By Monica Garske | SDUN Reporter

As the saying goes, good things come in small packages. At least that’s the case at Voyou, a tiny wine bar and restaurant located at 3696 Fifth Ave. in Hillcrest.

The intimate neighborhood spot is run by Renaud Tristan, a first-time bar owner from Paris, France.

In addition to being the owner, Tristan is Voyou’s resident bartender, chef, host and bookkeeper – he is the only person on staff.

Between his many duties, Tristan spends six days a week at Voyou, which gives him plenty of time to get to know his customers by name and establish Voyou as a meeting place for Uptown locals.

“I always wanted this place to have a cozy wine bar kind of feeling. I wanted a nice neighborhood place that people could walk to every day,” Tristan said. “Most of my customers are people who live here in Hillcrest.”

Tristan said Hillcrest is the ultimate fit for his concept and said he liked the diverse, urban, metropolitan feel of the area.
May 15 marked two years in business for Voyou.

Today, Tristan said his bar is mostly known for its expansive worldly wine selection, which changes every two weeks. “Mostly, people come in to have a glass of wine and enjoy the atmosphere,” he said, adding his wine selection includes ones from Chile, France and other parts of Europe.
Besides wine, Voyou also offers an array of infused vodkas, made partially by Tristan.

He takes different types of fruit, candy and spices, including apricot, coconut, pineapple, blueberries, gummy bears, cinnamon and caramel, and pours vodka over each ingredient in its own separate bottle.

He lets the mixtures settle for anywhere from one week to one month, yielding flavorful, homemade vodka he sells for approximately $3 per shot.

A back-lit shelf to the left of the bar houses his quirky concoctions. Tristan said he typically has 12 to 15 infused vodkas on deck, the most popular flavors being caramel and gummy bear.

Though Voyou is mainly known as a wine bar, Tristan said he is hoping to get more patrons in for the food. “People don’t realize we have food here too,” he said.

The menu also changes every two weeks, and includes items with a European flair, such as charcuterie plates.

“In the future, I want to maybe invite a local guest chef once a week to create food specials. I can pair that with our wine as a prix-fix option or something like that,” Tristan said.

As for atmosphere, Voyou’s interior features dim lighting, modern décor and chic seating. The patio offers a prime spot to oversee Fifth Avenue.
For entertainment, Tristan plays mellow music in the background and books a DJ on Friday nights. He said the space is too small for a dance floor, so most patrons come in to relax, drink wine and enjoy the music.

He also books the venue for private parties accommodating groups of up to 40 people.

“It’s good for a birthday party or small gathering. It feels very personal and intimate – like you’re at a friend’s house,” he said.

Voyou is open Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 1 a.m.

For more information, visit voyousd.com.