The Most Delectable Wine Bars in San Francisco

The Barrel Bistro And Wine Bar

★★★★★ 4.6 (801)

"Barrel Bistro was a great choice for our small start-up's holiday luncheon (16 people). The tables were set up when we arrived, while the food and drink choices for both the appetizers and main menu items appeared promptly and together which is tough to do for a large party and a hallmark of a well run backend. Most importantly, everything tasted excellent!I ordered the skirt steak while others at my table had Lobster Risotto, Seafood linguini and the hamburger sliders. That's a wide range of choices so we were joking about who would have "order envy", wishing they had chosen someone else's menu item rather than their own. No one did - all items looked and tasted on point.For appetizers we ordered a cheese sampler (good, but didn't stand out) and an excellent Chorizo Shortbread that disappeared quickly. Wines by the glass and beers arrived with this first round.The wine list was excellent with some affordable choices along with higher end choices that had higher end prices (Side note, it may be a while before I drink Silver Oak, Deep Cliff, or Caymus again! I loved it when they were lesser known and at the upper end of affordable). The wait staff was professional and attentive without being intrusive. Barrel Bistro was a great choice for us and would also be an excellent choice for anyone else that wants something special for lunch or dinner in downtown San Mateo. Five stars!"

Canela Bistro Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (830) • $$$

"Very easy to miss walking by, but every dish was well worth it, as was the service. We got the:* Spanish Caesar Salad* Flash Fried Shishito Peppers* Marinated Spanish Olives* Patatas Bravas* Gambas al Ajillo* Empanada The Gambas al Ajillo and Empanada were clear winners that we'd both come back for on their own. Everything else was very good to the last morsel, too, including the pickled shishito peppers as an accompaniment to the Marinated Spanish Olives (too bad you only get about 5!). All the food was fresh, clearly made to order and of high quality ingredients, well flavored. Service was very attentive. Only suggestion would be changing up the radio based music."

iTalico

★★★★☆ 4.2 (785) • $$$

"I had dinner here with a couple of friends and it was my first time. We ordered the San Daniele pizza, paccheri, and the spaghetti di mare. The pasta dishes we ordered were perfectly al dente. The paccheri was a bit salty. The San Daniele pizza was cooked perfectly and was well balanced.The service here was friendly and attentive. The interior has a sophisticated feel with the slightly dim lighting."

Sole Ristorante Italiano

★★★★☆ 4.3 (716) • $$

"I've eaten here twice. The first time was well over a year ago and spontaneously. It was a warm Friday afternoon for dinner. They sat us in the back which was nicely set up. The service was very kind and attentive. I appreciated how they were welcoming to my young child despite it being a white linen table. They showed no fear of a child ordering pasta with marinara! Haha The second more recent time we ate here was planned although I forgot to make a reservation. Still, no problem. They took our party of four and offered us a seat outside immediately or inside with a 30-45 minute wait. We took the outside despite the cold. They had heaters nearby although they did let us know the one directly next to us wasn't working. It was during winter holiday time so they were a little busy but the service was still very kind. They apologized for the waits but we understood. The bread came out and was warm and yummy. When our food came out, everyone was pleased with their orders. We'll plan to come here again."

Nook

★★★★☆ 4.1 (778) • $$

"Nook has recently reopened after some renovating, and it's come back better than ever!It's a beautiful open space with fresh air and lots of sunlight. Since it's on the corner of Hyde and Jackson you get the genuine SF ambiance of cable cars passing and the beautiful neighborhood trees. They are open again for coffee with breakfast toasts, and also for dinner with a new menu and delicious wine. So nice to see you back at it!"

Sultana Mediterranean

★★★★☆ 4.1 (701) • $$

"Genuine and really good. A must go. Went there with a customer. Ordered the appetizer plate. Every one of the items was excellent. The chicken kabobs were awesome. Try it"

Dunya Bistro

★★★★☆ 4 (729) • $$

"The appetizer sample dish was great, the octopus was my favorite.The place offer big verity of wine.Very good experience!"

