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Cork Wine Bar, a long-running Logan Circle favorite for European bottles and casual small plates, opened a second standalone location in Cleveland Park on Jan. 8. The new outpost brings wine-by-the-glass service and a pared-down market to upper Northwest neighborhoods where many of the bar?s longtime customers have relocated.
Neighborhood wine bar with a compact footprint
Owners Khalid Pitts and Diane Gross?who have operated the original Cork for nearly two decades?say the Cleveland Park spot was driven by customer demand rather than a broad expansion plan. A small retail outlet inside Pizzeria Paradiso in Spring Valley opened in 2021, but the Connecticut Avenue address (3504 Connecticut Ave. NW) is their second free-standing shop.
The new space seats about 20 people and includes a ground-floor wine bar, a 400-square-foot mezzanine for tastings and private events, and plans for a patio when spring arrives. The concept is intentionally modest: an easy stop for a drink and a light bite before or after dinner.
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What to expect on the menu and wine list
Service begins at midday on most days, and the bar will rotate a concise selection of glasses and bottles to suit neighborhood tastes.
- Hours: Noon?9 p.m. Wednesday?Sunday; weekdays open later on Monday and Tuesday.
- By-the-glass selection: About 15 rotating options across sparkling, white, red, ros? and orange wines, priced roughly $11?$22.
- Retail: Around 350 bottles available to enjoy on-site or purchase to take home.
- Small plates: Signature avocado toast (with pistachio oil), beet salads, cheese and charcuterie, pates, goug?res and chicken liver mousse. New to Cleveland Park: tinned fish with house crackers and pickles.
- Extras: A French cider appears on the list; the mezzanine will host classes and private tastings.
Patrons can expect familiar Cork favorites in a slightly streamlined format?with an emphasis on accessibility and relaxed service rather than full evening dining.
Pressure on European imports
Maintaining a focus on Old?World wines carries a new set of challenges. Gross says recent import tariffs have pushed wholesale prices up?sometimes by a few dollars a bottle?which squeezes small retailers and the winemakers they depend on. While the owners remain committed to sourcing European producers, they acknowledge the market is in flux.
Still, Gross emphasizes that Cork aims to be a low-key refuge for neighbors: a place to unwind after work, meet a friend for a glass, or spend a quiet afternoon upstairs with a book.
What?s next
The team plans to keep building in the same quadrant of the city. A more casual concept, Marv?s Dogs?a family-oriented spot serving Chicago-style hot dogs and games?was announced for the area later this quarter.
For Cleveland Park residents and longtime Cork patrons who followed the bar uptown, the new location offers a compact, approachable option for European wines and familiar small plates without the formality of a full dining room.
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