Portalis Wine Shop & Wine Bar

Great neighborhood spot. really nice selection of wines to taste onsite and available for purchase. the staff is friendly and helpful. the space itself is beautiful. i love to stop by for a glass of wine or snack frequently. it's a casual spot with no attiude.…

great place. after a memorable birthday dinner at volterra we were looking for a place to have an after dinner drink to top off a perfect eveniing. our server recommended portalis and it was a great suggestion. portalis is a beautiful, cozy place to enjoy wines by the glass or bottle. they have a large selection and were very welcoming. i wish i lived in ballard so i could hang out here often.…

Fun time, Yummy Wine!. What a cool bar! I happened upon this place with a few friends recently, and was pleasantly surprised by its cozy atmosphere and selection of wines. The glass list had many wines we weren't familiar with, but the server was friendly and very helpful. My friends ended up buying a case of wine for an upcoming party at a great case discount! The food menu is small, but interesting and delicious. We can't wait to visit again!…

Not Worth The Hype. I had heard so many great things about Portalis, I just had to check it out for myself. When I got there, I even introduced myself to the owner, complimenting him on the cool space and telling him all the great things I had heard about him and Portalis. To my horror, he was pompous and ungrateful - and didn't even offer to help me choose a bottle of wine. He just walked away.

As I wondered through the wine selection, I noticed two things: 1. The selection is pretty darn good, considering the size of the place. But, 2. The prices are far higher than I have seen at other bottle shops. Seems to me that this guy thinks he is too cool for school and that his customers will pay a premium just to be in his presence. I will not return.…