On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Wine Bars, Beer, Wine & Spirits
3111 Glendale BlvdCreate your own flight. Try a flight any three of our wines for $10 Tuesday through Thursday from 6:00-7:30.
Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Loading...
When Edgar was a wee pup Edgar played in the woods.
One day, the ground beneath Edgar gave way - and Edgar fell into a hidden cave. It was dark, it was damp and it was very scary. The entrance to the crevasse looked like an eternity away. Edgar cried out for help, but in doing so, Edgar awakened what seemed like a million bats! They swirled around - screeching and flapping - scratching Edgar's face and hands with their wings and their claws. Eventually Edgar's millionaire industrialist father descended down the cave and rescued Edgar from the ordeal.
Soonafter a mugger shot Edgar's parents as the family was leaving an opera and like numbnuts walked through a dark alley.
Years later, Edgar decided to wear a cape, a mask and underwear outside of a pair of tights in order to fight crime in an effort to work out the trauma of losing Edgar's parents. That - and Edgar actually really likes to run around in a pair of tights.
As you can tell Edgar doesn't like caves very much.
But 55 Degrees changed all that. Now Edgar looks forward to descending into 55 Degrees' wine cave - where Shelley W. holds her wine club meetings. Andy - the guy who runs 55 Degrees - is so friggin' awesome for letting a bunch of Yelpers run around and get tipsy - sampling the great wines his store stocks and generously sharing some of their great cheese. Edgar learns something new there every time - about wine and about Edgar's self. All for $10 (and $5 full glasses thereafter)!
Plus they have the coolest chocolate lab who just hangs out and if you pet it, it'll cover you in doggy drool.
And if you're one of those jerks who dismisses (air quote) hearsay (air quote) and who needs things like (air quote) empirical evidence (air quote) as proof then check out these photos:
http://static.px.yelp....
http://static.px.yelp....
http://static.px.yelp....
http://static.px.yelp....
Look at how happy everyone is!
Edgar guesses that this means Edgar can put the tights, the mask and the cape away. Well - maybe the tights can stay on - under Edgar's jeans.
4 stars! Thanks 55 Degrees!
You know what? F*ck it - 5 stars!
I went here last night for my friend's birthday dinner. You would never figure that there's an underground lair. Everyone here is extremely nice, and the wine is reasonably priced. I recommend ordering their "flights"- tasting 3 different wines.
Be sure to check their website. They have a tasting class held every now and then. I went when they had pairings of wine and chocolate!! :D
TIP: Italiano Bubbles... MmMmmm...
When a guy took me to the basement of 55 Degree Wine on a date, it probably added two or three weeks to our brief relationship because I liked it so much.
Like everyone has said, you would never guess what's lurks down the stairs, but once you enter to room with the wine barrel tables and the friendly and knowledgeable wine people bringing you cheap and delicious flights of wine you will feel miles away from the Crispy Crust next door. This is truly an Atwater Village highlight and I definitely recommend taking a date here...if you like her...
To get to the heart of 55 degrees you must descend a long stairway reminiscent of the ones you read about in an Edgar Allan Poe story, or remember from watching the intro of Tales from the Crypt on TV...but that's where the romance ends and the real macabre begins.
I went here to a wine tasting recently and was greeted by a guy behind the bar shouting something like, "Are you on your fourth glass?!!!!!" A little bit frightened that he recognized me so easily for what I really am - a broke-ass alcoholic, I tried to take my first glass and sneak away but that only got him to shout a little bit louder so people in space could hear.
I tried to tell him that I was actually on my first, but he could smell the fear in my eyes, proceeded to debate with me and won. This happened every time I approached the bar, it was giving me panic spasms. -Ladies and gentlemen, I once got chased down by a f*cking bear wielding a machete and managed to stay cooler than this instance...(I mean, not bear, but a really really hairy naked man).
After the 3rd time I approached the bar and got mistaken for probably 1 of 12 other Asian chicks in there, I decided to leave and go loiter in the parking lot.
So, I guess if you want to be humiliated in front of all your internet friends as your server insists that he can count to 2, faster, stronger, and better than you; so you don't try too many glasses of semi-decent wine from what I recall him describing at the top of his lungs as, "SPANISH WINES ARE WINES PRODUCED FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRY OF SPAIN," then, THIS IS YOUR PLACE!
