A couple share drinks at a busy San Francisco bar.

18 Sommelier-Approved Wine Bars in San Francisco

Can't make it to Wine Country for your wine fix? Not to worry; there are plenty of terrific wine bars within San Francisco city limits.

When you visit San Francisco, you’re an hour’s drive from some of the best wineries and wine experiences in the world. But whether you’re pressed for time or not looking to venture beyond city limits, we offer a number of amazing wine bars to satisfy your needs.

Wine bars are certainly not a new fixture in San Francisco, but many that have emerged in the past couple of years have defined themselves as some of the most fun and interesting spaces to drink in the city. It feels like wine in San Francisco has never been more playful, accessible and experimental.

While plenty of the bars here specialize in California wines, many carry distinct foreign varietals from Spain, France and Italy, as well as Mexico and Greece. You can also try a wide variety of biodynamic and natural wines, which have become a welcome and growing part of San Francisco's wine scene.

San Francisco's wine bars come in all shapes and sizes, from intimate tasting counters and warehouse spaces to crowded dance floors. There is a wine bar for everyone! Here are some of our favorites, but we encourage you to venture out and discover your new go-to San Francisco wine destination.

SOMA/Yerba Buena

The Press Club

20 Yerba Buena Ln.

Mon. - Wed., 4 - 9 p.m.; Thurs. - Sat., 4 - 10 p.m.

(415) 744-5000

Just off Market street, this dark yet beautiful space is a great place to host intimate gatherings. The Press Club offers California’s finest wines in a sophisticated, social atmosphere. Try their menu of seasonal small plates and thoughtful pairings.

Visit The Press Club

Inner Richmond

High Treason

443 Clement St.

Mon. - Wed., 4 - 10 p.m.; Thurs. - Sat., 4 - 11 p.m.; Sun., 4 - 10 p.m.

(415) 742-5256

Wine and vinyl lovers can mingle at this cool, Inner Richmond haunt. At High Treason, there's always a record spinning and different music-themed trivia nights each month. Plus, you can grab a bite to eat at the Unco Frank's pop-up inside, which has a menu full of Hawaiian food.

Visit High Treason

Fisherman's Wharf

Winery Collective

485 Jefferson St.

Sun. - Fri., 1 - 8 p.m., Sat., 12 - 9 p.m.

(415) 929-9463

Not interested in driving to Napa? Take a wine country tour on the shores of the bay at Winery Collective. The wine bar daily has walk-in wine tastings where you can sample wine from across California in selections of rotating flights. Get an introduction to multiple wineries around the region in one visit and take home what you like.

Visit The Winery Collective

North Beach

Bodega

700 Columbus Ave.

Tues. - Fri., 4 - 11 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Sun., 1 - 9 p.m.

(415) 634-7002

A great spot for a first date, Bodega labels its wines by the glass under fun categories like "Flirtatious" and “We Get It Susan, You Like Dry Rosé...". This small, yet airy bar feels classy but not snooty. Try out their food menu for great shareable snacks then head to nearby Washington Park for a stroll.

Visit Bodega SF

Financial District

San Francisco Wine Society

408 Merchant St.

Mon. 3 - 9 p.m.; Tues. - Sat., 3 - 10 p.m.

415-647-3567

A welcome and inclusive space invites locals and visitors to enjoy a technology-free (no WiFi or TVs) wine experience. Sip wines from around the world while you play a round of bocce with friends in the Financial District.

Visit The San Francisco Wine Society

Embarcadero

Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant

1 Ferry Building, Shop 23

Mon. - Tues., 12 - 7 pm; Wed. - Fri., 12 -7 p.m.; Sat. - Sun., 11-7 p.m.

(415) 391-9400

Located in San Francisco’s historic Ferry Building, the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant & Wine Bar offers distinctive and delicious wines from smaller producers around the world. The space istself is well located, with the lively energy of the Ferry Building surrounding you. After your drinks, explore the various delicious restaurants the historic Ferry building has to offer.

Visit Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant

Inner Richmond

Cantina Los Mayas

431 Balboa St.

Fri. - Sat., 5 - 10 p.m.; Wed. - Thur., 5 - 9 p.m., Sun., 5 - 9 p.m.

(415) 571-8027

A very recent addition to San Francisco's wine scene, the Inner Richmond's Cantina Los Mayas is a treasure serving only Mexican wines, most from the Valle De Guadalupe in Baja California. This is the brainchild of the team at the famed Taqueria Los Mayas, so definitely order some delicious Yucatanean food with your pour.

Vist Cantina Los Mayas

Cow Hollow

West Coast Wine and Cheese

2165 Union St.

Mon. - Tues., 4 - 11 p.m.; Wed. - Thu., 4 pm - 12 a.m.; Fri., 3 p.m. - 2 a.m.; Sat., 2 pm - 12 a.m.; Sun., 2-10 p.m.

