55 Degrees - CLOSED

Elite '08

171

500

James G.

Foster City, CA

55` Degrees is cool for one reason:

It has two of my favorite Rieslings from Germany available:

Donnhoff or Doennhoff ($29/bottle) (see: http://www.vinfolio.co... )
Willi Schaefer ($35/bottle)  (see: http://www.vinfolio.co... )

While these prices are 2 times higher than what you would pay in Germany, where else are you going to find these gems???

The interior is a modern "futuristic retro".  It reminded me of a set from the dining scene in the movie "Alien".  

Check out their website at:  http://www.mandalaybay...

pix laters...

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

517

517

KayJay ..

San Francisco, CA

Someone (my schnookie ookums Ed to the M who would NEVER EVER EVER de-fan or stop loving me!) once said "Yelping about Yelpers is so meta".  I suppose he has a point, but it's those rarest of rarest occasions when you connect with one certain Yelper that this whole Yelping experience (waking up trashed with memories of someone sticking their tongue down your throat; gaining twenty pounds cuz "someone" ordered five entrees And dessert)  is oh so worth it.

Suzanne B was the first Yelper I ever spent "quality time" with after my first DYL Happy Hour.  By quality time I mean "dragged to bar after bar after bar".   She was the first Yelper to truly show me what "being a Yelper" was all about; friendly, knowledgeable, kind, polite, sexy, funny.  When arrangements were made and I was to share a room with her in Vegas, I knew I would be sharing a room with one of the classiest chicas on this here planet.

So, one afternoon, sassy, sexy Suzanne rescued a poor, bored limping girl from the much too fast walking Vegas visiting Yelper clan.  Sassy sexy Suzanne (sporting a sassy, sexy new hair-do I must say) suggested we get our "libation" on at 55 Degrees, a wine bar  located, conveniently and closely, between Mandalay Bay and The Luxor.

Remember, I'm a dive bar ho (not like "Will sleep with you for a shot" ho, but "Will make out with you in the bathroom for two gin and tonics" ho.  I do have SOME class.) and not used to spending time in such dynamically designed spaces.  Upon entry I felt as if I had walked onto a spaceship from the planet Wino... you know, the planet Amy Winehouse is from.  

Rows and rows of bottles for purchase lined the space. At the front of the store is a small bar/counter with corks artfully encased, for you to sip and taste to your hearts desire.  No cigarette smoke; no ching, ching of slot machines; no drunk 21-year-olds on their first Vegas journey stumbling and vomiting all over the place.  55 Degrees is a small, quiet oasis of spirits away from the madness that is Las Vegas.  Rufus Wainwright played on the overhead while flights of Cabernet and Syrah poured before me.  Very sexy, very cool, as if ice and steel somehow mated then conceived and birthed a wine bar child.

Now, lemme tell ya.  I am thrift store and Fat Tire. Suzanne is aged Syrah and sweater sets.  I am classic rock and classic crude.  Suzanne is San Francisco style and sophistication.  As sassy, sexy Suzanne sat classily sipping on a glass of red, I sat crudely staring in the mirror, furiously wiping my teeth and tipsily complaining about how drinking red wine makes me look like a chocolate M&M with a red stripe across.

I know.  I'm all sophistication, baby.

After trying an absolutely exquisite Cabernet I struggled with concocting the perfect flight.  It was then sassy, sexy Suzanne suggested the Amarone, a rather expensive Italian wine where the grapes are laid out to dry before pressing.  Due to my affinity for Cabs,  she felt I would have a liking for it.  After a sample, I fell immediately in love.  Full bodied and rich, this was one absolute delicious wine.  Thanks to sassy, sexy Suzanne B. I was now one smart, sophisticated, only slightly insane, wine connoisseur/dive bar ho.

Now, I'll only make out with you in the bathroom for a glass of Amarone!  My standards have greatly improved.

Lessons (for unsophisticated dive bar ho's like myself):

A "flight" is:   a selection of wines offered together that somehow compliment one another  

"55 degrees" is:  the ideal temperature at which to serve fine wine

An "Amarone":  an Italian wine where they lay the grapes out and let them dry in the sun before they press them

A "wino" is:  Kristine J....oh, and Amy Winehouse

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

74

405

Richard K.

