Bar Lamar

It's not that bad of a spot. I can get a beer to walk around while I shop or I can sit down and enjoy food with a beer. They always have a great selection on tap. By the way don't go expecting the quality if an actual bar. It's a bar inside of a grocery store afterall.

Fun place.

Need a glass of wine or a pint? They can even give you a plastic cup to carry around the store or you can sit at the bar or one of the many tables at Bar Lamar. Conveniently located right next to the wine section. Order at the bar there's a service station to the side as well. You'll have to keep an eye when there's someone manning the bar as it doesn't look like they have someone there at the posted hours - I think Amazon is trying to cut costs obviously so the person behind the counter probably has other jobs on the floor too. Since it was raining outside , I had time to kill but if you really want a drink this probably isn't the place as who knows when this place is staffed. I kept looking at the bar area for a good 15 minutes before I saw someone working there. Also you can't just say you want like give me a Pinot or Cabernet... they will hand you a menu and you'll have to pick the wine you want exactly. Kind of sucks but I guess they are really store employees and not bartenders. I did get a nice Pinot which was like the first red wine listed. The pour seemed generous and you'll pay for the generosity. About 16$ for a glass which isn't too bad; at least it's not steakhouse prices.

Cool little bar to get a pint or a glass of wine in whole foods. Great variety of craft beer. Really enjoyed people watching.

We were trying to decide what to eat so we stopped at Whole Foods because they have a wide selection and we were close. I could feel something drawing me to the back of the store. Fortunately, I followed my inner voice and found myself staring at Bar Lamar. This was a great find for me. They have some nice craft beers on draft and wine as well. It's great for people watching and if you get hungry, you're in a grocery store so just grab something. Great concept and a nice place to relax.

Horrendous. Went on a Saturday evening. Found a seat but not service. Someone came and said they would bring water, which after 15 minutes never arrived. Bartender was within eye line but did nothing. The place smelled rather fishy literally and figuratively. Saw the patrons adjacent leaving their half eaten salads so doubt that I was missing much. Additionally, went to see if I could eat some oysters from the raw bar and was Candidly told they were terrible. I appreciate the honesty I guess. Dove tails nicely with the wine tasting 10 feet away where the employee was too busy flirting to serve anyone else. Maybe Jeff Bezos can fix this sunken flagship?

The legend of bar lamar is only whispered among other citys' WFM shoppers. "I hear Austin has a bar..." "No! Tell me more" "There are $10 flights of wine... and you can just buy wine and drink it right there!" "Fake lie! Go on..." All the rumors are true. Cheap flights, wine on tap, delicious local beers. One time we got a bottle of orange juice and two bottles of prosecco, got drunk and wandered the ready foods sections making the best brunch known to man. Bar Lamar is everything you want in a bar and now they have an entire menu of grilled cheeses. That's right -- grilled cheese sammies and cheap wine. It's like a dream come true. * *Our sandwiches were actually not cooked all the way through -- the cheese was still noticeably shreddy -- and were really greasy. I'm going to assume that was a fluke due to remodeling and get right back in that game.

I have your afternoon planned out in Austin, people. And it involves walking. But first, it involves sitting. That's right, the flagship Whole Foods at 6th and Lamar has a bar. A real bar. Where they serve wine and stuff. How "Austin". So here's The Plan: Step One: You come to Bar Lamar at Whole Foods and sit down. Step Two: Order some wine. Or a snack. Step Three: Drink wine (eat snack) while doing: Step Four: Laughing a little with your friends (but not too much, this is Flagship Whole Foods so you need to 'stay cool'...oh who am I kidding laugh as loud and often as you like) (Optional) Step Four: Bring a book and read (Optional) Step Four: People watch Step Five: Order more wine. Go ahead and just get shitfaced. The wine is affordable (ironic, being Whole Paycheck, I mean, Whole Foods) Step Six: Scratch Step Five, we don't want you getting arrested for public intoxication Step Seven: Stand up, stretch, and walk. Walk down the miles of aisles in Whole Foods and get some greens. Peruse the chocolate bar. Shake up a bottle of Kombucha for the poor sucker who is going to purchase and open the bottle next. Step Eight/Nine/Ten/Ect: Walk some more. Walk to Bookpeople (it's next door). Walk to Waterloo Records (it's across the street). Walk to buy some overpriced furniture, or cute clothes. If you are really ambitious you can walk down to the douchey bars of West 6th street and see some Lacoste polo shirts on people and take in a swim at Rio's Rooftop Pool (don't actually go there). Walk down to Lady Bird Lake and do some stand up paddle board, as that's still hip (I think). All in all the wine bar at Whole Foods is great fuel for your walking-in-Austin adventures. Welcome to Austin. Even if you are from here. Welcome.