Sociale

★★★★☆ 3.9 (756) • $$$

"The food was great! Service was fantastic. I was really grateful that we were offered a private room for our group due to predicted rain. But we actually got really lucky that it didn't rain that nice and still get to enjoy our team bonding dinner in the private room. The only downside for me is that they were allowing other guests to come in and out of our private room to use the restroom which I thought was a little strange. We weren't notified about that little detail. But the overall experience was great. The wine recommendation was good. Parking was not as bad especially since we can use the Spruce valet too across the street"

Fiorella -Clement

★★★★☆ 4.1 (643) • $$$

"I'm always trying to find good food deals in SF, and Fiorella has one of my favorite ones! On the last Monday of every month, they have certain pastas, pizzas, and wine for $10, and lower priced appetizers. I had to book my reservation 2 months in advance though, but luckily there are 2 other locations in SF (Polk and Sunset) you can try to reserve too! We picked the Neopolitan Pizza (and added the pepperoni, mushroom, and sausage toppings) and the Lumache Fra Diavolo pasta. I loved the spice with the pasta, and the sauce was so creamy and flavorful. We also ordered the meatballs which were some of the best meatballs I've had in SF. The $10 house red wine was great, and they definitely gave us more than 1 glass worth (felt like 2 glasses with the carafe they gave) which is a steal!One thing to note was that their back patio seating only allowed service dogs, which is the first time I've been in a restaurant in SF where they didn't allow dogs to sit outside or on the patio. Other than that, I had such a great experience here! I do think it's a little overpriced to come here on a normal night, so I highly recommend trying to get a reservation on the last Monday of the month, so much more worth it."

Hôtel Biron

★★★★☆ 4.2 (601) • $$

"If you fancy an intimate wine bar to converse quietly w/friends or charm your date in a relaxed setting, this is THE PERFECT SPOT.I'm weary they'll be packing them in once word gets out that they've opened back up post-pandemic. But alas, they "are" OPEN again (YAY!) and we need to celebrate and support gems like this. Note: menu, hrs, etc subject to change but current as of 05:01/22FYI: It is NOT a hotel. It is a wine bar/art gallery tucked away in an alley in SF's Hayes ValleyMENU: https://hotelbironwinebar.com/menuWINE: Order by the glass (generous pours!) or bottle from a well-curated, rotating selection of (red, white, sparkling) wines. They offer sake and artisan beer too. FLIGHTS: A trio of wine flights, vermouth flights, sake flights (changes)FOOD: limited, typical wine bar fare: cheese and charcuterie, crackers, chips, nutsAMBIANCE: This is the big draw for me. Speakeasy vibe, intimate, relaxed, rustic interior w/red brick walls, warm and inviting, romantic, dim lighting, candlelight, cozy, quiet, artsy, low-key, unpretentious. Cool background music eases you into a relaxed mood but is not loud, so you're not competing w/it and shouting to be heard. Equipped w/2 comfy couches, short/tall bistro chairs and tables, a cute tiny bar w/stools, and a revolving exhibition of local art that lines the walls.PERFECT FOR: Date night (so romantic!), after-work drinks, girls night out (for quiet convos), small groups (please stay away if you're the loud, rowdy set because a big part of the charm here is that it's relatively quiet compared to other bars/lounges) SERVICE: Attentive, fast, friendly (KJ is fabulous and very knowledgeable about the wine, so she'll help you make the right drink choice to mark the end of your eve.)HOURS: Open late EVERY single night 5pm-1am (nocturnal urbanites rejoice)! A quiet SF wine bar that's open late every night should be on the endangered biz list. So many sml businesses like this count on regular clientele to keep the doors open, so show your support by dropping by! Sun-Tues are slower and less-busy, so those nights are esp great for sml groups. First date? Then maybe the busier Thur-Frid nights (or an event night) may ease those first-date jitters. HAPPY- HOUR: 5-6pm daily ($7 vino!) EVENTS: They host cool, curated events like brand releases, art openings, etc. Check out their FB or IG page so you don't miss out! LOCATION: Remember, it's not a hotel. It's tucked in an alley right behind the popular Zuni Cafe. If ubering, go to Zuni Cafe and just walk behind it into Rose St alley until you come to a nondescript door that grants entry into this little gem. If taking Muni, get off on VanNess station (BART - get off at Civic Center) and just walk a few minutes West on Market St 'til you see Zuni Cafe and go right into Rose St. alley. CAPACITY: About 40 people max seating capacity. So hurry before hipsters get hold of this spot and you no longer get a table! I honestly can't believe it's been under the radar for this long. Mixed feelings abt sharing this review because I hate that it might get too crowded once people are smitten by its charm. I ADORE this lovely little wine bar and you will too! It's a welcome respite from a long day of working. Highly recommend."

