Highly sought after wines in an amazing wine by the glass selection. Also, the wine and cheese fridge is a hidden gem. If you like natural wines or local, Humboldt county made wines with zero additives this is by far the best spot within 100 miles. read more

Cool wine spot for wine folks like myself. The wife and I order 2 glasses . Sparkling wine for her and red blend for me. read more

Libation - We order two glasses . One sparkling bubbles and a red blend. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Arcata, California

Lovely wine shop and bar selling and serving a fantastic selection of wines from around the world. Wonderful selection of European wines plus a wide selection of natural wines. The owner is incredibly knowledgeable about wine and will happily give you great advice on your selection. Lovely location overlooking the Arcata Plaza with comfortable sofas and small tables plus long beautiful natural wood tables overlooking the plaza for people watching. Nicely curated selection of imported cheeses and cured meats available to eat on the premises. By far my favorite wine bar in Humboldt. read more

Best wine bar in Arcata. Unique wines and a wide wine selection. The only improvement I could suggest would be a wider Zinfandel selection. read more

You know, in the movie Bottle Shock, Alan Rickman's wineshop in Paris with the proprietor who knows more about European wines than Tony Hawk does about kickflips, and how you kind of felt, like, man, I wish I had a brain to pick like that while I drank the nectar of the gods and gazed out on a lovely piazza and took in a few hours living the good life? (get ready here comes a choose your own adventure) - Yes, I've been looking for that my whole adult life; then look no further, Libation is the promised land you have been seeking. - No, I had no idea such an establishment was a possibility, thank you Ted C for bringing this obvious omission from my life to my attention; Libation is the salve for that newly recognized hole in your life. Ryan runs the best wine shop and most enjoyable bar a vin I've ever entered. It's an approachable, comfortable meeting space for Humboldt County on the square in Arcata. Usually, there are three or four imported bottles being poured for a flat fee with no tipping (apart from a cheeky jar for Euros only), along with as much detail as you could want as to their location, method, and varietals of each glass provided by the owner and pourer. As someone who grew up drinking Sonoma wines, the implied information a European wine's location of origin provides was always lost on me. I found it intimidating and challenging to learn. Libation embraces the European conundrum and Ryan eases those interested into understanding. If you just want a glass to fill the time waiting for a table, no problem, this is a great place for that, BUT you can get more here too. I've been in dozens of times and its always got good vibes and fantastic wine. I'm a fairly recent newcomer to Humboldt County, but I run into regulars here and have started building a small community. Meeting people, making friends, drinking wine, Libation is a center of community life for me here. I'd like other people to get that experience too! Also, don't sleep on the wine shop part of Libation. Ask for help, be honest about your price point, tell him what you like, and you will be coming back to get more because the bottle(s) you went home with are just that good. I can't recommend this place enough. read more

Amazing wine shop! Also great place to hang out and enjoy a glass of wine. Service is extremely friendly and chill. It will always be our first and last stop when we are in Arcata. It is a definitely a place to pop in. read more

Love the wine, the ambiance, and the service! A hidden gem on the plaza, highly recommend going!

My bestie and I had a lovely time at Libations catching up and enjoying the intimate vibe and looking out at the Arcata square. The pourer of libations was very knowledgeable and described the wines with enthusiasm. We were able to taste a variety of bottled deliciousness and ended up with a glass of bubbly from France. So much fun, I'll definitely be back. read more

Libation is the best wine shop in Humboldt :) amazing selection of natural wines and fun snacks!

We LOVED our experience! The owner was so knowledgable & interested in conversation & questions! Each of us enjoyed our glass of wine, & especially loved the truffle chips! Super peaceful! Would highly recommend it! As well such a unique & beautiful selection of wines & champagne!! Will definitely be back!! read more

Libations is a great spot for enjoying some wine and champagne in a pleasant setting while people-watching out the window facing the plaza. If you appreciate fine wines and drinks, do consider stopping here for a bit. The way every element of the Libations experience comes together makes it 5-stars for me. Food (drinks) 5/5 - The selection of wines and champagnes is extensive enough to keep you coming back for more. The Cava we had was especially great, as was a bottle of one of their finer champagnes. Service 5/5 - The host was incredibly knowledgeable of the drinks we were having and kept our glasses full throughout the evening. Ambiance 4/5 - Libations has done a good job of making their space pleasant and welcoming. It's a great spot to lounge at, and our group sat at the tall table near the window, giving us a great view outside the venue. Value ?/5 - Since I went here for a bachelor party, I have no idea as to the prices here. I imagine they're fairly high, but this is to be expected given the high quality of drinks available. read more

