Best Wine Bars in SF

Where can you go to get a good quality glass of wine at reasonable prices?

1. Bin 38 - this is my #1 spot because they also serve food and they have a large varietal of wines, including imports and Californian. They also have an outdoor patio in the back for when the weather is nice and outdoor seating in the front.
2. Press Club - Another favorite of mine because of the concept. You get a taste of wine country in the heart of San Francisco. You can also grab a bite in the lounge. Wineries featured:

* Chateau Montelena Winery
* Miner Family Vineyards
* Fritz Winery
* Mount Eden Vineyards
* Hanna Winery & Vineyards
* Saintsbury


3. K&L Wine Merchants - they only offer tastings on Saturdays and for special events, but well worth the $20 you pay. Plus you get an education about the wine that you couldn't get anywhere else.
4. Ottimista Enoteca Cafe - features a frequently rotated wine list comprising of 35-40 wines all the time. Also serves seasonal small plates and large plates to complement the wine offering.
5. Cellar 360 - Open 7 days a week, you can try their tasting menu for usually $20. They also have a reserve tasting menu for $30. You can buy over 300 wines from all over the world as well.
6. Bacchus Wine Bar - seems like a dive bar and a hole in the wall, but they have some great wines to pour. It's a great spot to grab a glass of wine before dinner. It's not very big and definitely has that local vibe.
7. 1550 Hyde St Cafe & Wine Bar - a regionally mixed wine list that can be sometimes a little price, yet always good. They serve food also and the atmosphere is quite nice for a date or with friends. A local favorite in Russian Hill.
8. Dell’Uva - located in North Beach, this little wine bar offers a variety of wines at reasonable prices in a comfortable environment. On Sundays? Bottomless mimosas for the champagne lover.
9. Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant - this is a great place to meet up with friends, have a glass or two, maybe some cheese or a nibble before heading out. Also a great place if you don't want to go to Napa, you can taste a ton of different wines here.
10. Uva Enoteca - located in the Haight and a local favorite for it's list of Italian wines and small plates, you can't go wrong. It also provides a trendy atmosphere with it's cool chic decor.
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
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14 Comments

FlowerGirl 2yrs+
Very cool list! Ottimista is where Ali the Bachelerette took the pilot on the Bachelor. (I know, my knowledge of that show is Gold, pure Gold!)
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StephSF 2yrs+
I just went to Parea on 19th and Valencia the other day. The happy hour is pretty good - we split a $10 flight, although none of the wines blew us away (it was two whites and a red, and we prefer reds). The seating is on big, cushy, Ikea-like benches and there is an interesting French/Mediterranean-themed menu. We didn't stick around for food but they did bring us roasted red pepper hummus with veggies and pita bread with our flight, which was a nice touch.

I'm still not sure about the wine but the ambiance was pretty good and the location is great!
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Tracypie 2yrs+
I just went to Dell'uva the other night (#8 above) and although it seems a little divey - the wines are quite good. Decent selection and they even have flights. Plus even more of a surprise was that their food was really good too. (and this was before I got a buzz). Check it out if you are in the neighborhood.
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FlowerGirl 2yrs+
I'm not sure if I would call it a "wine bar" but Bourbon and Branch on Jones is kinda cool, when you're in the mood. It's like a speak-easy from the 20's so they make you give a password to get in and its got a kinda fake clandestine feel that can be kind of fun if you are in the mood for it.

I haven't been there for a while so I don't know if has changed.
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Tracypie 2yrs+
Oh - that sounds like fun. Will have to check it out.
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StephSF 2yrs+
Password eh? Do they actually require a password or is it part of the act? There are actually places in NYC that are membership-only and have passwords, keys, and the like in order to get in, which is the only reason I even ask...

Other than that, it sounds like fun!
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FlowerGirl 2yrs+
I think it is just for fun. If we had forgotten it, I'm sure they would have let us in. Its not really the kind of thing I would enjoy on a regular basis, but was okay for a change of pace.
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FlowerGirl 2yrs+
Here's another one, I happened to hear about this weekend. How about Bia's in the Haight? I heard that it is good and that the food is good too. (Mediteranean.)
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Tracypie 2yrs+
@Flowergirl, I will have to check that out. The Haight is on my list of "things to re-visit". We get so wrapped up in our own little neighborhoods that we forget about all of the great surrounding neighborhoods, especially if they are on the other side of the city. Looking forward to grabbing a drink and perhaps a bite there. Thanks for the recommendation!
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StephSF 2yrs+
Forgive my newbie-esque question, but where is the Haight? I think that is a neighborhood that I haven't visited...
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Tracypie 2yrs+
The Haight (upper and lower) is famous for its Grateful Deadish vibe. It has Amoeba Records, one of the oldest record stores in the city where you can get classic vinyl. Upper Haight is cleaner than lower Haight and it's fun to just walk around. You should definitely visit.
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StephSF 2yrs+
Nice! Will do. Thanks for the recommendation - sounds very SF. What is it near?
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Haight is just sough of the Panhandle of Golden Gate Park with Stanyan on its western end, Buena Vista Park on its easten end and Twin Peaks to the south. During the sixties it was THE epicenter of the whole Summer of Love deal with everybody from the Dead to Janis to Jefferson Airplane to Jimi Hendrix living within blocks of the corner of Haight and Ashbury. After that it became a major pilgrimage point for druggies, etc. Now it is kind of a mix between those who would like it to stay that way and the typical yuppie gentrifier types that would like it to be more like Pacific Heights or Noe Valley. Its worth a day trip, and with Golden Gate Park so close you can probably ditch it you get bored.

SF Sully has a really good review of it on this site--a bit long winded but will give you a really good sense of what its like.
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StephSF 2yrs+
Interesting. Thanks for the overview, @NightOwl! I think I've driven through there but haven't really gotten a sense of the neighborhood yet.

So many areas to explore, so little time...
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