People are more mindful of what they are drinking these days. As a result, sophisticated natural wine bars are popping up all over LA, along with more thoughtful wine procuring at some of our favorite restaurant bars around the city. But first things first: what is natural wine, and what’s the difference between organic and biodynamic grapes?
As explained by beloved president and wine director of The Lucques Group, Caroline Styne (who’s also responsible for what you drink at the Hollywood Bowl), “the major difference that we are looking at with these terms is that organic and biodynamic refer to farming techniques, while natural refers to winemaking. Natural wine is characterized by minimal intervention in both the vineyard and the winemaking process.”
From all-day delis in Echo Park to alfresco spots in Santa Monica to neighborhood hangouts in Hollywood, here’s where to drink natural wine in Los Angeles right now.
In this article:
8700 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
A.O.C., West Hollywood
Best for: trying something new.
Wine Director Caroline Styne curates a robust selection of organic, natural, and biodynamic blends at this staple in West Hollywood, with seasonal fare by chef Suzanne Goin. For organic wine, she recommends Scribe Winery in Sonoma for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet, and a mineral-driven rosé, or the Las Jaras Wines’ Glou Glou chillable red wine from Mendocino County.
aocwinebar.com
Sook, West Adams
Best for: championing women and underrepresented winemakers.
Nestled in Maydan Market, Sook offers natural wines from chef-owner Rose Previte's Go There Wines. It champions innovative wines made by women and underrepresented winemakers from lesser-known wine-making regions, including indigenous California winery Camins 2 Dreams and Syrian refugee Abdullah Richi's Pinot Noir Rosé pet-nat – all paired with Mediterranean small plates.
maydanmarket.com
4301 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
868 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Good Clean Fun, Downtown
This cool all-day Downtown destination for natural wines and Cal-Italian fare was opened by visionaries Ian Asbury and Ari Stevens Zhang in 2021. The new weekend brunch on the leafy patio ranges from morning carbonara to sunrise pizza to chips with caviar. Pair them with Rolfshark Grasparossa, Lambrusco, De Levende Cortez, or Field Recordings Pizza Nights.
instagram.com/gcfwines
Wife and the Somm, Glassell Park
Best for: under-the-radar wines.
With a hearty list of low interventionist and small production wines, this cozy mom-and-pop wine bar is a Glassell Park gem. It carries many classified organic wines, and a good amount are produced organically but the winemakers can’t afford the official classification seal. So, you could say the wife and the somm are ‘wine heroes’ for supporting these visions and producers.
wifeandthesomm.com
3416 Verdugo Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065
5125 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Tabula Rasa Bar, East Hollywood
Best for: generous pours and a wide selection.
Known for generous pours of 20 natural wines by the glass and a 200-bottle selection, Zach Negin (formerly of Bestia) opened back in 2016 and was ahead of his time with this industrial chic neighborhood natural wine bar. Co-owner Nicole Dougherty’s program focuses on clean wines, highlighting female producers and under-represented areas, alongside classics and vintage Grower Champagne.
tabularasabar.com
Seco, Silver Lake
Best for: a block party atmosphere.
This intimate and chic spot in Silver Lake is the sister establishment to Santo sushi next door, where crowds spill out onto the sidewalk for a block party atmosphere on the weekends. Favorite pours include Room Service Red from Do Not Disturb Wines (made with organically farmed Sonoma fruit), LA-based natural wine project Sunshine Wavy, and orange wine from Bheeyo in Paso Robles.
instagram.com/seco.silverlake
3820 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
343 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Henrietta, Echo Park
Best for: a marketplace-meets-bistro atmosphere.
Echo Park’s neighborhood all-day deli, market, and California bistro by Max Lesser (formerly Chi SPACCA) was inspired by the salumerias and cucinas of Rome and provisions shops in America. The expansive wine list by Katie Vonderheide includes chilled reds from Mendocino, orange wines from Alsace, crisp whites from the Canary Islands, and rare indigenous organic grapes from Piemonte producers.
henriettala.com
Crudo e Nudo, Santa Monica
Best for: alfresco sipping near the sea.
This casual café on Santa Monica’s Main Street pairs natural wines with crudo on the patio. Wine Director Simona Topuzovska recommends the Jumbo Time Wines x Crudo e Nudo collaboration for the restaurant's fifth anniversary. Alternatively, Cinque – a skin-contact white field blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Muscat – or a bottle of pioneering Robert Sinskey Wines Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir.
crudoenudo.com
2724 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
3008 Santa Monica Blvd, Westside, CA 90404
Offhand Wine Bar, Santa Monica
Best for: a low-key happy hour.
Launched in 2022 by the Westside Winos, expect a rotating list of natural wines by the glass and a bottle shop available for takeaway or to be enjoyed onsite, plus art and photography from local artists, here. During happy hour, customers gravitate toward Union Sacre's skin contact dry Riesling, Firewatch Pinot Gris by Fossil & Fawn, and Nebbiolo by Idlewild Wines.
offhandwinebar.com
La Cave, Pasadena
Best for: Francophiles.
This natural wine bar in Pasadena is the new arm of chef Romuald Guiot's vegan French bakery ID-Eclair. The natural wine bar specializes in French varietals while offering a curated selection of biodynamic and vegan wines sourced from both local Californian vineyards and renowned European producers. To pair with the wines, La Cave features a menu of small bites in a relaxed atmosphere.
lacave.la