Oh my...I think I am obsessed with Bar Lamar. Recently, my girlfriends and I started wogging (walk/jog) around Town Lake a couple times a week. Well, we also started going to Bar Lamar following our workout with the intent of having a healthy dinner. Drinking in Whole Foods isn't bad for you right? Of course not! You can grab something from the salad bar and pull up a bar stool. I know folks like to call Whole Foods - Whole Paycheck but Bar Lamar is a bargain. I always end up ordering the champagne flight which is 3 generously poured flutes of bubbles for $6 which would cost double if not more at any wine bar! While I might not be getting the best results from my wog, my social life and wallet are very happy with me!

I think drinking while grocery shopping is the best idea ever. People might think happy hour at Whole Foods is a little strange but I think it's perfect! There are plenty of little tables to sit and chat with friends. They have a pretty great selection and beers and wine. I think the wine flights are the best deal. You can buy a bottle of your favorite when you're done and take it home. They also have bar snacks like cheese plates, nuts, and grilled cheese sandwiches. You can also pick up food in the store and bring it to the bar to enjoy. Our bartender/server, Liz, was super helpful and sweet. I couldn't pick a third wine for my flight and let her do it. Her pick was perfect. It was my favorite one of the bunch! This would be a great place for a unusual date. I'm guessing a third or fourth date would be perfect here.

Finally a sweet replacement for the defunct Central Market South wine bar. It's about time! Plus it is a logical move for Whole Foods. The flagship store is more of a 'destination' than a 'pop-in for something quick' kind of place. So why not sit down, have a glass of adult libation and people watch? I am especially impressed by their wine on tap selection...what a unique twist. It is a nice touch that you can purchase consumables from anywhere in the store to enjoy with your drink. Bulk candies or nuts with beer? Why yes please! They'll even provide a paper cup so you can carry your drink around the store and shop!

Wine flights for $6-8? Cheese plates for about the same? The option of getting delicious food from any of the kiosks, aisles, or salad bar at Whole Foods? Do you know what 64 oz. of beer for an unbelievably low price is like? It's called a growler, and the whole experience is amazing. It doesn't look like much, and you're right in the middle of a grocery store, but these are things that I like about it. Would I have my 25th wedding anniversary dinner here? Eh, probably not. Would I (do I) go here every other day to have good wine and food and company for cheap? Yes.

Seeing as the guy who started Whole Foods in the beginning is actually from Austin he decided to build a new flagship store 2 years ago downtown right next to the up and coming and rapidly developing Warehouse District. This place is huge - 80,000 sq foot to be precise, yep it has everything that any discerning tree hugger could ever want out of a supermarket - and more. Put it this way, if you died and went to food heaven, this is exactly what it would look like! Not only is there every fresh organic produce imaginable abundantly available at this store, they then present it like it was food of the gods. Walking through this place is one hell of an experience, as after you have got over the shock of what is to offer to buy round one corner, you then realise they offer to cook it all for you round the next! There are no less than 30 food stations with all types of 'take home' options to choose from. I always make sure I have a napkin in my handbag when I go in here just incase I have a involuntary drool attack from staring at all the amazing food on offer. You think I jest - sadly I don't. This place is a 'must be seen to be believed' kinda place.