The 1894

So, I was not expecting to have a beer while perusing a nee bookstore this weekend, but lo and behold! I desperately needed to charge my dying phone, and couldn’t find an outlet anywhere in the book aisles. So I stumbled across The 1894, and was immediately greeted by the friendly staff. Their happy hour is awesome- a french pilsner for only $6! And the staff went out of their way to accommodate me near an outlet where i can drink and charge my phone. Again, was not expecting this pleasant bar, but will def be back!

A fantastic location to have a drink, while you’re reading a book or catching up on your writing. Furthermore, all the bartenders are incredibly hospitable and kind as well as give expertise-level recommendations of drink and food options available per the menu that spans a wide variety of wine/beer options, some cleverly named with literary-related titles.

Strongly recommend, great for a small gathering. Literary themed cocktails were outstanding

7/2/2025

Lovely spot. Such friendly people & the best cocktail I've ever had. I look forward to going back some time soon.

Amazing wine bar in a bookstore!

Nice spot to stop.

Stopped by here today spontaneously. Love the bartenders and great drinks. Today was Rose Parade Flight and a COURTail of Thorns and Roses - so good. Here's to a Thursday night at the 1894 :)

Came here during happy hour with my partner. The menu is fairly small but everything we got was really good and I love the vibes here. The earl gray cocktail is possibly one of the best cocktails I've had anywhere and I've had a lot! It smells soooo good. I also loved that the seating was super cozy! I'd be happy coming here alone even and enjoying the drinks with a good book. We found street parking on a Friday afternoon but next time we'll need to find the parking lot that other reviewers have mentioned!

This is my second time here and I gotta say, I just love this place! It's so quaint and the staff are awesome. Located towards the front end of Vroman's book store, they offer wine flights, wine by the glass, unique wine cocktails, beer, hard cider, mocktails, and small bites. Great place to meet friends! *Opened *Wednesday & Thursday 3-9pm * Friday & Saturday 1-9pm *Sunday 1-7pm *Happy Hour *Wednesday-Friday 3-5pm *Plenty of free parking in the lot behind Vroman's

[ Background ] July 2024 on a Sunday at 1:00 PM My knitting and crochet group decided on The 1894 as the spot for our weekly meetup. It's a tiny wine bar located inside Vroman's Bookstore. I entered through the front entrance located on East Colorado Boulevard. But if you park in the lot behind the building and walk south, you will encounter stairs leading to the back entrance of the bookstore, and the wine bar will be inside. Because our group congregated right when this wine bar opened, it was basically empty except for a party of two who were reading, so the ambiance was quiet. Throughout our two-hour stay, other patrons eventually trickled in until it was pretty packed; the mood shifted to a pretty lively vibe with most of the other customers meeting up with friends. The noisy conversations combined with the music playing in the background made it a bit hard to hear my acquaintances, so this location may not always be the most appropriate place to sit down with a book. [ Food ] The 1894 has a decent selection that includes boxes/plates (basically a charcuterie board), snacks, wines, beers, ciders, cocktails, mocktails, and other beverages. Their menu is conveniently located on their website: https://vromans1894.com/menu/ I ordered: * Pomegranate lime-ade ($7.00) This blood-orange-colored mocktail contained "house lime-ade, grenadine, pomegranate float over ice". It had an aesthetically pleasing presentation and came in a hurricane glass topped with ice, real pomegranate seeds, and a cute mint sprig placed on top along with a metallic gold and white striped paper straw. The beverage was refreshing and not too sweet. I did think it was a bit pricey given the volume, especially since it was a mocktail, but I suppose I was also paying for the location. [ Service ] The staff were extremely accommodating. Our party consisted of seven people, so they pushed two tables together. They made sure our water glasses were always full. One server came over to ask if I wanted a refill when I finished my mocktail. And they even made an exception of splitting the check for each person, which they said they don't usually do. [ Tips ] There is a parking lot north of The 1894 with 90-minute parking ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/KBUYbPCFqgwYkvYs5 ). The time limit doesn't seem strict since I parked for two hours and didn't get towed (but park at your own risk). You can enter the lot through the entrances located on Union Street or North Oak Knoll Avenue. Although the lot is shared between multiple businesses (Vroman's Bookstore, Total Wine & More, and The Atrium), there were still plenty of open spots when I was trying to park. The suggested tip was calculated pre-tax, which I always appreciate.

