We had such a wonderful time here. The service was great, I believe she was the owner herself. She was so friendly, and extremely helpful in making selections/suggestions. The sangria was so refreshing! We also had a few small plates (bbq chicken flatbread, cheese plates and hummus) and everything was delicious. They had a cute little back patio and a citronella candle was provided when mentioning that some mosquitoes were flying around. Was a perfect spot for a little date night :) read more

My friends and I had gone out to eat nearby and were looking for a place to enjoy post-dinner drinks. We stumbled across Novella last-minute, and I am beyond grateful we discovered this gem! The inside is so warm and cozy. We sat at a table in the back, and it was very private and secluded in our corner. The owner said the beautiful table we were sitting at was hand-made. We also took a peek at the back patio, and I seriously can't wait to visit this spring and summer once it's nice and warm outside! The string lights out there were absolute perfection. We tried different wines and mixed drinks. The owner was so helpful and answered all our questions about the menu. I also love that they offer a seasonal menu. All of the food sounded so good, too. We totally would've ordered some if we hadn't just eaten a large meal beforehand. Guess that means I'll have to try some next time I'm back! I'm already planning my next visit. This is truly a special place! read more

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Very nice atmosphere. It's not too loud. The service is efficient and friendly and the food is delicious and served hot! We loved the wine and we will go back a third time. read more

Novella wine bar is such a gem. They specialize in wines of the Balkans (think Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, etc.) although they have wine from the traditional European places you think of (e.g., Spain) and Argentina. The owner is from the region herself and is SO knowledgeable about the wines and the history of these rare grapes. She bumps a fantastic playlist and has Balkan snacks and small plates to go with your wine selection. I also really appreciate that there are options to order between glass and bottle, including 1/3 and 1/2 a bottle! read more

Novella Wine Bar - Novella is so cozy! - Cafes Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

The host was the best part. Ambience of a neighborhood wine bar. Got their seasonal rum drink and the Balkan beef platter. Great portions and spread. Would highly recommend! read more

Hidden gem neighborhood wine bar! Cozy ambience inside and great patio in back. Loved the selection of Eastern European wines and went with the Rose from Slovenia. It was a perfect wine for the summer, very refreshing! We split the Malbec Barbecue Chicken flatbread and I definitely recommend this. The Malbec barbecue added an interesting flavor. Spotted some other cool things on the menu like a chocolate cherry sangria and Balkan beef platter that will bring me back! One thing to note is that it is street parking and the restaurant is located right on kingshighway so be prepared for that. read more

Novella Wine Bar - Back patio - Cafes Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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We loved the ambiance of this wine bar. The owner has obviously put a lot of thought and care into the wine and cocktail selections, and the Balkan beef charcuterie was excellent. We sat at the bar, and the service was very good. Highly recommend. read more

Cool place! Stopped and had a great time chatting with the owner. She is incredibly sweet and funny. The decor is cozy, comfortable, and welcoming. We enjoyed some delicious food and wine in the inviting, candlelit interior and it was the best way to end our night. read more

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My friends and I have gone twice now and it has exceeded our expectations. We were looking for a local wine bar to go to and loved the vibes of Novella. It is simple and the perfect place for a good drink and conversation. The drinks are amazing. My friend as gotten the mulled wine in the winter months and it reminds her of her time in Spain. Diane is super friendly and impressive that as the owner she is so present when you visit. She remembered us and our orders from our last visit. Truly made us feel welcome! read more

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Food was surprisingly good. They mostly have small plate/appetizer type options. Tried the hummus plate and the stuffed dates and really enjoyed both. The rest of my group had wine and they all enjoyed it. Super cozy inside on a wet and rainy night. Our server was very friendly, and quick! read more

Fabulous little spot with an amazing wine selection! I love Eastern European wines, especially Romanian and Croatian, and they can be quite hard to find in the US. I was delighted to visit Novella and try their selection. The service was very friendly, too, and the vibe was chill and classy, but also relaxed. My only regret about this place is that it is not MY local neighborhood wine bar! read more

