Five San Francisco Wine Bars I’m Loving
San Francisco is only 49 square miles (7mi. x 7mi.), but it has a population of over 885,000 people. Add that number to the amount of tourists and business travelers that are in The City at any given time and you’ve got a lot of thirsty folks. There is no shortage of great wine bars available in San Francisco, and I want to highlight five that I absolutely love. Consider these spots Big Cab Bigger Hair approved destinations to satisfy your thirst for great wine in really lovely settings.
West Coast Wine & Cheese
With so many great wine regions right here on the west coast it’s almost criminal that other wine programs in San Francisco are so heavy on international options. California, Oregon, and Washington produce over 90% of the wine in the United States and owners Chris and Lindsey Wanner curate fantastic wines from up and down the coast. The bottle list is definitely a fun, lengthy read, and the by-the-glass program can’t be rivaled (WCWC has received the coveted Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year it’s been open). You’ll also find excellent small bites that will keep you in your seat for longer than you planned (in a really good way). Perfectly quaint – no more than maybe 25 people could comfortably fit in the space – the long white marble bar set against dark colors and an imposing wine wall make this a quintessential date night spot or fun girls night out. And if you’re in Mill Valley, a second West Coast Wine & Cheese location has just opened there to great fanfare.
Location: 2165 Union Street, between Fillmore and Webster
Verve Wine
The satellite location of New York City’s famous Verve Wine, this hybrid wine shop and wine bar celebrates wines from all over the world. This bright and airy Pacific Heights space is a real sight to see. A large, gorgeous marble table sits in the middle of the store and is flanked by super tall walls of wine – complete with sliding library style ladders for access to wines at the very top. Whether you stop in to pick up a bottle or two for home, pull up for a tasting flight of whatever wines they may have open, or just want to uncork a wine and enjoy it while basking in this veritable wine library, you’ll be glad you did.
Location: 2358 Fillmore Street, between Washington and Clay
Cultivar
The Marina district is home to this trendy little wine bar and restaurant that serves up a delicious seasonal menu to accompany numerous wines by the glass, flight, and bottle. A newly opened back patio complete with space heaters and large gas fireplace is an excellent place to enjoy some wines and light bites. Cultivar produces their own high-end wines (and beers!) at their Caspar Estate in Rutherford in the Napa Valley, and you can sip through numerous of those selections, and other nicely curated options when you visit this fun locale.
Location: 2379 Chestnut Street, between Divisadero and Scott
Scopo Divino
This spot exudes a sense of classic modernism, pairing a beautiful full food menu with wine selections from all over the world. Couches, tables, bar, and outdoor seating give you lots of options for where you can connect with your friends (or just reconnect with yourself) over a glass or four of wine. Their list just received the 2018 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and it’s easy to see why. They often carry producers you otherwise don’t have access to without visiting the wineries themselves (or varietals and selections generally not in distribution). Excellent hospitality punctuates an overall great experience each time you visit – and you have reason to return over-and-over if you join the Scopo Divino wine club which is the most value friendly offer out there (you’ll have to check it out to believe it).
Location: 2800 California Street, between Divisadero and Baker
Tofino Wines
If you’re interested in connecting with the world of natural wines (yes, that’s actually a thing) Tofino is your destination. This big, bright, chic space on the corner of Geary and Masonic offers countless options from around the world – most of which are natural in style. Serving as both retail shop and wine bar, you’ll also want to check out the food menu here which might be the best of the lot in this write-up. More than anything, Tofino is a fun place to be. The bar is reminiscent of neighborhood haunts in Paris; the shop is akin to spaces in the Village in Manhattan; the music is played from vinyl; the food is off the charts; the wine offerings are unlike any in San Francisco.
Location: 2696 Geary Boulevard, between Masonic and Emerson