Really enjoyed 1894. Located in a large independent bookstore called Vroman's, this was a nice surprise to come across as I was navigating my way around not exactly in search of bevs or a bite. The ambience was nice and classy, and the uniforms the staff were wearing was reminiscent of the late 1900s era true to the name of the bar. Service was very friendly, running me their personal choices on the abundant list of mocktails present on the menu. I'd ended up settling with a cold brew espresso drink I can't recall the exact name of, and a warm baguette with brie and honey. The cold brew espresso was incredibly refreshing and unique, paired with a dried orange slice garnish and swirly golden straw for an aesthetically appealing touch. It had the kick necessary to wake me up a bit as I was lacking proper sleep. The baguette had amazing texture. It was pillowy and paired perfectly with the brie/honey, as well as the side of generously-seasoned seeds.

A wine bar in back of California's oldest independent bookstore?! What an idea!! Everything is literary themed of course - from the menu to the drinks!! Drinks are delicious, staff are all fantastic, and the vibe is perfect for a relaxing chat with friends! Met up with some awesome Yelp gal pals for Friendsgiving Friday and had a blast! The theme of this spot is so cute - the menu is inside a book and everything is so decorative and quaint. I loved that they even have a mocktail section! The drinks are all just beautifully presented. My friends tried The 1894 and also the Pride & Pearjudice and loved them all. I tried the Floral Spritz mocktail which is lime juice, agave, grenadine, and rose water - very light and refreshing- probably one of the nicest mocktails I've ever had! We also shared the warm Brie with baguette and honey and it was SO good!! Very comforting and complimented our drinks so well. The Brie is very soft and absolutely lovely with the honey - and they also give you some nuts to put on top if you'd like. The baguette is super soft and warmed - just excellent - highly recommend! Staff were so friendly and extremely attentive - my water never went empty and they made sure we had a lovely time. Everything was very clean. It was pretty empty when we arrived around 4pm on a Friday but had completely filled up by 5pm so it gets very busy and the space is limited. They have bar seating and tables as well. Views are of the bookstore and they have books laying around for you to read if you'd like. They offer wine flights and all sorts of unique and fun cocktails. You'll find The 1894 in back of the bookstore - can't miss it. They have a parking lot out back and also street parking in the area. Very cute place for a girl date or just to relax!

Oh, how I waited for this one! What's better than sipping wine and reading your favorite book. Better yet, you can browse the vast collection of books at Vroman's, buy something fun (you must buy the merch before sitting down to read! The public library is on Walnut.), then sit and relax with some wine and a snack while you read! The service is A+. Nice wine selection. You can do a tasting of 4 for $20. They have a small snack menu of which I've tried the Brie/bread/honey and the Meat and Cheese Box. The Brie/bread/honey was nice and filling to drink a glass of wine with, but the Meat and Cheese Box was so-so, mainly because the cheeses were so bland and the crackers tasted stale. The rest of the fruit, nuts, olives, pickles accompanying the cheese and crackers were very nice. It was enough for me to split one box with a friend which is better at the price of $25. The scene can range from quiet and easy to read to loud, happening, and very social depending on the day/time you visit. All in all, a great addition to the neighborhood! (There is also a coffee shop in Vroman's, if you want to read and have a latte after your glass of wine and before you drive home.)

It's in a bookstore so that instantly makes it great. Nice environment to sit and have a glass of wine. The service was very attentive. If books and wine are your thing, I'd highly recommend this bar.

