5 stars to Michael the bartender, the real MVP, but only 3-4 stars to Covell because it's overpriced and the cheese platter was disappointing at best. If you like a bowl of a bread and a sliver of cheese for $25, then by all means... But let's get back to Michael, the main highlight of the night. He was definitely one of those bartenders that made you feel welcome and wanted you to sample a few wines before you chose one, which is really great if you are trying to learn which kind of wines you appreciate and which ones you can NEXT. But overall having Michael behind the bar made the experience worth it. He was extremely patient, always rocking a smile, and the kind of guy that you want to see at your local wine spot. And I'm realizing now that my review sounds like a diary entry about Michael... oops. But Covell, you are cute and I'll be back for a visit. read more

After having a tweet fwd'd to me from Covell, I popped in on a Saturday night and stayed for a few glasses of wine. I think I cried real tears when Sgt. Recruiter shut up shop and lo! here is an even better replacement. Real people. Really good wine... walking in felt like walking into a friend's bar and you very quickly feel like you're making friends with the staff and the bound-to-be regulars -- an unusual feeling in this town. So that's the thing about Covell: it has clearly been conceived of, developed, and nurtured to be a neighborhood joint; a true community business, designed by someone who really cares about his community. I'll definitely be back and look forward to watching the place grow and snacks/food join the menu of wine and beers (on tap). read more

Cozy hip wine bar with a cool vibe. Great wine selection - knowledgable, cute and helpful bartenders with great sense of style - just like the actual establishment - love the decor with the old school keys on the walls, the old school cameras - noisy, but not too bad - what you would find at any local bar. Cool people. Im a fan! Ambiance: 4 ( a bit cozy) Service: 4-Knowledgeable and helpful Food: 4-Didnt try, but wine selection was great and tasted good read more

Love the concept of no wine menu - although it was a bit scary waiting for my bill without seeing the prices first ;) Me and the ol' ball and chain shared glasses of the Zorzal and a grenache from Catalan, they were exactly the kinds of wine I love! Customer service was pretty good for a busy Saturday night. Super dark cave-y interior, great for dates and chitchats since it's not too loud. But the best part of the whole thing was the damn EPOISSES CHEESE. Quite seriously it was the best cheese I've ever had. Served with warm bread, honeycomb, sliced apple, and pistachios. Effing perfection. I wanna make love to it. And I'm lactose intolerant. Got out of there for $59 after tip. Not too shabby. I'll be back! read more

I always find myself at this swanky little beer/wine bar when I come out to Los Feliz to get my haircut - if you haven't been to Primrose Organics next door (go!) and if you want to know who to go to.. See Brandon (he's awesome) but back to Covell.. They always have a pretty nice rotating beer list which allows me to try a bunch of diff stuff when I stop by - helpful staff, chill atmosphere, and good drinks - what more could you ask for! Must check out in my opinion! read more

I've been a fan of Dustin's since I went to the bar at Cafe Stella's one night, but always felt like the bar there was a little too small; I've known about Matt ever since he helped me choose AMAZING wines for my wedding. What a wonderful surprise to see two fantastic people who love wine come together for this bar! It's got space to move around, but the fun, intimate vibe is still there, the wines are delicious and best of all, reasonably priced. I haven't personally tried the beers, but my friend said they were all fantastic. It's my new favorite spot! read more

Very classy place to bring a date, Fair prices. I went there with my Wife. Although a bit packed we had a good time. I would go there again for sure. read more

I had a private party in the Sidebar, next to Covell. Mattie was incredible, the bartender working at the party (Amsy) was professional and friendly. The whole event was delightful and easy. A great place to host a party!! read more

Just love this place... from the dim Edison lightbulbs to the reclaimed wood to the super-friendly guys who run the place. I was with friends who drink beer so I drank beer but next time I will be drinking wine. I've been told the guys really guide you in the right direction with a glass or a bottle of wine that is just suited for you.... and they do it in a down-to-earth way. So if you are nervous about asking about wine, you shouldn't be here! The place just has the best crowd and a great laid back, relaxed vibe. Someone in the place ordered the charcuterie plate and the garlic toast smelled fucking AMAZING... so the food must be really good here. Can't wait to try everything and to support these awesome guys with my business. read more

Spicy Mac and Cheese is sooo good! Good wine and beer on tap!