Maybe my spider senses had picked up that this was going to happen because I'd been here several times before and oddly I never ordered anything. Logically I can assume that the shouting match with me could have been misplaced anger as a result of what I had done prior, and so the one time I tried to make recompense and order something...well, it has left me with an awful aftertaste in my mind.
And if you believe any of this, and find yourself having to meet up here for some reason, skip on the wine here, order a pizza from next door and have it delivered to you while sitting atop a Mexican blanket in the parking lot...that's what I would do.
First, the interesting factor. Ok from the outside, nice shop to walk through. V. good selection of Italian wines btw, not always so easy to find in LA. Then, downstairs into the hidden wine bar. In all truthfulness, yeah, the decor could use a little help, slightly campy and "wine bar"y which I'm not a fan of, BUT, extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff if you're lucky enough to be there on a night when Staci is there, she took us through a really special and incredible Piedmontese flight through Barolo, Barbaresco, Ghemme, and Gattinara, for $25 which was nothing considering some of the bottles were nearing $100. Well worth it. a great experience. I'll be back.
THANK YOU GOD!!! For bestowing upon us mortals a wine bar that covers every base of a perfect afternoon.
Now...not to sound like a perv, but I have brought a few different girls on a date here. All of them loved the place and loved me even more for introducing it to them. 55 has helped me out in many ways, to say the least.
BUT, the dating game put aside, this bar offers everything. All kinds of non-trader joe-esk wines from all over the world. I haven't had a bad recommendation yet.
Another great thing about 55 is that they don't look down on you for knowing less than them about wine. Instead, they teach you about it. Imagine anti-wine snobs that enjoy bar tending and talking about wine whenever they get a chance. Young people who aren't angry and are prepared to do a great job. I love spots like that, though they are few.
The mood is unbeatable. Dark, romantic, relaxing...perfect for a wine junky like myself. The music is pretty relaxing too. If you are trying to get wasted and dance to Soulja Boy, this is not the spot for you. If you are a person who enjoys a good time meeting people, talking about wine, learning about wine or someone who likes mellowing out after a long day this is your home.
I have seen other great wine bars and I will soon write a nice review for them too, but for me it's 55 Degree Wine. If you don't believe me...check it out for yourself. You'll thank me.
This place is a gem! we had driven by numerous times and not thought to go in just do to its odd location and deceiving sign. ok, i know you're thinking...what's so deceiving about the sign...it's pretty straightforward. i guess for the type of cozy and unique place that it is the sign is a bit generic. anyway, this place is anything but generic. the staff is incredibly helpful and kind and i had no idea there was a little tasting room/bar downstairs. i felt like i was walking into a wine cellar in italy.
my fiance and i stopped in for a glass of wine before dinner and before leaving the bartender brought an delicious bottle of port and set it on our table for us to try. yummmmy.
sorry silverlake wine, 55's my new favorite.
My friends and I each chose a flight of red wines, paired with a couple of appetizer-sized pizzas. Our server was extremely nice and knowledgeable about the wines, and we would have stayed longer if the room (a basement) had been a bit quieter. Unfortunately, two drunk, cackling women at the table next to ours made it impossible for us to hear each other. We weren't the only table to leave due to the noise. The tab was about $100 for a party of four, so it wasn't exactly cheap. The decor gets top marks, and I'll probably give it another try someday.
I'm a big fan of this place.
This is a perfect place to hang out with few friends over few glasses of nice wine.
I was late for the mixer that was hosted here and I couldn't find this place. It's a gem tucked away where the Starbucks is in that strip mall. When I finally arrived it just looked like a wine shop with nothing going on. Boy, was I wrong. The mixer was held in the basement and looks nothing like the entrance to the shop.
It was like an underground wine club. The basement is such a great space and such a smart way to utilize the square footage. You can sit and sip your wine by the bar or along the wine bottled lined cellar. Very cozy. I had a Merlot from Italy, I believe part of the name was "carro" - might have to check with Andy on that. Andy is the owner, really great guy. Go and meet him.
A definite place to recommend and return to with a group of your friends.
Since one of my other favorite joints, Lou, is next to a laundromat, a nail salon, and Flaming Mary's, it shouldn't surprise me that this place is tucked next to Starbucks, H&R Block, and Crispy Crust Pizza.
This place is decked out with wine barrel tables and has that vineyard/faux italian feeling that makes it more homey and less stark than some of the hip-per wine bars I've been to, and I mean that in a good way.
