In the mood for some wine and a romantic atmosphere? You’re in luck! Nestled in the midst of downtown office buildings and high rises you will find the swank new wine bar located on the first floor of the 5th and Madison condo building. Sip at the Wine Bar and Restaurant (909 5th Avenue Seattle, WA 98104), while being particularly well designed for those working downtown, can also serve as the venue for a great romantic or a personable first date. Expect high-class food for high-class prices with a wine list that should leave even the finicky connoisseur satisfied.
One of the major factors that makes this a “date place”, and not just another alcohol peddler, is the atmosphere. Dimly lit, with black leather couches, and dark wooden furniture creates an air of elegance and romanticism. Due to the high ceilings and wide spaces between seating areas, you’ll also find Sip to be rather quiet despite the volume of people. Perfect for those looking to actually have a good conversation on a date.
To the wine, for those that don’t like to make decisions I would recommend getting one of their wine flights. They run at about $15, which generally includes wine from three different vineyards…with a fairly generous pour for a flight. Just one may leave you with a bit of a buzz. I personally enjoyed their Cabernet flight referred to as the “Call Me a Cab” and Jocelyn had fun with their “Bubbly” flight (I think you get the idea). Also, Wednesday is half priced bottle night for those really looking to cut costs.
As a warning, don’t expect this to be a cheap date, which is why it may be reserved for that “3rd date” type of spot. Appetizers will run you about $10 a piece and entrees at roughly $25. That isn’t to say it’s not worth it, but portion size is small. During our evening we tried their Lobster Mushroom Flan (who wouldn’t be intrigued?) which was a very decadent form of seafood pâté. My only complaint is that it came with three very small (think pinky finger) pieces of bread with which to consume it. Two of us, three small pieces of bread, sizable mound of flan…you do the math. We also tried their Vietnamese Caramel Beef, which was a perfectly cooked and full flavored skewer of angus tenderloin. The perfect choice for the selective carnivore, but only if you’re looking for great taste and not a filling.
TIP Unlike most restaurants Sip provides a selection of seating options. You can sit in the bar area, get a table, some combination of both should you prefer drinks and then dinner…or, which is my recommendation, you can get a lounge spot. This consists of a “U” of comfort (as I’d like to refer to it), including two couches and a single chair. This setup really provides the freedom to get as close to your date as a public place can supply. Start out on separate furniture and commence a slow migration onto the same couch if the night is going well.
As normal as this wine bar seemed, it did have one quark you and your date may enjoy. There is a communal sink outside of the restrooms (this isn’t the odd part). Included with these sinks are voyeuristic TVs built into the mirrors that provide a video feed from the front door and bar area. Yes, that’s right, you get the option of watching someone else awkwardly fumble through their date. We happened to have a great view of a couple that were clearly not on the same page. She was excited and very touchy…but he looked like he was about to fall asleep and couldn’t look her in the eye. It’s was like watching Big Brother, but the filming was going on just a few feet away!
Lastly, if you’re looking to extend your night beyond the bar you, will have a plethora of options given the downtown location. It just might take a bit of a walk to find something fit to your taste. I’d recommend the 5th Avenue Theater (1308 5th Avenue Seattle, WA 98101) if you’re looking for entertainment before your meal or the Can Can (94 Pike Street Seattle, WA 98101) if you’re looking for a post meal drink and cabaret show. Cheers!
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