The buzz: With his ever-expanding collection, long-time wine collector Victor Gomez looks to share with the rest of us his love for vino with the opening of Sip Wine Bar, a no-frills hole-in-the-wall serving up affordable wines to thirsty Ekkamai folks.

The décor: Visiting Sip Wine is like going round to your friend’s for drinks—if your friend lived in a converted shophouse whose upper floor doubles as a wine cellar. Set in a nondescript building, this place may not turn heads from the outside, but it does score big in terms of comfort, thanks to plush sofas and the living room-like vibe. If you’re on your own, sit at the bar under the steps and pick the brains of the wine expert himself.

The music: Easy-listening compilations and, dare we say it, a bit of bossa nova.

The crowd: After-work crowd from nearby offices and expats getting their fix of graped-filled nightcaps.

The price: Wines are categorized according to their country of origin, starting from B129 for a glass and B750 for a bottle. Beer B90, cocktails B150-180 and shots B120-200. From 5-8pm, you can have your own tasting at B99 and B149/glass. Food may not be their priority here, but they do offer a platter of cold cuts and cheeses (B195) and Thai-style gab glaem like French fries and deep-fried chicken wings.

Why you’ll come back: It’s a perfect little spot to wind down after a taxing day at work, plus their happy hours and soft-opening promo (buy two get one free on wine by the glass and bottle, until Feb 28) are probably the best you can find in this part of town right now.