Velvet Coupe Sparkling Wine Lounge to Open in St. Pete
A new boutique sparkling wine lounge named Velvet Coupe is scheduled to open in St. Petersburg in mid-May. The establishment, owned by Dina Branham, will focus on serving boutique-style sparkling wines. The lounge will add to the city's growing hospitality scene.
Velvet Coupe will be located at 25 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. South in the EDGE District, taking over a 1,450-square-foot space formerly occupied by Baked in the Burg. The intimate lounge is designed to seat approximately 30 to 36 guests, featuring a main bar for eight to ten people, a smaller side bar, and lounge seating with club chairs and ottomans. Owner Dina Branham, a real estate broker of 23 years, is launching her second wine bar concept. Her first, Wine House Social in Delray Beach, was a boutique wine shop and bar she operated from 2018 to 2022 before relocating to be closer to family. Branham was inspired to create Velvet Coupe by the creative energy of St. Petersburg. The lounge's tagline is “luxury by omission,” focusing on a "moody sexy chic" vibe with a dark, high-end setting. The beverage program will center on boutique sparkling wines from Europe, including Champagne, cava, prosecco, and Franciacorta, alongside boutique beers and possibly Champagne-style cocktails. All wines will be sustainably produced. A small plates menu featuring about half a dozen items is planned to be introduced shortly after the lounge opens. Velvet Coupe will operate primarily as a lounge rather than a retail shop, though bottles will be available for purchase to-go. Planned hours are from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and until 11 p.m. or midnight on weekends, with a daily happy hour from 5-7 p.m.
