, Spain and the U.S. all represented through the thoughtful selection. On Sundays, Esters also offers up a rotating flight of four wines for those looking to up their wine knowledge.

Housed in an intimate space along West 3rd Street, this newer no-reservation neighborhood wine bar comes from Andy Paxson and Dave Gibbs, the same pair behind Augustine, Mirabelle and Sushi Note, a Valley omakase bar well-known for its wine pairings. Every bottle available by the glass on a list that spans red, white, orange, rosé and sparkling. Delicious fare like mussels in a silky coconut milk broth and tender hanger steak make the transition from a drink to dinner quite easy, though the staff is more than happy to uncork a bottle if you're only looking for a casual drink.

Echo Park has a surprisingly large number of natural wine bars for such a small neighborhood, but Bar Bandini remains our top pick for its dark, sexy and unpretentious ambience. A curated selection of natural and organic wines and beers is listed on black letter boards, both legible and imposing in scale. Dark painted walls, suede banquettes and black slate surfaces are balanced with rustic exposed wood, conducive to both date nights and catching up with friends. Bar Bandini's recently added selection of solid snacks makes it easy to spend a long night of drinking here—and the bar's even open until 2am.

Nestled on the far edge of Thai Town, this neighborhood wine bar offers ample space and plenty of booths for large groups. The wine list is funky and there's a decent snack selection, but what sets Tabula Rasa apart is the fact it's open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays—a rarity among wine bars. A daily happy hour from 4 to 6pm nets you $7 glasses of house wine and $2 off all other varieties, making this place a boon for anyone looking for a discounted drinking experience near East Hollywood.

The Arts District hardly lacks for solid Italian fare, but this neighborhood wine bar manages to carve out a unique space for itself. Housed in digs that suggest a higher price point, Propaganda offers a completely shareable, affordable menu full of cheese plates and Roman pinse, making it a prime spot to impress dates or a couple of friends. Trading the area’s standard industrial look for a mid-century Mediterranean mash-up, both the main dining room and patio feel cozy and intimate. Wine connoisseurs and novices alike can appreciate the lack of pretension and the gentle guidance of knowledgeable staff. In addition to a strong natural wine program, a few rotating spritzes dot the menu.

Right on the border of Culver City, this Venice Boulevard wine shop and bar is a must-go wine lovers' destination for Westsiders. Inside the shop, a tiny bar and handful of communal tables hosts drinkers enjoying mostly natural wines and draft beer, and there's even a small heated patio out back. The retail bottle collection means there's always a large selection of the wines by the glass—a boon for anyone looking to try multiple wines in one night. On the weekends, Stanley's recently launched a brunch menu with highlights like Turkish eggs, for those looking to day drink. There's also occasional evening tastings with winemakers from as far as Spain, so check their Instagram to stay up to date with everything going on.

The romantic patio at this Valley Village gem is the ideal place to drink a selection of California and French wines. Complete the night by pairing your pours with New York Strip steak, Niman Ranch pork chops with black lentils, or a variety of other savory options from their robust dinner menu.

From the team behind Silverlake’s Psychic Wines, Cafe Triste is an equally buzzy sister wine bar with plenty of natural wines, beautifully plated bites and gorgeous floral arrangements. This unassuming space in Chinatown has transformed into a designer’s art project, elevated with blue hue lights, a partition made of glass blocks and an open kitchen hemmed in by imperial red ceramic tiles. The list of light-bodied wines by the glass are full of aromatic, crisp flavors–ideal for both aficionados and newbies and perfectly suited to the seasonal bar bites. More than anything, the tiny bar is a sight to behold, particularly on the weekends. Behold the high entropy of late-twenty-something musicians and multi-hyphenate creatives prone to stopping mid-conversation to swivel around and see who's making an entrance. Ah, so this is where to go when you’ve graduated from El Prado!

Prepare to be charmed by Santos Uy’s intimate Parisian-style wine bar turned bistro. Rich, midnight blue walls, pressed tin ceiling and bookended hardbacks alongside framed portraits on shelves set the homey atmosphere, as friendly staff pour about palate-friendly bottles of small-production, natural wines mostly from France, Italy, Germany and Spain. The tiny Downtown space doubles as a retail shop, so if you really like a wine by the glass, take a bottle home or peruse the selection displayed on shelves in the front of the bar. If you’re looking for a bite, there are reasonably priced plates of pasta and sandwiches, plus mix-and-match charcuterie.

This newer Santa Monica wine bar (which also doubles as a coffee shop during the day) serves natural wine with a side of vinyl music on the weekends and relaxed neighborhood vibes. A little less buttoned up than Esters and more youthful than Wally's, Offhand also offers craft beers, natural sakes and wine cocktails alongside the usual list of pet-net bottles and selection by the glass. Snack on bites like marinated olives, charcuterie boards and a killer grilled cheese sandwich with your glass of wine or two.

Since 2006, this Rose Avenue wine shop run by Norma Alvarado and Oscar Hermosillo has lit up Venice with a solid weekday happy hour (4–6pm, and all day on Mondays). Most nights of the week, the newer startup crowd and older, more artsy locals convene around communal tables—including one made from an old Oregon stump—for the Mediterranean-leaning food menu, over 20 wines by the glass, and plenty of cheese and charcuterie.

Planted firmly but quietly in the Spring Arcade Building, Garçons de Café is a Francophile haven, and an oft overlooked one. This cozy, classic wine bar gives off strong bistro vibes with tables for two, a long marble bar, and tile inlay on that industrial-chic concrete floor. But the undeniable star is the wines, often organic, and hailing from Loire, Rhône, Bordeaux and even Roussillon, to name but a few. With more than 60 options—with a couple of inexpensive options thrown in—you’ll be there awhile. Better settle in and order one of their impressive charcuterie boards.

While L.A.'s first new lesbian bar in a decade wears multiple hats as a lunchtime destination, community space and date night spot, the Ruby Fruit is, technically speaking, a neighborhood wine bar. During lunch and dinner, the tiny strip mall space, which previously housed Eszett, now offers a tiny selection of natural wines, all of them priced under $20—a relative steal. Ideal for small groups and dates looking to grab a quick drink or two, the layout makes it easy to both focus on who you’re with and make friends with those next to you. If you can snag a table, order at least a few of the tasty market-driven bar bites—it'll make it easy to ignore how limited the wine selection is here.