Hi-Time Wine Cellars

I love Hi-​Time, they have an awesome tequila section and I don’t think you can find a better selection of beer for miles and miles around. Prices are great also!

Are you a wine-​enthusiast? Maybe you just enjoy a glass for dinner or for marathon-​watching TV on a night in — you don’t know much but you know you enjoy drinking! Well, Hi-​Time Wines is the spot for everyone, from the knowledgeable to the very simply boozy.
Seriously, I could sing praises, but then, so does everyone. Huge selection. Wine tasting. Cigars. Hard alcohol for the heavy hitters. Trinkets for fun. Cheese for eating. All great things. Beer in the store next door. Can’t find a single fault.
My sweetie and I drop by every other month to pick up a half dozen bottles or so. Pro-​tip: the store has highlights, descriptions, and sales posted all over. Use those as your buying guide and you seriously won’t be disappointed. We usually stick with 90+ points, half red and half white, below $ 20 with a couple up to $ 35. Even with our bargain hunting, we’ve always been impressed. Like, every single time. And we’ve had our fair share of $ 50-​$ 100 bottles to compare. Whoever wrote the signs, with the ratings and tasting notes, know their stuff!

In the past I have been here and even enjoyed the Costa Mesa Chili Cook off they had in their parking lot. It is warm and inviting due to the awesome staff. Hi Times is a Costa Mesa institution, been here forever and offers an awesome selection and experience. With a wide range of spirits, cigars and even candy snacks this place could easily suck you in for a few hours.
I came in to purchase a Champagne gift for a friend and was assisted by Craig. He was quick to help and got me rung up immediately. They have some of the best people here and I love that they acknowledge customers by their names. Wonderful place. A must visit. Thanks Craig!

Now that I live down the street from this place, it’s my goto for wine, beer and cigars! Grest selection, service and price!

This place has been here for almost sixty years, and for good reasons folks. They have it all. The prices are great, selection is massive, helpful customer service, etc. I love coming here before hosting a get together. It’s a one stop shop for booze. Also check out those John Kelley chocolates at the front; they are unreal.

While visiting Oregon I enjoyed Burnside Bourbon so much, that when I arrived home in San Diego I used the Eastside Distilling website to do an «order online» of this smooth spirit.
Eastside’s «Order Online» link took me to Hi-​Time Wine Cellars.
YESTERDAY I ordered two bottles via Standard Shipping, so I was extremely surprised [and happy] when my doorbell rang TODAY with a GSO delivery guy holding my box of bourbon.
The bottles were well packed in form fitting Styrofoam.
5 stars for the great packing and extremely fast shipping.
I also received an email promptly with my receipt.
The only negative is that the email confirmation said «Once your package ships we will send an email with a link to track your order.» However, I never received an email letting me know it had shipped or what the tracking number was. Fortunately I happened to be home today, so it didn’t negatively impact me.

Just received my shipment (GSO ground took less than 4 days).
Very pleased with the wine selection, ENORMOUS savings here and excellent service.
I created an online account and will definitely order again, i have not been to OC to visit their store but the online service and website does not disappoint.

This place is amazing. If you like drinks and wine, be sure to drop by. They have a large wine cellar, a tasting bar, and a great selection of other beverages. It’s a place I wish were closer to home.
AMBIENCE
The ambience is great here. It feels like a great place to get take a break and away from it all.
SERVICE
Everyone here has been friendly
PARKING
They have their own lot. Most of the time it’s adequate but it does get full.

I have ordered libations from this seller for years. I usually use them for local «hard to find» liquors and for some of the best prices that others can’t match.
Highly recommended, I always seek them out (or one other local to me) before I look to some of the more popular «discount» liquor shops, plus their choices are huge at Hi Time.

