Arlequin Cafe & Food To Go

The outside seating in the back reminds me of Carmel-by-the-sea. The inside is nice and they have a huge wine bottle store in the next room. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. Unfortunately they put salad in with it and the dressing way over powers the pulled pork, to the point that all you can taste is the dressing. We also ordered the mac and cheese, it was OK, it's kind of hard to mess that up. My only complaint is I felt the portion was too small.

Had the veggie wrap. Came with a pretty decent sized side salad! Simple but so good. The wrap itself was on amazingly delicious, fresh pita. Great size, loads of veggies, felt full afterwards (which is a feat). Would definitely go back and highly recommend!

Delicious food and great atmosphere! There is a beautiful back garden patio. Lots of people working on laptops, although working here would be really distracting during busy hours.

Ordered the salmon tacos (tasty but $15 for 2 tacos), Italian cold-cut sandwich and the 1/2 sandwich and soup combo. Best deal is the combo which has a meat and vegetarian option. Recomiendo los combos de sándwich con sopa. Los tacos de salmón son buenos pero muy caros.

Simple and nice food, their outdoor area is beautiful and super fun to sit in.

Cute cafe with great outdoor patio space. However, everything is extremely overpriced. Previously ordered a side of fries, which tasted great, but had a meager 15-20 pieces of fries for $7.... Recently, ordered the Cobb Salad to go. It was a very sad looking salad that cost $16. It was disappointingly sparse in toppings - a sprinkling of bacon and ham, 4 small tomatoes, and 3 slim slices of chicken. To add insult to injury, I found hair in my salad. Contacted Arlequin and have not heard back.

Cute cafe, coffee shop, and wine bar. This is truly a hidden gem! Came here with friends to do some work. Typical cafe food and drinks. Lots of seating inside and a huge patio area outside with heaters. WiFi was spotty outside, but worked great inside. Cold brew was delicious. Parking is difficult in this area and there are no garages close by. I would highly recommend public transportation or Lyft/Uber.

Great Cafe! Amazing back patio in the city, good sandwiches, plenty of bakery treats and good daily special.

Wonderful selection of wine and bubbles. Staff were really kind. Came in to buy a half bottle of champagne to celebrate a friend's new job. Had a small conversation and enjoyed. Buy a bottle have a seat and enjoy. It's very minimal seating but can't imagine that it would get very busy. It's on Hayes street across from sugar lounge so if you drink a little too much just walk across the street to keep your night going. Great place. Definitely go check them out and if you're hungry grab something next door at Arbor.

We've stopped by a few times in a short time span and have had a great time each visit. They have a huge selection of wines and have so many good recommendations. If you want something else they also can make some good cocktails next door. The real winner though is the food. They have some of the best fries we've had in SF and the cheese plate is good as well. The back patio is huge and dog-friendly and each time we've been, they've also had live music which was a nice touch!

Love ! Love ! Love ! Had an amazing champagne tasting. They poured 33 producers. So fun to talk to the knowledgeable wine reps and learn about some of the producers we enjoy The only disappointment was we flew from So Cal with only a small backpack, the store advised they could not ship :( we had no way to champagne home so we could not buy anything. But the event was great and we will try to go next year

I went in on a beautiful SF afternoon knowing that I could take a glass of sparkling wine to the back patio. No one but me was in the store. The counter guy was engrossed in something on his computer, along which the guy cruising the floor. Both made no effort to welcome me or connect about the wine they were selling. It was very perfunctory. I ask for a glass of sparkling wine and I was given it in a wine glass - no bubbling once poured. I guess it was too much effort. Maybe they have enough wine club business and don't need more, which I am lucky enough to be able to provide.

TL;DR: Great wines for purchase! Don't bother with tastings. We were excited to visit because we love to taste wine before we buy it. Their tastings and flights are a pure money grab; they have no intention of selling wine through them. We wanted to buy a case of our favorite that we tasted. They admitted that they just run through whatever they have the least of to clear more storage for their wine club. Why the hell would you offer a wine in a flight that you have no ability or intention of actually selling? Stupid. Won't be back.

