This is a hidden gem and a way to have 4 star food on a no-star budget!
The lounge advertises itself as a 'gastropub' and is a odd setup. Â It is located in a corner of an 'assist living' facility (!?), the last place you'd be looking for a nice place to eat. Â For the record, it's not full of fossils with those damn electric scooters and walkers. Â Not at all.
First impression is that it's a wine tasting and retail establishment since there are wine racks lining the low-density seating area with on-sale inventory. Â It is also the entry way for a very fine 4-star restaurant located in the penthouse of the same building. Â In that sense, its the restaurant lounge/holding area but it also is an eatery by itself and that's where the secret lies.
The food all comes from the famous 'Sky Room' kitchen. Â They actually bring it down from the penthouse. Â The Wine Down serves select Sky Room items without the cost, pomp or view associated with its esteemed sibling. Â It is also a drop-in type of place. Â Good luck getting a table upstairs during peak times on a drop-in.
The food is great (and should be), service was excellent and much more casual and relaxed than one would encounter 'upstairs'. Â Many fine and eclectic wines are available by the glass, kept fresh on nitrogen. Â Great for nosh/tapa style eating with a few glasses of select wine.
I just celebrated my birthday here with a group of 15, we had the cozy loft area which was very nice. Â I ordered appetizers ahead of time and everything was delicious and did not take long to arrive. The wine was very tasty and the bartenders were friendly and attentive. Â We were here a couple of hours and then we headed upstairs to the Up Lounge. Â It was so convenient because no none had to drive to another location for dancing. Â They do have valet parking if you enter through the side where the Sky room is located (same building). Â All my guest enjoyed themselves at the Wine Down Lounge and said they would definitely be back.
Review Source:Wine Down is a fantastic wine bar and hits all the right notes:
On The Wine :
 - Great tasting selection of wines not easily available via retail
 - A list that's constantly rotating - new wines almost monthly
 - Fantastic selection for their house wine
On The Food :
 - Pairs well with the wines being poured Â
 - Unique and innovative dishes
 - Specials / new items  (Not something you get at most wine bars)
On the Space:
 - Roomy, spacious, and an overall great ambiance
 - A nice outdoor patio that never gets too loud
 - A very cool 2-story floor plan with a secluded, moody loft
On the Staff:
 - Knowledgeable first and foremost
 - Quick Service
 - Friendly and engaging
The Extras:
 - Great pricing
 - An awesome retail selection
 - Great entertainment when they have bands / dj's
Don't wait for a reason to go... make it a priority to check out Wine Down and you'll be a regular before you know it.
I was disappointed on the night we came in. They ran out of the wine I wanted, the bartender was rude to me and dismissed my friend because she wanted water. I asked for him to explain the other wines that he had available and told me to read the menu. Well smartass, I forgot my glasses so that's why I asked. We were a large group that was paying individually but come on, Friday night it's better than being empty. I am not eager to return. I adored the other wine bar down the street much more.
Review Source:I live less than a five-minute walk from this place, and I regret not coming  sooner!
Came for a chill night to read and relax. There was a live jazz pianist, a few guests, and friendly staff. The wines-by-the-glass list was encompassing and interesting. I highly suggest their DIY wine flight: choose any three half-glasses of wine for $12. Â I sat al fresco right on Ocean Blvd, enjoying the summer heat, the city buzz, and my Kindle.
For those who plan to come, don't expect a vibrant crowd. It's a little calm place to enjoy great classy wines, some well appointed small bites, and intimate conversation; rather than shouting across a drunken loud bar scene (you can get that at any touristy bar in downtown LB or Belmont Shore). They also sell bottles of wine like a small specialty retailer. They also have a variety of specialty beers, if one doesn't want wine at a wine bar, I guess...
Some shortcomings: no coffee bar, no big plates/meals, no hard liqour beyond some choice scotches, lack of parking (so I've heard; I walked to here), evening hours only.
Recommendations: try their cinnamon beignets. Not as big and fluffy as you'd expect, but served warm, moist, and creamy. (I really wish they had coffee to pair.)
Ok... So I heard about this place and was super interested in the wine list.. I walk in and was greeted by a guy named Patrick.. I asked to see the list and was BLOWN AWAY! If you are a wine enthusiast this is your spot!! Not to say they dont cater to the unenthusiastic drinker as well, its just this place has the best wines that you will find anywhere!! Â As far as the service, AMAZING! Â Pat really knows his stuff! Â I asked him to bring out his favorites and pair them with wines he thought would suit, and he was spot on! Â Educated staff! Great List! Killer Vibe and location! What else can you ask for?? Â This world needs more places like this! Â Thanks for the great experience Patrick!
