West End Wine Bar

11/12/2006 Posted by kimtastic

Small & cozy with comfy couches. A good place to get together and talk with friends and get away from the college crowds on Franklin Street. Good wine selection and food!

Pros: Ambience

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

06/22/2006 Posted by jana888

even though the bartenders at West End don't really have to do anything but pour glasses of wine for a handful of customers, they are still some of the slowest and most unpleasant out of any bar you will ever go to. prepare to be snubbed whether or not you have knowledge of wine. the ambience and layout are mediocre, but not enough to make up for the attitudes of the people working there. The bar's attempt at character mostly just amounts to a pretentious attitude! go next door to Tallula's... or anywhere else!!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

10/28/2005 Posted by mom2chrisjenny

My husband and I come here a lot on "date night" and we love it. The crowd is a bit younger than us (we're early 40's, they're mostly 20's), but its still a great little place. Its cozy, romantic and they have a great wine list.

03/06/2005 Posted by tomleblanc

I've been to West End so many times now I've lost count! While the wine list is tough to beat, that's not why I frequent this great establishment. What keeps me coming back is the great atmosphere! The mixture of lighting, artwork, and diverse, unusual seating makes for a perfect date spot or a place to just relax after dinner. It tends to get quite crowded on weekends though, so be prepared to wait in line for a drink and a seat. While it tends to get a bit noisy at times, conversation is always possible, making it a great place to relax and chat over some fabulous wine. I particularly like visiting West End in the springtime, when the front windows are removed and the place is transformed into an open-air paradise. This wine bar is a must try!

Pros: atmosphere, the wine, and more wine!

Cons: parking

06/13/2003 Posted by alwaysontheroad

What a great spot to hang out and relax after a long day. Couches, tables, comfy chairs, the whole shooting match. Live bands on several nights a week. A definite stop on Franklin Street. The crowd isn't your normal college crowd. More up-scale grad-students with a mix of the more hip college crowd. Great place.

Pros: Atmosphere, Bands

03/14/2003 Posted by Chapel_Hill_Review

Chapel Hill's West End Wine bar has great potential. The atmosphere is great, the crowd is a lot of fun, but the service has a lot to be desired. I'm confident the fellows behind the bar know a lot more about wine than I (or the average patron) know about wine. That's why they work there and we all work somewhere else. Unfortunately, when asked about any of the boutique wines on the list they usually sigh and act bothered to tell you about them. Another problem with the Wine Bar is the incredibly slow manner in which the bartenders take care of customers. Be prepared to spend 5 - 10 minutes idly standing at the bar before they'll even look at you when you want another round.

Pros: atmosphere, location, crowd

Cons: service, price

01/20/2003 Posted by sdogra

nice place to sit down, have a great glass of bubbly by the glass and discuss your particular philosophy in life with your friends- much better than a seedy smoke-filled coffee cafe. Enjoy.

Pros: relaxed atmosphere, good seating

05/16/2002 Posted by ebergman_citysearch

A nice escape from the grimy college bars that line Franklin Street. Décor is just funky enough and the rooftop patio makes for a pleasant evening. This is the kind of place you can take your mom or a date.

05/14/2002 Posted by MarkSeawell_Citysearch

Huge selection of fine wines. Artsy decor, bordering on trendy--but in a very good way. Cozy sofas and warm lighting downstairs, star-lit open-air patio upstairs. It's the best spot on Franklin Street for a mellow night on the town. Dress up, dress down--it's all appropriate. Plan a romantic ending to your date after the movie. Or mingle--the crowd is always attractive!

Pros: atmosphere

Cons: no liquors

05/13/2002 Posted by KForrest_Citysearch

I love this bar--not because of its wine selection (although it has a good one), but because of the atmosphere. If you get there early enough, you can snag a comfy sofa downstairs, or a table upstairs on the patio. Nice range of prices, friendly bartenders.

Pros: good atmosphere

Cons: very little mingling