33 Wine Shop & Bar

33 Wine Shop & Bar33 Wine Shop & Bar
33 Wine Shop & Bar33 Wine Shop & Bar
Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

1913 Park Ave
Saint Louis, Missouri, 63104-2536
United States

(314) 231-9463 | map
33wine.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.66
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
50
pDev:
6.44%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JRorie:
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Reviewed by JRorie from Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
This place is fantastic! You wouldn't even know it was there, unless someone told you or you just stumbled upon it. No signage from the outside. Very nice neighborhood, nice building, and great vibe inside.

I believe there is a total of 6-8 taps, not many but what they do have is always great quality. Their bottle list is where it is at! Cantillon on the menu many times that I have been in, served at cellar temp. Besides Cantillon, there is just a ton of other great stuff.

Prices are great, around the price you would pay at a low priced liquor store. And they allow for carryout of any bottles you may want.

Staff is great, very knowledgeable. The owner is awesome. Tons of passion for what he does and the industry he is in.
Aug 22, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Sep 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.29 by kjkinsey from Texas

Sep 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.39 by HLD1970 from Illinois

Jul 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.91 by Johnny_Blackhands from Missouri

Jun 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.66 by 30helens from Missouri

May 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by Get_Lowell from Missouri

Apr 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.93 by jhestand from Missouri

Apr 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.75 by Mattyb79 from Virginia

Dec 04, 2014
Photo of PhishNoC
Reviewed by PhishNoC from Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev -3.4%
More a wine bar feel, but they get some great beers on their taps here. Seem to have a great relationship with Perennial, so I've had some great stuff here.
Oct 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by patklupe from Missouri

Aug 28, 2014
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Reviewed by Florida9 from Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -17.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Went here based on the all of the good reviews on BA. Not sure the visit was entirely warranted.
33 Wine is a wine bar and craft beer bar. They sell bottles to go, but this is primarily a bar. There are about 6 taps and somewhere around 100 bottles, though I suspect the number of bottles on offer varies depending on what is available.
I came in to the shop primarily to purchase bottles to go. Since this is a wine bar, to go purchases are made off the menu. There are no shelves to peruse. No labels to read. Just the menu. Others have mentioned they were taken back to the cellar, but that was not the case in my instance. And this was not because they were busy as I was literally the only person in the store at the time. So I ordered a tap beer and sat at the bar to look over the menu.
There were two employees working while I was there. The younger guy was quite helpful and pointed out some "rarer" bottles that likely wouldn't see distribution in my area. The older guy just seemed annoyed by my presence.
Hard to comment on the atmosphere. At the time I was there it was an empty bar in the middle of the day. Didn't eat while I was there, so I am unable to comment on that as well.
In the end, I finished my beer, purchased my bottles and headed down the street to a grocery store (Fields) for some non-beer purchases. As fate would have it, the grocery store had a decent selection of beers so I decided to take a look. I couldn't believe it when I notice two of the bottles of "rare" beer I just bought from 33 right there on the shelf. At a fucking grocery store. And for $4 less a bottle to boot. To think I tipped the guy over at 33 just so he could take advantage of my lack of beer knowledge concerning the local distribution. Oh well, I guess you win some and you lose some.
Aug 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by c-rum from Missouri

Aug 04, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by ajs4bd from Missouri

Jul 01, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by joebostonisdead from Missouri

Jun 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by ASTMONATE from Illinois

Jun 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Metllica97 from Illinois

Jun 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by tpaetow from Missouri

May 15, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by noisefights from Texas

Apr 10, 2014
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Reviewed by drmcleod10 from Missouri

4.93/5  rDev +5.8%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
2 sommeliers work here including the owner

James was very knowledgable and very engaged with us as it was not very crowded.
We ordered plenty of wine and got to pour some rare beers.
Blueprint LSD
FW 17
Volume #1

They brought me back into their beer cellar and let me pick
Brought my father into the wine cellar and did the same

Very friendly and well-versed on both beer and wine
Definitely will be going back
Mar 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by evilcatfish from Missouri

Feb 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by bolognahead from Missouri

Dec 17, 2013
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Reviewed by mdvatab from Indiana

4.8/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Before there was iTap, or the plethora of budding brewpubs in town, there was 33.

