Whether you’re catching up with friends around one of the outdoor tables or snuggling up at the bar for a date, Bodega delivers good vibes and a long list of wines brought in from all over California with a few European options mixed in. It’s as approachable a list as they come with sections divided by flavor — think headers like “flirtatious” whites, “funky/fresh/sometimes chilled” reds, and “bring me the funk” for the orange wine lovers out there.

An impressive California-centric wine list and a friendly welcome ensure this rather small wine bar punches well above its weight. The combination wine store and wine bar has been a Marina fixture since 1974, and handmade redwood shelves display wine bottles from floor to ceiling. They’re pouring in elegant Reidel glassware seven nights a week.

Is there anything quite as cool as an al fresco pop-up wine bar inside another wine bar? Probably not, which is why Habibi Bar, which opened inside Russian Hill’s Bacchus Wine Bar in August 2020, has become such a hit. By-the-glass options change weekly but usually include about a dozen domestic and European selections with the owners favoring wines made with few additives and organically farmed grapes. The food menu, also ever-changing, might include hummus, charred eggplant dip, or a visiting pop-up in its own right.

The Barrel Room returned from its extended pandemic closure in October 2022, and the bottle list is as deep as ever with more than 1,000 options on the digital list. But if you’re going by the glass, look forward to an exploration of domestic selections; the menu focuses on America’s 17 wine appellations offering red, white, and sparkling wines as well as an impressive selection of flights. By the way, the flights are served blind and mostly focus on specific and somewhat unexpected varietals including Albarino, Blaufränkisch, and skin contact wines.

This sister bar to North Beach’s Bodega opened in early 2022 flooding Lower Nob Hill with natural wine and New American food. It aims to be all things for all wine drinkers: pair a plate of steak frites with a bottle of something old and European or come by a little later in the evening when the music turns up to split a bottle of low-intervention sparkling rosé from Berkeley’s Hammerling Wines with friends.

Tucked between the Clement Street lineup of pan-Asian eateries and old-time Irish pubs, veteran sommeliers Michael Ireland (The French Laundry, Quince) and John Vuong (Ame, Gary Danko) delivered just what the Inner Richmond needed upon High Treason’s 2016 arrival. Customers are offered a taste before selecting from a well-curated selection of wines by the glass. The list rotates while they spin the vinyl, and occasionally, High Treason hosts live DJs.

This Hayes Valley wine bar, with a scant number of tables inside and on the covered back patio, has a slightly pastoral vibe with its interiors of plain white and wood. The kitchen produces snacks, lunch, and dinner to accompany primarily European wines. In Italian, Birba means "little troublemaker,” but at this namesake spot, the only trouble is making sure you’ll get in.

This subterranean wine bar off Divisidero stretches back farther than you might expect from the street and spills out onto the sidewalk thanks to a small number of tables outside. But no matter where you sit, you’ll enjoy more than a dozen options by the glass and even more by the bottle — plus plenty of beer for anyone not drinking wine. It’s a small but eclectic glass list spanning Portugal, Slovenia, California, and Greece, and the bar has a special affinity for Riesling with three options by the glass including two German and one made in California.

In a crisp white space with bright neon accents just off Market Street, this wine and sake shop offers bottles that you feel good buying. Wines produced without additives, using biodynamically farmed grapes, and by women winemakers are clearly marked and can be opened on-site or taken to go. There’s also a smaller selection of wines by the glass but if you’re interested in exploring sake, look forward to more than 60 options.

Sure, this small Italian restaurant and wine bar is a popular gathering place for the Cole Valley neighborhood — but it’s also a worthy destination for a causal date or afternoon outing regardless of where you live. Grab a table on the sidewalk or in the low-ceilinged dining room to peruse the list of about 30 Italian wines by the glass. Food options include pinsetta, pasta, and salads, and there are another 100 or so wines by the bottle to explore with a specific focus on selections from Piedmont and Sicily.

This small Potrero Hill wine shop and bar gives off a bit of an if-you-know-you-know attitude. Not only is it quite small, but it’s also primarily a retail operation with just a few options available by the glass daily. All the bottles are available to open and enjoy either inside (if you can find space) or on the parklet for a $10 corkage fee. Still, it’s worth a visit for anyone looking for low-intervention wines from smaller producers.

A roomy wine bar, restaurant, and retail shop from a married couple of veteran sommeliers, Rebecca Fineman and Chris Gaither, Ungrafted is a wine drinker’s paradise in Dogpatch. A full kitchen turns out snacks and larger plates to pair with drinks. Want to learn something? Take a class with Fineman, Gaither, or others on the all-sommelier staff. They’re some of the smartest around.

This effortlessly charming Mission District newcomer channels all the energy of a Spanish-style tavern with great success. Step up to the counter to order a copa (glass) or a smaller chato of Spanish wine including less-common grape varietals like merseguera and listán negro. Pair whatever you’re drinking with a few of the small plates or a platter of jamon serrano and other cured meats. There’s also a small selection of bottles to take home.