Upstairs at La Baguette
2417 W Colorado Ave (Unmarked Door to Left-Upstairs)
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904
(719) 661-1604
Hours: Thursday-Saturday 6:00PM – 2AM
October 14, 2017
What can possibly smell better than fresh baked bread and pastries? That is what greets you once you enter an unmarked door just to the left of La Baguette Bakery in Old Colorado City and make your way up to one of Colorado Springs’ best kept wine secrets. Like Alice in Wonderland, you don’t know what awaits you on the other side of the door, but the aromas whisk you upstairs to Upstairs.
A cozy leisure area welcomes you at the top of the stairs, with a bar, a handful of tables, and some soft leather couches facing an inviting fireplace. With a maximum occupancy of only thirty-eight, this small space is made out to create an intimate tasting experience where you can sample from an extensive list of wines while partaking in a limited but varied menu of hot and cold dishes well paired to complement your drink.
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| Weekend Specials |
Once seated, we are immediately offered a sample of Upstairs’ two specials: a 2015 Wente “Club Exclusive” GSM blend from Livermore Valley, California and a 2010 Domaine Faiveley Burgundy (Pinot Noir). The pours are generous enough for my wife and I to both have a suitable taste of each. She likes the Wente, while I lean more towards the earthiness of the Burgundy. Things are off to a wonderful start.
The wine list at Upstairs is extensive. In addition to their specials, which they advertise through their Facebook page, a global variety of wines is available by-the-glass, as well as a selection of finer wines by-the-bottle. Prices are very reasonable, with glasses going from $7 to $15, and most averaging around $9.
With our complimentary samples fading from our palates, we keep the party going by ordering a flight of three French and three Spanish wines. We will never get to all of what Upstairs has to offer tonight, so we quickly start planning our return visit.
We order a Raclette and a Meat & Cheese plate to accompany our drinks, and indulge in a meal that takes us back to our summer of sitting by the Garonne River in Bordeaux.
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The staff at Upstairs is friendly, knowledgeable and eager to talk about all things wine. The simple menu is enhanced by a variety of fresh breads and “croissant tips” all from the bakery downstairs. They have an excellent desert selection, also made on the premises, to bookend a perfectly European dining experience.
Although the gas fireplace is lit, an inexplicable cold draft – presumably from the ventilation system – keeps us a bit chillier than we would like on this October evening. Otherwise, our experience is a delightful one. We settle up with our server and chit-chat with her about the bar and sommelier training. She asks us our names, and as we head towards the stairs that would take us away from this new-found Wonderland, we hear “Thanks Roger and Anita. Have a great evening”. A nice personal touch that makes us that much more eager to return soon.
Upstairs at La Baguette is open Thursdays through Saturdays, from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am.
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