I love this vibe! Book store with a wine bar inside! What more is needed? Chill vibe for sure. A place you can come alone, with a date, or with friends. Drinks are great and appetizers are good. 10/10 guys!

I was so excited when I saw that one of my favorite bookstores was getting a wine bar inside. Books and wine are just perfect. This bar is located inside of Vromans. They not only serve wine but also serve cocktails such as The 1894 with sake and sparkling wine, martinis, a few selection of beers and ciders and even a mocktail! Their cocktails are also literary themed which is cute. They also have a charcutier board *(the Half N' Half), popcorn and mixed nuts for snacks. The charcutier board is a bit limited and not as filling for 3 people. I do love that they have red, white, sparkling, rose, and even orange wine. Their wines seem to change but their selections are great. When I went they had the Lion Tamer Cab which has become one of my favorites. They sell their wine via flights ($20) , per glass or even per bottle. Friendly staff, it can get crowded at times especially around happy hour Hours are different than the bookstore: Tuesday-Saturday 3-9pm Sunday 1-7pm CLOSED Monday Happy Hour: Tues.-Fri. 3pm - 6pm (flights are then $15!) Great spot for a catch up with some friends or even a solo date by yourself and a book. I've seen dogs around in Vroman's but no dogs allowed in 1894.

Located in the back of Vroman's Bookstore is this gem! The menu was very cute and I had the orange wine and my partner had the hazy IPA. The orange wine was absolutely incredible! The servers constantly filled up our water and were very attentive. There is also plenty of parking in the back. Overall, the vibe was super cute and I can't wait to go again.

Such a cool spot! Super hipster, chill, relaxed, and a great vibe. Nestled in the corner of the bookstore, this little bar is an absolute oasis. They have a cool happy hour, wine flights, beer, cocktails, and finger foods. The ambiance is what I truly love. It's got speakeasy vibes mixed with a coffee shop vibe. Great place to chill for a bit, read a book, hang out with a friend, or even get some work done. Service was super friendly. Innovative cocktails that taste delicious. Good wine selections. I highly recommend coming here if you're in the area. Have a glass of wine. Buy a book!

Super cute hidden wine bar inside Vromans bookstore. Free and plenty of parking in the rear. Crafted cocktails, wines, beers and snacks. What more can you ask for while reading a book! Also, 1894 is when Vromans was established.

This place is so cool! It's inside the Vroman's bookstore, you can literally grab a book, go here to get a drink and enjoy. I went on a Saturday with some friends and we sat at the bar. Their cocktails are really good. The menu is the CUTEST. The bartenders were also awesome. Can't wait to go back!

This is a nice wine bar inside the Pasadena bookstore, Vroman's. There is a big parking lot that they share with Total Wine in the back. It's opposite Target's two-story parking lot, so I can see a lot of people parking there too. The spots at Total Wine are so ridiculously small, so people take over two parking spaces all the time. The wine bar is closer to the Colorado entrance of Vroman's. I almost expected to see coffee machines in the kitchen, but all I saw were shelves of wine bottles and glasses. At first, I was hesitant to try it because it was so quiet like at a library. Everyone was hush hush. But the hostess saw me and my party, so she asked for our IDs and COVID vaccinations. Then it was too late to back out. She explained that the menus were the books on the table; they were so cute! They had a small list of cocktails, whites, reds, and a couple sparkling drinks. The servers are generally not attentive with refilling water, but it's not hard to wave for their attention. On a Saturday afternoon, they were not super crowded, which I appreciated. It wasn't so loud that you had to yell, but not so quiet that you could hear two tables behind you. My Yelp buddy Joanne and I enjoyed our time with a glass of wine ($10-16/glass) and shared the cheese board ($20). I would have liked more crackers with the cheese board, but they did give us more jam when we asked. PS. I guess February is Girl Scout cookie season because I saw them tabled in their back entrance.

