Located on the corner of Broadway and Lincoln, in the lively town of Santa Monica, is Bodega: a bar specializing in, you guessed it, wine.
Established in 2006, Bodega’s mission is to provide a casual, living-room type space, where people can sit back and enjoy each other’s company over a bottle of wine that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
The wide space is filled with tables and couches which makes it perfect for both your girls’ or guys’ night out or your first date with your Bumble match.
The menu includes mostly small bites and pizzas that are meant to be shared, and bonus, nothing will cost you more than $14…sold!
But the main event is their extensive list of wines. At Bodega, they do not take their wine too seriously. In other words, they care more about drinking wine with good company than they do about knowing about it, which is why their selection is reasonably priced, without sacrificing great taste.
When my friend and I visited, we chose a bottle of Reckless Wine’s red blend. It was very smooth, almost velvety and full-bodied (am I a wine-connoisseur yet?) with flavors of blueberry and black cherries. Reckless Wine is made at Rebel Coast Winery located in Rancho Palos Verdes and is known for their red blend as well as being the first company to create cannabis infused wine.
And guess what? It gets even better. You can indulge in Bodega’s happy hour menu every day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and get a glass (or two, or three) of wine for just $7 each and bottles for just $25. And don’t forget to pair it with their delicious margherita flatbread or bacon- wrapped dates starting at $8.
This bar is the perfect spot if you’re looking for an upbeat yet casual place to bring your friends or date, just make sure to arrive early to grab a table or couch because they do not take reservations.
Have a friend who doesn’t like wine (unacceptable!)? Don’t worry, Bodega offers beer and cocktails so everyone can get their alcohol fix.
If Santa Monica is too much of a trek, don’t fret. Bodega also has a location in the Paseo in the lovely and historic town of Pasadena. Cheers!
For the Love of Wine 