Zola + BarZola

★★★★☆ 4.2 (571) • $$$

"Good food, small portions. We came on Valentines weekend, ordered oysters and French oinion soup for starters. My husband got the monkfish and I got the gnocchi. Both were good. Dessert was a raspberry bomb, which was nice."

Noeteca Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (528) • $$

"Hands down my favorite neighborhood restaurant in San Francisco. Located in a quiet area of Noe Valley, it could serve as a fantastic casual date spot or family friendly night out. The hospitality made it feel we had come often . It became obvious they had a stream of repeat locals who knew each other by name. Cheese plate was fantastic. Bread was soft, warm, and tasty. And we didn't have to ask for more bread. Margarita pizza was also a winner. But the real surprise was their cheesecake with a blueberry topping. Perfection."

Heirloom Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (526) • $$$

"Snagged a last minute reservation at the bar for dinner before Día de los Muertos. Bacon and onion tart arrived promptly and quite tasty (sweet/salty) on a soft pastry base but was slightly undersized.Gnocchi (with sausage, chives, kale) were pillowy, charred with melt-in-the-mouth goodness.Duck confit very thoughtfully prepared: juicy, unexpectedly tender, well-portioned duck meat (perhaps intentionally under-salted) dusted with crispness on top (sans skin). The presence of maitake mushrooms, pole beans and sweet mission figs presented a delectable dilemma: how best to create a forkful of contrasting taste.Dessert: chocolate pot de creme consisted of crisp wafer crumbling on a sea of luxuriant chocolate custard under softly whipped cream.Bresca Dorada (vermouth) has an unusual golden hue, infused with herbal freshness, an unmistakable bitterness, almost like a subtly mixed drink.Service was prompt and unpretentious."

ROOH Palo Alto

★★★★☆ 3.6 (707) • $$$

"This is a solid modern Indian spot with lots of good food options. It's a great place to bring your friends and family to introduce him to Indian food. The vibes are great. The ambience is great and the restaurant was packed. The service might be a little bit slow, but you will definitely get your food and drinks and we really enjoyed the chicken, tiki masala and all the appetizers. Try asking for recommendations on what's popular and you won't be disappointed."

Etcetera Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (480) • $$

"This wine bar has great quality wines and really excellent service. Service is always kind and helpful.. My only complaint is that seats at the indoor tables are really low and for tall people and it can be difficult getting out of the booths. It's are however still a 5 star review for the quality of wine, food and service."

Scopo Divino

★★★★☆ 4.4 (411) • $$

"A wine bar/café that also serves some beer that has sort of an old-timey European café vibe to it. I came here during happy hour and sat at the bar. I thought their happy hour specials were good and the service from the bartender was great. Great oyster specials too! I came here when my parents and I were in the area cause I just wanted to grab a beer and have a seat for a little bit. I looked over their menu and ordered some oysters along with one of the local craft beers. Really enjoyed my limited time here.I even found out that they were really known for their brunch here on the weekends. I would totally love to come back and experience that. The food from the other pictures look amazing at this place, but we just limited our visit to a few oysters and a beer (we had a big meal not too long prior to this visit)."

Park & Howard Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.3 (366) • $$$

"Decided to check out Park & Howard Bistro for dessert and drinks and it was phenomenal. It was pretty chill and lowkey for a Saturday, which we greatly appreciated. The service was also superb and very attentive. We never felt forgotten and hardly had to wait at all. My wife ordered the Chocolate Lava Cake and I ordered the Bread Pudding and Eggnog Espresso Martini. Everything was absolutely delectable! Can't wait to go back. Highly recommend for a date night away from the kids."

Aquitaine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (390) • $$

"Their happy hour menu offers a handful of options, we got the petit croque monsieur, crab stuffed mushrooms, mussels, and wings for $8 each. It was a good amount for 2 people!Service was great, friendly people and they brought out sidferent wines and beers to choose from, from the menu. The environment was welcoming and had nice quaint French decor - i especially enjoyed the couch seating and edges of wall that were lines with wine bottle corks."

Andiamo In Banca

★★★★☆ 4.2 (316) • $$$

"Good italian good and very friendly staff.If you eat inside the vault, then there will no phone signal."