My first visit to 33 was in 2005. While I've been a craft/import beer drinker since the mid-90s, 33 probably exposed me to more beer styles and world-class brands than anywhere else. Schneider Aventinus, Aecht Schlenkerna, Bell's Two Hearted, Bitburger Pils, Reissdorf Kolsch, La Fin du Monde, St. Bernardus Abt 12, Cantillon Kriek, and Berliner Weiss (don't remember the brand) to name a few.

33 has an unassuming storefront (not even a sign). Most customers probably would never have even walked-in had they not learned about the place through word of mouth, or when meeting a friend there. The main tasting room is deep with a high ceiling. Numerous clear globes hang from the ceiling, giving the appearance of bubbles floating in the air. The long bar is off to the right, behind which sits special glass-doored coolers that house various wines, by-the-glass offerings, and, of course beer! The draught selection is pretty limited (only ~8 taps), but all are high-quality, and are more difficult to find brews. At the very back of the room is a beautiful cellar, in which beer and wine is stored at a constant temperature of 55F. During warmer months, the back patio is a fantastic place to relax and enjoy a brew (and a smoke for those who are so inclined).

Quality is unbelievable. I mentioned the cellaring conditions of the beer above. The beer is as fresh (or well-cellared) as one could hope for. The owner and servers take great care to polish the glassware, so when it arrives at your table, it's sparkling. Also--33 does a better job than any bar I've ever visited when it comes to serving beer in the appropriate glassware for the style. Often, the glassware is even branded with the name of the brewer who made the beer you've ordered.

Staff is highly-knowledgeable about beer, how to pour it, and can make recommendations if needed. On one of my earlier visits, when I inquired about why my Berliner Weisse was sour (I thought it was infected), the server patiently explained the brewing process of this specific style, and that this was the way the beer was supposed to taste. At times, the place becomes so busy, that it can be a little difficult to get one's server's attention, but it comes with the territory with a popular place like this.

33 has one of the best on-premise beer selections in town. The menu is updated regularly, and there are so many beers offered that it takes a while to get through. The menu's also pretty entertaining to read. (Jokes/witty quips from the current and prior owners.)

I'm not sure about current food offerings at 33, as I've only focused on the beer during recent visits. You're not going to find typical bar food here, though. Generally meat and cheese trays, nuts, hard pretzels, etc.

One last note--33 also sells beer and wine to go. If you're looking for a harder-to-find beer, and other retailers are sold-out, this is one place to look!

I can't recommend this place enough!
Jan 15, 2012
Photo of DCon
Reviewed by DCon from Missouri

4.85/5  rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
While becoming a regular here, this whole review will show how come I went from not even knowing about this place to driving over 30 minutes to come specifically to this outstanding beer bar.

Being located right next to the Baileys Chocolate Bar, it is very similar to this place in the sense that it is not labeled and has limited signage. Not a problem for me! Ill spread the word! Walked into the place, its immediately a fancy, yet urban feel bar with hanging glass blown lights that make the lighting and vibe just right. All times I've came in, there are either couples or even single people enjoying wine. Not once have I seen people with Tulip/snifter glasses filled with one of God's greatest gifts! I'm one of those that breaks this pattern. Both inside and the outside patio are comfortable and always smoke free! Perfect environment to enjoy great brews.

No frosted glasses here! Almost every brew is served with its corresponding style or brewery. Also, if buying the beer by the bottle, they give you the option of having it presented from the cooler or cellar temperature. Very cool!

Service is impeccable! Each employee is here to make sure your experience is always what you expected. Both inside and out, you are greeted and served promptly. Don't need to worry about where you sit.

Both on-tap, fridge, and cellared brews are constantly rotating and the rare ones are first come, first serve. I've taken brew to go many times as well (can't always enjoying everything @ 33!). If not into beer, their wine list will throw you off your seat as well.

Enjoying
Sep 02, 2011
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Reviewed by deserteagle99uzi from Missouri

4.94/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I don't contribute often, however I felt I had to chime in on this bar's already shining reviews.

The Atmosphere upon walking in is quite sparse but in a classy, laid back way. While the bar itself may seem barren without any TVs or eye-catching (eyesore?) decorations it adds together to give this place a unique and extremely pleasant feel. The music selection is done by the staff and has always been to my tastes (classic rock, jazz and '90s alt) and the volume is always appropriate for conversation purposes.

The main bar area consists of high back chairs and tables and a simple bar. There is a nice patio area out back and a second room containing couches and more tables surrounded by walls of wine.