Review Source:Small, quiet (we got there at 9p on Saturday and there was only one other group in there) and nice ambience.  Parking in downtown always sucks, but we managed to get a metered space on Ocean, which is probably your best bet.  It's tough to spot the actual bar itself  - at the bottom of the Sky Room tower next to the retirement home entrance.
The guy behind the bar was plenty friendly, and probably would have answered any questions I had or recommended something if I had asked for a recommendation. Â However, I did neither of these things and got a glass of moscato that I was expecting to cost me much more than it did. Â Said moscato was tasty.
One thing: eat before you go.  They do have appetizers and desserts, but many of them read like some culinary school final project (bacon-wrapped oysters? cayenne creme brulée?  um, pass).
I'm not much of a wine drinker, but from the size of the list I would imagine that probably most folks could find something new to try. Â I'd go back.
This place is tucked into the corner of the Breakers building. Â The interior has a perfect ambiance for a wine lounge, including the dark, comfy upstairs area. Â Went here for an event with local condo complexes and got to enjoy a variety of hors d'oeuvres. Â The staff was very friendly and accommodating to our group also. Â Will definitely be back with friends that have an appreciation for good wine.
Review Source:Pretty nice in here. Dim moody lighting with music to go along.
Got ourselves a wine flight for $12 each, came with 3 tastings....great deal. Every wine we tried was amazing...Especially the Barbera red.
The Strawberry & Cayenne Creme Brulee tarts were good too...came with house made whipped cream which was absolutely divine.
Great little wine bar. Too bad it is so hidden and difficult to park nearby!
Saw the great reviews and had to check it out. Usually I hit up Wine District, but a it's always fun to check out new places and this place had a great food menu.
As mentioned, the food comes from the top floor of the building (The Sky Room). It's great food, but can take a good deal of time to receive.
Note: Their online menu is not completely up to date (I imagine they change cheeses too frequently to keep up).
We ordered the truffle fries, three cheese plate (with the BEST bread on the face of the planet), AND the mushroom pizza. WAAAAY too much food for two, but definitely worth it to have tried all these goodies. They all had wonderful flavor and were great.
One sad point was the fries were not hot, but I suspect that is because of the trip they take from the top floor. The flavor was still awesome.
Their wine is wonderful. The gentleman who served us was VERY knowledgeable. Their selection was surprisingly vast, and they have this great option to order three "tastes" of three different wines for a flat price. This was a great way to introduce us to a good portion of the wines we were interested in and help us decide which we really liked.
The reason this place gets 5 stars is a combination of incredible dynamics, that without which, Â would make it "just another wine bar."
I don't drink much, and I don't know much about wine, but I would eat and drink here. The folks are helpful and eager to offer suggestions. And they do a whiskey tasting, so the booze goes beyond wine. But after sampling a few things from the menu, forget the wine, I would come back just for the Foie Gras CB & J. It's a sandwich with local foie gras (no ban here), home made cashew butter and raspberry jam (I think) on toasted brioche. I wanted to lick the plate after it was all gone.
Also had a couple of Bacon Wrapped Oysters with Leek Aioli. You might want a dozen of these, but you only get 2 per order. I wouldn't mind coming back to try some of the desserts too (Cinnamon Beignets? Yes please).
The atmosphere is cozy, with an upstairs loft for a little more privacy. Fair warning, they close kinda early. But for an after-work spot, it's ideal. So even though Long Beach is swelling with wine bars these days, if they keep their food up to this level, they'll have no trouble making a name for themselves.
The bellhop suggested this place as the Sky Room was too busy the night we went. Â It was absolutely perfect! Â They have a great deal--for $12, Â you can try 3 half glasses of any wine they have on their menu. Â Not a bad deal! Â The reisling, moscato, pinot noir and malbec they had that night were delicious. Â My boyfriend also got a bottle of Franziskaner--that is our favorite beer (and most places don't carry it).
We also got the combination chartruterie (sp?) and cheese plate; we got the chorizo pamplona, proscuitto, cambozola blue (very  mild) and a cow's milk cheddar (don't remember the name).  they were all delicious, as was the bread!  I would recommend the braised beef on banana polenta cakes too--delicious!
