Time for happy hour? San Franciscans love their drinks, as anyone can tell from the number of breweries and wineries in the city. Below, we’ve compiled a list of essential places to go for any wine fanatic living in or visiting San Francisco.
WINE BARS
The Hidden Vine
FiDi
Small, intimate, and tucked out of the way even in the busy Financial District, The Hidden Vine is a perfect venue for a date or get-together with friends. The Hidden Vine features not only a list of 180 wines with over 40 by the glass, but also an outdoor bocce ball court for entertainment. The wine list rotates so that a different region is highlighted each month. Swing by for this wine bar’s warm ambience, friendly service, and diverse selection of wines.
The Barrel Room
FiDi
Sarah Trubnick, the founder of The Barrel Room, has a background in engineering and physics and established this wine hotspot after taking a leave of absence from her PhD to establish this wine hotspot. In addition to its small and carefully-curated list of wines, The Barrel Room offers beer and cocktails as well. After you’ve had your fill at The Barrel Room’s happy hour, head downstairs to the secret speakeasy, The HogsHead Reserve.
Press Club
SoMa
Head to Press Club, a sophisticated and spacious wine bar and lounge just south of Market Street, for a fine selection of California wines and beers. Here, you can enjoy a selection of over 230 bottles, 50 wines by the glass, wine flights, and a food menu as well. Happy hour is on the weekends and offers a 50% discount on wine bottles over $70, as well as live music.
InnerFog
Inner Sunset
Find InnerFog just south of Golden Gate Park, offering a selection that leans toward small-production California wines. This wine bar has something for everyone, with options of French and Italian wines, beer, and small plates as well. Happy hour is on weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m., with select glasses of wine at $6 and beers at $3.50. Come for the drinks and stay for the inviting, warm atmosphere.
Tofino Wines
Inner Richmond
If you’re looking for options and for a place that features unique, natural wines, then Tofino Wines is the spot for you. This large, airy space offers more than 800 wines to take home, from not only California but Italy, France, Spain, and Austria as well. If you’re not looking to bring home a bottle, there are over 30 wines by the glass as well as beer on tap. Whatever you order, everything is sourced from small, family-owned estates, so you know that your drinks have been crafted with care.
San Francisco residents’ options are truly limitless when it comes to alcohol. If you’re looking to explore even more breweries, bars, and beer stores, check out this list for beers and this list for wines to see what’s available right in your backyard.