The Grape Escape is a blast! It could easily hold it's own in Chicago. It has a huge beer, wine, and martini menu. The owner, Ms. Kitty, is loads of fun, I always enjoy seeing what her hair looks like on any given night. This place seems like Galena's answer to a bar for the "artsy" locals, where all are welcome. It has a very welcoming vibe. We saw a country rock cover band there once. For my next Galena trip, I hope to stay stumbling distance from Main Street, so I can joyfully stumble home from Grape Escape. read more

Love this place! Great selection, and Miss Kitty is so welcoming. If you're in Galena, IL stopping by Miss Kitty's Grape Escape is a must!

I'm a sucker for live music and this is the place to take it in. The staff is plentiful and very attentive, left us never waiting for a fresh beverages! Great atmosphere and stellar deco. This is a must visit when in town!! read more

I don't make to Galena as often as I use to but still one of my favorite destinations and the Grape Escape is always on my list of places to go. The owner Miss Kitty is what makes this place so amazing. She has to be one of the most interesting and friendliest people I have ever met but won't put up with s*** lol. Reminds me of a place I knew in Florida where everyone is welcome and leaves family. The cocktails here are also delicious and good priced. Don't know the name of the band, but they added to the fun. Thank you Miss Kitty and the Grape Escape for another great memory. read more

My absolute favorite place to go in Galena! Miss Kitty is the best! So many awesome drinks my favorite are the martinis!

Awesome place! Came to Galena for the weekend and had so much fun here. We decided to spend greater than 50% of our time in one place! Awesome atmosphere. Friendly bartender and owner and great live music. To top it off, they gave our dog a treat! read more

Definately a must stop when in Galena! Great atmosphere, very friendly staff, and FANTASTIC moscato cocktails!!!!!

I am so glad I came here as the final stop for the night. Two things brought me in here: live music and the atmosphere. Once my family and I were seated and had ordered our drinks and food, we were engaged with the band. They eventually reached out to the audience to ask questions to give away free shirts. I was called upon and long story short, I got a free shirt! The music was great and the pizza we ordered was just enough to fill us up. I wanted to try their absinthe cocktail but decided against it because it didn't contain the hallucinogen haha. If I wasn't so tired I would have stayed a lot later and racked up my bill because this place was hot! read more

One of my favorite bars to go to in Galena. Live music almost every weekend and lots of good people visit here too. Those bartenders are the best. Can't wait to come back! Love it! read more

Best martini's and drinks around! Perfect place for Sunday morning mimosas/bloody Marys too!

How I ADORE Miss Kitty and her delightful Galena establishment. Let's just say--line up a mochatini (or two or three) and one of her gourmet cheese plate appetizers, and you are set for an evening of fun and flavor! Miss Kitty, and her fabulous hot pink hairdo's (wired with LED lights during Christmas time!!!), makes you feel right at home, and her other bartenders are equally fun and unique. I have yet to leave Miss Kitty's 1) sober and 2) without a big, s**t eating grin on my face! I LOVE THIS PLACE! read more

I always have a good time here. Great waitstaff and atmosphere. The food menu is a little sparse but all of it is delicious. Majority of the drinks are fabulous, though the Hot Stuff menu is a bit hit or miss. Do you want to pay $9 for a shot of rum in a packet of Swiss Miss? Then you are in the right place, but otherwise get something else, the cider and hot chocolate are a disappointment. My favorite is the peach mule, but I hear they do a great dirty martini with cheese stuffed olives. read more

Not just for wine drinkers.! We are not wine fans, but the martinis and beer selection is solid too. Loved the atmosphere and will be a definite go-to on our next visit to Galena. read more

Popped in for a post supper drink and were greeted like family. The server/ bartender asked how "dirty I wanted my martini on a 1-4 scale. Who does that? Suberb people and a great band. We love it! read more

Very artsy wine bar. We stopped in while walking around town at night and were welcomed by friendly staff. They even gave us free slices of pie from the pie shop next door! The wine selection was easy and had something for any wine lover. Definitely worth checking out on a relaxing night in Galena. read more

We love this place! The atmosphere is lively and fun, and Miss Kitty, the owner, is a warm, compassionate, charming woman. It's worth going just to meet her! read more

Such a great ambiance! Love so much about this place! Anytime you are in Galena, you must go!