Capri Lasagneria

★★★★★ 4.7 (245) • $$

"Service was great. Food was yummy. We actually didn't get lasagne , got build your own pasta instead. It was very good as you can customize it and add only ingredients you like to it! I got the gnocchi with spinach and mushrooms with red sauce. The portions are quite big, too. And free bread!They have a kids menu, and kids cups! That was a pleasant surprise. Came on a weekend right when it opened so was able to get a table. It's pretty small inside so I imagine it gets pretty busy."

20 Spot

★★★★☆ 4.3 (278) • $$

"This place is absolutely my vibe, one hundred percent. We were in town for pride and passed by. Casual outdoor tables basking in sunset light on a lazy summer evening, and a stylish interior. We glanced at the menu and decided heck yes. We shared the burrata salad with delicious stone fruits, the crudo with chilled Korean melon, corn pizza which was delicious and ended with the tres leches cake with apricot. Everything was delicious and the service was quick and kind without feeling fake. Would definitely recommend for a date. Another table next to us began as two friends catching up and more familiar passersby joined as the night went on, more wine coming out. Very cute neighborhood spot, and you get to people-watch the line at the ice cream spot across the street, if they're openAlso their wine menu is quite good"

San Francisco Wine & Cheese

★★★★★ 4.9 (212) • $$

"Love this place. Ring the doorbell at the unassuming entrance on Gough Street and enter into a world of delights, starting with the owner Shirley's warmth and knowledge. Great place to get some gifts or picnic accoutrements, or to get a sandwich, my fave being the Turkey Cranberry Brie on soft roll, but if baguette is your thing, they have that too. There's a nice collection of loose leaf teas, even one that's picked by monkeys, that Shirley curates. Then of course the back patio and the stinky fridge of cured meats and funky cheeses. Very San Francisco, keep the vibe alive, keep supporting mom and pop type establishments!"

Cafe Meuse

★★★★☆ 4.3 (272) • $$

"Great wine and servers. We had a fabulous time here. Highly recommend if you are in the area!"

888 Ristorante Italiano

★★★★☆ 4.2 (275) • $$$

"The food was amazing! Highly recommend the bruschetta and fettuccine di tartufo. Vince and his staff were incredible. Had a really nice dinner! Thank you so much!!"

1601 Bar & Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (287) • $$$

"Tasty food with creative plating, excellent ambiance, and wonderful service and as always, great owners (husband and wife team). This is the MUST be place for a fine dining evening in San Francisco...we enjoy our evening once again as a group."

Limoncello

★★★★★ 4.8 (189) • $$

"I just had one of the best sandwiches of my life at Limoncello. David was working behind the counter and really made sure it was exactly what I wanted and even suggested to add some Calabrian chili peppers which brought it to a new level. I feel lucky to have such an amazing sandwich shop / Italian deli in the neighborhood... especially since Lucca closed a few years ago. Please shop here so they'll stick around for a long time."

Cafe Francisco

★★★★☆ 3.7 (313) • $$

"We popped into Cafe Francisco on our last morning in the city, it was a fantastic breakfast spot. Our breakfast bagels were prepared perfectly and piping hot! The coffee was spectacular also. The service was superb and so friendly. I loved how regulars popped in and he knew them by name. The atmosphere and ambience was everything I had hoped it would be, quaint with a historic feel. I highly recommend this spot!"

Corzetti

★★★★☆ 4.2 (241) • $$$

"Made a reservation for 6:30pm with my friends and I'm glad we did because the place started to fill up around 7! The interior is beautiful, the bar area is also super nice. They have happy hour from 4:30-6:30pm everyday. We ordered the prosciutto san danielle as a starter and it was delicious! It came with focaccia, stracciatella, figs and prosciutto. The cheese was so creamy and yummy. Pairing all four together created the perfect bit that's both salty and sweet. For pastas we ordered the corzetti and the fazzoletti al pesto. Both were delicious, but my favorite had to be the pesto. The flavor was just superior! It had lots of cheese on top as well. The corzetti had an interesting texture and it was flavorful but the meat that came along with it was very salty making it hard to eat a lot. We also ordered the vessalico pizza to share and it was good but didn't blow my mind. I didn't love how oily the pizza was but the meats were tasty and I liked how the crust was thin and crunchy!"

Birba

★★★★☆ 4.4 (209) • $$

"Love love love this place. The staff are so sweet and they helped me pick out the perfect choice of wine and starter for me. I got the pistachio feta dip which comes with flatbread and crudite. It was amazing and the dip to flatbread/vegetable ratio was perfect. Definitely need to come back to try the salmon dip next time! The ambience of the patio area is great, super intimate and lots of greenery. There are heaters outside which is nice too."

