Almost like a magical shop, Bar Chinchilla is a place you have to be looking for in order to find it. Otherwise, your eyes might just slip right past “St. Pete’s smallest bar” – and in the process, you’d be missing out on what has become one of the city’s premier wine destinations.
Located in downtown St. Pete at 439 1st Avenue North, Bar Chinchilla has quietly become a star among local winos, developing a feverishly devoted following and attracting first-timers who have heard the whispers of delight. Despite its small footprint, the popular bar has an incredibly deep and diverse (and constantly rotating) selection of wine and craft beer, with more than 50 individual wines by the glass options available at any given time.
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And this time of year, Bar Chinchilla is also one of our top recs for a Valentine’s date spot, whether you’re planning for full Valentine’s Day romance with your partner or just want somewhere romantic that will impress your new Hinge match. Either way, the intimate space and worldly collection of wines (as well as some supremely tasty small plates) will have the sparks flying.
Drink around the world, in one small bar
While we never need an excuse for a nice bottle of wine, it’s Bar Chinchilla’s wine tastings and wine club that take them over the top as a local standout. The monthly wine tastings are led by expert winesellers, with each iteration focusing on a different region – some commonly known, and some standing out as undiscovered gems. We attended a tasting night this summer that showcased a selection of Lebanese wines and couldn’t get enough of the new-to-us wines (though the pours you get from each bottle are plenty generous).
Bar Chinchilla’s next wine tasting, for example, is a showcase of Northern Italian wines. The tasting takes place on Thursday, February 20 at 6:30 pm inside the intimate bar. As of a publish time, seats were still available, but we recommend grabbing tickets quickly if you’re interested, as these tastings fill up fast. There will also be a blind tasting on Thursday, February 27, which is an experience we highly recommend. The goal is for attendees to explore their palates and preferences, making for a unique and insightful tasting experience.
St. Pete’s favorite wine club
The other favorite for St. Pete oenophiles is the Bar Chinchilla wine club, which sends members home with exciting new wines every month. Bar Chinchilla selects two white and two red wines each month, and members choose in advance whether they would like one red and one white, or two of the same.
And at only $50 per month, members rave about the savings by not paying retail prices for the handpicked and often hard-to-find bottles. Plus, members also receive a 20% discount on all to-go bottles of wine bought at Bar Chinchilla. Pickup is monthly, and what’s particularly nice is that you aren’t required to become a recurring monthly member. If you want to just try it out one month, or perhaps you have a special occasion, you can still get that month’s picks for the same price.
Plus, it’s interactive fun. Tasting notes and suggested food pairings are included with each of the monthly wine club bottles, so you can make a whole night of it at home. And if you pick up your bottles on the Tuesday release day (or the day after) you can enjoy a free glass of the selected wine inside the bar before you leave. Can’t beat that. They also give members a Bar Chinchilla Passport to keep track of the regions being featured and take tasting notes.
Learn more and sign up for the Bar Chinchilla wine club here.
Can’t miss happy hour
Your new fave happy hour has arrived. From Tuesday through Sunday from 4 pm to 7 pm, you can enjoy $1 off all of their beers in stock. For wine drinkers, any bottle of wine opened from the previous day is 25% off by the glass. Or sip on a glass of their house wine for $7. Service industry folks, they’ll take 20% off your tab every day and you get 50% off select bottles on Sundays.
Bar Chinchilla is a St. Pete gem
Nestled in an unassuming location downtown, the intimate beer and wine bar is a cozy must-visit that’s even lovelier at golden hour, especially as summer temps abate and beautiful fall evenings arrive. And a PSA for pet families: Bar Chinchilla’s outdoor patio is indeed dog-friendly.
Bar Chinchilla’s extensive wine list prides itself on the unique sips you can find inside. They price their wines by the glass, the bottle if you’re drinking there, and the bottle to go. The beer menu focuses on Belgian beers, Spanish beers, and other pours you wouldn’t typically find here in St. Pete.
Looking for something to nibble on? The build your own charcuterie board on their new small bites menu is a perfect treat-yourself size. The fresh daily bread and pesto dipping is a cozy situation we always enjoy.
The group is working on bringing something brand new to the spot, so stay tuned for an exciting update, likely in early Spring! In the meantime, Bar Chinchilla is open from 4-10 pm Tuesday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays, they’re open from 4-11 pm, and 12-8 pm on Sundays. They’re closed on Mondays. Visit barchinchilla.com for their current menu and upcoming events.
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