There on a Sunday around noon looking for a quick bite with our dog. We chose the Grape Escape because this is one of the few pet friendly establishments in Galena. Open mic with local guitarists. Server was attentive and gave us some waters. This place does NOT have an extensive food menu, especially on Sunday afternoons apparently. They have Bosco sticks, chips and salsa and home made pizza and a few other appetizers. We ordered the Bosco sticks as an appetizer and they came out after about 10 minutes. Here's where the problem starts. 30+ more minutes go by and NO PIZZA. Finally the server says - oh our cook accidentally made the wrong pizza - the one with the brie on it. I said, fine can you bring it out and we'll eat that one while you make the correct one. "Oh, let me check, she wants to come out and speak with you." Another 15 more minutes and no pizza, no anything. Finally I tell the server this was ridiculous and just get the check so we could go somewhere else. We left there starving and completely disappointed. No apologies, no cook or someone in charge saying we are so sorry... etc. The place had maybe 10 customers in it. Oh, and our dog, she was never offered water or treats. Hey, at least we got some water. This is definitely a Sunday Bloody Mary kind of place that is dog friendly, however, this situation was handled very poorly. read more

Drinks were great! Outdoor patio was nice to already be open in April! Great live music. Stop in! read more

The Grape Escape - Wine Bars Near Me - Galena, Illinois

We road-tripped to Galena for a girl's weekend and hit many of the bars/restaurants in the historic downtown. We were attracted to The Grape Escape because of the live music. They have a nice outdoor seating area, great drink selection, and friendly staff. However, the reason for the 1-star review was due to the shocking rudeness of what we learned later was the owner, "Miss Kitty". All of the customers around us were "jaw on the ground" in disbelief. We quickly moved on after observing this spectacle. At our next stop, we were talking to some locals seated next to us and were told that what we observed was not unusual. Seriously?! I can't imagine the food/drink/ambiance ever being good enough to make-up for anyone attempting to humiliate their customers. In contrast, our group was given a round of free drinks from the owner of Fried Green Tomatoes for "being nice". There are many great alternatives in downtown Galena that I would recommend over The Grape Escape. read more

Really loved this bar. My husband and I came in on a Tuesday and there was one other guy in there. We like it quiet so this was just fine for us. We were greeted by the bartender, Rick who was just great. We chatted with him for most of the time. We told him we were newlyweds and he tried to get our first dance song over the speakers. The song we had was so unknown that he couldn't find it so he just put on another one of the artists songs, but we appreciated the thought! The drinks were delicious. I had the truffle martini and the caramel apple martini which were both great. I also had the berry pimpin which was delicious. My husband had the hot apple cider and sailor jerry drink which he loved. They had a unique list of drinks including many hot ones. I just wish there were more fruit martinis vs the dessert ones but I think if we asked Rick would have tried to make us anything but we stuck to the menu. We got lucky to catch Peter there playing traditional Irish music. He plays every other Tuesday and was really great. He was such a nice man to chat with and listen to. He plays the guitar, fiddle and Mendelian. Such a talent. If you can make it out to see him on a Tuesday I'd suggest it. He's very personable and unique. There was a pingpong table in back. The decor was nice. Very welcoming place. We will be back. read more

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We stopped in here after a rather dismal dinner experience and had a great time! There was a great band playing with no cover charge, and the bartenders were awesome- very friendly and fun. The other patrons were also really friendly and welcoming, and drink prices were reasonable. If you're a martini drinker, they have an extensive list of specialty drinks- we sampled quite a few and they were all delicious. Wish we had a bar like this in our town! We will absolutely be back! read more

