Wine bar$$$north-sideTue-Thu 16:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 16:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-21:00, Mon Closed
Vino Grotta opened in the far Northwest near Cross Mountain to give that part of the city a proper wine bar, with a broad list and small plates; book on Resy.
Signature pour: A glass from the rotating list
Wine focus: Northwest-side wine bar with a broad list
Food: Small plates and cheese
Tip: A genuine wine bar in a part of town that lacked one. Book a table on Resy for a weekend evening.
Wine bar$$$king-williamMon-Fri 16:00-02:00, Sat 11:00-02:00, Sun 11:00-00:00
Bar Loretta in King William is a restaurant and bar in one where wine pairs with modern Texas plates; the happy hour is the value entry, with bottles to go.
Signature pour: A glass to pair with the Texas-inspired plates
Wine focus: Choice wines with proper cocktails
Food: Modern Texas cuisine
Tip: It is a restaurant and bar in one; the happy hour is the value entry. The adjoining market sells bottles to go.
Wine bar$$$southtownMon-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-00:00, Sun 11:00-22:00
Stella Public House in the Blue Star complex pairs a selected international wine list and 20 rotating taps with Neapolitan pizza, a relaxed Southtown room.
Signature pour: A glass to drink with the wood-fired pizza
Wine focus: Internationally curated by-the-glass list
Food: Neapolitan pizza and Italian plates
Tip: The wood-fired pizza and a glass off the international list is the move. The patio overlooks the Blue Star complex.
Wine bar$$$pearlMon-Thu 15:00-00:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-02:00, Sun 12:00-00:00
Sternewirth, the bar inside Hotel Emma at the Pearl, pours wine and cocktails beneath the old brewery's restored cast-iron tanks in a striking room.
Signature pour: A glass under the brewhouse tanks
Wine focus: Wine and cocktails in a historic brewhouse
Food: Bar snacks
Tip: Go for the room as much as the wine; the converted brewhouse is spectacular. Snacks come from the Emma kitchen.
Wine bar$$$downtownTue-Thu 11:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00, Sun 11:00-21:00, Mon Closed
Tre Trattoria downtown pairs a Tuscan-leaning Italian list with its pastas, where happy hour is an easy way in for a glass and a snack before a fuller meal.
Signature pour: A Tuscan red with the pastas
Wine focus: Italian-leaning list with Tuscan focus
Food: Tuscan-Texas Italian plates
Tip: The Italian list pairs naturally with the pastas. Happy hour is a good way in for a glass and a snack.
Wine bar$$$southtownMon-Thu 16:00-21:30, Fri-Sat 16:00-23:00, Sun Closed
Hola! at the entrance to Southtown is a Spanish tapas bar with a wine list to match, with a patio looking out to the Tower of the Americas and Hemisfair.
Signature pour: A Tempranillo with the patio tapas
Wine focus: Spanish-leaning by-the-glass and bottle list
Food: Spanish tapas and small plates
Tip: Order a spread of tapas with a glass off the Spanish-leaning list. The patio with the Tower of the Americas view is the seat to want.