The setup behind the bar is very professional, I've never seen any confusion about where a beer is or where the appropriate glass for it may be. As with the rest of the venue, it doesn't LOOK organized but it is as it needs to be to run smoothly. The glassware selection is excellent as well.

The service has been second to none on every occasion that I've been there. The speed, knowledge, attitude and patience are always spot on and the staff seems to treat newcomers with the same level of respect and expertise as the regulars which is refreshing when compared to many other craft beer bars in the area. This place is one of the few that I feel I can trust fully about blindly selecting me a new beer to try based on a vague description of taste and nail it every time. Nearly all interactions with the staff have been jovial, these guys are all very friendly connoisseurs themselves and it comes through in a way that is friendly yet professional in a very good way.

The selection is hand picked and the menus are edited and updated often to reflect availability. Many beers available are not to be found anywhere else in the city (Founders KBS unannounced on more than one occasion and similarly rare Boulevard one time runs). The only weakness with the selection is the absence of many of the tamer more mediocre beers but for a beer geek this is ideal.

The value is the cheapest I've seen in a bar period. Prices are exact and often not rounded at all which leads me to believe that they are set as an exact % markup of cost. There is an even cheaper set of prices for beer "to go" as it is common (especially in the summer) for customers to purchase growlers or bottles to take out to the park across the street.
Aug 30, 2011
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Reviewed by bsuedekum from Missouri

4.58/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
This is the perfect place when you want to go grab a drink while on a date. They have 5-6 very solid rotating drafts and they have a great bottle list that also includes cheaper "to-go" prices if you want to take a few bottles home. I went last weekend and had a bottle of Cantillon Kriek and I went the weekend before and had a draft Mikkeller Breakfast Geek and a bottle of 3F Sharbeeske Kriek. I mention it's great for a date location because they have an extensive wine list which is perfect for the ladies who don't love craft beer. The staff is great and extremely knowledgeable. Very quaint calm bar in a cool part of the city.
Aug 12, 2011
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

4.16/5  rDev -10.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
Stopped in here on a Friday night and had a few beers on the patio out back. One note: if you sit on the patio there is no table service, you have to go to the bar to get your beer. Inside is fairly minimalist in terms of decor, but it works. The beers were good quality. Taps were clean and they served them in the proper glassware, even with the brewery's logo on it. Service was fine. No problems but nothing great either. The selection was good. 6 taps with two local brewpub beers on tap. The paper menu listing the bottles is what confused me. They have 100s of beers but not that many listed on the menu. As I left I stopped by the bathroom and saw into the wine cellar. There was a ton of awesome beer sitting in there that was not on the list. They were not chilled but could there have been others that were chilled and ready to go? A little disappointing to see that on my way out the door. I didn't try the food. It certainly is a nice beer destination especially since it is next door to Bailey's and a couple blocks from Square One Brewery.
Jul 18, 2011
Photo of phaleslu
Reviewed by phaleslu from Ohio

4.64/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
33 Wine Shop and Tasting Bar doesn’t even have a sign outside, which led to my confusion as I initially looked for this place on my rides home from work a few months back. You pretty much have to know the address and look for the ’1913’ on the door. I came in one day last week after work to try a Cantillon on tap and wound up having a few things. There are 7 taps, but they’re all fantastic at any given time; when I visited, they had Mikkeller, 2 Founders (including Nemesis 2010!), Southern Tier, Harviestoun Old Dubh 18, and Pilsner Urquell in addition to the Cantillon St. Gilloise. There were also some great bottles available, including the just-released Mikkeller/BrewDog I Hardcore You and other stuff I haven’t seen at other bars in the area. They don’t have a kitchen but serve some bread, meat, and cheese plates. Prices are fair, and the atmosphere is a sort of minimalist wine bar. The service is unbelievably friendly, knowledgable, and helpful. It’s cool to go into a wine bar and get world-class beer treatment.
May 18, 2011
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Reviewed by Dogbrick from Ohio

4.28/5  rDev -8.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Stopped in 33 Wine Shop & Tasting Bar on my way back to the STL airport. It is located on Park Ave in the Lafayette Square area on the south side of town, just a stone's throw from Square One. Parking is fairly plentiful between street and lots nearby. I have visited Square One a few times and never noticed this place and clearly I was missing out.