I'm no oenophile, and frankly, I like whites better than reds, so I'm used to feeling a little judged, but the folks here were very nice, very detailed in their wine presentation, and they even have space on the back of the flight menu for notetaking, which makes them very nerd-friendly. The guy at the register upstairs was a liiiitle pushy trying to get us to take a bottle home, but aside from that it's a great place to kick back.
"If all else fails, wave your arms."
My new motto in life.
(I love this place.)
I have to say that five flights of wine sampling for a low price of $10 bucks is a deal that I can't pass up. Pour me another, I'd say.
The whole set up here is something that is like sipping on a good reserve. It may look like a regular ol' wine store when you step in there but it's so much more when you pay attention to what's going on.
In the back is a stair case that takes you down into the heart of this beast. I have to say, this is one cool looking room when you get down there. What's under there is a very hip and modern style wine bar. Great atmosphere lighting and over all great look.
Service is extremely helpful and the pours, after the night goes on a bit, become heavy handed and I'm all for that. Who minds having a heavy handed bartender? A prude, that's who!
Andy has been beyond helpful and recommends new things all the time. I have to say that 90% of the times I agree with him. Which is pretty good considering wine is one of those fields where it's not a matter of what's good but what you actually like.
I've loved the experiences coming here and I look forward to more events such as those. The wine is really excellently priced and considering you can get recommendations, sample taste and an overall great direction on what you like to drink from here, what's there not to love?
Great times! I love it.
If I were a mobster, 55 Degree Wine would be my headquarters. WIth the bright and happy wine and beer shop on the top level, I could easily hide my illegal business transactions downstairs in the cellar/tasting room, and the goddamn pigs would never know.
There's an awesome dungeon down under, and it ain't mine, knawemsayin'...
Andy and the whole staff are just awesome and made us feel so welcomed. We got to sample some cheeses along with our tastings and they just made everything come together beautifully. This is a great place to have a tasting event with a small group of friends. Andy and his team will put something together for you and ensure you'd all have a good time!
We walked out with a couple of new favorite wines but I intend to go back there soon to taste some more!
Friend (F): Why do you like to act older than you really are?
Me: Like what?
F: Well you are in your 20's, but you care more about the credit reports of women you date than if they will sleep with you.
Me: Dude, in these uncertain economic times. You'd be crazy not to care.
F: Ok what about the dish of hard candies you keep at your desk?
Me: Helllooo, they are delicious.
F: You feed the ducks at the park on Sundays.
Me: It was a hard winter for them.
F: You have a cane
Me: Herniated disk, ass hole.
F: You're in a book club that meets at a wine bar.
Me: The best book club ever!!
Yeah so what. Sometimes I get bored of being in my 20's and skip ahead to my early 30's. 55 Degree Wine is a perfect venue for my little masquerade. Hidden below the retail store front is a soft spoken, mature, and conversationally stimulating space. Their wine and beer selections are quite expansive. That's the best that I can describe it. I'm a wine noob. And beer not from the States, Japan and Belgium confuse me.
Andy the owner is very friendly and accommodating. He'll greet you by name and come around in regular intervals to ensure you and your party are taken care of. During my last visit as I was paying my bill, he gave me a discount proclaiming, "It's ok, we are family." Deal Andy, we are family. Unless you have hot younger sisters? Then no deal!
i feel bad writing this, but.. this place is just awkward.
Pretty good bang for my buck.
And that's not the first time I've said that.
Good times, good times, good times, good times.
I liked the first time I met all you yelpers here for $10 fun night, but the intimate setting we had the other night for book club was nothing less than rad.
Those back rooms are fun aren't they? So friggin perfect for a "thirty and over" book club setting. Of course I knew we were 30 and over the moment we all had to take turns standing because there were no backs on our posh wine stools. We all kind of looked around the room at each other and pretended the pain was normal.
Anyhoo you guys are so attentive and nice, thank you. And ne'er a peep about getting out even when we were way past your closing and then bedtime. You pre had our checks seperate and ready to be doled out, that made life so damn easy. And when asked for a wine list you just smiled and said you had everything. Classy baby.
The Cab i had was exactly like you described it and only $7 a glass. I have to give a shout out to the fine company and intellect going on in my group too. Thanks for the nice Monday evening friends of midnight salvation.