If this isn't the cutest wine bar tucked into a book store! I love that you can buy a book then sit and read it with a glass or flight of wine! And they have snacks, what more could you ask for?? The service was great too. One person in my group was unsure of what red wine he wanted so our server offered him a small sample of 3 in his wheelhouse. He was pleased with that! We also tried 2 appetizers that were lovely. Great hummus!!

I love Vroman's because it is so much more than a bookstore. They also have a number of unique items - gifts, jewelry, accessories, home goods...and now The 1894. This wine bar is charming & quaint and was named after the year Vroman's was established. There's a book on each table for your reading enjoyment or bring your own. It's also a great spot to hang out with friends while enjoying wine, cheese plates, and small bites. We received a friendly welcome from Doris (the operations manager). She said we could sit wherever we wanted and then brought us some water. She was sweet and told us about the history of the store. Soon after, Marisol, the bar manager, come over to greet us. She was also lovely and was kind enough to bring us some samples of wine to help us decide on our beverage choices. They have a delightful selection to choose from and the flights were also a great option. (Beer & mocktails are also available.) However, it was a hot day, and we were both looking for something a bit more refreshing. Marisol mentioned that they were short staffed so the Literary Cocktail menu wasn't available this evening, but she said she would be happy to make one for us. Since great minds think alike, we both ordered "The Talented Mr. Minty" - peach & lime muddled with mint topped with champagne and served over ice. It was very pretty, delicious, and refreshing. Exactly what we wanted! Shout out to Dolores & Marisol for their impeccable service and making our girls night out even more enjoyable! These two ladies were fantastic! Happy Hour flights are $15 3 - 6 p.m. Open Tuesday - Saturday 3 - 9 pm Sunday 1 - 7 pm Closed Monday. Free parking in the back.

This is not your ordinary Vroman's bookstore. This particular location sells books, unique gifts, has a cute/quaint wine bar. The ambiance is nice, the staff and manager of The 1894 were all so nice and attentive. The quality of the wine/drinks and food were very good and the prices reasonable. I would definitely return.

I wish I had taken photos! It's a cute, cozy, quiet nook inside an adorable bookstore. I would absolutely recommend for a chill girls' night or a date. The wine and snacks were delicious, and not expensive. The best thing however was the service. We asked about the wine, and our server gave us a selection of tastes to try before ordering a glass. She told us about how there were made, and even shared stories about the winemakers. (Well, it's a bookstore... and people who frequent bookstores do love stories.) We found a wine we loved that we wouldn't have tried otherwise. There are so many great restaurants within walking distance, too. This would be a great place to gather before going out. There weren't too many people there. This was nice for us during this Covid surge (we felt very safe), but also worrying because we loved it and wouldn't want it to close. Vromans almost closed recently, since more people are buying their books online. If you love bookstores and wine, please check them out.

Had an absolutely LOVELY Sunday afternoon here with my fiancé. We shared a wine flight and the warm Brie with honey and bread. The servers are kind, quick, and hospitable. The decor is adorable and getting the added bonus of walking around this wonderful bookstore afterwards was such a delight. We will definitely be back again

Wonderful gem of a wine bar located inside the Vromanns bookstore in Pasadena. Super friendly knowledgeable staff and a wonderful selection of vino and all your normal small plates to go along with it. Counter and table seating inside the bookstore make it a fun place to purchase a book and to peruse thru it while enjoying some wine and cheese. Not advertised on the outside of the store but a hidden gem of Pasadena.

The 1894 is a wine bar inside Vromans bookstore. The bar itself gives off DC capital hill bar vibes, someplace to go and casually relax at after work. The menu is currently pretty limited so I've tried most of the cocktails by now, and I've loved every single one. I'm pretty picky when it comes to drinks so to have found a place where I love all their drinks- it's definitely exciting. Service was friendly too. The only slight issue with the bar is that since it's inside Vromans, they close when the bookstore closes at 9 pm, so pretty early compared to your typical bars.

