Swan Liquor

I primarily hit this liquor store if I need something for a BYOB restaurant or I don’t have time to go elsewhere, because it’s pretty expensive compared to other places in the area. Although I love, love, love grabbing beer here because they have so many of my favourites (Rogue, you get me every time!), the wine selection is lacking. As for whiskey and scotch, these sections could use a little lovin’, too. You can never have enough scotch.
The owner is a really friendly guy, and did answer the phone when I called him one night asking if they sold limes (yes, they do), so I still enjoy coming in from time to time to pick out a bottle or two, as much as that price sticker kills me.

To be fair, Swan Liquor is in a great location. I think that is perhaps one of only two reasons the shop owner is still in business; it doesn’t hurt that he is such an agreeable cute old man. There’s not too much to say other than that. I only frequent this establishment when the future misses is running an errand nearby on Hope Street or in the off chance I have nothing to bring to a potluck dinner at a friend’s house nearby.
As such, in my two and a half years on the east side I’ve only ever bought a few six packs and one bottle of shiraz here. What little beer the owner does stock is usually decent drinkable stuff. Sorry, but I refuse to complain about a place stocking Brooklyn Lager, Blue Point’s Hoptical Illusion, or even Carlsberg. I think other reviewers need to lower their expectations for Swan Liquor, it is what it is people.
Say you’re going to a friend’s place in the neighborhood and you need a six pack of a halfway decent beer – this is your place. Seriously, if you want a vast selection of craft beer don’t go to one of the smallest liquor stores in all of Providence. Likewise, if I were invited to a «rager» and needed to bring a case of something I would not go to Swan Liquor either, since they only sell beer in packages of six and it will cost you an arm and a leg to buy six 6-​packs here.
That said, I don’t plan on returning here, but I know someday I will. And when I do, I’m not going to complain about supporting a local business on Hope Street or paying an extra dollar to two to do so either. The alternative is another empty store front on Hope Street and nobody living off Hope wants to see that.

Conveniently located next to several BYOB restaurants on Hope st., Swan becomes the place that you typically stop by if you are need of a beverage for the table. I have stopped by on a couple of those instances but always forget how expensive they are. Their selection is ok, but I would rather remember to hit up Bottles or one of the other East Side liquor stores that carry more and charge less for similar products. The owner seems friendly enough but I would hope they would think about reducing some of their prices to be a bit more affordable considering they aren’t a real upscale liquor store. I would continue shopping here in a pinch.

There aren’t enough places like this left. Small business run each day by the owner who is genuinely friendly and appreciates your business. I’ll pay a few dollars more or choose from a rotation of 5 IPA’s rather than 10 to support that.

Convenience and nothing more. Chilled beer selection is not bad, but like so many other stores they couldn’t care less about craft beers + microbrews. What they do have is laughably overpriced. The only liquor store that tried to sell me an already opened bottle of booze — Chimay, admittedly, but still… and at a discount of like $ 2! Nearby and better is City Liquors.

They always have a sweet little old man and he always tells me about the best wines.

Convenience is the key at this place. I usually only come here when I’m visiting friends in the hood and just walk here.
Good selection of craft beer but it’s all by the 6-​pack. So if you’re looking for a large quantity, prepare to spend a fortune. The guy who owns it is very friendly and smiley. I’ve never really looked in great depth at their wine and booze selection but it’s probably a few bucks more then you’re used to paying.

I really, really WANT to love this liquor store. The owners are super nice and the location is perfect for us. Who doesn’t want to support their local? But I find their selection to be unreliable and a little overpriced. I was loving this one sauvignon blanc I’d found there three times, but then it disappeared, never to be seen again. And it wasn’t the only one.
I think that with some smarter buying, they could more reliably stock big sellers. For now, I’ll go there in a pinch, but I am much happier to drive 2 miles to Bottles.

I gotta be honest: this is not my favorite liquor store. Sure, it’s conveniently located on Hope St and has a decent wine selection. Sure, they carry most of my favorite beers and the gentleman owner is friendly. However, it’s just way too overpriced. Upon leaving from our first visit to the shop, The Hus declared, «This will NOT be our wine merchant.» And it hasn’t been, for the most part.
I’ll go here in a pinch, as it’s merely a block away from our abode and sometimes the closeness factor wins out over the cheapness factor. Like I said, dude running the shop is nice enough, and I do like supporting a local biz (who doesn’t?). The small shop is chock-​full of wines from all types of regions, and as I mentioned has a decent beer selection. It’s not nearly as vast or impressive as, say, Bottles, but it gets the job done.
S, three stars it is — you’ll walk out with a decent beverage, but it’ll cost you!

I give Swan Liquors only three stars because I’m torn between the quaint atmosphere and the rather high prices. That being said, they have a nice selection for a small shop and the people who run it are friendly, polite and attentive, the kind of people I prefer to support with the few extra bucks I can occasionally devote to a decent pilsner.

FINALLY… a great place to buy booze around here.
The amiable staff are always friendly and willing to lend a helping hand. They have a wide variety of beverages. PLUS, they have limes for sale in a cute little basket! Now that’s what I call a liquor store!
Are you listening Spiritus Fermenti?

Location, location, location. It’s the only reason their six packs are more expensive than you can get from almost anywhere else. If you are buying a six pack, fine… but if you are buying more, drive 5 more minutes to Yankee Spirts and save ten bucks.

Great place to buy alcohol. They have a decent amount of various wines for being such a small store.
The owner is so friendly! I find myself smiling as I go in (and no, I’m not just smiling because I’m there to buy alcohol…). He always strikes up little conversations and remembers his regulars.
They also have a pretty good selection of microbrew beers in the back coolers.
If you are looking for a wide selection of liquor… then you’d probably want to go to Nikki’s or the like. This has a smaller amount of liquor, but your basics are there. He definitely makes up for it with the array of wines!