*Cue Kiefer Sutherland voice*
The following takes place between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
[I walk into 55 Degree WIne]
Me: Hello...I...uh...I'm here for the Yelp...thing
Woman Behind Counter: ....you got the stuff?
Me: I...don't know what you're talking about
Woman: Just give me $10...
[Hands over money]
Woman: Follow me.
The woman led me to her boss' hidden lair downstairs. It was dark, but a comfortable setting. There are several tables and chairs to accomodate a small party. Wait...Ed C.?! Is that...Katrina S.?? and Erica C.? From a distance i was not quite sure which Erica C. it was, but i realized it was Erica C. #11 of Whittier. Then i see Shelley.
Shelley: Oscar! i'm glad you came. isn't this fun?
As confused as i was...it was pretty damn fun. I then meet a man named Andy.
Andy: Let me see your papers...
Me: What kind of place is this?!
Andy: Just give me your paper...
I handed him a paper the woman from the front counter had given me...along with my receipt. He grabs a glass and pours me a beverage. I have no idea what it was...but it was tasty, and he gave us all a great description of whatever he poured. And i went for round 2...then 3...4...and eventually...a whole damn bottle. Conversing with Yelpers, eating delicious cheese and drinking good wine at a bargain price in an underground dungeon...hmm....GREAT SCOTT!!!! I have traveled back to the 1920s, during the PROHIBITION!!!!! But how did i do this? I don't know...my flux capacitor wasn't even working at the time....or was it?!
Doesn't matter...whether i was in 1929 or 2009, this place was good times. The staff was helpful, and the tasting event was great. I would not rule out organizing a small tasting for some friends and family at this place, because it will definitely be good times. And there is a good selection of many different wines here...and they all look good. Many of them had sale signs on them selling for under $18, which is a bargain for some the quality wine here.
Friday night, my roommate and I ventured out for a little wine tasting. I remembered 55 Degree Wine place I'd seen many times on my drive in to work.
What a great place. We weren't sure at first if it had wine tasting. Located in a mini-strip mall with limited parking, we entered the store and saw many different bottles of wine. The cashier sent us downstairs, and to our surprise found a great little wine bar basement. We were greated and treated very well by Stacey who knows her wines. I had a glass of Umbria which was my favorite. They have a small food menu but offer nuts and dried fruits for free.
The best thing I think is their private party wine celler.
Loved the place. Would go back. Trying to brainstorm a reason to have a party.
Excellent wines and a lot of cool beers...
...but seriously, get some mead already!
really it's just "a-ok" for me, but when i consider that i really can't think of a a tapas and wine tasting place i like after my favorite vinoteque burned bright and then fizzled out due to liquor licensing issues, i bumped 55 degree up to 4 stars for being better than places like bodega, vertical, upstairs 2, etc.
so what makes 55 degree better? located in a stripmall in the trying-to-be-quaint area of atwater village, the main level is a well-stocked wine store with a wide variety of wines, beers, and accessories. the owner, andy, takes great pride in the business and it shows.
hidden to the left of the counter is a dark stone staircase that you have to feel your way down into the cellar and tasting room. instantly you're transported to a whole 'nother world of thick wood tables, overturned barrels, and wrought iron lighting.
tastings are offered in flights of four pours, on that day ranging from $11 to $18. we ordered an all-organic flight for $14, and an all-italian flight for $18. the staff there was very knowledgeable about their wines, and talked us through the history and bottling of each wine. for munchies, we ordered a cheese plate for pairing with red wines and a charcuterie plate.
there is also a really cute private room at the back of the cellar for hosting parties up to about 40 people.
the wines that we tasted were kind of weak and watery for my palate, but might suit someone with a taste for more european vs. californian vintages. the food offering is limited, and includes pizzas from the delivery place next door.
overall we spent around $95 including tax, tip, and a $20 bottle of wine from the store. definitely worth a stop if you're in the area, but kind of a haul from the westsiiiiide as a destination for what you get.
I'm becoming a regular at this place. Came here for a Yelp Wine Club UYE and as always 55 Degree Wine goes above and beyond the call of duty for a wine store.
I can't say enough about the owner. The guy is great. He doesn't hesitate to give a heavy pour for tastings and always hooks up bonus tasty goodies to go along with the wine like almonds, dried fruit, and several cheeses.
Do yourself a favor and come to 55 Degree wine for a date, a bottle, a tasting, or all three.
