Grape & Grain Exchange

If you’re not ready to hop on the good foot and do the bad thing, then you’re not ready for G&G, ok chica? You better be ready to check it at the door because it’s about to get really wet up in this popsicle stand. One, two, three, FLOOR — OKKRRRR?
Whenever we’re in JAX, we make sure to sling ourselves by this crazy little lean-​to to get a little sideways. I highly recommend starting and/​or finishing here. If you’re gonna drop it like it’s hot, you’d better make sure it isn’t luke warm. Yes ma’am. Get right, or get left!

This place is OK. I do like the fact that they play Hip Hop music and it’s not a particular Hip Hop crowd. It’s located in the San Marco area of Jacksonville which is extremely nice. The bartender was knowledgable and very good. The wine, beer, and spirt selection is great. A lot of top shelve brands. They do have an odd way of getting your beer. You just open the walk in cooler and grab what you want. Then simply go to the bar and pay for it. Not traditional but considering the area, I guess it’s ok. We’ll be back.

Had dinner at Taverna and then stopped by Grape and Grain to listen to live music. I’d checked Bands In Town website and the artists looked like they would be very entertaining. The place itself is nice, but the musical experience was the worst I have ever had. The bar is full of tragically hip posers that don’t know how to shut up when the music is playing. The performer asked them THREE separate times to please keep it down as the cover charge was $ 10 for the music, and they still would not stop talking loudly. We left after the second artist started because it was such a disappointing experience. Management did not do anything about the situation– I WILL NOT GO BACK. Spend your money at Jack Rabbits or Mudville Music Room where the experience is far superior and the attendees care about the music to be respectful of the performers!

Love it! Their drinks are wonderful, and the speak easy is awesome. It’s a cool place to go any day of the week.

So I officially can say I adore this place! I’ve always wanted to go here but just the other night one of my close friends and I had the opportunity to go and celebrated our summer birthdays here. Let me just say $ 5 for an amazing tropical drink is a steal! And I was blown away that 4 amazing drinks later I had only spent $ 20. Not to mention the place is perfectly lit with nice music and the friendliest/​coolest bartender in the world! I literally cannot wait till I can return! This is a must go place in Jax! I also heard they have live music on thursday-​saturday. We went on labor day so they had no live music but it was still a blast!
Thank you Grape& Grain for a wonderful girls night out!

Great cocktails, great knowledgeable service. We were given the Bartenders Handshake and through that hospitality we decided to come back again and have never been disappointed! First Class!

Such a cute place! The wine selection was great, although they do charge a cork fee for most bottles. Definitely disappointed with the service though. If you are not hipster or friends with the bartenders, forget it. We still had a nice night but it wouldn’t kill anyone if a bartender smiled once in a while.

One of the best bars in Jacksonville, handmade exquisite drinks. The staff are fantastic and give quality service. They have a «speak easy» back room with live music on the weekend.
If you are looking for a cool place that is hipster without the judgement if you are not… stop by and get a great drink!

I enjoy Grape and Grain. It’s casual yet classy. While I prefer to go for wine and an outdoor seat, they have a very inviting indoor vide and a wide selection of liquor and beers.

Incredible atmosphere! Wonderfully knowledgeable staff. Co Owner-​Jackson is a drinker’s gentleman and makes THE BEST cocktails I’ve ever had. They currently stand in the top 3 in the nation for Fernet sales, and their mixologists are literally award winning! The only thing that made this new, brightly lit, take on a «bar» even better… the freakin speak-​easy in the back! (Access via a door with a blue light in the alley). Catch a completely different cocktail list, and feel in this night time abode, while checking out amazing local musicians :) This place makes San Marco WORTH San Marcoing.

Perfect place to stop and have a drink and not feel like you’re not at a bar. Great social aspect since it’s on the smaller side. Tell any bartender what flavors you like and you’re guaranteed to get something you love. Best place for a bit of culture.

The Grape & Grain is the most unique place I’ve seen in a while. I was taken aback when I noticed they crushed their own ice in canvas type bags with wooden mallets! Some of their specialty cocktails are served in copper cups! ;) They pay very close attention to detail. The bar staff was very attentive and accommodating, I will definitely be back.

This review is really for the parlour (speak easy) Great music, the staff is very helpful and welcoming and the selection is limitless. Very pleased with the atmosphere as well!
Recommend you try it at least once… a week.
Good place for a girls night out or a date night.

Ok, I do not know a whole lot about alcohol. I am always super nervous to go in to a place like this and ask questions, in fear they will think I’m an idiot.
I took a chance and asked questions and didn’t feel like an idiot!
They have a constant rotating cocktail menu. The time I went I did not like anything that appeared to be on the menu so I asked if he could just make me whatever while giving him a few guidelines. He did just that and wa la I got an uh-​mazing drink. THAT I ACTUALLY LIKED!
This place is beautiful on the inside and I’ll let you in on a little secret if the Parlour is open you should check it out. What’s that? Oh you only walk through the book case to get back there. The Parlour is a speak easy styled bar in the back. When it’s open you can enter in through the sliding book case or the side of the building if the blue light is on, it’s open.
Thanks guys!