(415) 376-9720

A real neighborhood gem on Union Street in Cow Hollow, West Coast Wine and Cheese is a great place to swing to hang out with locals. Specializing in wines from California, Oregon, and Washington, you can take a tour of West Coast varietals from the comfort of their bar.

Visit West Coast Wine and Cheese

Marina

California Wine Merchant

2113 Chestnut St.

Mon. - Wed., 1 - 10 p.m.; Thur. - Sat., 1- 11 p.m, Sun., 2 - 7 p.m

(415) 567-0646

Just down the road from West Coast Wine and Cheese, California Wine Merchant is multifaceted. It's a well stocked wine shop, bar, and club all in one, located in San Francisco’s Marina district. Taste some of California’s best boutique and smaller batch wines with a few international surprises mixed in.

Visit California Wine Merchant

Mission

Bar Part Time

496 14th St.

Tues. - Weds., 5 - 11 p.m.; Thurs., - Fri., 5 - 12 p.m.

Fri - Sat 5:00 - 1:30pm

Equipped with a DJ booth and a giant disco ball, this trendy bar is not only a great place to drink curated natural wines, but also to get your groove on. Grab a group to party at this spot on 14th and Mission.

Visit Bar Part Time

SOMA

JAX Vineyards

326 Brannan St.

Wed. - Sat., 4 - 8 p.m.

(415) 446-9505

A fabulous winery founded in Calistoga, JAX offers a cozy (and heated) outdoor tasting area in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood. Experience their current selection of wines from Napa, paired with artisanal cheeses in an intimate and engaging setting.

Visit Jax Tasting Room

Mission

buddy

3115 22nd Street.

Mon., 4 - 10 pm.; Weds - Fri., 4 - 10 p.m.; Sat - Sun., 2 - 10 p.m.

Cozy, cool and casual are three great words to describe this beautifully designed natural wine bar in the Mission. It almost feels like your good friend's living room. With a full food menu that is also sure to surprise and delight, Buddy is definitely a bar where you want to linger.

Visit buddy

Alamo Square

Fool's Errand

639A Divisadero St

Mon., 2 - 10 p.m, Tues. - Sat., 2 - 12 p.m.; Sun., 2 - 10 p.m.

This little subterranean wine bar on Divisadero Street is great way to start your night. Try their smaller but varied glass menu with picks from countries like Portugal and Slovenia. They also specialize in riesling, with three options to choose from.

Visit Fool's Errand

Castro

Swirl on Castro

572 Castro St.

Mon. - Wed., 1 - 10 p.m.; Thur - Sat., 1- 11 p.m.; Sun., 2 - 7 p.m.

(415) 864-2262

With business in the front and party in the back, Swirl is a fun stop in the Castro neighborhood with both a bottle shop and wine bar. Open nightly, Swirl offers a selection of 20 wines to try. Whether your taste runs towards international vintages or strictly Californian wines, you will find it here.

Visit Swirl on Castro

Hayes Valley

Fig & Thistle

429 Gough St.

Tues. - Thurs., 4:30 -10 p.m., Fri - Sat., 4:30 - 10:30 p.m.; Sun., 4 - 9 p.m.

You’ll feel like you've come home when stepping foot into Fig & Thistle. Located in Hayes Valley, the rustic and intimate space offers select wines to pair with small bites. And if you’re wine’d out by now, you can always swing by their dispensary next door.

Visit Fig & Thistle

Nob Hill

Amelie

1754 Polk St.

Mon. - Thurs., 4 - 11 p.m.; Fri. - Sun., 2 - 11 p.m.

(415) 292-6916

If you're interested in expanding your knowledge of wine without spending a pretty penny, Amelie on Nob Hill is your place. They have a fantastic happy hour, offering a discount on appetizers and a heavily-poured flight for only $12. Stop by for live music on Saturdays.

Visit Amelie

Hayes Valley

Linden & Laguna

528 Laguna St.

Wed. - Sat., 5 - 11 p.m.; Sun., 2 - 9 p.m.

(415) 829 2265

Treat yourself to an intimate experience at Linden & Laguna, a quiet, Parisian wine bar you'll find just off Hayes Street. This relaxed, smartly decorated bar will make you feel like you've stepped off the streets of Paris. Enjoy your wine, champagne or a snack at one of the tiny tables inside, or sit in their parklet to unwind outdoors.

Visit Linden & Laguna

Dogpatch

Ungrafted

2419 3rd Street.

Tues. - Wed., 12 - 8 p.m.; Thurs. - Sat., 12- 9 p.m.

(415) 814-2129

This massive, industrial-chic space in Dogpatch doubles as a tap room and wine shop. You can order a glass, or grab a bottle for home from their sweeping selection of wines. They also have varied small plates to share.

Visit Ungrafted