By Sophie Oberstein

Friends took us to Screwtop Wine Bar when my husband and I were considering moving into the neighborhood and I’m not joking when I say that it was one of the selling points that convinced us that Clarendon was going to be a good fit for us. It wasn’t necessarily the food—which was great—or the wine selection—even greater! It was just the feel of the place. We really felt like this was the kind of upscale neighborhood place – with cozy indoor tables and a welcoming outside patio, that we wanted to
have nearby.

One year later, now fully settled in the neighborhood, a friend and I dropped in for lunch at this neighborhood staple, whose website describes it as, “a cozy wine bar and full-service restaurant, serving lunch, dinner, and plenty of good vibes seven days a week.” And other patrons agree—Screwtop is going to be recognized as a 2026 Top Vote Getter for Best Restaurant in Arlington AND Best Neighborhood Bar by Arlington Magazine’s readers’ survey.

Screwtop has been part of the community for sixteen years, since 2009, and has staff members who have been working there for upwards of ten years. Some wine club members have been part of the scene for the same amount of time. Linda, the owner I spoke to on my most recent visit, told me that people appreciate that this is more than a restaurant or wine store, but a place to have fun and meet people. Screwtop hosts weekly and monthly events, including tastings and classes, and is available for a variety of private parties. Linda mentioned that some patrons came to Screwtop on a first date and return to celebrate their engagement and/or anniversary.

The menu features six pages of beverages, including hundreds of wines, cocktails, and terrific mocktails (in a menu section called, “Shaken Not Slurred”). Curious No. 3 – the Juniper Cucumber Collins is a favorite of mine. Wine selections rotate regularly, and seasonal wine flights are added to the menu, like the Fizz the Season, Jingle Blends, and Rosé Bells are Ringing.

The food is fantastic. For full transparency, I have loved the more stable menu items more than I love some of the recent additions. The grilled cheese sliders, a signature dish, paired with tomato bisque is a hit any time of year, and the Butternut Squash Salad (with added shrimp) is a standout. The new acorn squash stuffed with turkey and quinoa tasted “healthy,” according to my friend who ordered it, and the newly added Zucchini Lasagna, which I ordered, was good, but spicier than I’d anticipated. On the brunch menu (served Saturday and Sundays), the Nutella & Banana French Toast, and Avocado Toast are crowd pleasers. And the cheesemonger plate rivals those at the fanciest of restaurants. Little embellishments—like a serving of truffle popcorn when you sit down, soft napkins (my friend asked me to add that!) and Hershey’s kisses with your check—enhance the overall experience.

While reservations generally aren’t needed for lunch, it’s recommended that you book ahead for dinner and on weekends. Happy Hour is Monday-Friday from 3:00-6:00 p.m., and other specials are on offer during the week, like half off all wine bottles on the menu under $100 Sundays from 4:00-9:00 p.m.

There is so much going on at Screwtop, it’s hard to capture it all! But, more than anything, it’s a warm, welcoming spot where your meal is going to be delicious and your drinks are going to be special. If you haven’t been in awhile —or at all—it’s definitely worth a return visit to this sweet Clarendon spot.

Screwtop (1025 N Fillmore Street): Hours of operation are 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday & Saturday. Phone number is 703-888-0845. Visit the website: screwtopwinebar.com for more information..