Bacchus Wine & Sake Bar

Russian Hill, San Francisco –

While cozy wine bars have arguably become as quintessentially San Franciscan as cable cars, steep hills, and brightly painted Victorians, Bacchus Wine & Sake Bar puts added emphasis on the “cozy” part.

Situated on a tree-lined block of Hyde Street, the tiny venue could classify as crowded with barely a dozen people inside, although the lack of space doesn’t hinder the drink selection as much as one might predict.

Neighborhood oenophiles show up early for a chance at the two window seats, the perfect perch for noshing on an after-work cheese plate and sipping whichever of the several dozen varietals goes best with them, or perhaps eschewing wine altogether for a warm bottle of sake.

Soft European lounge music creates a mellow vibe, as young professionals and discerning creative types peruse the selection of local art on display, or ogle the bottles of red, white, and bubbly glistening on the long shelves behind the bar.

Even during the rare nights that lines form outside, the venue is more of a tasting stop than a final destination, so patrons usually sift in and out throughout the evening and waits are rarely long.

Though the name may refer to a hard-partying and slightly unhinged Greek demigod, Bacchus Wine & Sake Bar is a calm and sophisticated haunt that trades a little bit of space for a divine selection of alcohol.