For the wine enthusiast, HI-​Time is straight up a 5 star place. Simply no doubt. Selection, really skilled personnel, specials, information, every way one can think to rate them.
For the party crowd, this place is straight up a 5 star place. Beers as far as the eye can see. Kegs, kegs and more kegs. Plenty of spirits and mixers.
For those craving sweets, Hi-​Time has some amazing chocolates.
I’m not a smoker so I won’t comment about their cigars. But, when you have a place like Hi-​Time hitting on all cylinders all the time, year after year after year, I imagine they do a fine job with these as well.

Love this place! It’s hard to find, but once you do you will be glad you did. They have every selection of alcohol, beer, and wine you could imagine. The wine cellar is extensive and everyone there is very knowledgeable about their wines and spirits. There is a a cheese section with eclectic cheeses and crackers, condiments and add ons, and mixes, like the delicious Backyard Mary Bloody Mary mix that I can’t find anywhere but here.
Best bet, come around 2 pm on a weekend. Check their schedule online and see what wine tasting they have that day — make an event of it and get your wine on!

The variety of wineries and vintages of Marsala and Porto is impressive here. So I accepted a challenge impossible: 10 years old Porto against my favorite 1 year old Marsala.
5 Stars!!!
Luigius — Thor of Unilocal Energy

Second visit attending their sake tasting event. This year they’re promoting monthly sake tasting. There is no sushi, just edamame beans. You may want to grab something heavier to eat before it starts — unless you’re fond of being whoozy…
First time I was here, they had sake 10 samples. This time had 7. It was a different distributor. Samples are poured for you. You use the same glass. It’s an option to spit just like wine. They actually have a spitune.
There are primary distributors that also hold sake tasting events at convention centers or county fair grounds. For a not so crowded venue, the ones held at Hi-​time are ideal. Follow them on instagram or visit their website to view their calendar.
Their Cellar also has self-​serve wine tasting. Vending is from a wall set up. If I recall correctly, there are about 4 stations each with 3 – 4 wine selections. Something new and cool to me. You obtain a smart card and get it filled with your desired amount, and enter into the slots to activate the vending. A cheese plate was being served for this.
The sake tasters and wine tasters share space in the cellar so its cozy but not insane. The beverages presented at these events are available in store. It’s one of the stores I’ve learned has something in stock versus other vendors. Example, they carry MIO a sparkling sake in a blue bottle almost the size of a beer bottle — one I can’t find elsewhere.
I recommend attending one or a few of the events here. I believe there is also beer tasting. Don’t forget to check their calendar or follow them on instagram. Flying toasts! Cheers!

Holy crap dude.
I’ve seen my share of liquor stores in my lifetime and I have to say this place is gnarly!!!
They have so much inventory it’s insane. It’s multi-​level and the walk in wine area is SICK! I want to just walk around in here all day and I probably still wouldn’t see everything in here.
From mixers, beers, booze to straight up $ 9k bottles of Pappy… They have it all… Even a tasting bar area.
Worth a trip in just to check it out.

I hate how much I love Hi-​Times.
I hate it because I can’t control myself when perusing the aisles of this liquor nirvana. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I avoid walking in because I find it impossible to walk back out with any less than 3 or 4 bottles that I simply must have.
On the surface, it might appear that Hi-​Times is run by a bunch of functioning alcoholics. And while the «alcoholics» part may or may not be true, the «functioning» (as in being truly seasoned experts who have very finely honed their craft through frequent appreciation and experimentation) is a fact without doubt.
Anything and everything existing in the adult beverage realm may be procured at Hi-​Times for prices more reasonable than you’d find anywhere else. It’s not at all difficult to stumble upon a bottle that you’ve never tried, is super rare, exciting, enjoyable, yet deeply discounted.
In short, I find Hi-​Times to be intoxicating.
Disclaimer: I realize it’s not actually called «Hi-​Times», but no one says «Hi-​Time Wine Cellars.»

