San Francisco Wine Bars

Wine bars are a great thing. You get to eat delicious food, be in a lively atmosphere, have wonderful conversation, and – of course – drink incredible wine. It can also be a first-hand education in wine such as which goes best with a certain dish. San Francisco is full of wine bars, but with so many to try, how are you supposed to know which ones are worth your time? Although there are a plethora of wine bars worth visiting in San Francisco, the following are just some of the ones to put at the top of your list.

ENO
Located on Geary Street, ENO has a focus on three things: wine, cheese, and chocolate. Seriously, how can you go wrong, especially considering they have over 160 wines available? Every month they also showcase a vineyard and wine, so it can give you the opportunity to learn more about it. Should you want to expand your knowledge, you can take part in one of their ENOversity classes. Their wine and cheese come from all over the world while their chocolate is made by local chocolatiers. ENO is open seven days a week.

The Hidden Vine
Let’s talk about The Hidden Vine which is set in the Financial District on Merchant Street and offers more than 180 different wines. Every month, they put their focus on a different region from around the world. A food and dessert menu, which includes dishes such as Bandage Wrapped Cheddar, flatbreads, and truffles, is also available. They have a bocce court available to rent with a minimum of a $100 food and beverage purchase. The Hidden Vine is closed on Sundays.

Yield
Located on 3rd Street in San Francisco, Yield is open every day of the week except Sundays. They have a focus on featuring wines that are as environmentally conscious as possible. Yield does have a small food menu, and if you order during their Happy Hour (4:30pm to 7pm on weekdays), you get $1.00 off all menu items. Food options include Brie Grilled Flatbread Pizza, Smoked Trout Rillette, and Chèvre-Stuffed Dates. Every Tuesday evening at 7:30pm they host a 2-hour trivia night that’s free to play and could result in you going home with prizes.

Amélie
If you couldn’t already tell from the name, Amélie has a fabulous French vibe going on so their wine list has a heavy focus on French wines although they do offer wines from all over the world. When it comes to food, you can order items such as Burrata, salads, flatbreads, pickled vegetables, dessert, and an oven warm pistachio goat cheese ball with honey, onions, and jam. Their Happy Hour is from 5pm to 7pm where you can get items such as a customized flight of wine for $10.

Keep in mind when visiting wine bars in San Francisco that their wine selections may change, and – as with many eateries – their food options could change from one season to the next. If you’re interested in visiting during a typically busy time, such as on a Saturday evening, a reservation will likely be a good idea.