The perfect date night or girls night! Another south city gem! This wine bar has been around for 11 years it's been on my list to try since it's down the street and I'm so glad I did. My guy and I went for an impromptu date night and sat on their lovely patio. The owner is such a doll and so sweet! They also sell her husbands local honey. The charcuterie. Was perfectly presented and yummy! I love the cheery chocolate sangria they had on special too. This will for sure be a date night staple for us! Try it out and support a local business! read more

Novella Wine Bar - Beef charcuterie board - Cafes Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

We tried out Novella Wine Bar over the weekend. I absolutely loved the atmosphere. Such a nice place to sit back and relax and have some drinks with your friends. The BBQ chicken and Brussel sprout flatbread was delicious! I would come back just for that. There seemed to be only one woman who was working both inside and outside but she was very pleasant. She made great recommendations on the wine and was attentive and made sure we liked what we ordered. Another plus for me was that it was only 10 minutes from home! We will definitely be back again! read more

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Go. Here. Now. Trust me. You will have an experience you didn't know you needed, and will count the days until you can go back for more. My pals and I were just in the mood for a quiet hang with nibbles and tipsies, and since this was in our hood we met up for some much needed girl talk. The atmosphere is sultry, muted and cozy. We slid into a booth-table hybrid in the far corner and got down to business. The menu isn't large but it's very impactful. It had a nice selection of small bites and we started with the Savory Goodness Bread and Polenta Fries. The bread is an amalgam of olives, spices and heat that had a very savory bite to it. Unexpected but it hit the spot. The fries were hot and crumbly-crispy with a side of chipotle aioli dipping sauce. Next up was French Dipping bread w/avocado oil drizzle and stuffed dates, filled with tart and tasty Gorgonzola. We finished with a caprese salad, fresh and cool and just right. The proprietor, Dijana Groth, was personable and gave us suggestions for both the apps and drinks. We opted for cocktails, and my Malbec Martini was delectable, infused with a splash of Creme Brûlée vodka and raspberry liquor. Our intentions of getting down to girl talk were waylaid throughout the evening whenever any new vittle or vino were delivered and demolished. Talk turned from bad boy behavior to how amazing each dish and drink were. We made small talk with a couple tables of new diners who were seeking suggestions, and the evening had a nice, communal feel to it through to the end. Overall, it's a very special little spot that should be regaled, deserving of a waitlist and repeat patronage. read more

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Novella is the perfect wine bar! They have been on my list to try for some time and so glad I finally made it here! Everything about this place is perfect, especially if you love wine! As soon as we walked in we were greeted by staff and given a menu. I was excited to try the chocolate cherry sangria and it was amazing! Not too sweet, but a nice balance of chocolate and cherry' and it worked so well with the red wine. We ordered the Balkan platter beef and polenta fries and both were delicious! There was plenty of meat and cheese and it was very filling. The polenta fries were different and delicious and paired with a spicy sauce. I had two glasses of red wine and both were nice, complex dry reds perfect for a cool night. The space is very cozy and inviting and I look forward to trying more of the unique wines from places like Bosnia, Macedonia, and Croatia. Another interesting aspect about several of the wines offered is that they were made with indigenous grapes from differing areas. So excited to go back and try more! They sell wines by the glass and have a large selection of bottles and a cocktail menu as well. There is also has a patio that seems like an excellent place to enjoy a glass of wine on a nice day. I am already looking forward to going back! Novella is a hidden gem! read more

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Food: Two things: Bacon Wrapped Dates! Mulled wine! Service: Swift!! I spoke to the owner before. Polite lady who runs the business side by side with her husband. They're a joy to be around. Ambiance: Ambient lighting, your date can tag along, and it feels like you're in the comfort of your own home. Overall: 5.00 read more