First of all, let me tell you first and foremost that we almost DIDN'T take our trip to Galena when we saw that Miss Kitty's had closed to move locations. It was only once we read that the new location was open that we decided to go back to Galena for our 5th trip! On to Miss Kitty's Grape Escape: Ashley and Miss Kitty greeted us as we walked in the door and proceeded to make us feel the same way they always do, like we were one of the family! I could tell that each and every other patron at the establishment felt the exact same way! It's like the Cheers of the tri-state area! As soon as we checked into our hotel on Friday night, we went over to see the place, you can tell it is well on it's way to being a long mainstay on the Main Street strip (just as the other location was). Miss Kitty was working on the bars that now separate the 2 wonderfully large spaces and we even came back on Saturday to see how it had turned out - and it had all the charm that one would expect from Miss Kitty - I bet in a couple months this place will have the Miss Kitty stamp that the previous location had!!!! :) I can't tell you enough how much this place has made our Galena trips have the great memories that they all have - between the friendly clients as well as the wonderfully crazy and lovely staff, this IS our place to head out to when we come to town!!! THANKS MISS KITTY AND CREW FOR ANOTHER GREAT WEEKEND OF FUN!!!!! read more

I am a local transplant from New York and I LOVE this bar! Kitty is, simply put, a blast. Not only are all of the people in the bar entertained by her wisdom and anecdotes, we all get some of the most delicious wine, beer, and martini's EVER! Thank you, Kitty, you are delicious! read more

You have to check out Quiz Show on Sunday nights. We were there just before Christmas 2014 and had a great time.

Never a dull moment at the Grape Escape! Whether you're looking for a martini, a glass of wine, or a craft beer - you won't leave disappointed. Seems like there's always some sort of live music or entertainment! My favorite are their Sunday night Trivia nights, followed by half off bottles of wine every Monday. If you're in Galena and looking for night life - this is the place to be! read more

Great place, awesome atmosphere and the bartenders are highly entertaining! Would highly recommend.

This place was warm on a cold night. Cozy yet rustic-chic. Drink menu was very extensive and unique. I consumed four different cocktails (I'm a big guy) and all were delicious. Service was prompt and attentive. There was a band playing and they seemed to be a big draw for a Friday night. I will return to the Grape Escape on my next visit to Galena. read more

This was definately one of the highlights of my Galena trip. Miss Kitty was an absolute hoot. A free spirit vibe I did not expect in Galena. Check your issues at the door cause the kitty is gonna crack you up. We stayed at cabins on the edge of town and hoped we could hang out and chill but the place we stayed was less than accomodating so when we crawled into the comfy couch at Miss Kitty's it was all over. Kitty kept bringing me cheese to sample- some live Dylan and a wine tasting that kicked major butt. It felt like it was the final episode of Cheers when we left. Sad to go but when we are in Galena we will definately be back. Kitty u rock! read more

I recommend a visit to Miss Kitty's Grape Escape to anyone looking for a fun & hip environment, some of the best live music, awesome friendly staff & a great selection of tasty cocktails/wine/beer/martinis...whatever liquid your palette desires. And don't forget about the "build your own bloody mary bar" on Sat afternoons! Just gotta love this place! read more

Service was top-notch, band playing was excellent. We aren't huge bar people, but it's hard to not have a good time in this place. Best late night drink in Galena. read more

We were disappointed because we thought they only had live music on the weekends. Our waiter at the green tomato told us that there would be music and that we would really enjoy ourselves if we went. When we arrived we thought they were closed. There was a bartender and a musician setting up. They were both VERY friendly and within minutes we found ourselves talking with them as if we'd known them forever. The place filled up rather quickly with both locals and other travelers. We will definitely be back. The only reason for leaving off the 5th star was that the read more

I was sort of let down by this place; the Galena magazine in my hotel room made it sound like it was an upscale wine tasting and beer tasting pub. It was more like a biker bar, with no local wines to sample and not that many local beers. The local beers they had were decent (all Wisconsin-based), and they were so friendly here that I couldn't give less than four stars. Don't expect grub though. Illinois, like Iowa across the river, apparently does not require pubs to have operational kitchens. I didn't see a dinner menu, although I did see the bartender go to the back room to prepare something for another patron. Based on the other reviews, perhaps I visited on an "off-afternoon;" Olympics were on, and everyone was keeping to themselves. Not much of a party vibe here, no music playing.....maybe I should try it again on my next visit. read more

Ms Kitty treats every patron as a local and best friend. She offers a wide variety of cocktails and great snacking food! (baconaise!!!) Plus live music, an outdoor patio and friendly staff. If I am in Galena- I am at The Grape Escape! read more

Lots of fun whether it's quiet or a party night. Staff is very attentive. Atmosphere is Galena. Music is top-notch.