I wanted to give them 5 stars and if my experience was just for the wine I would have but I came… Read more »
Andy I didn't impress ya with
2006 SeaSmoke Southing Pinot
Next time I gotta bring out the big guns!
Another fun filled wine event! Thanx Shelly for finding us a perfect little place to unwind and relax while we taste wine and get really loud. Again it was great to see now some familiar faces and they made my wife feel right at home too. Gracias!
On to the wines:
Again we tasted 5 wines. 1 California - 2 Spanish and 2 Italian.
The first wine:
2007 Norman Chardonnay Reserve:
Read my reviews people. This wino doesn't like Chardonnay. It's a difficult wine for me to pair a meal with. I did find this wine very approachable. The combination of fermenting in French oak and full malolactic fermentation makes the wine very drinkable and satisfying.
The Second Wine:
Monte La Reina Val de Caz Non-Vintage
I love love love Tempranillo. It is one of the best wines to pair with Cuban food. This wine came off really strong on the nose with wood and tobacco characters but the wine sees no Oak. It left me slightly dissatisfied on the nose but on the palate came all those tastes I love about Tempranillo. It did taste much better with food as my wife and I chomped down on a salami/ Prosciutto plate.
The third Wine:
2006 Monte La Reina Roble
Is the same wine as above but with some ageing in Oak. This wine did deliver on both nose and palate all the beautiful characters that I love so much about Tempranillo. A total winner!
The Fourth Wine:
2007 Caleo Primitivo
This wine which is a zinfandel grape from Italy I didn't like. I have tasted a few primitivo's in the past. On the nose the wine almost seemed slightly corked. Smelled like wet dog. Very herbal but with a fungal character on the palate. You can never stress enough that some wines just wont taste good without having some form of food with them. Maybe this wine could of benefited from that.
The Fifth Wine:
2007 Miglianico Montepulciano d' Abruzzo
This wine was my favorite of the night. Montepulciano's are just good wines across the board. Heck I bought one at the last wine event here and shared it with the staff and some fellow yelpers. The wine exhibits bold fruit characteristics typical of Montepulciano. Drink it by itself or with a big meat ragu dish.
I will continue coming to any event at 55 degrees. It is actually a little out of my way from where I live but I just cant resist tasting new wines and enjoying the company of both staff and my fellow yelpers.
Cheers!
Hooray!!
I popped my Yelp Event Cherry!
But lets face it! I am a huge wino so tell me there is a…
Read more »
I made my first trip to 55 Degrees for the Daylight Savings UYE on Monday (3/16) and I was not disappointed! I wholeheartedly agree that the store front is very unassuming from the outside. For all your first timers - the infamous barrel logo isn't visible from the south side of the street, so pay attention to addresses or you'll have to double back like we did :-)
Andy and Rachel hooked us up with some tasty wine and enticing nibbles while we were sitting at the bar (cheese, dried fruit, nuts, hummus and pita). We accidentally got a second pour on our least favorite wine in the flight, but Andy's recommendation for an excellent Portuguese wine more than made up for the slight glitch.
Very personable and knowledgeable staff who truly love what they do, made for a wonderful experience.
This place is very incognitio. It's in a shopping strip and you never expect what you are about to venture into till you go down the stairs.
The store front is just a very unassuming, normal type store.
Upon entering we met the owner(didn't know it at the time). We showed up on a Sunday early afternoon for wine tasting. Soon realized they don't do tastings until 5!
The owner was so accommodating and wonderful. Knew that we drove somewhat of a distance (based on yelp reviews) he gave us a private tasting! Even brought pizza from next door! Knowledgable and had a good variety of wines to taste and choose from. Great chesses to pair with each tasting.
We had a wonderful experience and wish work schedules and responsibilities permitted us to go to their weekly events-which they have many to choose from. Fun, eductaional events. Try it out...good times to be had : )-
I have pondered how to review and rate 55 degrees. I wavered between 4 and 5 stars. Ultimately, I cannot see giving them less than 5 stars. So, please read on to understand why.
The place is in an unassuming strip mall. I was here for an unofficial Yelp event. I got only a brief minute to take a look at the actual store. I did not see anything I recognized. There were lots of South American and Spanish wines (I am not that familiar with specific wineries in these regions). This is a good thing to me, there are many great wines at great prices coming out of these regions. It is always good to find new great wines. I planned to look around on my way out but never got around to it.