If I lived in LA, this would be my regular hang. A very cozy and charming neighborhood wine bar. On a Thursday night, my hubby and I were able to walk in and pull up a couple of bar stools at the bar. The staff was extremely nice and very knowledgable about their wine and beer selection. I wish we had gone here for dinner, because I was very pleased to see the cheese and charcuterie selections on the menus. Fortunately, I did save room for dessert and when I saw croissant bread pudding, my mind was blown and I had to order it. I told my husband if I ever died from an overdose, it would be an overdose of croissants, my single favorite food. The croissant bread pudding did not disappoint. Heavenly! With it being our first night in LA, and only my second trip there ever (the first trip did not leave me wanting more), I was expecting more attitude and heftier price tags. Covell was the polar opposite of my LA expectations. Every person in the bar was so nice and down to earth. We liked it so much we thought about going back a couple of times on our short trip to Cali. read more

Such a cool place! If I was cool enough to live in LA, I'd hang out here all the time. No, but really, I look forward to coming back here next time I'm in town. The decor inside is really interesting -- complete with a door masquerading as a bookshelf -- and the wine list is very impressive. I don't know if he was the owner, manager, or a waiter, but whoever helped me choose a wine was able to find me a glass of exactly what I was craving after a brief conversation about my wine preferences. Plus, he was friendly and helpful, so if I could give a sixth star, I would. I didn't get a chance to try anything off their food menu, but my friend got the tortilla española and said it was delicious (it looked great, too, and came with a nice side of greens). For those of you more into beer than wine, this place has a very unique selection of beers on tap as well. Check it out. You won't be sorry. read more

I love my cocktails and tend not to drink much beer or wine. I do like wine. I like wine tastings. I like the history of it. I enjoy the process of figuring out why I like a particular varietal. I do the same with beer. But I don't usually go to wine bars because I feel limited by my choices. No hard booze? However, I had wanted to go to Covell for a while. The buzz (haha) was good. And once I walked in, I knew why. Dark? Check. Cool decor? Check. I loved the old timey cameras on the walls. And wine? Oh check, check, check. My friend described what sort of wine she was looking for and it took a couple of glasses to figure it out. I picked a pinot and it was one of the best I've had. Loved it. I wrote down the name but alas have subsequently lost it. But I don't mind. I know I can go back and explain to them what I like and they'll find it. Or find something just as good. I never thought I'd say this but I like wine bars. Or I just like Covell. read more

Love this place! I want to go back right now! This spot couldn't be any cuter and couldn't be more approachable for wine lovers, wine beginners or just those that want a new spot to gather with friends. They really did everything right here. From the vintage decor to chalk board wine list, you feel at home and at ease and really have to force yourself to leave. We dropped in on a Saturday afternoon around 5 and enjoyed a couple glasses of wine and a charcuterie plate. The guys behind the bar are super helpful and will guide you into trying something new based on your preferences. The selection is diverse from South American Tannat to French Carignan with the more widely known Malbecs, Zins and everything else in between. The food menu is short- cheese plate, charcuterie or a croque-type sandwich. We had the charcuterie which was 5-6 different meats, pickled spicy peppers, mustard, cornichons and 3 slices of toasted baguette. This was enough to hold us over until our late dinner. The crowd was definitely local, and definitely wine people. There was a point with standing room only, so overall, the place has gotten a lot of good initial interest. I will most definitely come back as the space couldn't be more comfortable and conducive to enjoying your friend's company. read more

My fave local hole-in-a-wall wine spot (bar)....i love the atmosphere and the selection of wines they have. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and will always suggest just the right thing for you to have, all you have to do is tell them what you like or what you're in the mood for. The only downside is the bar is very small and gets super crowded, so there is usually not enough seating and not much place to move around, BUT after a couple of glasses of wine...none of that matters anymore. :) It's a great wine bar...definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! read more

I didn't actually try any of the food here but I plan on going back to do so! So this review is just of the wine and service. Came here on a Sunday evening and there wasn't many people there so we got to sit at the bar and chat it up. They don't have a wine list and never will since they want to actually talk to you and find out what you like and then have you try different wines which is awesome. We ended up getting this one that two 82 year olds grow and Covell is one of I think 6 places in California that serves it by the glass. It was fantastic! read more