I don't get to go out in Galena much, but whenever I do... The Grape Escape is a must. Miss Kitty is a wonderful hostess... she certainly adds a little spice to life! read more

I was in the Chicago area from SFO last weekend, and went to Galena with some girlfriends for a weekend away. I've been to The Grape Escape several times over the years and have had a great time, every time. If I had been writing this review two weeks ago, I probably would've written a 5-star review. However, after what I witnessed last weekend, that has changed. First and foremost, watch out for Miss Kitty. She is volatile and unpredictable. I've observed her behavior towards people over the years, and she can either be the most charming and friendly of people, or she can be nasty and incredibly rude. Not sure how she decides which face to wear for which person she talks to, but she's very hot and cold. I chose to ignore the rudeness I've witnessed up until now, but after what I saw last weekend, it's time to call it out. Last weekend, a couple of musicians were casually playing for the folks in the bar on a Sunday afternoon. There was this guy on drums, and two on guitar. We were enjoying the music, until Miss Kitty approached the musicians and said something; we couldn't hear what she said at first, so didn't think anything of it. The musicians continued to play, and the drummer asked Miss Kitty if it sounded any better (she must have said something to them about the volume or sound quality). Instead of answering his question, she fired back across the bar at the drummer (in front of all the patrons) about the loud volume of his drumming and made some mean comment to him like, "this isn't all about you...this isn't the YOU-show." She definitely wasn't joking around; the comment came off as offensive as she intended it. Um, excuse me...but WHAT did he do to deserve that kind of public humiliation?! He was being perfectly cordial and polite, and certainly didn't deserve that. Everyone in the bar, including us, were enjoying the show and what started out as a great time quickly became uncomfortable and awkward because of her. The drummer seemed to feel as though he wasn't welcome, because he began to pack up his drums and left. It was a real bummer, and we were very disappointed. I've been to her bar to see Aaron Williams and The Hoodoo many times, and that drummer plays very loudly, and as he should. After all, it's DRUMS! Drums are loud, and as long as it's balanced, it's what makes a great show! If the Hoodoo can play loudly, why was this drummer treated like this? The drummer who left was doing a great job (and no, he most definitely was NOT playing too loudly, at least we didn't think he was), and we were really sad to see the trio break up. We're going to try to find out who he was and follow him to wherever he plays next. Needless to say, our group won't be returning to Miss Kitty's. She really needs to check her attitude and start treating people with more respect. read more

went to galena this past weekend. got into town around 10:30 and decided we needed a drink. went down the hill into the downtown area and ended up a fratty type bar. not my kinda scene. walked around a bit and discovered the grape escape. they're open till 1am and had appetizers. awesome. we went in and they had some live music (which i really enjoyed!) and we sat in the back because there was no seating in the front of the place. our server ( i think his name was jake) was really nice. we had a red stripe and a rouge ale ( i found this establishment to be have best selection of beers in the area) and proceeded to play some golden tee. bruschetta came and we ate! after awhile, miss kitty came into the back and started talking to us. we talked about our neighborhood (how funny that she actually knew the area where we lived in the city) and told us to come up front and stop being anti-social. she must have lived us cause then came the shots. a few shots later, and it was 1am and we had to go. we stumbled up the hill and fell asleep. when i go to galena next time, i'm definitely coming back here. miss kitty was awesome, the ambiance was what i like, and the music and people were great. read more

Another winery that we stopped in while in Galena. This one was a bit more expensive from the others but it seemed pretty similar. We were there during the day and there were only a few other people in there. I liked it but there are cheaper wineries in the area with a similar experience. read more

Went there for Saturday night dinner and drinks. Had a good bottle of wine while playing some games. The wait staff was friendly and helpful, despite being understaffed. We stayed for a couple hours and enjoyed some live music from a nearby band. Seems like one of the most popular tourist stops so you never know who you're going to meet. read more