The wine bar is where things got interesting. They have a basement they have turned into a celleresque bar with two separate rooms. The lighting is low with some tables and wine barrels to use as tables.
They put on a nice flight for us, 5 wines for $10. All in all, the selections were OK. I did like the fact that they offered up two wines that were the same grape, but one had been aged in steel and the other new Oak. It is interesting to taste what a difference aging in Oak can make. The other selections were not too earth shattering, but for the price it could not be beat.
Andy was one of the hosts. He is a nice guy who loves to talk wine. He had some other bottles behind the counter and ended up offering me generous pours of each with no charge. Thanks Andy! I ended up liking these two quite a bit, one was a Syrah/Malbec and another a Temprnillo (at $14 a bottle it is a great deal). Even though I am not buying much wine these days, I left with a few bottles of these other wines.
Having not eaten dinner, I was looking for food. They offered a cheese plate and a separate meat plate. It looked a bit overpriced, but a couple people ordered them and I saw they were huge plates put together with a lot of TLC. They also offered a cheese and tomato basil ultra thin crust pizza, which I ordered. I think it comes from somewhere nearby. But they made it appear and it was wonderful and a good compliment to the wine.
All in all, I had a wonderful evening here. The highlight of course was the nice people and nice atmosphere. I wish I lived closer so I could stop in more often. I will be back.
Ever hear the expression, don't judge a book by its cover?
Well, I guess it's true. Unless of course it's a Danielle Steele novel or He's Just Not That Into You, you pretty much know what you're gonna git with that box of chocolates. But I digress, 55 Degrees looks like nothing from the outside. It is in a newish little strip mall next to a Crispy Crust and a Starbucks and honestly, had there not been a Yelp Wine Club event going on there that night, I would have written it off as a ho hum, whatever kinda place if I was driving by.
But no. Inside is a great little gem. The wine store itself is like any other looks wise. Rows upon rows filled with God's grape juice, in varying forms, varietals and makes. The selection was actually pretty sweet and there were quite a few I had never heard of and considering there is probably more wine than blood in my body, that is impressive.
With all that said, you haven't discovered the gold mine til you pay your $10.00 for a tasting of 5 wines and head down the stairs to the little wine den of love. Dark, seductive lighting couples up with low ceilings and 3 separate little wine rooms. On the night I was here, it was packed with friendly Yelp faces and a good time was definitely had.
It seems that the place holds about 125ish people, so this would be a stellar spot for a bday or a book club or even a romantic date with like, 124 dudes and me :) Hey, that's how I roll.
What?
Okay... so when Ben G first told us (Sue Z and I) about 55 Degrees, I didn't think I was going to drive into this little tiny shopping strip with a Starbucks on one side and a pizza place on the other. There were about 16 parking spots... that's how small it was. So we walk in what looks like any other wine shop. It's three aisles of wine lover's paradise. If you didn't know there was a cellar downstairs, you wouldn't have noticed it after you walked in.
So with the help of the owner, we picked out three bottles of red which were all moderately priced (about $25-30). He even told us which order we should drink them in. We then head downstairs. Let the tasting (well... more like drinking) commence. The tables are made from large barrels and it's a great little spot. There are other wines downstairs you can try as well as dried fruits and nuts you can eat. We ordered the hummus platter and that was delicious. It comes with crackers and pita chips. Go for the pita chips. So good!!!
It's definitely a great little wine shop to hangout and drink with friends.
So I go to wine bars often, and study wine, and consult people. The wine bar is rather small and I'm limited to Italian wines and some Australia older vintage stuff, and beer. Beer being there was good, but I was bummed about the limiting factor.
Next the quality of the wine doesn't seem to be worth the money. I felt as though I was drinking cheap wine with no structure and all fruit. I was trying to find out what the owner was about, Nice guy, who knows Italian wines, he imports his own stuff and that rang a bell in my head... That explains all the Italian labels I've haven't seen since visiting Italy. Which means he gets it dirt cheap and raises the price quite a bit. So that explain why the wines seem to lack structure.
Hey, different strokes for different folks, you know. So because of the size and the wines being shared by the glass, and the limitation to Italy, not my kind of place. But every one else seems to dig it, so if you wanna be cramped and drink Italian wine -- it's for you. Not me.
This hidden gem is a real treat...but you'd never know it was there unless someone told you about it. Thanks, Yelp!
55 Degree has incredible wine (and a friendly, knowledgable sommerlier to boot), amazing cheese plates, a cool underground atmosphere (literally), and a truly nice staff.