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This was a real treat! Our server was knowledgeable and patient, helping us out with pronunciation of menu items and explaining provenance and the like. We tried the cheese platter from the special menu, which included a delectable plum jam, marinated olives, and interesting cheeses. We then had the Balkan beef platter. This featured hickory smoked beef sirloin and beef sausage, plus more olives, crackers, and several cheeses not on the first plate. We loved all the food and wine and look forward to coming back for more. The patio in the back is lovely. We walked through the restaurant and down the back stairs to get there, but also noticed a gate that can be accessed from the front, making the patio accessible for mobility-challenged folks. I didn't see any dedicated parking lot, but there was plenty of street parking on Kingshighway. It looks like many customers walk here. The only downside to our visit was that our server--apparently the only one on patio duty--got pulled into a conversation with a table of inconsiderate patrons. They were very loud and impossible to ignore, and they asked her about her country of origin, age, personal life... she chatted politely with them for over 15 minutes straight while we waited for our check and others waited for service. I hope this was a one-time occurrence, and the "regulars" will let staff do their job, and staff will excuse themselves from conversations that take them from their obligations to others. We're looking forward to going back and trying again soon--still need to try the flatbreads and desserts! read more

Novella Wine Bar - A special cheese selection for Croatian Wine Day. - Cafes Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Excellent atmosphere, great wine selection. They have really cool events - my personal fav was a night when several artists (writers, poet, musician) presented pieces on Sarajevo. Was incredibly interesting to learn about another culture and it's diaspora to STL. read more

An amazing find in an out of the way location. If you live near here, you could drive by every day and never take note of it, but it's a gem if you decide to stop in. With an amazing selection of wines from across the US, South America, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia, and more, the Novella brings an eclectic flavor, feel, and food to the table! We had a carafe flight, with bacon wrapped dates, and polenta fries and truly enjoyed ourselves. In milder weather, there is ample seating out back, under the stars, as well. Service was friendly and informative, too. If you go - see if you can find the Rosetta Stone! The decor is as fun as the food. read more

Every visit the owner is warm and welcoming. The wine list is artfully curated. The menu is masterful. The space is beautiful and the patio garden is an oasis. Do not miss this spot! read more

This place it amazing! Love the food, wine and especially the owner! It feels like home she treats you with such kindness. Great place to meet up with friends or romantic enough for a date night! We are definitely gonna be regulars. read more

Wine was pretty good. Food was pretty good. Ambiance was adorable. Only critique, the menu was a tad confusing. read more

Novella Wine Bar - Cafes Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

LOVE their bacon wrapped dates! We always get them and one of the boards. Both are excellent! They had cherry-chocolate sangria the last time we were there! YUM!! read more

Very small venue but we really enjoyed our dinner and wine. We had the BBQ chicken flatbread. Homemade Malbec BBQ sauce drizzled on top was very enjoyable. Looking forward to warmer weather so we can enjoy the patio. read more

This is the cutest place and I can't believe I didn't know about it sooner!!! The ambiance inside is super cute and there's also a gorgeous space outside behind the restaurant. The wine selection is incredible & omg the satarash is TO DIE FOR!!! The owner is so sweet, service is fantastic, just could not recommend this place enough. NEW FAVORITE! read more

We love it here! It's basically just a super cute restaurant and then a little backyard that's sort of like having wine in your friend's cute renovated yard. The wine was good and the food looked good - we didn't have any because it's quite pricy but others around us did and we looked on with envy. The staff was very friendly and helpful and they definitely knew their wine. We will be back! read more

We were visiting from out of town when our host suggested this location. There was great food, fantastic wines, great music and a calm relaxing atmosphere. The Owner was genuinely kind and gracious! Definitely recommend! read more

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This place is perfect! The owner was very kind and warm. The bacon wrapped figs were amazing! Great selection of wine and the mixed drinks were perfectly balanced. Very welcoming location and cannot wait to go back. read more

This place is one of my favorites! Diana-the owner runs the show and she is so knowledgeable about wines and such a delight every time I am in there. The atmosphere is so cozy and perfect for cold nights. I would highly recommend this place!!! read more