Wine bar meets bookstore? Winning combo. It's a very cool bar! You're seated in a corner of Vroman's, but it's like an alternate realm within the store, with moody lighting and, you know, wine. I enjoyed my wine flight, and thought 4 wines to sample for the price was fair. The kimchi popcorn was savory, and we loved each bite. Great place for a low key get together to thoughtfully catch up with friends. There were folks working and reading at the bar area, too.

The 1894 is the cutest bar literally inside Vroman's Bookstore. The space is not huge, but is such a fun place to grab a drink, wine flight, or beautiful mocktail. Happy hour goes from 3-6pm on Tuesdays through Fridays, and includes a $5 discount on wine flights. Our server was beyond kind and accommodated a large group of us by pushing three tables together. She also steered me away from ordering a wine flight that has a few wines that others have not liked. I ended up with the Dusk to Dawn and thought all four were excellent. I also tried a bite of a shared warm brie with baguette and homey, and it did not disappoint. My friends ordered the hummus snack plate, which I didn't try, but it looked beautiful. Parking was easy on the street around the corner from the bookstore. Definitely give this place a try, it will not disappoint! Also a great spot for a solo read at the bar or a date night.

The wait has been worth it for this adorable book themed wine bar inside of Vroman's bookstore. Came in on day 2 and my friend and I spent over two hours chatting, drinking, eating and feeling just fine about life. Every detail at this establishment is a treasure. The menu is in a book about Vroman's first 100 year history. There are roses made from books! Mine was from the Secret Garden, it was perfect! The food is so tasty. Red wine and cheese pairing - fantastic. Loved the smoky Gouda and Sangiovese pairing the most. The meat platter - 3 super good meat choices Prosciutto and melon salad - so tasty! Love the balsamic drizzle Creme Brielle - creamy almost queso consistency but made from Brie! So good. Fig jam on the side was also my jam. Blueberry, Brie, walnut mini flatbread with micro greens - heavenly Artichoke and burrata mini flatbread - very tasty, perfect size for one or get two to share and try different flavors Lava cake - sooo good! Whipped cream is also good though I wish it was vanilla ice cream. Also got a glass of Pinot from Willamette which was amazing! Will it get loud is full, yes. Is it a great place to catch up and relax? Yes! Can't wait to see if you can rent out the space for parties.

A super cute wine bar inside of a bookstore! The wine options seemed a bit limited but it was still good regardless. The service was great as the staff were all super helpful and friendly. The bathrooms are located upstairs and we're well kept.

I absolutely love this place. I came here while waiting to a table in a restaurant. The service was immediately great. Was greeted and the menu explained. Loved the vibe and the music. Drinks were great. We had the truffle popcorn which was delicious. Will definitely be back

Great environment surrounded by books. Snacks are amazing paired with the drinks. Quiet bar in the middle of a bookstore

My new favorite place!! I've only had snacks but the wine selection and service are exceptional. And A+ for atmosphere since I love books and a historic bookstore!

Delightful addendum to the oldest independent bookstore in So Cal. Always a touchstone for any LA book fiend. Great venue for book club meetings, literary liquid lunch or bibliophilic breakfast. They have creative cocktails, juices and kombuchas and locally sourced beer and wines. Great menu of fun food choices, from fruit laden Waffles to salads, smoked salmon, quiche, hummus, olives and cheese/meat plates. Plus a whole page of sweet tooth selections. I got the beerflight of four local breweries; my favorite was definitely Kinky Blonde by Frogtown. My only wish is that this bar was not half-walled and relatively well-lit. I prefer darker, more intimate drinking places. Being open to the rest of the bookstore, you can't quite overcome the coffee shop ambiance. Plus I don't like to drink within sight of non-imbibers....feels a bit like you are on display or possibly obnoxious. I prefer privacy and low profile drinking. Other than that, I really dig the concept and execution of 1894. Live long and prosper!