Why, it's the perfect place for a book club meeting! ; )
I've been hearing lots of good things about this place.
Site of Monday's Yelp Wine Club UYE (#3?), these people apparently love Yelpers, so if you want to do an event here, just mention you're a Yelper (don't lie) and they should hook you up.
I didn't catch the owners name, but he was awesome. The wines we had were all European I believe, a couple of them being from Austria. Tasting for the 5 wines cost a mere $10 (plus tax). You cant beat that.
The wines were delicious. The representative from one of the wineries was very kind and very knowledgeable. There were an assortment of nuts, cheeses, and dried fruit.
My favorite wine I would have to say would be the Barbera. The owner brought out one cheese to pair with that and it was AWESOME.
The downstairs cellar where we were isn't big by any means, but it's perfect for a small group of friends to go taste some wines. They have tastings Tuesday through Sunday and are flights of 3 wines for about 12 bucks.
Definitely would be a nice change of pace as a date, of course you should make sure they like wine.
The store upstairs carries some wines that I haven't seen around in other stores and the prices seemed reasonable. The entire staff was incredibly friendly and very helpful.
Would I come back? Oh F*CK yeah....
This is the most deceptive wine bar, in a good way. The place looks so humble and unassuming from the outside but really, it's so much more when you walk inside and downstairs! I was really impressed...
There are plenty of varieties of wines to choose in the one room setting but what makes 55 degrees stand out is the fact that every night they have wine tastings downstairs in a really neat environment. A cozy, darkened chic room and brick walls surround you as you taste some nice wines accompanied with a nice cheese, fruit and nut selection. There's low lighting and artwork on the walls against exposed brick. It made me feel like I was in a cocoon under the ground, safe from the world tasting wine and relaxing for awhile.
The staff was very cordial and did a great job explaining the five selections which were offered for $10. I think 30 Yelpers showed up for Shelley's event and I wouldn't even have known about 55 degrees if it hadn't been for her..great job! I will definitely be back on my own some night when I just want to chill and drink some wine in a nice environment. Parking was even easy to find on the street in Atwater Village.
Valentines Day...
So last minute we were trying to make plans for V-Day with an infant...where to go? I remember all the great reviews of this place and thought, what the heck.
The Staff: From the first phone call to make reservations, they were so kind and friendly. The service while there was super great. Apparently, we were the last people to make reservations so they stuck us at the very first table when you enter the wine-bar area. I must have been hormonal because I wasn't please. I thought to myself, if we were going to be stuck here, it would have been nice to know ahead of time. It really felt like the shaft. I told my lovely date (aka baby daddy) and he asked if we could move. To my delight we did further into the cellar. I was much happier to not have to stare at random people staring at me as they turn the corner.
The atmosphere: Simple wine shop upstairs. Downstairs is romantic mood lighting and barrels for tables and some real tables. It was cute, dark, and full of happy couples taking their time with their wine. I was uber pleased that we could bring our lovely baby boy! He was sooo good.
The Price: We got a 24.99 dollar bottle, 3 small pies of cheese, probably a 1/4 lb of meat on the meat place, two little soy dishes of olives and white almonds, and crackers...all for 69 bucks. If you think about it....69-24.99 equals 44.01. Plus they automatically charged 20% tip. I can't imagine paying 22 bucks for salami and pepperoni. Or even 22 bucks for a tiny cheese plate. It wasn't dinner, it was wine and snacks. Would have been better off hitting Vertical in Pasadena for that price because we would have had dinner as well.
It was a neat experience, but I wouldn't return for their appetizers, waaaay over priced. May return solely for tastings. I should have tried this place with the rest of the Yelpers for the UYE for the first time.
I finally came here. Finally. I have been wanting to try this place for a while, and I am so happy I did. I went with three friends last night, and as we pulled into the strip mall parking lot, many "this place looks gross" and "ughhhhh"s were coming from the car. I know, I had doubts myself. But then we walked inside, and I said "we are here for the tasting" and we were ushered down a "secret" flight of stairs, and then, we saw it, treasure! Barrell vaulted ceilings, an adorable wine bar fit with almonds and dried fruits, and awesome Spanish wrought iron light fixtures, gave this place a real "Spanish" charm. We sat a "table" which was really cute, cause it was a wine barrell. There was much seating, but the place was packed. Nevertheless, we were all very comfy.
