San Francisco is home to many things; great shopping, wonderful sightseeing, friendly people, and yes, even awesome wine bars. I’ve had the opportunity to try out many wine bars in the San Francisco area, and here are my top 5.
#5) The Nectar Wine Lounge. Nectar is a fantastic spot for small get togethers with friends, business partners, family, etc. The interior is great (very rich interior design schemes) and the menu is wonderful. It’s comprised of several small plates of food (think tapas style) but is sure to fill you up. The Nectar Wine Lounge also boasts an impressive 800 bottle wine collection. While there, two of my favorite wines were O’Reilly’s Pinot Noir and Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. Nectar features a bar, dining area, and lounge. It’s located in the marina district of San Francisco at 3330 Steiner Street.
#4) First Crush. Open since 1998, First Crush specializes in California wines, although they have a wide variety of others as well. The menu is great (they have a wide variety of appetizers, especially) and the food goes great with the wine list. The offer bottles, half-bottles, and flights depending on what you’re in the mood for. My recommendations would be the Hugh Chappelle Flowers Pinot Noir or the Joe Benziger Imagery Merlot. First Crush is located in the Union Square neighborhood at 101 Cyril Magnin (on the corner of Elis Street) and reservations are recommended. Reservations can be made online or by phone by calling (415) 982-7874.
#3) Bubble Lounge. The Bubble Lounge is a fantastic way to get away from the office for a few hours, for date night, or to just relax with friends. The lounge features a great appetizer/dessert menu and over 300 types of champagne (my favorites being the Barnaut Grande Reserve or the Krug Grande Cuvée Multi-Vintage). On the lower level of the Bubble Lounge, there is a pool table and a great bar/entertaining area. The Bubble Lounge is located in the financial district at 714 Montgomery Street.
#2) The Hidden Vine. Winner of several awards, the Hidden Vine features a relaxing atmosphere, fantastic food, and a killer wine list. The Hidden Vine is hidden in the Civic Center/Nob Hill neighborhood and features a comfortable and private place to just relax after a long day. While visiting, two of my favorite wines were the Jana ‘Old Vine’ Riesling and Naumann Vineyards Chardonnay. The Hidden Vine also features amazing homemade chocolate truffles, among many other desserts. The Hidden Vine is located at 620 Post Street (between Taylor Street and Trader Vic Aly).
#1) BIN 38. Selected consistently as one of the best wine bars in San Francisco by The San Francisco Magazine Readers Poll, BIN 38 sure lives up to the reputation. The atmosphere is great (very good interior design taste), a great outdoor seating area, great food, and an out of this world wine collection. Two of my favorite wines featured are the Penner Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley and the King Estate Pinot Gris Icewine 2006 (a dessert wine). BIN 38 is located in the marina neighborhood at 3232 Scotts Street.