The inside has a very modern look and feel with sleek decor and functional-looking furniture. The bar is on the right side and there are high tables on the left. A huge wine collection is displayed on the split level in the rear. White brick and art dominate the walls. A large chalkboard is behind the bar with the draft beers listed, and the entire beer list is available in their menu, categorized by style.

33's beer selection obviously takes a back seat to wine but what they do have is well thought-out and served with care (and more often than not in appropriate glassware). There are 5 taps, including Dieu du Ciel Aphrodisiaque (kicked), Mikkeller Texas Ranger (tapped), Founders, Bear Republic, Boulevard, and Hitachino. In addition there are around 50 bottled beers from regional brewers like Schlafly, O'Fallon, Boulevard, and Tallgrass. Other micros like Lagunitas and Ska are represented, as are many imports like Uerige Sticke and Rochefort.

Service was very good on a late weekday afternoon. Again this place clearly favors wine (it is in the name after all) but there is clearly an emphasis on quality and presentation no matter what they are pouring.

I tried the cheese plate on my visit and it was enjoyable.

Overall this place is well worth a stop to anyone in the area.
Aug 10, 2010
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Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +7.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
A narrow space dominated by high tables and chairs, but not the standard. Instead, these were more modern structures, adding to the ambiance. Blonde hardwood floors, a short, blonde wood bar with a frosted glass strip running down the bar's centerline and illuminated from underneath. Low-key lighting, art along the left wall, and an owner plus his head bartender continually polishing glassware.

Hey, wait a minute! The exchange rate with the Euro sucks right now and suddenly I'm in Paris? Brussels? Je ne sais quois. Listen, baby, if you're looking for a great place to take your vino-drinking date, this would be the place! It's like Spuytin Duyvil without the spendiness, to invoke my MN friends. They offer meat and cheese traps, to boot. Just two taps, but Val-Dieu and Old Rasputin on my visit, plus a well-selected list of about two dozen BTs.

5's across the board.
Nov 25, 2009
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Reviewed by washburnkid from New York

4.88/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I walked right by this place, which was more exciting than it was annoying. I love semi-hidden beer locales.

When I went, there were at most three other people sitting at the bar with me. It was quiet, and not a ton of things to look at around the place, save for the big wine/beer related crossword puzzle on a chalk board right above the bar. That was pretty fun.

The quality was great. The beers, from what I experienced, were fresh...and there was PLENTY to choose from. They had a great tap list of about 8 brews, and their bottle list was extensive to say the least. I stuck with Founders, since I wasn't sure when I'd be able to try them again now that I'm back in California. I had a super fresh Harvest ale, and a very chocolatey porter.

I didn't have the food, but I really wanted to. If I ever come back here, I'll have myself a nice beer and cheese pairing.

The service was great. The guy behind the bar was the wine guy (as explained in the menu). As he was about to pour my beer, I stopped and asked him if I could do it. I didn't want to be a snob; Founders just has inconsistent carbonation and I wanted to take good care. I felt bad for possibly offending him, and asked him to pour my second one. He also listened intently as I explained why I wanted to pour, and he continued talking to me about beer for a while, made the Harvest Ale suggestion, and chatted until someone interrupted us.

This is a great place. One of the finer beer bars I've been to. If I'm ever in the area again, I'll be sure to hit this place up!
Oct 13, 2009
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Reviewed by Monkeyknife from Missouri

4.86/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
After all these years of enjoying myself at this fine establishment, I realized I've never put in a formal review. Shame on me.

33 is a small and comfortable place to enjoy a nice glass of beer and/or wine. The place has 8 tables or so inside and a couple of gardens outside to enjoy when the weather is right.

The atmosphere is friendly and warm even for a first time visitor.

The beer selection is on the smaller side but well-chosen. No BMC brews here. More than 100 beers in bottles with something for everyone. Six tap handles rotate and the styles vary from Imperial Stouts to Belgian ales and hard-to-find seasonals from a variety of brewers. I've had Hitachino Classic and Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout on tap for example. Very tough to find in this area. Equally impressive is the fact that the beers are served in the proper glassware.

Though this is not a restaurant, you'll find a nice selection of cheeses and crackers. Plenty of great places to eat are just steps away if desired.

In short, 33 is a must-stop destination for anyone looking for a casual and friendly place to enjoy a great beer or a fine wine.
Sep 10, 2009
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Reviewed by remilamy from Missouri

4.9/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
My husband and I did a STL beer bar crawl that included Schlafly, Square One, Stable, Mattingly, and 33 Wine. I'm glad we hit this place last, because we ended up staying there for hours having a great time.

