Just outside the Murchison Building, a dapper doorman greets incoming guests, then ushers them into the elevator; next stop, the cool little club in the sky. 
 
Proprietors Natalie Singletary and Cameron Martin recently opened the Wine Knot Sky Bar & Lounge, a private club and event space nestled on the ninth floor of the Murchison Building, overlooking downtown Wilmington and the Cape Fear River. They held their soft opening in October and have added to the menu and events since.
 
The Wine Knot Sky Bar complements the couple’s existing enterprises, Shine On Massage and Dagger’s Deep Tissue and Sports Massage.
 
 “We were going to expand our massage space to the riverfront unit,” Singletary said, “but the views were incredible. We knew it’d be a shame to cover it up with curtains.”
 
Self-professed foodies and beer aficionados, the owners of Wine Knot Sky Bar, 201 N. Front St., are loving learning about wine. “We’re definitely not wine snobs,” Martin said. “We’re not going to tell you about the soil in the vineyard, but we’ll learn along with you. This is a passion project for us.”
 
The beer list includes a wide selection of local microbrews, as well as charcuterie from local purveyors. Dedicated to the craft beer culture of Wilmington, the Wine Spot also welcomes local performers. From wine tastings to music nights to monthly comedy nights, the cool little club in the sky, as Martin calls it, is a social scene in the clouds.
 
“I’m hoping to get a magician too,” Martin said. “I want rabbits. I want hats.”
 
Open Wednesday through Sunday, the Wine Knot also is rented out as a private venue.
 
This holiday season brings a newly expanded wine list and a BOGO membership special. The owners plan to expand next door.
 
“We like the hidden aspect of our hideaway,” Singletary said. “It’s kind of hard to find.”