I strolled in here while I was just walking around the square with time to burn, simply perusing the wares in all the shops. The staff were super friendly and invited me back for the wine tasting they were having the next day. Fortunately, I was available for their tasting, and I'm glad I went. They had a talented guy playing soft blues in the background, which was a very good pairing for their atmosphere. The tastings are every Friday and Saturday from 3:00 pm till 10:00 pm and they have live music from 6 till 8 or 9 (not sure). I arrived around 6:00 pm because I wanted to listen to the live music, and wow was it packed. If you're just wanting to go for the wine tasting, it might be better to go earlier in the day. There was standing room only, but after a while, a few seats did open up at the bar and I was able to move to a stool. They offer three different flights. I was told it's usually a red flight, a white flight, and then something else. Since this was one of their "artsy" nights the first flight was champagnes, followed by two flights of reds, and then they had one dessert wine (if you actually feel like stomaching more by the end of the first three flights as it is quite a bit if you end up trying all three). Each flight is 2 oz of three different wines, with various price ranges (not just 2 oz of three different cheap brands). Don't feel like trying all that much? You can pick out one from each flight and pay by-the-glass rather than getting an entire fight. The staff is knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and they have a good selection for the size of shop that they have, though I'd love to see them move to a larger venue. read more

Where.. Music...spirits consort. All sorts, all retorts get a report Reconvene Later, i mean rather lather Master caster on cascades & kinetic parades Former ty raids sandy dunes & cattle over moons overtly Oddessy Muddy waters will be here¿! read more

See all

Came for a getaway from ordinary city life, strolling thru late in the evening after a nice dinner, came upon this place, my friend said to try it out. This place was an exciting experience. The customer service was on point (Thank you) the wine selection was endless!! The cheese was absolutely complementary to the wine we choose. The lounging environment- I felt like I was in my own world and nothing mattered beyond it. read more

See all

This is my favorite place in Arcata! Narayan and carol are amazing and have great taste in wine. They have always recommended me delicious bottles of wine. The atmosphere is cozy and perfect for meeting up with friends or an intimate date night. They offer flights on the weekend and even some wine tasting courses throughout the year that are very informative and fun! I can't say enough about how much I enjoy this place read more

See all

What a fun and cozy place to enjoy a craft selection of wines from around the world. Small tapas to accompany your wine joy. Lovely couches and atmosphere to warm your soul. After work, Friday night or any time, you'll find bliss her! The staff is helpful and excellent at what they do! Their cheese board and charcuterie are plentiful and delicious. Weekly wine flights, comfortable couches and good fun. Drink wine HERE!! read more

Libation - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Arcata, California

See all

This place is great! Tried really interesting wines and paired with olives, Gouda cheese, and truffle chips. Great price point. Will definitely come back. read more

In Short: A beautiful space in which to hang out, appreciating wine and/or good company. The staff is knowledgeable, going above and beyond to make you feel welcome. Busy for "before dinner" drinks, but a little slower for the "after dinner" time frame making it a good "dessert" stop. Longer Version: After dinner on a Friday night, we walked past Libation on our way to another wine bar. It was completely empty so we thought they might be closed. Lucky for us, they were open and we had the whole place to ourselves. We sat at a gorgeous, long wooden bar looking out over the plaza. The tasting room attendant (bar tender? somm?!) was super friendly, allowing us to have a taste of a few wines before we settled on what we wanted. She chatted with us about the space, how her son had bought it in December, and how they had worked together to make it more comfortable and inviting for guests. I was really touched by the family spirit and her enthusiasm for continuing to make it even better. It almost felt like I was "wine-ing" with my own mom! I browsed the racks, chatting with "Somm-Mom" about their impressive selection of wines from all over the world. I was curious about a wine from Portugal, so she checked her records, and let me try a wine with a similar profile. What service! All in all: I recommend this as a stop on a night out with the girls or date night. Thanks, Somm-Mom! read more

So glad we found this place! We wandered in soon after moving to Arcata last year. The casual but classy vibe is just our speed. The range of wines, from classic to eclectic is really fun. Narayan is very knowledgeable and helpful. There are bottles to buy, wine, bubbly or beer by the glass, small plates, even soft drinks. There is always nice, low key music playing. We make a point of going every Friday or Saturday to try the flight of the week. Always something interesting and often good enough to buy a bottle or two. I have attended the wine classes that have been held on Monday evenings when Libation is usually closed. Always learn a lot and get to taste some great wines and talk about them with other wine-minded neighbors. In this time of coronavirus, the food and wine by the glass service is on hold. But Narayan is selling wine by the bottle. Libation is heartily recommended for the wine newbie or experienced wine enthusiast. You will always find something interesting! read more

Great location with knowledgeable & friendly staff. Visiting from out of town but will definitely be back! This is our new Arcata watering hole. Thanks for the wonderful experience! read more

Such a gem! If you love wine and are in Humboldt then you need to come here. The select tastings every week are always divine and his wall of hand picked wines are amazing!! read more

Best wine selection in town -- great by the glass wine bar on the plaza with live music, great place to watch people, enjoy a great glass of wine and even pick up a few bottles - world wide selection - including a great selection of sakis and hand crafted beers. read more

In the wise words of Donnie-Don Sharp, "Friendship can never flourish in an empty glass". I'm inclined to agree with him. Libation is a wonderful dedication to the wine lovers of Humboldt County. I've known people to spend HOURS in this place swilling tasters, inspecting labels, and perusing the goods. Well, actually, just Don... but it's certainly a great place to grab a nice bottle of wine when you're in a pinch. read more

