These people are just plain rude. A simple thank you at the register goes a long way. I now drive out of my way to avoid this place.

Oh Giles, Giles , Giles, I have a love/love relationship with you!!! You always have have my favorite wine in stock and my beloved prosecco always on hand. Your employees are super friendly and always have a doggy treat for my crazy little Yorkie. Even though I rarely drink it you have a wide assortment of obscure beers, ales, and hard ciders. With the addition of harder adult beverages (vodka, gin, rum, etc) I have no reason to ever stray. Never ever leave me, I think I would have a meltdown!!! read more

This location has so many positives I am thinking a numbered list might be the easiest. 1. Prices on Wines & Liquors - LOW - inventory stock has been carefully chosen so that you can chose to buy quality. 2. Personality - management and employees are unique in being helpful and upbeat and remembering their customers. 3. Extras- Doggie treats and Quality lollipops 4. Wine Tastings - they have both their own and ones organized by the distributors. I can attested to all the above as I spent 3 1/2 hours there on Saturday, June 3 doing a tasting On my shift the workers were the upbeat assistant, Carter and the manager, Brendan (tireless doing another 12 hour shift). My only regret is that my schedule may not allow me to return got another "tasting/sampling job for a long while UNLESS this location choses to have the outside wine tasting on days other than Saturdays. read more

Nice little beer and wine shop. Dependable but not quite as good beer selection as Menotomy. But, it's a shorter walk and right on the bus line so I'll stop off for a sixer on the way home from time to time. They do tastings quite often so you can have a few sips o wine while you're shopping. read more

Great atmosphere! Very welcoming workers. Great variety of beer and wine. Love the tastings that are offered. Always use Giles to get any alcohol (wine, beer, spirits, etc...)! read more

Giles is great. The staff has always been very friendly when I come in and their beer selection is awesome. They get it. Lots of IPA cans and some limited edition stouts in bombers. Scored a Firestone Parabola. There is always something new there. They also have a huge selection of liquor with really good sale prices. Great Bourbons. The store is cute and pleasant to shop in and they usually have anything I would need. A gem to Arlington. read more

Mass Ave Wine & Spirits - Giles Fine Wine in Arlington - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Fun fact about Gile Wine: the owner, Sean Galvin, owns the apartments above the wine shop (4 units), the apt building next door (which I think has about a dozen units?), and the apartment building around the corner right behind Leader bank (another 4 units), as well as at least a dozen other rent properties in Arlington (not to mention at least one other wine store in Medford and I am taking it likely other rental properties in other towns). The owner is rich and part of the elite who are buying up rental properties all over the area, making it so expensive for regular working folk to even afford to live here. I know this because I lived for two years (from 2012 - 2014) in one of the units above Giles Wine. I loved my apt, and for the most part, Galvin doesn't bother you, until he you have a code complaint or he wants to raise your rent. First, before I was told by the broker there would be parking, but then was told Galvin wouldn't be repaving the lot till several months into my lease term so wouldn't have a space till then. Since Arlington has an overnight street parking ban and I had a car I needed to get to work in Wellesley, that wouldn't work for me. The brokers (Rental Group--check out my forthcoming review of them) said Galvin had a relationship with the Baptist church across the street from the store and I could park there for a nominal monthly fee for a few months till the lot was replaced. "Great!" I said. "Can I be put in touch with them and get something in writing?" They hedged. This went on for about a week, till I went to the church myself, was promptly yelled at for assuming they would let me park there--said "I wish that guy (Galvin? The Rental Group?) would stop saying we do that!" I went back to the Rental Group and insisted they either compromise with Galvin to repave the spot now, or they needed to return my refundable deposit ASAP. They did, but my rent was then increased $50 more a month for having a space it advertised anyway. I was also told the windows in my apt were in bad shape but would be replaced before I moved in. They weren't. I was told in a week or so. I then asked every week for 6 weeks until the Town had a microburst in mid-July that blew out one of my bedroom windows, which was temporary replaced with some paper-thin sheeting. I was told they would fix ASAP. Come October, they still hadn't and the nights were getting cold. I finally had to threaten the BOH and they came and replaced the windows. For awhile, things seemed better. Then in the winter, an alarm started going on overnight in the wine shop, right under my bedroom, depriving me of hours of sleep. The super didn't answer the phone after hours. Galvin had no contact info other than email. So I was stuck listening to it with no reprieve. I called the cops a few times finally. Then, only less than 2 weeks after I filed a noise complaint against his store for the alarm, Galvin proposed a $100/mo increase while I was still in my lease term, twice as high as just about anyone else in his tenancy on my block that I knew of. He backed off when I mentioned it was illegal to raise my rent within a lease term, so he let me know when it was over in a couple of months, I needed to agree to the new rate or move. It felt like spite. I have always been a good tenant--quiet and always paid my rent on time or early. He told me he didn't care because others would be willing to pay more. I finally broke down and agreed, but before the ink was dry on the lease and the new term even began, I was told my next lease term would be AT LEAST $150/mo. I told him I would be moving by then. I wound up taking him to court before the second lease term ended when he refused to show me repair records for the windows (by law, landlords need to furnish such requests up to two years after the repair or immediately give back a tenant's sec deposit). He refused even when I showed him the link to the MA law. "Take me to court!," he said. I did, for that and the window code violation. We did mediate, and I got my deposit back and a couple of hundred for the window. But it put a sour taste in my mouth about how landlords operate around here and how little they seem to care about their tenants. I stopped shopping at the wine store downstairs when he raised my rent and I refuse to go there anymore. Menotomy Wine is much better and friendlier anyway. If you want to support small businesses who treat their people with courtesy, they are the place to go. read more

