If you're in the Santa Monica Promenade area, definitely swing by Bar Pintxo over by 2nd Street and Ocean. It's a tiny little place that never seems to have any of the pretension that its neighbors (Boa, Robata) exude. In all my experiences with Bar Pintxo, I've always been transported to a cozy, hidden-away Napa Valley wine bar, the type that locals keep very, very secret. There's maybe six seats at the bar, and nearly seven two-seater wooden tables with wooden bar stools for chairs. While the physical experience is a touch uncomfortable, the point of Bar Pintxo is to provide a fairly bare-bones atmosphere so all your attention can focus squarely on what they know and love - the wines.
You can pair any one of their delicious and affordable wines (all displayed on the walls) with an authentic Spanish tapas menu, featuring paellas and platos. The most memorable of the menu includes grilled octopus, white shrimp, jamon and grilled quail. Their selection of all-Spanish wines is stunning, and guaranteed to be wines you've probably never heard of. The servers are knowledgeable and more than happy to tell you all about the particular wine you're drinking, and will even make a food pairing suggestion - they know their stuff!
The crowd that frequents Bar Pintxo is generally older and in the market to enjoy a nice evening with good conversation, good food, and great wine. This Santa Monica wine bar is situated in a perfect place, where you can feel like you're in the middle of it all, yet worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Santa Monica. And talk about happy hour! Go in any day from 4pm - 6pm and make good on their 6 for $6 deal - 6 tapas from the happy hour menu for $6, pair with a $4 sangria or a $1.50 Stella. No reason to waste time at any other Santa Monica wine bar - Bar Pintxo is where it's at!