Was introduced to this cool little gig by fellow Unilocaler Rodney. I had seen it in the past and thought it was a wine store with a small bar that you could try some of the brands. Boy was I wrong! From what I understand, its all regional liquors, beers and wines. Its a great little, super friendly joint. The bartenders were friendly to us. Unlike some of the other reviews I read, I thought they were great. We also met one of the owners, Bob, He couldnt have been nicer!
Then the super secret surprise! The speak easy in the back! WOW… A fancy little jazz club is tucked away in the back. You pay a small cover and it allows you to go and listen to some cool music and taste some drinks that I would have never imagined. The Johnny Appleseed, whoa… easy on this lil booger… One had me thinking I was superman. LOL…All jokes aside, This is the coolest bar concept Ive ever been too. Were gonna frequent this place is my plan.

So wait a minute. You are telling me that I can buy a bottle of wine at liquor store prices and you will open it for me and let me enjoy it immediately in this awesome atmosphere for a $ 1 corkage fee??? Don’t believe it? WELL BELIEVE IT.
I was really impressed by this place. Their wine and beer selection was outstanding. The décor is really cute and the staff was great. On a Thursday night, the place was bumpin’, so I can only imagine it on the weekends. Great spot to enjoy delicious, inexpensive libations.

I think the owners must have started out making a beer store, then got distracted after some friends brought in a big box of cheeses, who in turn, invited some more friends with an eclectic wine selection, and it has been like that since more friends brought in the mixologist set up.
I liked the mix of things going on there, including the little acoustic duo in the front that was there today as I randomly walked into the very clean looking place. To my surprise, I found a special rum I had not seen in many years, just hanging out and waiting for me to show up. Next time, honey (I thought).
While I walked around the store the friendly guys behind the counter welcomed me as if I was a cousin showing up for a Thanksgiving dinner. They had 3 beers on tap and assorted bottles to offer and I decided the Intuition «Liver Kick» Black IPA was the way to go.
That beer turned out to be a delicious choice, but I refrained from having another as I had to get going.
The Grape & Grains Exchange reminded me of a few places in New York and Long Island, NY, that were playing with a mixed group of popular products I like to consume in quantity without sacrificing quality. I will be returning to try more of the interesting flavors and to pick up that special rum too.

We had been following GGX for some time but had not yet ventured over to San Marco to see what it was all about. While I love the concept and I really do LOVE all the artisanal liquors they’re bringing in, it’s not somewhere I would go every day. And it’s not somewhere I would by a gin or whiskey that I’m planning to use as a mixer for a party.
However, if I was looking for a sipping tequila or a fabulous bourbon, these guys will be the first ones I call on.

Ever wish you were in the 30’s doin’ something illegal? G&GX is your place. This concept still makes me angry I didn’t think of it first — an awesome package store with a bar in the front of the building run by whatever bottles of liquor they feel like opening (you’ll usually not get the same thing you got on your last visit) with a speakeasy/​parlor in the back of the establishment. When the owner invites you back to the parlor (which is often), you get to enter through a «hidden» bookshelf door.
…I know, right?!
The live bands they have playing in the parlor are always on point. Usually jazz/​blues. I’ve never been disappointed. I recommend a moscow mule if you’re into that sort of thing (which I am).

I once went to a craft beer bar in Louisville, KY of all places. A completely shady hole in the wall. It was different than any other bar Id been to and I loved it. I had never really found anything like it again. Then I came upon The Grape & Grain Exchange in the San Marco area of Jacksonville, FL. I wouldn’t call it a craft beer bar because they also offer small batch liquors and wine. I wouldn’t call it a shady hole in the wall either. I would however call it Awesome. The only thing that makes me smile more than unicorns, puppies and rainbows is a room full of unique alcoholic liquids. G&GX has that.
Its more upscale than I expected but it works for the area. The day I went, the bartender was Ford. A cool guy who definitely knew his libations. I sampled a couple of the beers they had on tap for the day, but they weren’t my style. When I told him I was more into Browns and Ambers, Ford recommended a local beer, Dukes Cold Nose Brown Ale made here in Jville at Bold City Brewery. That was more to my liking. I also tried and liked the Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale brewed at Lazy Magnolia which just so happens to be the first brewery in Mississippi.
In addition to a great offering of brews, liquor and wine, word on the street is that G&GX has a speakeasy-​esque lounge in the rear of the shop that throws down live jazz/​blues music on some nights. I haven’t experienced this yet, but in the words of a famous cyborg… Ill be back.