🍷 No Whining About the Wine Bars in St. Pete 🍷

If you haven’t caught up with us on our blog, you might not realize we’re pretty fond of the cocktail scene in St. Petersburg, Florida. Now we’re getting up to speed on the vibrant wine scene! 

First, we’ve shared before in previous posts about a couple of our favorite #tipsypicks – Bar Chinchilla and Dracula’s Legacy. These are our go-to spots every time we’re in town. We’ve also had a lovely dinner and some wine at Sauvignon previously. So, you can read more about those here.

Recently, thanks to our friends at Zero/Zero in Knoxville, we’ve started exploring the world of natural wines. That is wine made without pesticides or additives. And they recommended one of our new favorite stops in St. Pete – Cellarmasters. It’s almost like a speakeasy because it’s tucked behind a wine bottle shop and can be hard to miss if you don’t see it’s there. But you’ll be glad you found it! The bartenders are all friendly and knowledgeable! They call it “The dive bar wine bar.” They will take the time to find out what you like and recommend something just for you. There are lots of great spaces to hang out or chill for a date night. This one is definitely on our regular list now!

Wine tastings and wine flights are great ways to figure out your wine palate. Now there’s a spot in downtown St. Pete just for that! It’s appropriately named Try Wine Company. You have the option of purchasing curated flights of various wines or pouring your own samples from dozens of machines around the shop. We chose the curated route along with some fantastic charcuterie specific to the flights. The wines came in test tubes, which was a nice touch. We very much enjoyed this experience!

What could make a glass of wine even better? Maybe enjoying it with a good book! You can do both at Book & Bottle. We discovered this little shop a few years ago but never took the time to enjoy it until recently. It’s a combination wine store, bar, and bookstore! They have a wide selection of wines by the bottle or glass that you can enjoy with a book you can purchase from the shelf in the same space. When we visited, there were lots of people sitting at the bar and at most of the tables, many of whom had… you guessed it… a book in hand. This is a great place to spend a few quiet hours with friends or just by yourself reading.

Our next stop is one that we’ve walked past a dozen times but either couldn’t get in or didn’t try. But we’re glad we did this time! Bacchus is appropriately named for the Roman god of wine and revelry. We found a bit of both! Bacchus reminded us most of a European market where you can get wine by the glass or bottle and fresh deli meats, cheeses, and produce. There are tables outside on the sidewalk as well as room inside. Jazz music in both places add to the ambiance. It’s ideally located close to the Pier and Beach Drive!

So, if wine is your thing, there are plenty of options in St. Pete! In fact, we have a couple more on the list for next time. If you’ve been to The Study or Lolita’s Wine Market … let us know what you think, and we’ll check them out!

#tipsypick for this time (if we have to pick one) - Cellarmasters

Hidden Hotel Bars and Other Gems on South Beach

 

After a couple of rocky visits during the pandemic, we decided to give South Beach in Miami another chance. We’re glad we did! The street parties are gone, and Ocean Drive is back to the lively and fun vibe that brought us there.  We have lots of favorite spots here already, but there’s always room for more…

South Beach is a destination that puts hotel bars in the spotlight. We’ve been to others like New York, Nashville, and Las Vegas, but we found some real hidden gems on our most recent visit to South Beach!

If you think the scene is all about Latin music and tropical drinks, let us introduce you to Medium Cool! This is an underground speakeasy in the Gale Hotel with amazing cocktails and live jazz most nights. Yes, live jazz on South Beach! Their food menu is also worth a try. Check their website for schedules, as the program often changes to live DJs later in the evening. But this is one spot we will return to again! #Tipsypick

Hotel bars in Miami often cater to the festive crowd. But Water Lion is a wine lovers’ dream! An intimate space inside the Sagamore Hotel, it’s not hidden by any means. But the owners seem to like to keep it low key so you can take your time with their extensive wine selection, including tasting flights. The bartender (and wine expert) was very friendly, knowledgeable and attentive during our visit. This is a great spot for a date or to just escape the hustle of Ocean Drive!

