First Look: Videira Wine Shop & Bar in Midtown St. Louis

The St. Louis area has recently experienced a welcome uptick in new wine bars, bringing an even wider variety of vino to the thirsty metro population. Videira Wine Shop & Bar is the latest of these, opening its doors at 2702 Locust St. in the JCMidtown development earlier this fall.

Owners (and fiances) Mykel McIntosh and Marshall Darwish have put together an impressive list of 21 wines by the glass and more than 30 bottle offerings from myriad regions, from German Rieslings to California chardonnays and cabernet sauvignons (McIntosh said she’s particularly partial to cabs). Casual drinkers and hardcore oenophiles are all sure to find something to please their palates. Bottles can be purchased to take home or enjoy onsite, and guests can sample all the wines before committing to purchase.

While wine is the star at Videira (the name means “grapevine” in Portuguese), there’s far more to be enjoyed on the expansive liquid bill of fare. McIntosh, a self-described “whiskey girl” said she and Darwish wanted to make sure that spirits and cocktail aficionados were also well taken care of. In addition to a healthy selection of whiskeys, the spirited choices includes a variety of gins, vodkas, cognacs, agave spirits, aperitifs/digestifs and then some. A tight collection of house cocktails is also available, like the I’ll Have What She’s Having, a tasty amalgam of vodka, raspberry syrup, lemon and Angostura bitters, and Call Me Old Fashioned, a solid take on the venerable classic based on Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye. There are also several NA options for those who want to imbibe sans spirits, like the NA Pink Gin Fizz, with Lyre’s Dry London Spirit, Lyre’s Italian Orange and Indian tonic. 

Food-wise, Videira offers several small plates, perfect for noshing whilst tasting through the wine list. The build-your-own cheese and charcuterie plate offers guests the chance to choose their own flavorful adventure with cheeses like manchego and Seahive, a cow’s milk variety hand-rubbed with local honey and sea salt, and charcuterie that ranges from duck prosciutto to bresaola, a cured Italian-style beef. The burrata and roasted piquillo pepper jam, served with Union Loafers bread, and the za’atar naan and hummus are definitely not to be missed either.

McIntosh and Darwish have created a space that takes full advantage of the building’s historic past while also adding a bit of a modern aesthetic. The exposed brick walls and wooden beams contrast nicely with the black walls and hanging light fixtures dripping with faux crystals. Seemingly on every wall are black and white photos of celebrities, from Cher to Frank Sinatra to Brad Pitt, in various states of celebration. These portraits are an homage to McIntosh’s late mother who loved old black-and-white films and images and lend a little bit of nostalgia to the space. There are about 50 seats in Videira, including two- and four-top tables, bar seats and soft seating, perfect for intimate date nights and co-worker happy hours in equal measure. Videira’s overall vibe is comfortable, understated elegance, a little bit of NYC in Midtown.

Videira is open 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.