We showed up around 6pm and there was a small handful of people in the bar. It's a long, narrow place with several seats at the bar and very high ceilings (which do make it a bit loud inside). They have 6 taps that are very thoughtfully selected, and a very good bottle list. The food menu's not extensive, but the food itself was fantastic (we got sausages & crackers - extremely delicious). The beverage menu *is* extensive and also highly entertaining to read.

The service was phenomenal - they know their beer, despite being a wine bar, and even serve all of their beer IN THE PROPER GLASSWARE - even down to cute, stubby Hitachino glasses. We chatted with the bar staff several times throughout the night about beer, local food, great nearby restaurants, and various other things. They were fun to talk to, interesting, and very friendly. Typically, I'm the kind of person who doesn't want my bartender or waitstaff to bother me that much, but I truly enjoyed their company.

Highly, highly recommend this place.
Jul 26, 2009
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Reviewed by Ericstl6 from Missouri

4.8/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3
People always laugh when I tell them that my favorite beer bar is a "wine shop and tasting bar". Fact of the matter is that no place in town cares more about maintaining the quality of what they serve.

The bottle list is huge, ranging from domestic micro's to high end imports. Where else in this town can you crack open a bottle of either Southern Tier Gemini (oops I drank out their supply this year) or the upscale somewhat unknown Boegedal Bryghus No .130. And everything is served in the appropriate glassware.

Draft list is a small, but very tight, 6 tap handles that rotate frequently between various domestic micros and imports. A recent visit had Bell's Hopslam, Ayinger Celebrator, Left Hand Smokejumper, Left Hand Milk Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin, and North Coast Red Seal.

You'll find no macro's here. Instead if you bring a BMC friend, they will suggest something that the BMC friend might enjoy.

All their beers are available by the bottle to-go also!
Feb 22, 2009
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Reviewed by BelgianBrewFan from Missouri

4.58/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
My husband and I recently visited with some friends last Friday night. We arrived around 9:30 and the place was pretty crowded. Luckily, we found an open table and were immediately overwhelmed by the menus. The atmosphere is relaxed yet a bit more upscale than a regular pub or bar. It is very easy to separate the wine crowd from the beer crowd. Actually, we were the only group drinking beer while we were in the bar.

Based on the fact that it is a wine bar, the wine list is impressive as well as extensive. To my surprise, the beer list was pretty impressive as well. I was sad to learn that they no longer had the Bernardis Witte on tap... I was looking forward to trying that as I am a fan of witbiers. However, I did enjoy my Blanche De Chambly. I didn't have time to try everything I wanted, but I did eye up a Sammiclaus and a Bells Double Cream for our next visit.

Another perk to this place is the fact that they offer separate pricing for order-ins and to-go beer. Our host was very helpful and definitely knew his stuff when it came to beer.

Definitely deserves a second visit!
Jan 29, 2009
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Reviewed by CMW from Missouri

4.94/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Headed here last weekend with a couple of friends. We arrived around 9 pm after eating and drinks at the Chocolate bar to find one open table. The place has roughly 10 tables and eight stools at the bar and fills up fast. Bottle selection was excellent with a good selection of Belgians and American Micros. Only saw four taps and all were American craft at the time. They were quality though with Bell's Double Cream and Anderson Valley Hop Ottin. Service was prompt and extremely knowledgable. Just heard that this place is changing ownership, hopefully not much changes.
Jan 29, 2009
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Reviewed by brewintheLou from Missouri

4.94/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I have been to the 33 Wine Bar a few times and I have been impressed each time. With around 100 beers to choose from, there is definitly something for everyone, from domestics from all over the country to various imports. Each beer is served in the proper glass as well. Service is outstanding. With only 3 guys working they do an exceptional job. The place is pretty small so it keeps the atmosphere intimate. There is also a nice patio in the back for the warmer nights. Also, each one of the bartenders are knowlegable about their beer and wine. The wine list is also outstanding, and since not everyone is a beer drinker it makes it nice for groups. I believe there are 7 (maybe wrong on that) taps that rotate selection. You can also buy beer or wine to go at very reasonable prices. The prices for drinking "in house" are very reasonable. For food they have cheeses and crackers. A great place to go after having dinner at one of the restaurants on that strip of Park Ave.
Jan 10, 2009
Photo of jcompton
Reviewed by jcompton from Missouri