Manhattan Beach, CA

55 degrees is one of the best wine shops I have ever visited.  Great selection, fantastic service and knowledgeable people working there.  

FYI ... 55 degrees comes from the optimum temperature to chill wine to (55 degrees Fahrenheit).

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

50

547

Kit E.

Mountain View, CA

Awesome wine displays, all perfectly organized and pretty fantastic collection.  Good selections of wines by the glass to taste as well, the only thing they are missing is cheese and charcuterie servings.  I think it would make a great accompaniment to their wine tastings.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

185

545

Jennifer L.

San Francisco, CA

Gorgeous Euro Trash uber pretentious and sleek interior - It's a bit like walking into "the future" as imagined in the 1960s (Suzanne B is right on with the Austin Powers reference ).
I loved wandering around and exploring the wines, although they weren't all that easy to navigate if you were looking for something specific.  It seems like the "off limits" area where the spendy bottles live should be a little more well lit, but I know how wines like the dark.  In any case, it was fairly empty when I was there.  The staff said hi to me as I was on my way out, but not much else.  There were a few drunken "Gamma Delta Epsilon Goes to Vegas 2007" type folks bellowing around one end of the wine bar and not much else action.  I decided to sample their wares on my next trip.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

250

379

Suzanne B.

Alameda, CA

If Austin Powers had designed a wine bar, this is what it would look like.  Slick, modern, with a beautiful zebrawood ceiling and oddly plastic-looking interior, 55 Degrees doubles as a wine store and bar.  It sounds very cold, but in fact the clean, crisp lines are a balm to the eyes in over-the-top Vegas.

They offer glass and tasting-size selections from a wide variety of wines.  When I challenged the waiter to create a flight that had no Cabernet Sauvignon in it (the Cabs were one of their set flights) he brought me a wonderful grouping of wines from three continents and explained them all.  My only issue was with the glasses - they were the stemless O Riedel glasses which I cannot make myself like.  Call me a purist, but I prefer stems on my wineglasses.

As we sat sipping our flights I contemplated the fact that I had been in Las Vegas for less than 2 hours and I had already found a wine bar.  I may have a problem...

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

36

281

Christine H.

San Francisco, CA

My idea of a perfect drinking spot is always a wine bar, so 55 Degrees is right up my alley. Beautiful space with a great wine list. They had two of my favorite butter-bomb chardonnays by the glass...how is a girl to choose?
It can get a little cool in there (yes, they actually keep their store at 55 degrees) so be prepared. Although, it was so hot as hell in Vegas while we were there, so it felt nice at first. And hey, if you get too cold, just have some more wine. That will warm you up really quick!

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

37

132

Jennifer H.

Las Vegas, NV

I love many many things about the unique shops at Mandalay bay, as one may be able to tell from my reviews. 55* is a cute little wine shop and bar. If your staying on the strip or at Mandalay Bay go down and grab a bottle of wine and take it to your room, I guarantee that it will be better than whats in your mini bar. If you have more time, do as I do...wander through Lucite and glass aisles and select a great half bottle, have them open it up for you and have a glass. It is chilly inside as the name suggests to its perfect for these hot summer months to sit inside some free air conditioning with a nice glass of whatever you choose.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

31

108

Charles H.

Mountain View, CA

Tucked away in Mandalay Place (the skywalk that connects Manalay Bay and the Luxor) is a neat little wine store and wine bar called 55 Degrees. After a hard week of work in Vegas, I was looking for a smokefree oasis that did not have pounding music or throngs of people. 55 Degrees turned out to be exactly what I needed.

55 Degrees is basically a wine store with over 1,000 wines for sale in a very cool design-inspired interior space. There is also a small counter where they have wines by the glass. The selection of wines by the glass were pretty good, with a 50% markup over what I would have expected to pay anywhere outside of Las Vegas. There is nice lounge music playing in the background and the friendly staff can answer just about any question you might have.

This place was a nice mid-day respite from the blaring lights of Las Vegas.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

23

211

Tammy N.

San Francisco, CA

i have no preconceived notions (i'm ignorant) about wine but am trying to learn.  this place is very well thought out and according to my friend who knows everything about wine, has a superb collection.  nice little bar to taste and nice selection of half bottles to purchase...a bit chilly though...it really is 55 degrees in there.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review