Sam’s Place
Wine bar · Highland Park
5530 Monte Vista St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Highlights
Mellow wine bar with 70s vibe, cornichon butter, and steak
Mellow wine bar with 70s vibe, cornichon butter, and steak
"The ‘70s man cave vibe at Sam’s Place—wood paneling, flannel curtains, extremely low lighting—makes it feel like you need a password to get in. You don’t, and that’s good because you’ll want to make it your new hangout. Sure, it’s yet another wine bar with good food, but the straightforward confidence of Sam’s cooking puts it in a different league. For “just snacks,” there’s a salami plate with cornichon butter that’ll make you wonder where cornichon butter has been all this time. For a full meal, there’s spicy sweet potatoes, a herby salad, and an excellent bavette steak. Whichever route you go, you’ll order at the bar, where the owner talks through what they’re pouring that night before you grab a candlelit booth and settle in." - brant cox, sylvio martins, andrew ryce, cathy park
"Sam’s Place has no website, no reservations, and zero social media. And yet, this wine bar in Highland Park is no secret, either. The candelit space doubles as a clubhouse for people who have an appreciation for selvedge denim, vermouth spritzes, and $32 bar steaks. No one at Sam’s screams chronically online. They’re asking you where your clogs are from and restoring an Airstream trailer in their spare time. Their drippy aji amarillo chicken wings might leave a stain on your best chore coat, but it'll add character—a nice hook for your monthly Substack." - brant cox, sylvio martins, cathy park
"The mellow ‘70s-man-cave vibe at Sam’s Place—wood paneling, flannel curtains, candle lighting —makes it feel like you might need a password to get in. You don’t, and that’s good, because it's pretty much our ideal midweek drop-in dinner spot. The menu is fairly small, but you can order one of every dish on it—and throw in a few vermouth spritzes—for a group of two or three and stay under budget. Start with the salami plate with cornichon butter that’ll make you wonder where cornichon butter has been, spicy sweet potatoes mellowed by tahini, herb salad with a delicious sesame-hazelnut crunch, and an excellent bavette steak that somehow costs just $32." - brant cox, sylvio martins, garrett snyder
"Sam’s Place is as wonderfully off-the-grid as a wine bar can be: no website, no social media, and no reservation platform to remind you about the dinner plans you clearly forgot about. You’re forced to walk in like everybody else, but there’s usually an empty corner at Highland Park spot for your crew to eat grilled wings, nibble on salads, and split a $32 steak with a round of vermouth spritzes." - sylvio martins, brant cox, garrett snyder, cathy park
"You’re currently dating someone kind of mysterious. They don’t post on social media and have vague hobbies like woodwork and geopolitics. Lean into that energy and take them to Sam’s Place. With its wood paneling, flannel curtains, and extremely low lighting, this Highland Park wine bar looks like somebody built a ‘70s-era man cave with their hands and then started pouring chilled reds. The candlelit booths are sexy and private, but not uncomfortably so. This place works for casual drinks, but if you do decide to stay for a full meal, you’ll be rewarded with an excellent bavette steak and a salami plate with cornichon butter that’ll make you wonder where cornichon butter has been all this time." - sylvio martins, brant cox, cathy park