The flight varities were awesome, and Stacy (is that her name?) was extremely knowledgeable. As soon as I finished my last drop of whatever I was tasting, there she was, explaining the next wine, and executing a very heavy pour.
We all opted for the Newz from Down Under flight, a white flight, and as you can guess, Australian/NZ wines. After that, I described the kind of wine I was feeling like and she pulled out an incredible chardonnay that was extremely smooth, and had hints of nutmeg and spice. Awesome. I bought a bottle, and I might whip it out this weekend when my dad visits.
We were planning on going to Silver Lake Wine afterwards, but we were so well taken care of and comfy at 55, that we just popped by Silver Lake Wine at 1030 for a hot dog from "Let's Be Frank."
I can't wait to go next week!
We went here based on the HUGE reviews on YELP. The place was a lot of fun and the people were genuinely nice. We went on a Sunday night to celebrate Daylight Savings! I tried 2 flights/my boyfriend had a flight and a glass-and we got the cheese platter.
At first we were the only people in there since its was about 450pm when we arrived, however in the next hour more people started showing up. On sunday's they do a beer tasting...looked like fun.
If I lived closer I would probably go here more, and I would like to check out the vibe on a weekend night. I would for sure consider doing a party or an event in that back room...
If you are looking for some fun, wine, and cool ambiance-this is a great spot.
Absolutely fantastic! This place is a staple for Atwater Village... I love the fact that I could come in every other week or so and find something new, loads of flights to try out in the cellar, and one of the friendliest staffs I have ever come across.
The upstairs store is a well stocked wine shop, loads of things to try for a variety of budgets, and an uber friendly staff.
Downstairs you'll find a dark, candle-lit basement with tables and seating, a great sommelier. I'm very guilty of going downstairs for a glass, or two while I waited for my bottles to chill upstairs... and always manage to spend way more time than I wanted to in this store (my fault, and nobody elses).
I can't recommend this place enough!
You got me so drunk on my birthday and you didn't judge me at all.
What I like most about you is how much you feel like a secret dungeon and how delicious your olives taste.
My favorite thing in the world is to take a dance class next door and then (two-)step into the dungeon to immediately cancel out the burned calories and energetic feeling I created with a flight of affordable, incredible wines. I don't want to share you but I will.
Who the hell needs a private jet to napa for a posh day in the vineyards? I don't. I give my pilot and his staff the day OFF, and just come here.
It is so unassuming from the outside, you would have literally NO idea, that inside you will be transported to... Italy! Spain! Portugal!
I came in on a rainy afternoon, and told Andy to fill a crate with cheap but amazing stuff. He was like my own personal sommelier, and created an awesome array of reds. While he was getting my take away package together, he told me to:
"Go downstairs and check out the wine cellar.."
"Downstairs, you have a downstairs?" I say.
"Oh yes, we do... "
And BOY do they. The downstairs is a secret hideaway old world cavern, filled with windows to nowhere, mirrors, wine, booze, tables (not too many), and a serving counter.
All I can say is that the this store got it RIGHT. I was actually excited to spend my money - and look forward to spending more. The best part is that as I was driving home, I felt like I had been on a little teeny European vacation.
Great place. Everything positive that has been said is all true. Stacy knew so much about the wines she was pouring that you couldn't help but learn a thing or two. Groovy music plaiyng in a windowless tasting room with trippy art on the walls made for a perfect drinking atmosphere. The cheese plate was awsome and the wine flights were better. Not only will we be back, they're going to need a restraining order after awhile.
Thank you 55 Degree Wine.
My girlfriends & I visited this place for a "girls night out" event. Came here for some wine tasting (located downstairs within the store). They had live performances and decently priced wine pairings.
The person helping us (Andy) was very informative and helpful with the types of wine they had for tasting that night. He offered additional tastings of other wines they had available as the night went on. Their menu of appetizer & wine paring selections were pretty good as well.
It was an interesting experience and would probably check it out again some time.
Neighborhood: Eagle Rock
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Performing Arts
Whittier, CA
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Neighborhood: North Hollywood
Category: Wine Bars
Are there more than one. Who knows, but here is…
Places I would go visit again in a heartbeat, no…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
I use three things when I rate the places I visit:…
Here's a list of all the places I recommend to…
places i go. a lot. to the detriment of pant and…
I love it. It's mind, body. spirit. It's where…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