I have had pretty good, and quite unpleasant experiences here. The good was a Belgian Beer pairing. That was quite a bit of fun with good beer and food. Their beer selection overall is not bad for the area, but they never get any new things in that department, which saddens me. I have asked about special ordering, and the bald gentleman helped me out but was not particularly pleasant about it. Today however was the experience that I found to be 100% terrible. I went in, and the small red haired nervous gentleman was working. He hovered around me quite within my personal bubble as I sipped my beer without conversating. When I asked any questions, he replied with rude 1 sentence responses which were entirely unhelpful. If I can be honest, he ruined my experience there and was quite off-putting. I will continue to pop in every once in a while, most likely, but will avoid the place if that guy is working. read more

Very warm and welcoming. Classic tourist move aimlessly roaming through town, I see a peculiar wine bar, intriguing art, soft cool music in the back. I walk in unaware it hasn't quite opened. The host greats me with a smile and gives me some recommendations, Vermintino. Great choice great service. read more

I go into Libation and I feel like Norm from Cheers. Not only do they know my name but they are friendly, knowledgeable and have the best cheese selection in (far) Northern California. And the entire selection of cheese resides in a refrigerator that is about half the size of a hotel fridge. I'm not kidding, you should check it out. I am picky about my wine and they have a better-than-average selection. And what's more, each person who works there knows quite a bit about the wine and is willing to help you have any questions. The wine flights are thoughtfully put together with varied and excellent choices and are well worth the price. If you are a wino like me and want to hook up with some friends on a Friday afternoon and have a bit to nosh while you get your buzz on, this is the best place in Humboldt going. Choose a designated driver and have a great time. Say "Hi" to Jen for me. read more

Wonderful service, delicious wine! We enjoyed chocolate fondue, bread and cheese, and a flight of tasty wines... We can't wait to be back! My only regret is waiting this long to try this place! read more

Libation - Perfection!!! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Arcata, California

This place only opens for few days during the week. But it's a must go! The wine, cheese, ambience and service were excellent!!

They have plaza TV in HD now! The perfect place to take your girl so she can pretend to feel special while you occasionally nod at her. Meanwhile you can just watch the plazoids parade around. If your real lucky you may get mooned or see someone arrested! This place is my fav! Get a buzz, ignore the ball and chain and simultaneously be entertained! The new owners are a blast! Family operated and they are killing it. Niryan (so?) has an amazing palette. read more

Yum! What a fun environment : ) It's nice to have somewhere classy to purchase delicious, fine wines from on the plaza! I came here with a friend to enjoy a couple glasses of wine while catching up and the woman, Holly, who was assisting us was so pleasant and friendly. I was curious as to the third flag on the flagpole and she told us that it was the flag of the Earth, so you are in California, in the U.S., on planet Earth...she was rad : ) I enjoyed a nice spritzer followed by a glass of pinot; it is convenient that they allow you to purchase a bottle and then bring it home after enjoying a glass...! Kind of odd, but should mention, a seemingly gossipy male employee talking to Holly and bringing weird energy during our visit and not focused on client experience while we were visiting but other than that it was a great ambiance : ) read more

Great wine bar. Awesome location. Met the owner. Great guy. Lots of foreign wines. Not a lot of California wines

This wine shop is about location while having a nice wine or beer. There are huge windows at the bar looking out on the plaza. They have a nice selection of bottled beer at fair prices. Late afternoons are a good time to go for quiet conversation. The staff can be snobby but it isnt really a bar and they are not really bartenders so... Know your prices of wine if you intend to buy a bottle, you are not getting Grocery Outlet deals here. read more

I love this wine bar. I've never been to a tasting but anytime I was looking for a really good wine from a winery that didn't have their items in grocery stores I could find it here. Prices were on par with what I would expect from their large selection of wines from well known to unknown wineries. Always a great experience. read more

So much fun with Ultra Secret Quartet. Great music, wine and service. Order the Old Growth Chardonnay and a salami platter.

Great selection. Amazing service. Clean. Best place to enjoy a new taste of beer or wine.

I really enjoyed my time here. Great selection of wines and cheese plates. Also the view of the plaza is wonderful. It was great hanging out and enjoying the view of the farmers market. Defiantly great for a quick glass of wine with a friend or a date! read more

We have even here once before and we had a 5 star experience. Yesterday at around 4pm the one man staff in there seemed utterly disinterested in the wines, couldn't explain the cheeses even after asking twice and struggled with another set of customers explaining their cheese and meat plates. Someone should consider new staff who can really bring out the best in this place. read more

The Libation staff is helpful, knowledgeable and unpretentious. I get great service and great wine every time I enter the door- which is quite rare in this day and age. Keep up the good work! read more

The staff is knowledgable and pleasantly helpful. Their food pairing suggestions are uncanny, and they're as happy to share their thoughts with the curious as they are with the cognoscenti. You will not be disappointed. read more

Excellent selection with expert advice to go along with it. I can highly recommend attending one of their events with live music or speakers. Always fun and usually with yummy appetizers or tapas. They have much more than wine, played spin the bottle and ended up trying a Smoke Beer, great taste and experience! read more