This place had a cool vibe too. Â Also, the manager (or owner? not sure but whoever he was) was VERY helpful with regards to suggestions of wines, cheeses, etc. Â He was very friendly too.
We will definitely be going back!
First off: Patrick is fabulous. Â Let's just get that out of the way right up front. Â His knowledge of wine is extraordinary; his service spirit is sensational; and a great sense of humor is always a big bonus for me. Â Secondly, I love the contemporary, modern vibe in this historic 1926 Romanesque or Spanish Renaissance-style building. Â LOVE that juxtaposition! Â The lounge-style seating adds nice character to complement the ecclectic mix of LB locals.
The best part about this place (location, ambiance and Patrick aside) is their extensive wine list and value for the $. Â It's unlike any other in LB or LA. Â They share the wine cellar with the Sky Room on the top floor of this old Breaker's Hotel. Â Their "wine list" is essentially a wine encyclopedia, a virtual catalogue of their cellar-- over 100 pages of mouthwatering selections from around the world. Â And, the very BEST PART: Â the prices listed are retail (for the Sky Room restaurant) ... and you can enjoy most of them for half that amount. Â SIGN ME UP. Â I definitely saw a few selections I couldn't wait to wet my whistle on! Â Patrick's recommendations really hit the spot.
It's really the food that brought the score from a full-on 5-star rating. I know it travels a LONG WAY from the top floor to the "Wine Down Under," but all of our three selections were barely warm. Â The wait time was long (hence perhaps the heat issue). Â And, taste wise, it was really mediocre (that's being kind). Â The truffle mushroom flatbread was something akin to grocery store quality. Â The fava bean dip looked (and tasted like) simmered canned kidney beans with garlic and some tasteless pita on the side. Â The pork belly (which I had high hopes would be winner given it's plated appearance), was not at all well balanced. Â The cider-infused pear was undercooked and over-sweetened; the brown sauce was some bad chef's version of canned demi-glace; and the pork belly (while tasty) was cold. Â What's worse than some cold pork fat? Â Not much.
Despite the food, I would go back (just for another chat with Patrick). However, I would surely order three different dishes the next time (and hope for the best).
I love this place! Â Patrick is great and really knows his wines...such an absolutely wonderful every time we go. Â Highly recommend!! Â They have a large selection of wines every night and if you buy a bottle there, no corkage! Â Definitely one of my favorite places to go in Long Beach!
Review Source:I don't get all the hype on this place. Â We came in a couple of Sundays ago and it was dead except for two customers at the bar and one bartender. Â
There is a big board with some of their wine selections. Â We checked out the wines for about 5 minutes with no welcome, acknowledgment, offering of a menu or any recommendations. Â All in all, we were completely ignored.
It was just a bad vibe, so we left.
Great service, very solid wine selection and very reasonable prices! Glad we visited. They have some snacks that come from the Breakers upstairs. Had a very chill evening here. Will come back for sure. The only negative was there weren't many people here, which surprised me since I think it's one of the better wine bars in the LBC.
Review Source:I have been meaning to review this Gem for a long time. Â Love love love this place.. Great wine, spectacular food and perfect ambience. If you order a flight, you get to pick whichever wines you like, which is awesome. Â You are not limited to a red or white flight etc... Â The appetizers are absolutely mind blowing. Â We haven't had one we don't like. Â Always a warm welcome here with not too much and not too little attentiveness. Â The happy hour prices are awesome and the music is always great!
Review Source:This place is just a perfect little gem! Â I've been 4 times in 3 weeks (don't judge me!) and it's been fantastic every single time. Â It's got cozy little nooks, cushy chairs and a perfect lofted lounge for groups and/or spying on people at the bar. Â Great selection of nibbles: we loved the cold, briny oysters with Cotes du Rhone Vieux Clocher and the bacon wrapped oysters with the leek aioli are perfect with a glass of bubbles. Â I can't get enough (unfortunately) of the buttery grilled focaccia on their charcuterie and cheese plates, and last night we celebrated a birthday with their sweet Napolean...delicious! Â They have great happy hour prices and excellent wine-by-the-glass selections like Seghesio's Zin; the tasting notes on the menu are thoughtful and kind of make you want to taste every single one. I love their wide selection of bottles to buy. Â
Patrick and Katie are totally rad: so fun to talk to, so warm and accommodating and so knowledgable about all the hooch. Â Also, Katie told me I was pretty last night, which cemented my devotion for WDL because I'm a sucker for a compliment. Â I live in the Shore and its so easy to hop on the Passport which drops you, basically, across the street so you don't have to worry about parking or driving after imbibing. Â You guys should all go for a sip and a nibble right now!