The 1894 was an amazing experience. The wine was delicious, the staff was really nice and knowledgeable, and the ambiance inside the bookstore was really unique and fun!

I've come back several times now, mostly on Sunday afternoons. It's never been too busy then. The beers are available - yay! And the people are just as sincere and cool as ever.

I attended a soft opening for this intimate wine bar tucked inside the front of Vroman's bookstore. A much needed addition to the Playhouse district. The menu has something for everyone. The entire menu is well thought out and very much an "experience". The servers are attentive and well versed with the menu. There are many pairings to choose. Love the focus on local LA wines. I enjoyed the French press sangria and GSM flight. The Barata salad and cheese plate more than met my expectations. Simple, clean and tasty. They aren't over reachin Totally worth a visit. They are delivering a great tasting experience for both the wine novice and expert. It's a small space, not noisy and certainly not quiet. Great place to meet friends, go on a date or just kick back and enjoy a book (forget Amazon, they have nothing over Vromans).

As if Vroman's bookstore and café wasn't cool enough already, it now has a classy wine bar. They have a robust selection of drinks and snacks, inviting mid century modern vibe, and friendly service. And everything is literature themed! So happy we have this new addition in Pasadena. Looking forward to returning again and again.

A very cute place but a bit challenging to find since it's located in the library. However, once you find it, it's a cute gem. The prices are reasonable and the popcorn was stellar. Would love to return!

Been wanting to try this place out the minute I saw a bar was opening in Vromans. We were there at 6.30 and there was quite a wait. Seating is limited. If you are more than a party of 2, you have a significant wait as most are two seaters. This is not the kind of place that you can spend a lot of time chatting because there are people just staring you down to finish, So that they can get your table. Couple of suggestions: A proper sign in sheet rather than scratching off on a piece of paper. Extra servers. There were 4 servers incl behind the bar. This place needs definitely 5, maybe 6. Parties left but servers were so busy, it took some time for them to clear the tables, meanwhile there are people looking at the empty tables getting irritated that they can't get it. Service though was friendly. There is no tall barrier to shield you from the patrons at the book store. Either the patrons were staring at your food or reaching over and asking to see the menu. A taller barrier would shield patrons inside the bar but I'm wondering whether a taller barrier would make this place look more tiny On to food. We got the creme Brie With waffle bits.....omg. Insanely good We got the three Cheese board. I wasn't so impressed with this. I loved the Pinot wine flight and my bf liked the Chardonnay flight he got. Cute wine glass holders. I also like the fact that they have 2oz pours. Perfect for those days that you just want a little more wine but not a whole glass.

This place is about as perfect as you can get. The drinks are delicious, they have a nice selection of wine, and the food is yummy- I definitely recommend the toast! The book store is also fun to walk around, great book selection!

Great place for a drink and a small bite after book shopping or as a meet up for a cocktail before heading out to dinner! Cocktails with literary references and great wine. The vibe is great too!

The service here is incredible!!!!. These gals are so funny, down to earth and knowledgeable about wine. They're all different ages, young hip folk, and some wiser more traveled bartenders with great stories for your grandchildren. Overall great choices of wine from all over the globe, only a few duds, and I mean like one or two, probably just one. You've gotta try the orange wine, african rosé, and bordeaux if they still got it. This place is a vibe and a half, and its great for learning about wine, or exploring your great new novel while not paying attention to what you're drinking, or how much.

Great stop after shopping for a little pick me up with good wines, simple hors d'oeuvres and fabulous staff.

located inside vromans. cute decor and nice little bookstore wine shop. their menus are so cute, it's in a book! cute place to catch up with a friend. we also got the charcuterie board which was pretty good, def not mad about that! good wine selection as well. you can park in the vromans lot behind the shop, or across the street in the target lot.

This place was okay. Happy hour offering was lackluster but the wine flight was good. If you get the rose make sure you drink it first because it tastes terrible warm.