The Good - Hosted my marital unit's 40th surprise birthday party at the Sidebar. Matthew was great to work with - he was very responsive and helpful. He also hooked me up with oysters and a suckling pig from Chef Spencer at L&E! The food from Covell itself was delicious, especially the cheese plate. The wine and beer selection had something for everyone. The Bad - I honestly can't think of anything. The Ugly - The Sidebar is a private room for parties with a secret library door entry. It has its own bar and restroom (and wall beer tap!). The space itself is cool and intimate - perfect for the 20 people we had, but it could have held more. Our private bartender Michael was knowledgeable, easygoing, and very nice. read more

Covell is a great wine bar for these following reasons: *it serves fantastic wines *knowledgeable staff *wide price range *has a warm & lovely ambiance *chill yet interesting customers *cool music *and fortunately does NOT have TV's Nice going...on your gold mine! read more

Try the Boomtown Brewery beer now on tap--the Belgian white ale is in and an actually scrumptious IPA is coming. Covell is now open for weekend brunch 11-3 pm, so you can drink and eat HomeState tacos. read more

Again wish I could go 3.5. I like what the owners are trying to do and I like all of the bartenders that I have met, but I am trying to give an honest recommend for the uninitiated here. I am a wine drinker, I live in Silverlake, I like to go out in said neighborhood and drink said beverage to see what kind of "talent" is on the prowl, thus making Covell an obvious choice for me. But I can't get over the NO MENU. I just can't. I think the feelings and mood and notes talk work well for the previously uneducated, I appreciate that in fact. But for those of us who do enjoy the vine, I want to peruse, I want to be intrigued by some interesting decently valued bottle that I haven't seen before. I can't have the "what mood" conversation where I'm unknowingly committing to a $15 glass when I'm put on the spot in front of five people in the que; they're waiting on drinks and I'm in a ball flexing competition with the bartender. As someone who has managed at a bar, I know it's tough and at times impossible to manage a list, but I think there has to be something. I will go back, but that's off my chest. Positive: Croque Monsieur, nice small selection of craft beers if you care to switch it up Parking: Go street, valet is cheap if the street is full read more

A nice cozy wine bar. The bartenders ask you a series of questions about the type of wine you enjoy and from that they give you several to try. Only downside is there is no wine list nor prices listed. I'm sure you can ask or just gamble and go with the one you like best regardless of price. A nice variety of seating and you can actually hear each other talk which is a plus. Good date spot or ladies night out :) read more

Covell was such a fun place for a couple to go before seeing a movie at Los Feliz theater! We went at around 7:30 on a weeknight, and it was pretty crowded - had to wait around a bit to find a sweat. They have a few high tables and plenty of bar seating, but be prepared to wait, especially if you're in a group of more than two. There's no wine menu here, so just tell the bartender what you're usually into, and they'll offer some for tasting. I ended up having the most delicious Montepulciano (and their servings are pretty generous too!). They also have a lot of great beers on tap that you can sample. My boyfriend and I finally snagged a high table and ordered their charcuterie platter. It's a little on the pricey side, especially for the amount of food you're getting, but the meat and cheeses are delicious. I highly recommend their soppresetta! I loved the ambiance - it was dark and candlelit and seemed really homey. It was pretty loud, so I can see it difficult to come with a group, but if you're sticking with just one or two other people, it's perfect. The area is very walkable with Hillhurst and Vermont just steps away, and you're right next door to some other fun spots like Homestate and Kismet. read more

Amazing wine bar. The atmosphere and light settings were right on point. I would definitely come here again. read more

Covell - I love this place. The atmosphere and wine selections are great. They also have cider. Yum. - Wine Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Just had my 30th in the side bar room and it was one of the best times I've had in a long time. Food was delicious, decor and secret little door way was so fun... as well as the beer tap!! I HIGHLY recommend this spot. On the flip side, if you're just going for a spot to grab a drink and some cheese with a friend, this is the perfect place to be! x read more

Been hearing a lot about this place and finally decided to give it a try. Excellent all around, really felt like a local spot with tasteful selection of sips and bites. I was a little hesitant about a lack of a menu for their wine, but the Malbec (High Note) was excellent and reasonably priced. We also shared a charcuterie plate which I don't normally go for but I'd highly recommend. The space is dark and done right; you'll appreciate the 'secret' doors in the back disguised as bookshelves or walls -- not sure where they lead, although I'm guessing to the charming boutique hotel situated above. Overall solid spot for a chat and sip. read more

