Like two paths in a yellow wood, the downtown bar landscape is diverging into homologous entities of libation procurement. The well worn path is lined with popular destination venues like ESPN Zone and Lucky Strike Lanes, both residing in the downtown-lite sprawl of L.A. Live. The road less traveled is a group of downtown bars like The Association and The Varnish striving to become the neighborhood joints for an ever increasing population of locals. Corkbar is the latest addition to this terrain.
Opened on March 5 in South Park’s EVO apartment building, this California focused wine bar should have an easy go of building a clientele. Corkbar has a built in population of regulars in EVO's residents, and other downtown dwellers will be lured in by the comfortable wine country chic space and laid back atmosphere where shorts and flip flops are just as welcome as collars and cocktail dresses.
This casual ambience and emphasis on California wines creates an unpretentious quaffing experience meant to emulate wine tasting at a Napa or Sonoma winery. The snoot-factor inherent at some chi-chi wine bars and restaurants doesn’t exist here—Corkbar doesn’t even have a sommelier. Co-owner Caleb Wines (yep, really his name) and the other partners don’t even have a background in wine, they just couldn’t find an L.A. bar offering the casual Norcal wine country experience they so loved, so they created their own.
The wine list is populated with “discovery brands” representing the best of California labels. Wines emphasizes that only wines Corkbar's enthusiast owners would consistently drink made the cut. This menu is comprised of 40 glasses and roughly 50 wines by the bottle.
Selections like a Miner Viognier and Epiphany Vineyard’s Gypsy blend add to an eclectic roundup, yet the list remains affordable and accessible for both aficionados and two-buck Chuck connoisseurs.
Much like this wine menu, the décor is comfy, natural and chic. Corkbar is dominated by a display of 800-plus bottles that spans the height of the 24 foot ceilings. Natural slab-wood communal tables populate the sitting area and two patios. The place smells pleasantly of trees. And the eponymous corks? They reside decoratively, if subtly, in the naturally stained, wood lined walls. It’s a nice touch, especially considering their origin from Wines’ own cork collection.
Corkbar also serves draft and bottled craft beers imported from San Diego, San Francisco, Chico and Petaluma breweries. The concise food menu features diverse selections including a shredded duck and brussel sprout salad, shrimp risotto and charcuterie selections. All fare is farmer’s market fresh and paired with wine recommendations.
Corkbar’s no pretense atmosphere is aided by a first come first serve table policy and general affordability. This, in conjunction with a beautiful space and meticulously chosen yet largely unfussy menus likely mean this road less traveled won’t stay so for long.
Eat: Corkbar features a compact lunch and dinner menu of salads, sandwiches, charcuterie, entrees and desserts. Standouts include a fontina, cheddar, asiago and roasted pasilla chiles mac and cheese, braised shortribs and banana bread pudding.
Drink: 40 California wines by the glass and 50 by the bottle. Beer options include Stone’s smoked porter and Lagunitas’ pilsner. Champagne is also available.
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