Some of the wine was good. Some not good at all. My brie came with a human hair on the plate. I'm not excited by this place.

I made my second visit to 1894 today at about the same time as last week: the result was like the difference between night and day. Yes the main Bartender was someone different, Barry. And i'm thinking that this is why the adherence to good service was so much better than last week. To be fair at 12-ish it was pretty slow and there was no sudden influx of about 15 customers as there was last week. I would say that you can look at this two ways: one...people were turned off with the bad or inept service last week or two: business was geared to arrive later today based on any number of factors. In any event: Barry's service was on point and contributed greatly to a pleasant early afternoon visit. I ordered: a flight of Chardonnay: both oaked and unoaked an order of flavored popcorn a 3 cheese plate of Brie, Lavender cheddar and smoked gouda Mixed Nuts as in last week glass of Pinot Noir The Chard selections are interesting but the San Simeon from Monterey County was Oaky, fruity with earthy notes and the winner as far as i am concerned. The flight selection is interesting: going from non-oaked (grassy, light, notes of apple though w/o too much body), "lightly' oaked (more interesting than the non oak as the chard grape in my book blossoms in oak casks adding deep tones of pepper, citrus and even melon) and heavily oaked (robust, cherries and pecan tones). The Cheese plate is iffy as the cheeses were variable in quality and taste with the Brie winning the horse race after i asked Marcus to mildly nuke it for 8 seconds. Cold Brie is w/o taste. Room temp or heated Brie is much better.The plate also comes with tasty olives and gigantic capers. The crackers served were average though i would have preferred bread. And where is the spread as in mustard? The Nuts as in last week are a bargain at 5 bucks and feature the good stuff: macadamia, pecans, walnuts plus) All-in-all a much better visit than last week due to the positivism and personality of Barry and chill personality of Marcus. But the food selections are an issue as is the plating/presentation on the several that i have ordered particularly the cheese plate. I did have a chance to speak to the GM, Bentley about wine, food, She is a positive person who seems like someone who is looking to improve amd open to suggestions. Since this place is inside Vroman's and next door to the Laemmle Movie theater, i will definitely be back. Cheers!

Wine bar in a bookstore! Very fun atmosphere and nice wine selection. They do have beer too.

What a great idea! My friend Denise and I decided to try out Vroman's latest endeavor, The 1894 Wine Bar, on its second day. We arrived about 4:30, grabbed a free table and were on our way to a new literary adventure. I ordered a red wine from a California winery and Denise had a flight of white wines. We shared the olive dish and an avocado toast, then proceeded to discuss the merits of several books we'd been reading. Before we knew it, it was 6:30 and the only two seats available were at our table. We invited two ladies who were waiting for a table to join us. Kudos to Vroman's for opening the 1894 and doing everything right the first time around. It's evident that a lot of planning has gone into the 1894 and we definitely plan on coming back again.

What we have here on the left is "The Jungle book"a soft yet bitter Taste of the jungle. To the right based on "Forgotten Cocktails" we have the forgotten sour a sherry bitter and softness that tickles the senses. Created by Bartender Barry and cheese charcuterie by Brandon.

We tried this new place last night and it was awful. We sat at the bar and a tallish blonde lady took my husband's wine order...and then never came back. We were simply abandoned. It felt pretty insulting as she was just looking at us from afar and washing glasses. WTF. The other bartender, a guy, was extremely busy. So we got up and left. Never going back. The vibe in there was weirdly negative (and wine selection was boring). Nope, I'm done. BTW, we love Vroman's bookstore, which is where the wine bar is located, and will continue to support them. But the wine bar...no.

This place is a gem! Delicious thoughtfully and sustainably curated wines served by warm and knowledgeable folks. The decor is inviting and the lighting is lovely. Try their spicy kimchi popcorn and charcuterie offerings. They feature talented female wine makers from all around the world. It's the perfect spot for a friend hang, date, or solo evening with a book. I'll definitely be back!