Gary the wine dude in the cellar, you are my hero. If you were Captain Planet, you would take pollution down to zero. Then you would enjoy a nice bottle of a ’62 rustic pinot, with a slight hint of plums, cherries, and darker nuts. It would be the perfect celebration with your slow pan-​roasted short rib.
I’ve been coming here for years, since my old-​coworker Phil told me about this place. It is bigger than any cellar in all of Southern California. It has more wine, beer, and spirits than any place you have ever been. No joke. It’s a monstrosity, and best of all, their prices are amazing. For a $ 40 bottle of wine at a sham-​of-​a-​rip you call BevMo, you’ll find it here for nearly half the price. Their budget wines are stellar, as are their beers, selection of hard alcohols, and mixers.
I’ve been coming here for all kinds of things, but mainly their crates. I’ve started building a bookshelf made of them, and now find myself trying all kinds of drinks to get to them. Gary and others in the cellar have provided amazing selections, as have guys in the walk-​in beer frig. It’s ridiculous.
Want to change your life and be more educated about the wine, liquor, beer, and spirits world? Come here and spend some serious time here. They will educate you and you’ll have a ball doing it. You can break the bank with $ 5000 bottles or spend as little as $ 5 on a bottle or refined chocolates you won’t find anywhere else. Want a cigar with that bourbon? Sure, they have that too. They have over 50 different kinds. Need champagne for New Years or a celebration? They have a room full of at least 50 – 100 varieties. Need a dessert wine? They have at least 40 different varieties.
Like I said, this place will blow your mind and change your life. For the better. Then go to Sidecar Donuts across the street to damage your liver a bit more.

Excellent selection of wines (especially their reds) and hard-​to-​find collector liquor.
Staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to assist with whatever price range your looking for.
They have a small cheese section on the left of the entrance when you walk in.
They tend to sell their liquor cheaper than other locations that I’ve been to (grocery stores and other liquor stores).
Vast amount of parking available.
It can seem a little disorganized with all the liquor and boxes lying around, luckily the staff is very helpful here.

Hi-​times is basically the vatican of excellent wide selection of any alcohol. I highly suggest to drop in on Thursdays for wine theme tasting. Hosted most of the time by the world famous Todd. He has a naturally ability to help you mingle with others and make new friends. Never the less all staff is knowledgeable and polite. Always make you feel part of the family. Prices vary but for my red wines I find good prices. They also have a wide selection of cheeses. In case you want to nibble while having a glass of wine.
The bar is small but cozy but it does get packed.

This was my first time coming here. Upon first entry, I wasn’t that impressed. Kinda seemed like a disorganized total wine. As I wandered about we discovered the wine cellar in the basement. This was a bit daunting of a task. There was a gigantic selection of wine here folks. I was looking for a flowers pinot, which they had. I continued to wander and found the wine bar on site.
The gentlemen behind the bar took our order and we grabbed a glass of the Tokar. He poured, didnt tell us a thing about it and then went back to eating his sandwich. I pulled the menu and read about the wine instead. Now i’m all about taking care of your employees, but I think you should eat your meal off screen out of view if your a server. Thats me.
I’ll go back to the store, but i’ll pass on the wine bar.

This place is the greatest! If you like any drinkable alcohol or quality cigars this is the place to be! Disneyland for sinners.lol.
Huge wine cellar, kind of like a catacomb with a separate area for US wines then an entire area for the rhone region, France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Spain and other parts of the world.
— Separate area for Champagne and sparkling wines.
— Separate wine tasting bar down down below that is always packed.
— Giant cooler for tons of craft beers and beer in general.
— Huge cigar humidor with quality smokes such as Arturo Fuentes, Davidoff, Padron, Rocky Patel, Fonseca, Diamond crown, and much more! All at great prices.
— Pipe tobacco and numerous pipes
— specialty chocolates and sweets
–All kinds of great smoking accessories like humidors, ashtrays, trinkets etc. The great tobacco team is why i come back.
— Overall a great place for people who enjoy the finer things in life. It’s worth a field trip!
Enjoy! i love this place like many others, it just make us feel happy. Dis I mention great pricing???