I love this place. It's a great wine bar. The staff are very friendly, great with recommendations and helping to discover new things. The charcuterie board and chocolate cake situation are also worth exploring. It can be crowded but it hasn't felt overwhelming. It's a small joint so probably not the greatest for big groups. read more

Excellent neighborhood wine bar. There is no published wine list. The bar-keep, Matthew, calls it an interactive wine list. He asks you some questions about the kind of wine you would like and then pours a few samples of his suggestions. He is quite knowledgeable. We ended up with a Granache and a Riojo. From watching others at the bar - he seemed to nail the selection each time. Also has a wonderful and well thought out cheese platter. Overall - if you are looking for a fun place and are willing to be adventurous and try new wines - this is the place. read more

What a classy little watering hole! We stumbled in here after a graduation party last Friday night. I didn't get any food but am regretting that decision a bit after looking at the scrumptious-looking food pics below. Had a glass of Pinot Grigio from Croatia, absolutely loved it. The bartender gave me a few samples to try. She was very friendly, unjaded, and not the least bit pretentious about wine. All in all, was a quick but great experience and I would definitely look forward to coming back here to get a bite to eat sometime. read more

Love the "no wine list" approach! Matt was a great host and listened to my likes serving me up some deliciousness that was beyond my expectation! +Vibe A= + Not an ounce of pretentiousness +Street Parking +Will leave you with a new found love and education in wine! read more

Can't believe it has taken my so long to check this place out! Attentive bartender who helped us select the perfect bottle of wine without having us look at the wine menu at all. The place was cozy with an eclectic crowd on a Thursday night. I appreciated the fact that it was far less hipster and young than what I was expecting. My friend and I ordered the Spicy Mac n Cheese, Croque Monsieur and Spanish Tortilla. We were pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was... Particularly the Croque Monsieur which was not heavy and very tasty! I'll definitely be back. read more

Covell is a great concept and has potential to be one of the coolest wine stops in LA. The decor seems to have been mentioned quite a bit in other reviews, but I'll add my voice: the place looks cool inside. It's kind of like a bistro meets a barn meets an antique shop meets your friend's living room, if your friend had money for a sweet beer tap. The wine selection was very interesting, stocked more with lesser-known regions and styles than most wine bars. I guess that would make it sort of an adventurous list. My friends and I enjoyed most of the 6 or 7 wines we sampled and though the format is typically by-the-glass, we were kindly accommodated with a flight. The beer selection is also very solid. The food is taken seriously and we enjoyed a cheese plate that amongst other tasty items, included a local creamery that made killer cheeses we'd never tried before. It fed three people and at $18.00 seemed reasonable for its quality. One interesting aspect of the concept is that there seems to be a heavy emphasis on the staff. By this I mean, it seems the employees are meant to be the menu, meant to engage the customers and ultimately, are sort of meant to steer the customers' decisions. There isn't really an easily accessible menu and perhaps some patrons may be put off by relying on their server so much. On the whole, I really enjoyed Covell, though, and I'd recommend it for any one who enjoys good wine, beer and a social ambiance. read more

Covell is a gem. Beautiful, chill, classy and unpretentious. I visited with a group of friends last evening and Doug was the sweetest wine guy. I enjoyed the finding the perfect wine experience. Covell is THE WINE PLACE to have a wine experience AND a great time chilling with friends. read more

Not sure what it was but there seems to be a very busy time when it starts to get crowded. There isn't a wait but more of a first come first serve and helping yourself to a seat . You order at the bar which is along one side of the room and the space for seating isn't as bad once you sit down. Great place to niggle with friends and grab a wine . The bartenders are friendly and are willing to have a conversation with you if they're not busy. All in all its a nice hole in the wall . read more

Covell - Duvel beer with a nice cab~ - Wine Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Super hyped to have found this place. Went here on a Saturday night and it wasn't crazy crowded, immediately found seats at the bar. Love that you can have a conversation with the bar tender about what you are looking for and they bring you tastes, way more fun then reading a list. Seems like the few reviews that are negative revolve around it being to pricey? I don't know. If I want to have a shitty $8 glass of wine there are plenty of other spots to go to. Excited to bring other friends here and show of my new find. read more