This is a cute little liquor store. One of the owners, the sweetheart guy with the white beard is totally awesome and willing to help. Bummer he does not work there more...However, the last few times that i went in there, not only were the gals behind the counter NOT helpful...but RUDE..."if it is NOT in the little shelf area, we DO NOT HAVE IT." SNARKY, WITCHY, AND DISMISSIVE. PLUS, VERY EXPENSIVE!!!!! Go to Menotomy....the guys there are sweet, kind, helpful..and do not IGNORE you! read more

I'm an asshole. I've been back several times (after vowing never to go back) and they've been wonderful and friendly. I'm sure it's not because I wrote a bad review, so I must publicly admit that I'm the asshole not them. read more

Growing up there were no packies in Arlington but Giles was just over the town lines. Great selection and fair prices.

I love this place. Their selection is decent for such a small store. For beer, selection ranges from the more obscure to a bunch of regional favorites. For wine, there are plenty of choices in mid to upper price points, but not much south of $10. Every few weeks they have a beer or wine tasting, and that is usually when I go hoping to find one of their elusive "Mystery Packs" of beer. For $5 you get a brown bagged six-pack which is always worth it. The staff is always friendly and willing to answer questions or make recommendations. read more

I worked part-time at a liquor store for over three years. You know the one thing I did EVERY SINGLE NIGHT? I said 'hello' to everyone that came through the door. Is it so hard to acknowledge another human being's existence? No, it isn't. This store lacks even the most basic human interaction. I walked in on the employees conversation and instead of stopping to ask if I needed help, they continued their insipid conversation. It was indeed my first, and last, time in your place of business. read more

Giles has a great selection and great service. I have never been steered wrong when I have asked for help selecting a wine. The prices aren't exactly dirt cheap, but booze is hard to come by in Arlington, so I can deal. They also have tons of beer, wine and champagne in the chiller, ready to go for your next party. read more

Totes agree with J.C., Jamie and Deloris below... Convenient? Yes. Also, their service SUCKS (ever heard of saying hi when a customer comes in?) And it's ridiculously expensive. That purple Argentinian Malbec everyone always brings to parties because it's a good value? Like 15 dollars at Giles. Also, we just bought a bottle of wine in their "Italy" section that, upon closer inspection when we got home, was Californian. It was a good little bottle, but maybe give a crap about where you stock things, huh? It was better back when it was a little hole in the wall. From now on we're going to Menotomy (where they are always friendly and prices are more reasonable). read more

Giles in Arlington is an excellent place to buy wine, every day beer and liquor. They have a great selection of wine and with the newly expanded store-front they have a large liquor section as well. The craft beer options are reasonably limited although they always have a few growlers on display which are fun to try. There everyday beer selection is good and comes at a reasonable price. The store never really gets too busy and there is always parking right out front. The owners are really nice and will stock the shelves with what you like, all you have to do is ask! read more

I've been in a few times because of their large selection of craft beers and tastings but today it got even better. Picked up the $5 mystery 6 pack thinking how bad could it be for $5 right? PBR tallboy hipster 6 pack? Wrong! Building 19 and Mardens combined dont have deals like this! Ipswich Ale, Smutty IPA,Peak Organic, Troegs,Newport oktoberfest and a bud made up the delicious mix. Nicely played. read more

Excellent customer service, great selection, frequent wine and beer tasting events - this place has it all. Staff is very knowledgeable and helpful in wine selection and pairings with food. Stop by and say hi! read more

This Giles is NOT a liquor store or a trashy packy, but a FINE WINE/BEER despensary. This store is a wonderful neighborhood asset complete with friendly vibes, 15 minute parking out front and an extensive craft beer selection. It's very clear that their management is committed to excellence when you peruse the beer cooler, and if they dont have something you want, chances are its a) not available or b) already on its way. read more

This is a very friendly place with nice people. They have frequent wine and beer tastings and also have mystery bags of a variety of micro brews for$5 for a six pack. The suspense makes it all worth the trip there:) read more

Very good wine selection and they often have sale items that are very good deals. They carry my favorite zin which keeps me happy! There's a guy who works there that has been very helpful when I needed to pair a wine with a specific dinner. read more

We stopped by tonight, out of our usual way, because one of us remembered this store for its good selection. The tall, grey-haired guy at the checkout was 1) visibly drunk, and 2) belligerently rude. He basically yelled at us for hesitating for a second about whether or not we needed a bag, breathing a lungful of spirit fumes in our faces. Appalling and entirely unexpected. read more

Good selection, but no better than Menotomy. The thing that really irks me about Giles is their customer service. Wholeheartedly agree with the reviews below talking about general rudeness and lack of welcoming in the store. Above that, though, I live up the street and I don't think I've ever been there and a cashier WASN'T talking about another employee. There is such drama at this store that it makes you uncomfortable as a customer to overhear certain things. Do us all a favor and keep those conversations to when there are no customers in the store!!! read more

You couldn't ask for a better place to peruse, find, and get excellent recommendations--from a friendlier staff. This is a classy addition to E. Arllngton that nudges it's potential to Carmel, CA--another tiny area that focuses on Excellance. read more