Was turned on to this place by a friend of mine. Â You might not notice it at first but it is located in The Breakers building. Â Have been there about five times and and the service, wine selection and food is consistently fantastic. Â They have lots of wines by the glass and they know their wine. Â
This is a really cool place. Â It is a great place to go have a glass of wine after work or to spend an evening. Â If you are looking for a good wine bar in downtown Long Beach, this place is where you need to be.
I've been waiting with my review because this place is my little secret but I don't want them to go out of business either..so here it goes.
It's a bit hidden next to the Hotel or whatever that building is...you can park either on Ocean Blvd or in the side street - S Locust Ave.
I came here with a few friends a few weeks ago during the week for a chill birthday evening.
Atmosphere: Very relaxing, great ambiance....maybe a little bit to much red color for my taste but cool place.
Service: We were the guinea pigs for a new wine which unfortunately they had only one bottle of it...service is great, the wine selection and knowledge fantastic.
FOOD: Â :D ...what can I say...since we were several people we ordered quiet a bit from the menu...it was nothing but DELICIOUS!!!!!!....prices are very reasonable.
For all of us who went it's a secret tip - everyone who hasn't gone.....You need to check out this jewel of Long Beach.
Love it! Been here several times now. Great bartenders--very friendly and knowledgeable. I always get the wine flight (healthy pours...and I get to choose whatever wines I want). The food is fantastic (how could it not be--it comes from the Sky Room). The ambiance is decadent art deco...lovely for a grown-up date with the bf or the girls.
Review Source:I almost don't want to review this place and spread the word of what feels like a sexy little secret. Â But I also want it to stay in business so here we go.
Wine Down has great  ambience. A really just cool, low-lit, slow paced lounge feel.  I haven't encountered the same in LB for vino since the Backroom at Morry's in naples closed. And it was reasonably priced!
There were very few people there for a Saturday night, I dig that but realize it doesn't make for successful business model. The bartender said it was usually busier. And they have live blues often, which, hot damn would make me the happiest kid on earth.
Bartender was very cute, friendly and knowledgeable about what she poured and made good recommendations. I love my wine but not in an elitist way, if it's wet I usually drink it ...but  when I told her liked big and red, her picks were in line with my tastes.  Service was great.
We had a flatbread which was incredibly tasty, and I can't wait to try more of the menu.
To be honest, I can't wait for any excuse to go back to this place.
I LOVE this PLACE!!! Â I read about it the the PT a few months ago so last night (9/2/11) as a spur of the moment thing, my hubby and I drove the long trek from Buena Park to Long Beach to try it out. Â
First off location, location, location plays a huge part in the appeal. Â Located on the ever so fun Ocean Blvd in Downtown Long Beach, that alone is enough to give it 4 stars. Â ;-)
I love good wine and this place didn't disappoint. Â I wasn't a fan of the food, but really, that's not why you go. I hated the spinach hummus, but the Mushroom Flat Bread was delicious. Â
I was a little surprised that it closes at 10:00 P.M., and  to see so few people, but I do hear it gets very busy on Mondays. The online photos make the place look so much bigger too.
This place wasn't around when I was teaching in Long Beach, if it was I would have headed over there everyday for happy hour. Â I don't know what their happy hour entails, but I'd like to see.
The prices were decent, the Red Blend wine was only $8 a glass, the Cab was $10. Â Their selection of wine by the glass was very good, my husband got to enjoy his Moscato so that was nice. Â Not many places offer Moscato.
The music they played inside was great, but a little too loud to Wine Down. Parking was a little difficult because they want you to Valet your car and probably pay a fortune to park. (I looked into getting married at Sky Room back in 08' and it was $7) Â There was a nice little lot around the corner that only charges you $5 to park, I say park there and walk the block to Wine Down Lounge. After head over to the Pike for some more fun!
The staff was very friendly too! They're better than The Twisted Vine in Fullerton.
Again, go for the wine, go for the ambiance, go for the location, don't go for the food!!