Okay so I was debating if I should write a review while I was sober or still tipsy. I just got back from the bar about an hour ago. I rented out the sidebar for my going away party and my friends loved it! We got to drink and eat/dance. Our private bartender Mike was amazing. He was super nice and super accommodating. He also knew a lot about everything. I thought it was magic. I had a big group and he remembered who order what by just looking at them. Then he was able to recommend drinks based off of what the person wanted. He was so good. My friends and myself also enjoyed talking to him. The drinks were amazing. The food was amazing. I tried the regular mac and cheese and the spicy. They were so good! I also got the brownie which was also great. All the drinks my guests and I had were wonderful. Everyone enjoyed themselves. You could also get beer from the tap in the wall it was amazing. Everyone loved the bookcase entrance. The side bar also has it's own bathroom. One of my friends was raving about the way the soap smelled in the bathroom!! So good! I really can't describe how awesome it was but if was great. All around everything was great. I wouldn't want to have my party anywhere else. I might even have a return party here! Everything was yummy. The employees were wonderful. They were all wishing me luck for when I move to South Korea. There is also valet parking for three dollars. They also streamed music from pandora so I got to choose the music. I also got to play a playlist from my iphone. It was pretty epic when the Disney Mulan song came on. The email communication about the event was great. I got responses in a timely fashion, usually the same day. The decorations were wonderful. So was the location. The bar is also modern so everything was clean and well keep. I love this place! Thank you for making my party awesome. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Such great service I will return lots of times when I come back from South Korea! read more

Never a bad time at Covell. Tucked away in the midst of hipsterdom, Covell is the spot if you want a mellow, relaxed and intimate settings filled with dozens of different wine options. They stock and pour a variety of local and foreign wines that are tastefully picked by the owners / bartenders to ensure you drink the good stuff. Something for everyone's palate, intimate and cozy, some great snack items as well and just a solid no frills place to go for a glass or two of wine. An excellent choice. read more

A great addition to the neighborhood, and a worthy way to inculcate wine consciousness among Angelenos in Los Feliz and beyond. These guys know what's up with good wine (and beer). And they let you experience and taste it in a casual and cool setting. Nice bar, glassware, service and music. They feature wines of the day (ranging from $8-$13 a glass last night), and will pour you anything they are showing on their shelves. I had a Spanish blanco ($11), and the temperature on it was very nice, very cold and refreshing -- perfect for a warm LA summer evening. Not sure about the beer, but plenty of people getting their beer on. If you want to talk about what you're tasting or what color your date's panties are, come earlier in the evening -- for once it's crowded, the acoustics are unmerciful. Nothing wrong with a raging party, but just a heads up. All my best, Covell -- I hope you're here to stay and pour for a while. read more

This place is rad, the decor is adorable and very fitting for the space, there is a huge selection of wine and some beer and they work with you to find a wine that you like when you don't really know which one to try.. because again.. the selection is huge. They really care about their customers too, some creepy (and smelly) guy came up to my friends and I and was mumbling about getting someones number and shoving his flip phone in our faces and when he walked away one of the owners came up and made sure that we were ok, and the guy didn't say anything offensive. So nice! And it's great to see that a business owner really cares about the comfort of the patrons. Their food, although pretty simple, looked and smelled amazing. Next time I'm there I'm definitely giving the cheese plate a try, it's like exactly what I want when I'm having some wine... CHEEESSSEE! Some of the beers are also made in house, or are from a local brewer, and they are awesome! I will definitely be back, possibly on a weekly basis! read more

***Update to my review: This is actually a bar and not a restaurant, so I had no business going there for dinner. That was my mistake!!*** To be completely transparent, I don't drink wine or eat cheese, but for our double date, our married friends recommended this place for the four of us. There were about 8 - 10 menu choices total and many were similar. (Think salami with cheese on the side, or a spread of cheeses with salami on the side) The table that we sat at had four rough stools and after about 30 minutes, my tush was uncomfortable and I wished I'd brought a pillow. The servings of food were on the lean side considering the prices, and as I said, the lack of variety on the menu made it difficult for someone like myself. The scenery was nice, the service was good, and our food arrived promptly. It may seem obvious, but I recommend this place ONLY for people who are interested in wine and maybe cheese; not for dinner. Also, while it was nice that the restaurant is a bit open-air, we smelled a lot of cigarette smoke. Parking: not too difficult, we circled the block once on a Monday and found a space. read more

INCREDIBLE wine selection. Also loved the spicy mac and cheese. Cozy, intimate vibe. One of my favorite spots. read more