VinoRosso

★★★★☆ 3.9 (231) • $$

"Best eggplant parmesan in the city and that is saying a lot. Trust me, I've tried them all and Vino Rosso's is the best."

Luisa's Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.7 (155)

"Hands down, this is my favorite Italian restaurant that I've been to in San Francisco so far. I thought I have had gnocchi before but omg when I tell you this gnocchi is so good, it's better than any that I've ever had. The pasta I had was delicious and fresh as well. The sauces were CRAZY delicious and truly I'm not one to obsess over Italian food usually but it was so so yummy and memorable. The service was so kind. She let us try a few wines before deciding on the one we were going to get checked on us regularly, but not too much and it was just really really good service. Luisa her self was there as well sitting in a booth and it was really cool to see her just hanging out while I was enjoying her and her family's delicious recipes. the ambience of the restaurant was so cute and quaint and I can't wait to come back."

Brioche Bakery & Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (185) • $$

"My favorite place in the Haight Ashbury area. Their prosciutto tartine is so flavorful thanks to the mix of fruit and salty prosciutto and has become my go to item. The people there are very kind. They also have a cozy outdoor area in the back thats kept warm by large space heaters. I bring friends here every time I'm asked to be a guide in SF. No complaints each time."

Colombini Italian Cafe Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.7 (194) • $$

"Amazing little cute date night spot. This establishment is a 20 seater with legit pasta.Please don't listen to the two idiots below who left them a bad review. The owner here is nice and accommodating and genuinely wants you to have a good experience. We had calamari steak that was spicy and flavorful and i had the carbonara and my gf had the bolognese.Please come and check it out for yourself!"

Corks

★★★★★ 4.7 (119) • $$

"Cozy and romantic restaurant with delicious, authentic Italian food! This is a small, intimate spot with candles on the tables. We had the best gnocchi with spinach inside in a gorgonzola sauce, and a fettuccine in a duck rague. Both were perfect! The waiter didn't hover or make us feel rushed. Reasonably priced. Each of our dishes was $25 for dinner and weren't too big nor too small. Highly recommend if you're looking for authentic Italian food in a cozy environment!"

Heroic Italian

★★★★★ 4.5 (119)

"Is this a case of the tail wagging the dog? Swirl on Castro has invited Heroic Italian into their wine shop, ostensibly a bid to allow one to eat while consuming the alcohol Swirl serves up. But this works both ways: Heroic Italian brought me in. A glass of wine and a Pliny the Elder (a steal at $6) from Swirl were the nice afterthought. However you cut it, this is a win-win proposition for both the businesses and the consumer. If I weren't sitting in a Covid-era al fresco structure on Castro with '80's pop songs being piped in the experience could almost have me believing I was in Rome. Heroic Italian doesn't have an extensive menu (almost exclusively sandwiches and salads) but what they do have will practically have you crooning an aria. Good stuff that had me recalling my last visit to Italy. Two of us shared the Gladiator Salad ($16) which is a salad for lovers of cured meat. Featuring Italian Prosciutto, Spicy Salami, Copocollo, Porchetta, Mortadella and more, this is not the sort of salad I'd choose for myself but as a shared offering it was perfect. A shared Quadronno Sandwich ($16) though? I'm not even a sandwich lover but, arriving at the table oozing melted Burrata, this thing was a dream. Orders are placed here via a QR code and I'd checked "spicy" but not paid more for "extra spicy" and neither should you. One bite in particular left my eyes watering and it took a while for that to settle down. I'd still get it spicy - not extra spicy - but I'd approach the sandwich with more caution. Any way you approach it though, this was a marvelous sandwich. Both the salad and the sandwich featured bread from Montesacro Pinseria, also in SF and about which I can only say "best bread ever". Though it was clear the fillings were top notch it was the fantastic light, chewy, and crunchy bread that elevated it above what it would otherwise have been. You can, of course, order a soda from Heroic Italian but you're here at Swirl so you may as well go big. Perhaps a bottle of Italian wine should be added. In our case, it was a glass of wine from Switzerland ($11) of all places, and a nice big bottle of icy cold Pliny the Elder IPA, bargain priced at $6. A little taste of Rome on Castro Street; I didn't know it was needed but it was. It most certainly was."