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Super high-tech driverless taxis share the streets with hundred year old cable cars, the endless sprawl of cityscape fades into acres of natural beauty and dive bars which haven’t changed in fifty years sit next to the trendiest, best San Francisco wine bars. The city by the bay is one of endearing contrasts.
With the Napa Valley, America’s most important wine-making region, on the doorstep, it’s no wonder wine is the drink of choice in San Francisco. And that means there’s no shortage of wine bars. Whether you want to sample some of the Napa Valley’s finest during an afternoon tasting or you are looking for somewhere to while away the evening, I guarantee one of the best San Francisco wine bars has your name on it.
From cutesy hole-in-the-wall venues to glamourous rooftops, there’s a wine bar for every occasion. I always find the challenge is simply picking the right one. San Francisco has so much going for it you won’t want to waste a minute. That’s why we’ve curated the ultimate guide to the best San Francisco wine bars for you.
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The Best San Francisco Wine Bars
Indie Wine & Beer Bar
With a handy location on Green Street, a couple of blocks back from The Embarcadero, Indie Wine & Beer Bar is ideal for a post-sightseeing tipple. The chic industrial design makes the interior feel far more spacious than it is. The real gem, though, is the exterior patio. Grab a glass and watch the sun disappear behind the Bay Bridge.
Open until 10 pm (closed on Sundays and Mondays), Indie is perfect for a quiet drink and avoiding the late night crowds. And love it or hate it, San Francisco can get very lively at night.
In my opinion, what makes Indie one of the best San Francisco wine bars is that it’s the product of Indie Wine, a local wine merchant. The bar stocks their finest bottles from California and all across the world.
Bacchus Wine Bar
In the heart of Russian Hill, one of San Francisco’s most happening districts, Bacchus started life as a pop-up in 2016. It must have gone well, because they’re still going strong eight years on. Open six nights a week (closed on Mondays), their wine selection is something to behold.
What makes their wine selection more impressive still is the tiny space they have to work with. And to us, Bacchus’s hole-in-the-wall style is what makes it one of the best San Francisco wine bars.
While you’re in Russian Hill, don’t miss the chance for a wander along Lombard Street. Chances are you’ve already seen the photos (but if not, don’t worry, you can find one below). Lombard Street is famous for its series of hairpin bends – and everyone knows the Russian Hill section is the most iconic.
Ora Wine Bar
Between Nob Hill and Chinatown, San Francisco’s Polk Gulch district is probably best known for its unusual name. That name comes from an old stream but that’s about the only old aspect of Polk Gulch these days. Once the center of the city’s LGBT nightlife scene, the area has been heavily gentrified in recent decades and is now home to some of the glitziest and best San Francisco wine bars.
Ora Wine Bar is both relaxed and lively. Always busy, likely thanks to being one of the top-rated bars in San Francisco, Ora is perfect for a chilled glass or two while making new friends. Friday and Saturday nights are quite the party, but even then, good wine remains at the heart of Ora. It’s their aura if you will.
Café Meuse
A couple of blocks north of Ora, Café Meuse is a wine bar which does far more than just wine. Their wine list has a heavy focus on champagne and sparkling which is never a bad thing. That said, the selection of red, white and rosé is not to be sniffed at.
They also have some remarkably cheap beers and an impressive food menu. Served tapas style, their small plates range from beautifully presented salads to charcuterie plates and fragrant meatballs. If you’re looking for something sweet, I find their chocolate chip brownie is the perfect accompaniment to their 2020 Cabernet Merlot.
There’s no doubt that this little gem is one of the best San Francisco wine bars.
High Treason
A little further away from Downtown, High Treason is a true and unpretentious neighborhood wine bar. Located just south of the stunning Presidio park, it’s the perfect spot to relax after an afternoon trekking. Better still, if you’ve braved walking the Golden Gate Bridge, High Treason will almost certainly be on your way back to the hotel.
High Treason is casual, relaxed and modern. The wine selection is second-to-none and, if you’re feeling peckish, they have some delicious Hawaiian-themed small plates on offer. The cherry on top? Their vinyl.
Lusia’s Restaurant Wine Bar
One of the best San Francisco wine bars since 1959, Lusia’s is the place to be for Italian food and wine. With a carefully crafted wine menu, they have a bottle for every occasion. Better still, they serve all the staples of Italian cuisine. Handmade pizza, house-made pasta, divine seafood and great antipasti selection pair perfectly with their wines.
Wine and food aside, our favorite aspects of Luisa’s are the décor and atmosphere. With the look and feel of a true Italian trattoria, you’ll enter on bustling Columbus Avenue and be immediately transported to cobbled streets of Trastevere.
Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant
No visit to San Francisco would be complete without a stop at the historic Ferry Building. Opened in 1898, it’s an unmissable stop on every traveler’s San Francisco itinerary. Craft coffee shops, upscale street food and artisan stores are the highlights, but what many people miss is that it still serves as a busy terminal for ferries across the bay.
Open every day until early evening Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant is the best of San Francisco wine bars for an afternoon tipple and perfect to break up a stroll along The Embarcadero. Primarily (in case the name doesn’t give it away) a wine merchant, their wine bar juts out from the store onto the Ferry Building’s bustling main promenade. If ever there were a people watcher’s paradise, this is it.
The wine offering is extensive with non-alcoholic options available, too. For the ultimate San Francisco wine experience order one of their wine flights. An excellent selection of snacks, courtesy of their neighbor Acme Bakery are on hand to accompany your drinks.
Blush!
The top pick of the best San Francisco wine bars for the late-night crowd, Blush! is possibly the hippest wine bar in town. A trendy, inclusive space where all are welcome, their carte des vins runs to over 30 bottles.
To accompany the wine, Blush! have live music performances every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I’m also a big fan of Monday night tarot reading. Regardless of whenever you visit, you’ll be treated to a beautiful display of work by local artists.
620 Jones
Somewhat unsurprisingly found at 620 Jones Street, 620 Jones is conveniently located a couple of blocks from Union Square. Ideal for a lunchtime breather or a post-theater nightcap, this quirky cocktail and wine bar is an urban oasis.
Snug, cozy and inviting, take a seat in the intimate lounge or, when the weather’s on your side – and that’s pretty usual in California (though admittedly maybe less so in San Francisco) – on their outdoor patio.
In addition to a healthy wine list, 620 Jones is also a full service restaurant. Their brunch is one of the best in town, and for dinner you can expect classic comfort food including burgers, pizza and grilled cheese.
Etcetera Wine Bar
Tucked away on a street corner in the Mission District, Etcetera has long been one of the best San Francisco wine bars. Small and friendly, this stalwart of the San Francisco wine scene has bottles from all around the world.
Wine aside, Etcetera is worth a visit for their tapas alone. If you’ve worked up a bigger appetite, their French pizzas are delicious and the cheese selection is not to be ignored. In my opinion, good cheese requires a good port, and Etcetera have plenty where that came from.
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