If you are hoping to learn about where to buy wine, liquor, and beer in San Francisco you have definitely come to the right place. Our alcohol guide will try to cover the topic in as detailed of a way as we possibly can so that you can make the right decision on how to proceed.
A list of the best liquor stores and wine shops in town will get us going. Anyone that is ready to go pick up a bottle of vodka, tequila, wine, or a case of beer will get their info quick and be ready to head out the door.
Contents
Up next we will dive into the best breweries and beer bars near you, and a list of San Francisco wine bars will follow that up. Wineries and vineyards in your area will get a shout out, and we will wrap this up by mentioning some of the best local happy hours where you can buy cheap alcoholic drinks after your work day ends.
Towards the end you will find an alcohol map for the area with all of the various venues we are mentioning pinned on it. And everyone is welcome to read some of our other blogs about where to grab a drink in this part of the world.
Best Liquor Stores & Wine Shops In San Francisco
Whether you want to buy a case of beer, some vodka, tequila, wine, or just about any other alcoholic drink you should be able to get them at any of these best liquor stores and wine shops in San Francisco:
- The Whisky Shop at 360 Sutter St #4302
- Cask at 17 3rd St
- D&M Wine & Liquor at 2200 Fillmore St
- The Jug Shop at 1590 Pacific Ave
- Coit Liquors at 1657 Powell St
- New Star-Ell Liquor at 501 Divisadero St
- King’s Liquors at 8 41st Ave, San Mateo
- Ernie’s Liquor at 3870 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
Cask has everything from traditional single-village mezcals to classic single malt whiskeys and focuses on high-quality goods. They like to organize weekly public tastings to introduce new products to their customers.
D&M Wine & Liquor is known for its champagnes, fine French brandies, single malt scotch whiskeys, American whiskeys, and quality wines. They have been a locally owned liquor store since 1935 and are open Tuesday to Thursday from 12pm to 7pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 8pm, and Sunday until 7pm.
Since 1965 The Jug Shop has been a family-owned and independent store that supplies a wide range of wines, beers, and spirits in your area. They taste everything before putting it on their shelves and they are delighted to help you choose the perfect drink for your event whether it’s for a wine-pairing dinner, beer for the office happy hour, a full bar for your wedding, or anything in between.
Coit Liquors stocks hundreds of exquisite wines from around the world, rare and hard-to-find spirits, and is a great place to find a diverse selection of specialty craft brews near you.
Breweries & Beer Bars In Your Area
When you want to go sample some new suds or just watch the game with some pals these local breweries and beer bars are a great option:
- Cellarmaker Brewing at 1150 Howard St
- Laughing Monk Brewing at 1439 Egbert Ave #a/b
- Harmonic Brewing at 1050 26th St
- Standard Deviant Brewing at 280 14th St
- Willkommen by Black Hammer Brewing at 2198 Market St
- Seven Stills Outer Sunset Taproom at 3645 Lawton St
- Fieldwork Brewing at 3030 S Delaware St, San Mateo
- Freewheel Brewing at 3736 Florence St, Redwood City
Seven Stills Outer Sunset Taproom boasts more than eight beers and hard frescos on draft all of which are available to-go by the four and six-pack. Enjoy some of their favorite drinks and light bites in their dog-friendly beer garden with a beautiful ocean view from its colorful little parklet.
Wine Bars In San Francisco
Wine bars in your area are a great place for a date, a business meeting, or to hang out with a big group of friends:
- San Francisco Wine Society at 408 Merchant St
- Eno Wine Bar at 320 Geary St
- Wine Down at 685 Folsom St
- Amelie San Francisco at 1754 Polk St
- Divine Purpose at 2800 California St #101
- The Barrel Bistro and Wine Bar at 246 S B St, San Mateo
- CRU Wine Bar & Shop at 900B Middlefield Rd, Redwood City
- The Wine Room at 520 Ramona St, Palo Alto
Wine, cheese, and chocolate are three of some of the most popular indulgences in the world that are accessible at Eno Wine Bar. There’s something for everyone from after-work get-togethers to private parties and romantic dates.
Wine Down is a fun neighborhood bar with a constantly rotating list of fine wines from local producers, beers, and delectable food. They take pride in getting the best items at reasonable prices so they are a good place to find a nice glass of wine near you for around $10.
