This Lexington bar with wine, beer and Hot Wheels cars has a vibe and seat for everyone
One Lexington wine bar is winning over customers not just with its drinks, but with its events and quirky bar decor, leading to its win as Best Wine Bar for Smiley Pete’s Best of Lex in 2024.
Darling Wine Bar at 101 W Loudon #164 took over space in Greyline Station, previously occupied by The Breeze Wine Bar, in July 2023. Since then it has quickly built up a loyal community of fans thanks to an approach that favors inclusion over pretentiousness and never takes itself too seriously.
“I truly believe that wine is nothing more than grape juice, that drinking should be fun and that everyone deserves a seat at the table,” says owner Alex Johns. “It was just as important to me to create a space inviting to people price-wise as it was vibe-wise.”
This manifests itself upon entering, with decor including everything from a high-wire unicycling doll hanging over the bar to Hot Wheels cars, squishy toys and other objects spread out across the counter below. The bar’s events range from horror-fueled Sunday Scaries to trivia, Friday afternoon happy hours and food and wine pairings.
That eccentricity is par for the course for Johns, a longtime bartender of the now-defunct Cosmic Charlie’s and mainstay in the city’s music scene with bands like Ford Theatre Reunion, Tense Kids and winners who says that she’s just doing her best to make the bar feel like a welcome place for all.
“I have a really dedicated community of people who feel at home coming here, almost like this is their second living room,” she describes. “It’s important to have those places — like the bar in ‘Cheers’ — that feel personal, but are also public.”
Those patrons include WRFL 88.1 FM assistant director Mary Clark who stresses that the niche aesthetic — paired with the queer punk wine bar’s outgoing bartenders — is what sets it apart. “I also appreciate the fact they always have all sorts of fidget toys on the bar ... It’s chill and not overstimulating.”
What’s on Darling’s wine menu?
Darling features a collection of more than 50 wines by the glass, bottle and to go with a focus on natural, low intervention, and low or no sulfite concoctions.
Along with its wines from California, Italy, France and Georgia (the country), Darling regularly stocks bottles from the nearby University of Kentucky Winery like itsSouth Farm Red. The wine list frequently changes, and most bottles fall within the $20-$35 price range.
“There are a few wines that will always be here unless I can’t get it, but most of them I like to keep in a rotation so people can try new things,” Johns said.
She also said she wants to move toward a more organic and biodynamic lineup in the future.
“I like doing that because it allows people to try a new wine without having to go for an entire bottle. We’ve all faced the disappointment of thinking we know what we’re all about only to taste a drink that doesn’t fit your palette.”
What about beer and cocktails?
Darling offers an assortment of beers, cocktails, nonalcoholic beverages, THC drinks and small bites like tin cans of fish and olives.
Johns aims to extend the Greyline’s community centered vibe by sending Darling’s customers to neighbors like Wing Kyng, The Wandering Bock and Thea’s Bass And Biddy Kitchen for food
“I am looking forward to seeing a unified vision for Greyline come to fruition because I think that collaboration creates a greater and more interesting experience,” says Johns.
Darling Wine Bar
Where: 101 W Loudon #164
Hours: 4-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 2-11 p.m. Fridayand Saturday, 2-9 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday
Online: DarlingWineBar.com
Other Central Kentucky Wine Bars
Cibon, 211 Rosemont Garden, CibonLexington.com.
Euro Wine & Tapas Bar, 102 S Main St, Nicholasville, EuroWineBar.com.
Fable, 200 W Main St, FableLex.com.
This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 5:00 AM.