Loooove! This place so much. I have taken several of my girl friends and all and can't wait to go back. This little mom and pop wine bar has it all! Great wine selection, great appetizers, a beautiful (dog-friendly) back patio and the best part- the owner is the sweetest person and so personable. Can't wait to go back for their homemade hummus and delish Croatian wine! A most try! read more

What a gem for the neighborhood , awesome! Just moved to town from Colorado so happy to find a place like this within walking distance of the house. This area is getting awesome so great to see places like Novella making it and thriving . What a great gem for the area read more

If you ask me this is the hidden gem in South City. I had one of the best experiences in a while at Novella. The owner did such a great job with the decor and the "Gem" the beautiful and spacious city patio. I really enjoy trying new wine from over the world and Novellas didn't disappoint. I had a great Croatian red that I highly recommend, the food is a great touch and very good. I highly recommend Novella's you won't be disappointed! read more

Well, first of all- the lady who owns this place is the nicest human being on earth and she's so patient with answering questions and is even welcome to suggestions and requests to make it even better. There is generous street parking and it's the part of kingshighway with wider streets so I don't worry about my car being out there. It's also in the Holly Hills area, so it's a bit quieter of a neighborhood with more houses and older trees, which makes this feel even more like a cute neighborhood place. The inside is great- lots of seating, low lighting, candles- this is a great spot for dates, meeting up with a friend to chat and drink some delicious wine, or hanging out with colleagues. It really doesn't have any limitations in that regard. There's a small plates menu with a lot of delicious fare, such as bacon wrapped dates (which look amazing). My friend and I went here for a post-dinner drink. I got the hot chocolate and she got a whiskey sour that was made with merlot- it was delicious. My hot chocolate came with a giant pile of cocoa-dusted whipped cream and was made with rich, steamed milk. The owner showed us the patio for when it gets warmer- there's a giant tree that will provide great shade in the summer. I can't wait to use it! Overall this place is a great little spot and deserves our attention and patronage. Places like this are rare in St. Louis and are especially hard to keep going. The wine list alone is worth a visit (and dozens of subsequent ones so you can get through all of the different kinds! haha) read more

Novella Wine Bar - Got chocolate - Cafes Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Great neighborhood wine bar. Hostess is very good at recommending wine. The ambiance is nice especially the outdoor seating in the back when it is nice. read more

LOVE THE ADORABLE DOG FRIENDLY PATIO. Amazing service. They treat you like family and the White Russian is delicious! highly recommend

Love this place! Great vibe, fantastic drinks and the small plates are so good. The savory goodness bread is absolutely amazing!

Loved this little spot. We did a wine flight, and got a cheese and olive board. The back patio is gorgeous at night!

I met a friend here for birthday drinks and we ended up sampling several of the small plates. We decided to sit on the patio despite it being a very windy night. It was perfect weather and ambiance I enjoyed the sturdy iron wrought furniture. The best part was the wine and food. We enjoyed a lovely rose from New Zealand. The malbec bbq chicken flatbread that was not yet on the menu was fantastic. It was something new the owner came up with and was testing. We also had the stuffed dates and hummus. All delightful. And on the way out she heard it was my friends birthday. We got a complimentary tiramasu that was delicious! We will be back for sure. It is street parking but we had no trouble getting spots on a Thursday night. Check out this gem, you will not be sorry. read more

Novella is like a hidden nook that you will keep coming back to. Great wine selection, appetizers are amazing and the entire place has such a romantic vibe to it . The owner is extremely accommodating and one of the friendliest people you will ever meet. Give this place a try either for date night or a girls night! You will not regret it. read more

Outstanding in every way. Service, wine guidance, food and atmosphere. This place is totally under the radar. I cannot preface what a great find. The owner is extremely knowledgeable of wines as well as food pairings. We tried a Yugoslavian Red, the dates and a flatbread - all fantastic. They carrying all types of wine, bottled beers and cocktails. Definitely visit this small business! read more