If you are searching for an exciting collection of artisan wines by the glass, bottle, or case CRU Wine Bar & Shop is a great option. There’s charcuterie, Roman-style pizza by the slice, bar snacks, desserts, and specialty coffees to go with it.
Wineries & Vineyards Near You
While these wineries and vineyards may not be right in town they are worth the drive:
- Dashe Cellars at 1951 Monarch St #25
- Building 43 Winery at 2440 Monarch St
- Riggers Loft at 1325 Canal Blvd
- York Creek Vineyards at 3701 Sacramento St #369
- JAX Vineyards at 326 Brannan St
Dashe Cellars is a family-owned and operated artisan winery that concentrates on producing exceptional drinks using a traditional method. They seek out grapes from steep hillside vineyards, older vines, and vigor-reducing growth conditions in order to create wines with a particular sense of place.
Building 43 Winery specializes in handcrafted small-batch Sierra Foothills varietals that are both sustainable and delicious. You can sip on wine in the comfort of their tasting room or venture outside to their garden patio which has a fireplace and stunning panoramic views of the Bay skyline.
York Creek Vineyards has been growing wine grapes for over a century and has vines in both Napa and Sonoma counties.
JAX Vineyards features a tasting area that acts as an urban sanctuary focusing on red wines from their estate as well as a few other non-estate wines.
Obviously both Napa and Sonoma have some of the best vineyards in the world but they aren’t exactly in the city. We don’t have the space to do a full breakdown of them in this post but you can read more about both at those links.
Best Local Happy Hours
These happy hours in San Francisco can be a great option to buy cheaper alcoholic drinks after work when you need to unwind:
- Bar Crudo at 1501, 655 Divisadero St
- Hog Island Oyster at Ferry Building, One, #11
- Underdogs Tres at 1224 9th Ave
- The Riptide at 3639 Taraval St
- Roka Akor at 801 Montgomery St
- Pausa Bar & Cookery at 223 E 4th Ave, San Mateo
- Gourmet Haus Staudt at 2615 Broadway, Redwood City
- Reposado at 236 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto
Bar Crudo provides pristine oysters and innovative raw fish preparations along with having a great local happy hour from 5pm to 6:30pm Monday through Saturday. Stop by Cockbomb Restaurant for their happy hour on Wednesday from 5pm to 6pm and 10pm to 11pm.
From slow-cooked meats filled with flavor to one of their signature burritos, tacos, soups, or quesadillas Underdogs Tres kitchen prepares each item with care. Even their margaritas are made fresh and individually for each customer using agave nectar and you can enjoy another of the best happy hours in your area from 4:30pm to 6pm on Wednesdays.
Beachside walktails, cocktails, beers, liquor, and a variety of sundries are all available at The Riptide. They serve you a full dining experience right in their front yard with a San Francisco happy hour from 4pm to 7pm.
Exquisite cuts of prime steak, rare Wagyu from various regions of Japan, grilled seafood, and sushi are among the menu highlights at Roka Akor. Their famous robata grill creates an unrivaled steakhouse adventure complemented by signature cocktails, wines, sakes, and an extensive list of award-winning whiskies.
Fresh and authentic dishes prepared from scratch with the bounty of Northern California are paired with an all-Italian wine list, craft cocktails, and spritzes at Pausa Bar & Cookery. Indoor and outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery via DoorDash are available. They host local happy hours from 5pm to 6:30pm Tuesday through Sunday.
You can also read our posts on:
- Vodka, Tequila & More Alcohol In Oakland
- Vodka, Tequila & More Alcohol In San Jose
- Vodka, Tequila & More Alcohol In Sacramento
- Vodka, Tequila & More Alcohol In Portland
Enjoy Drinking Wine, Liquor, & Beer In San Francisco
For the time being that is all we have to share but check back in because we will do our best to keep this page updated. After reading about all of those local liquor stores, wine shops, breweries, beer bars, wine bars, wineries, vineyards, and happy hours near you we think you are ready to accomplish your goal.
Do us a favor and mention if we got anything incorrect or if any of the above places have closed down in the comments so we can keep the lists up to date. Now have fun drinking wine, liquor, or beer in San Francisco.