Speaking of escape … how about a hidden getaway to the South Pacific? The Bamboo Room is a tiki room by Trader Vic’s tucked behind the Esme’ Hotel that feels like it’s an ocean away! It’s the first location of the group’s upscale concept. The drinks are creative and strong… perfect for sipping in a lattice chair below a tribal mask. Their version of the classic Mai Tai aka the “Miami Tai” is notable. It’s a fun stop for a drink or two!

For a break from the shopping on Lincoln Road, Privilege is an upscale cocktail spot in the Albion Hotel just off the main shopping avenue. They have a great happy hour and a solid Old Fashioned. It’s a bit #offthetipsypath so be sure to keep your eyes peeled when you enter the hotel lobby!

What would you call a lovely natural wine bar tucked on the “backside” of a French Bistro? Bar Derriere of course! Despite the cheeky name (see what we did there?) Bar Derriere is a great place for a glass or bottle of wine and bites of food under the stars. They have an impressive list of natural wines from around the world. Those are wines made without additives or preservatives. It’s like kicking back by your garden shed with wine that won’t give you a hangover (but we make no guarantees).

And finally, there’s a new game in town for craft beer at the beach!  While not in a hotel, South Beach Brewing Company is located in the heart of South Beach just steps from Ocean Drive! They have a shaded patio where you can try all their brews along with wine and fantastic food options. Welcome aboard!

And don’t forget, our previous trips (link) include some details on other South Beach hotel bars including The Betsy, MiniBar, and Swizzle!

Our #tipsypicks for this trip… Medium Cool and Water Lion! Though you can’t go wrong with any of these options.

Barcelona’s Tipsy History

Barcelona has quite an interesting history – including an ongoing desire to become a separate country from the rest of Spain! So it should be no surprise that there are bars and restaurants with history and stories of their own, especially in the Gothic Quarter and El Born neighborhood.

For example, 4 Gats (or Els Quatre Gats in Catalan) opened in 1897 and was a magnet for artists and writers including Picasso, who held his first exhibition here. After being closed for a few years, it reopened in 1989 and still looks like something out of 1920s Spain. The food and drinks are authentic and tasty. It’s definitely worth a visit!

Picasso was also a patron of Boadas, an upscale cocktail bar that’s been around since 1933. It’s an easy walk to the north end of La Rambla. 

Not historic enough for you?  How about a bar that’s been around since 1820? Bar Marsella is one of the oldest in the city and was frequented not only by Picasso, but also Hemingway, Dali, and Gaudi were said to enjoy a pour or two here – particularly the absinthe! We were able to enjoy a nice Manhattan, but not without asking more than once. They prefer to keep it simple and with cash if you have it. Again, worth the walk through the Gothic Quarter to Raval.

Writers and artists also spent time over the years at Bar del Pi, known to be one of the oldest remaining tapas bars in the city, founded in 1927. We enjoyed a visit on the upstairs terrace with some excellent food and drinks, including a mug of the local brew. They also have a lovely patio space on the square, which is common in Barcelona.

Speaking of historic squares, the Placa Reial (or Royal Place) is a lovely outdoor space just off La Rambla with a variety of bars and restaurants. We found it to be just as busy and vibrant at night as during the day. It’s also a bit #offthetipsypath, but well worth seeking out!

One of our favorite spots on the Placa Reial is Ocana. We wandered up one evening and the gentleman in drag (yes, and he looked fabulous!!!) escorted us to an outdoor table. The drinks and paella were so good, we missed the live jazz inside! Ocana is actually three very distinct spaces including a separate cocktail bar – Apotheke – downstairs. We highly recommend taking time to explore them all!

Rei de Copes is also a great spot on the square to soak up the sights over a cocktail on the patio. And we heard great things about Pipa Club, but they weren’t open the night we were on the square.

Our experience at Ocana isn’t unique – Barcelona is an extremely walkable city where sometimes you can just wander into some amazing cocktails!

Case in point – Especiarium. We probably walked past this intimate spot a dozen times on our way through Born before we stopped in. And we are so glad we dropped by! The mixologists here are as creative as any we found on the “best of” list. Our cocktails were served with wooden boxes on the side and we were encouraged to open the box and inhale the contents after taking each sip to get the most of the flavors in the drink. What a creative way to enhance the experience!