Great wine bar on Ocean blvd in the lobby of the BREAKERS hotel
I love wine and cheese and on this occasion I had a afternoon to enjoy.
when I entered I immediately saw a very swanky new establishment,
Lined with wine bottles and fun old world and modern decor this place is very inviting. The owner Patrick, was great very informative without being over whelming very knowable and interesting I ordered the tasting and told him I love Merlot so impress me show what you have. And I ordered
a cheese plate also. I sat upstairs in there upstairs tasting room its very dim and sexy red and black leathers, It was a Monday mid day but I felt like it was a Friday night and I was really loving this place.
OK he did Impress me I had three great wine really good.
and the imported cheeses where to die for.
I love this place!!!!
I will return YES YES YES
Good luck Patrick and WELCOME to DTLB
Francisco Javier
Yes I am pleasantly surprised with this place! I remember back in the day when it used to be some catering space/wedding something or other....now it is re-born, sexy, and unexpected.
Love the strawberry champagne (some fancy french name) downed it so quick, gimme another. Good stuff and no hangovers! Love, love, love it!
This is our 4th time here and each has been better than the last. Great atmosphere, fantastic wine, and an unpretentious staff willing and eager to share, educate, and encourage an understanding and appreciation of wine. We've brought several friends here and they've all enjoyed the ambience, food, and wine.
We highly recommend Wine Down, and especially Patrick!
I was pleasantly surprised when my fiance and I decided to go someplace we had never been before and we ended up at Wine Down Lounge. Â Entering the Wine Down Lounge, you walk on a path through a lovely rose garden. Â The atmosphere inside is very chic. Â The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. Â The food was a delight in my mouth. Â We liked it so much we had two of our friends join us. Â
Wine Down Lounge is the perfect spot for a night out on the town.
Winedown Lounge...More like Winedup Lounge.
If you are looking to learn about wine, this is not the place for you. As I stood at the bar watching a Gnat crawl through the fried onions of someone's soon to be delivered flatbread, the following thought occurred: I wish the bartender can tell me a little about the wine he is pouring me and I am hungry but now I'm grossed out.
I received my happy hour $4 glass of Bordeaux.... Â a fine happy hour price.
I asked if I could take a look around and the bartender said "sure"... So I did. I ventured upstairs where I saw a group of elderly women laughing and enjoying themselves. I asked one lady if I could take the empty seat and she replied "of course". Within seconds, I was approached by another lady who, in a matter of fact tone informed me that this was a private event for their "wine club". Ok, fair enough... let them have the entire space for their stupid and exclusive wine club.
There is more space downstairs... Lots more space and outdoor seating... score.
Overall this place looks great. They offer higher end and a MUCH better selection of wines than District Wine. This is a definite "go to spot" for wine if you live in DTLB and you can't make it to Wine Country. With that said, if you are truly looking to "winedown", I would totally stick with District Wine for better service, a friendlier atmosphere and overall wine education.
Also... if you buy a wine from winedown and you want to drink it at winedown, there is a $15 corkage fee. This is what one bartender told me on a different visit. Personally, I feel the corkage on any bottle of wine you buy from a business should be free.
This place has the potential to be something special. I will be back and next time, I will bring my own wine club.
Upscale food that is amazing and affordable! Their brisket is absolutely amazing. Its made on banana polenta cake w/ a corn salsa I'm top. Brisket was cooked perfectly. Another one of my favorites is the ahi tuna w/ green Apple slaw. I could start at the top of the menu and work my way down. I also tried their blueberry beer which was surprisingly good! I see myself trying it again. Definitely becoming one of my favorite places to go to. Staff is very friendly and informative about wines and their dishes.
Review Source:I just attended the grand opening this past weekend... I have my new favorite spot in Long Beach. Â The place is small and intimate. Â I love the decor. Â It just feels comfortable but a bit upscale... Love the wine bottles. Â
Drinks: They do happy hours where you can get certain wines for $4 a glass. Â Wine and beer only here. Â They have a blueberry wheat beer on the menu that I am for sure trying next time! Â I was drinking cabs the night I went and both that I tried were SO good. I love wine and this place has a great selection.
Food: WOW. Â Their tapas were to die for. Â Being the grand opening, they were serving free tapas. DELICIOUS! My favorite were the bacon wrapped oysters and the brisket. Â SO DELICIOUS. Â Very upscale food at what I think is a very reasonable price. Â Their cheeses were to die for as well. Â Props to the chef for pairing great food with great wine! WOW!
I highly recommend this place for wine and tapas!
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