After literally a year of hearing about a new dive bar coming to Philadelphia that would cater to the city’s wine-loving crowd, it wasn’t difficult convincing a few friends to check it out when it finally opened.

Wine Dive, cleverly named and attached to Cambridge, offers a hole-in-the-wall feel with an elevated, beatnik vibe. With quirky accents around the bar (which is full, offering liquor and beer in addition to wine), the style is difficult to nail down.

Walking in, we were a little surprised at how busy the space was, but considering this highly-anticipated space just opened, we shouldn’t have been so shocked. The friendly bartenders spotted our confused faces and wasted no time helping us.

With no shot of sitting at the full bar, we made our way through the small room to find seats.

With a 90s jukebox on the wall, a small bar in the middle of the room, menus covering most of the walls and leather shared booths circling low tables with short stools toward the back, there’s the mix of speakeasy vibes and locals-only feel that only a dive bar can provide. We sat toward the back and looked up (from teeny tiny stools) to see a ceiling filled with ornate mirrors and a wall covered with black-and-white photos.

The wine selection was as wide as the beer offerings, with even some oddities like miniature bottles and cartons of saké in the refrigerator. For those looking for grab-and-go service, Wine Dive is also a bottle shop, helpful, as there are more than a few great BYOB restaurants in the area.

— Angelique Platas, associate editor