Just down the street from there is yet another example of what we’ll call “fortunate drinking.” We found our way into Dux to meet a friend and wound up having some amazing cocktails. Dux labels itself as a gin joint, but don’t sleep on the bourbon and wine!

Barcelona is full of lively squares and outdoor patio spaces. We found Ina as we were walking through a square and decided to stop for some wine and tapas. Same goes for Travel Bar, which was recommended as a good stop for tourists. We enjoyed espresso martinis in their outdoor space as the bar inside was busy with a cocktail class.

And finally, there are quite a few breweries or brewpubs in Barcelona, some with outdoor spaces. We enjoyed an afternoon at Black Lab Brewhouse & Kitchen on their patio. It’s an American-style brewery founded by two Americans from Chicago. Check them out if you are down near the Barceloneta beach!

We hope we’ve said enough to get you excited to visit Barcelona for yourself. Let us know what you think!

🍷 Best Bars in Barcelona (and the world) 🍷

If Barcelona, Spain isn’t on your list, it should be! The coastal city in the Catalonia region is much bigger and more beautiful than we expected. And did we mention that there are no less than four of the top 50 best bars in the world here?  Yes, we visited them all! The city is so big and so diverse that we could never reflect everything in one post. So we’ll focus on the coolest and most historic bars we visited, most of which are centered in the Born district and Gothic Quarter, two of the most historic neighborhoods in the city.

First, the cocktail bar voted #1 in the world according to World’s Best Bars in 2023 and #3 in 2024 – Sips. This is a classic cocktail bar with lots of wood and leather and intimate lighting with one exception – the bar is in the middle of the room instead of along the wall. The mixologists create their award-winning cocktails from every angle of the bar space. And the payoff is a full menu of tasty and creative drinks! We enjoyed one that included a side of bubbles – yes, the kind you blow with a wand.

Now, we can’t go any further without digging into our favorite cocktail place on the entire trip and deserving of a spot on the 2024 World’s Best Bars. Paradiso has it all in our opinion. From the time we walked in the door, (behind an unassuming sandwich shop) the staff was welcoming and friendly and clearly enjoy their jobs. We scored two seats at the bar and marveled at the acrobatics of the bartenders as they created cocktails that were incredibly presented and tasted just as good. Make sure you ask about their back-room speakeasy but be prepared for a cheeky answer as they keep the mystery. Hint – it’s a restroom… or is it? This is our #tipsypick for sure!

There’s no question about the previous life of our next cocktail spot. Dr. Stravinsky proudly embraces its heritage as a former apothecary space. It’s worth it to grab a cocktail and walk around all three floors. The shelves are lined with their own brand of spirits and other interesting items on display. The menus are just as creative. The “Manhattan Essences” was particularly good. It’s a fat-washed version of the classic Manhattan.

One of the best dinners we had in Barcelona was at a restaurant called Speakeasy. Yes, the name is accurate as the space appears to be a former storage room turned into an upscale dining room. To enter you ring a doorbell at an unmarked door. The wine and cocktails were superb as was the food.

The restaurant is connected to a historic cocktail bar called Dry Martini. This elegant spot has been around for more than four decades, serving the signature dry martini. When it opened, that was all they served. The menu has expanded since then, but the flavor of the space remains unchanged – lots of dark wood, leather chairs and a martini recipe on full display along with servers in white shirts who can guide you along the way. It was the first European bar to make the World’s 50 Best list, and deservedly so. And the martinis are indeed as good as you would expect. They also make an excellent Gimlet. 

Ever been to a bar hidden behind a beverage cooler? That’s Supermercat! This intimate cocktail bar is hidden from the street as a beverage cooler. The only giveaway is the person at the door. Don’t be surprised if you have to wait to get in – there are only about a dozen seats. That means there’s not a bad view in the house to watch the mixologists at work (and to enjoy it!)

All the bars we have mentioned so far are relative newcomers compared to the rest of our list. We look forward to sharing them in our next post. Share your faves below. Merci!