4.94/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I went into 33 a month or so ago to have a beer with my brother. We had already had a few pints at another place, so I only had one beer (Hopslam), as I was driving. This is a small bar, probably 8 or so tables and 10 or so bar stools. There were 2 bartenders. It was about 4pm when we went, so it wasn't too busy. The bartender that waited on us was extremely knowledgeable about their menu. The beer menu is very impressive (as is the wine list). They also had a few cheeses on hand. It's pretty sweet that you can get beer to go from here for the same price or cheaper from Randall's, plus it's cold. If I lived in Lafayette Square I would visit 33 every week. I would say it's the best beer bar in the city.
Sep 08, 2008
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Reviewed by Realale from Missouri

4.85/5  rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Outstanding wine and beer bar in the Lafayette Square neighborhood. Quite a modern look to it, and quite a hip crowd on a Saturday night. If you intend to have a conversation, try a less busy time, or the patio out back. As I've visited more, I've really settled in here, and find it a wonderfully relaxing, convivial place. Completely non-smoking which was a big plus in my book. Food is an increasingly interesting selection of cheeses, crackers and cured meats.
Closed Sunday and Monday.

Beer is available for both on-premises consumption and take-away. The take-away prices are very fair, and the drink-in prices reasonable as well, though the mark-ups on wine are even more reasonable. Beer has become a co-primary focus with wine over the years, and the owner, Jake, is quite passionate about beer. Jake has recently turned the reigns of the beer selection over to Dylan, who is an excellent homebrewer, and very much a beer guy.

The beer list has grown to about 100 selections, versus several hundred wine selections, but there is not a dud on the list, and the selection rotates. Plenty of Belgians, Bell's, British, and German, with a focus on frequent rotation with the seasons. All beer kept in dark, temperature-controlled storage so it's condition is impeccable. In addition, 33 now sports 6 taps, which rotate frequently through a selection of really interesting craft selections, and B.United and Shelton imports.

Lots of folks drink beer here, and Jake and his staff are as happy to pontificate on a $4 bottle of beer as they are on a $40 bottle of wine. Definitely a place that recognizes that taking care of customers with personal, thoughtful service is a key to long-term success. My highest recommendation.
Mar 31, 2008
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Reviewed by nogoodreason from Missouri

4.8/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Some how, some way a wine bar manages to be a better beer place than any other in the city... how do they do that?

Well, there's the selection, each beer picked by the people selling it because they like it. Since I first wrote this review, Jake has brought on a beergeek as a full time employee who has taken an already tight list and made it tighter. No crap. Just yummy beer.

We're not talking hundreds of beers. Probably only 50 or 60 individual selections. Currently only two beers on draft but they're apparently adding another kegerator bringing it up to four. Four taps isn't a lot, but when the taps are focused on craft beers that you don't see all around town, well you can't exactly complain. At the time of this review, drafts consist of something beligian I can't remember and North Coast's Old Rasputin (IMO, a much better beer on tap than bottled).

The service is nothing short of excellent. Frankly, I think you'd be hard pressed to find better service anywhere. They're prompt, friendly, get to know their customers and know their products.

As far as quality, unlike any other place I've ever been too, every beverage in the place is stored either in a 55 degree cellar or a fridge. Nothing sits warm, nothing sits in the light, that means if a beer got to 33 in reasonable condition, it'll be in reasonable condition when you drink it. Over the years, I've bought and drank a lot of beer from thirty three. NEVER have I had a problem with freshness.

Atmosphere-wise it's a clean, dimly lit and upscale environment. Small places so there's not a lot of seating and on weekends it can get quite crowded and loud. When it's crowded indoors, the patio out back is very nice, great for spring and summer evening and with a small group I can normally find seating as long as I don't show up too late.

Jake and his employees (Dillan and Mike) are really personable and really excited about good beer. They're all familiar with the products, so if you're looking for something, just ask.

The upscale interior of the place might turn off some individuals who prefer to drink in pubs, but the place is, given a chance, really welcoming and resultingly it's become a favorite haunt of mine.

Also worth mentioning is that Jake's wine list is hovering well above 500 wines, primarily from small producers. If you go out with wine drinkers, this is the place. They can get their fix and you can get yours.
Jan 04, 2008
33 Wine Shop & Bar in Saint Louis, MO
Place rating: 4.66 out of 5 with 50 ratings