I've had Arlequin on my list to check out, but we're hardly ever in Hayes Valley when we're in SF, so haven't had the chance until recently. We had dinner plans a couple blocks away and were 30 minutes early so we decided to check it out, and so glad we did. They have an exceptional selection of wines, which you can also drink on premises for a very small ($10?) corkage. The only downside is that there are so many great wines, including some older vintages, that it's actually quite challenging to settle on a bottle or two. They're attached to the small cafe next door, where you can also enjoy a small bite (sandwiches and salads, mostly), and they have an AWESOME patio out back. When it's warm in SF, like it was yesterday, the patio would be an awesome place to chill over a bottle of Burgundy! Didn't interact with the staff much with the exception of paying, but everyone seemed friendly and helpful. The wine we picked up went beautifully with dinner and even with the exorbitant $50 corkage (at the restaurant, not at Arlequin), we still ended up way ahead compared to the restaurant's list, which had an average markup of 2.5-3x retail price. We'll definitely stop by again in the future, if not just to go and admire the back vintages of Burgundy that are way out of our price range! LOL.

We love Arlequin and the staff. The wine selection is fantastic, especially for burgundy and champagne lovers like myself. They've always been super helpful and personable which turned us into regulars and wine club members! If you're looking for a bite, pop next door to Arbor and grab some food and drink your wine on the patio out back.

The wine by the glass is pricey but get a bottle and it's about the same price. We sat in the back garden and enjoyed chatting on a summer's afternoon. Lovely spot! The service was friendly although one guy was unnecessarily on the snarky side. Not a deal breaker!

Great wine shop in Hayes Valley with the best outdoor seating space; came by with a friend and we shared a bottle of white for ~$50. The bottle prices are very reasonable for the variety and quality, especially if you're not particularly picky and are just looking to try something new! We came in on a Wednesday evening and had absolutely no trouble finding space, it's pretty quiet on the weekdays. I will say similar to other reviews, the person who helped us select a wine was not the friendliest. While we didn't know much about wine, they seemed a bit bothered by us asking for their thoughts on a wine to choose / asking for help. However, we ended up chatting and staying a bit past closing time, so appreciated the service overall. Would definitely come back again to try out other wines!

I wish I could give this store a 0 because the service was nonexistent. I asked for a chateau musar (I didn't think they would since it's harder to find but doesn't hurt to ask) and he said oh I know very well of it but we don't have. Instead of suggesting another wine they do have he went back onto the computer. I then asked for a New Zealand Pinot and they said they don't have any South American wines so I said New Zealand isn't in South America... to which he responds well Southern Hemisphere the tone was dismissive and could not be more apparent that he did not want to talk to anyone. There are three mean working there and not one wanted to be friendly. What a shame.

Super happy with the knowledge staff and a accommodating service. Came in for the mercantile but will definitely return for happy hour

An Asian guy who served us was very arrogant, when we walked in he said "what do you need"? The pour was ridiculously small. I actually took the same size wine glass and measured at home and that glass of wine yield 90cc which is three ounces. The standard industry pour is 5 ozs (180 cc). It's not so much about the small pour but this is the 2nd time the same Asian guy was extremely full of himself and left a bad taste.

I actually should have checked in here. The wine shop and cafe are next to one another, but share a pretty little garden patio out back. We entered the wine shop and I chose a sparkling glass, sorry I didn't take down the name of the wine. We then we went out back and got a table and something to snack on from the cafe. The wine shop sells wines by the glass to enjoy there as well as bottles. The employee was very nice. The cafe has bakery items, soup sandwiches etc. The patio is very secluded and quiet, like a small garden park. A very lovely spot to relax and enjoy some wine and good food.

This is an amazing wine store in the heart of San Francisco in Hayes Valley. Come here for a glass, for a bottle or buy a bottle. Super wonderful and accommodating staff. They have a food eatery next-door that you can order food that will be brought back to you. To compliment this wonderful place they have a backyard that is beautiful with heat lamps and live music!

The Mr & I were looking for a pre-SFJAZZ cocktail & given there were also Symphony & Opera events the same evening, our hopes were low of finding anywhere. Lucky for us when we walked by Arlequin, there was room for us! I liked the fact there were tables on the wine-side of the place as well as the food-side of the place. There were also tables outside and out back.....so lots of opportunities to grab a seat! The place was PACKED & for good reason - lots of heavy pours & wonderfully-smelly foods tempted us but we stuck to our drinky mission & chose a lovely Sparkling Rose from Spain Oh yeah.....they don't just offer CA wines - there's good representation from all over the world in their by-the-glass menu & they also promote daily specials Didn't take us long to find a table outside ( they're first come, first served ) & the evening was mild, there were people all dressed up for the opera & symphony, not to mention Santacon was also going strong. Made for a very festive atmosphere & let's just say the place was nearly emptied out as everyone left around the same time to catch their shows.....us included! Huge fans!

I'd passed by Arlequin on a few occasions before deciding to go in and pick up some wine this particular evening. I'm not what you'd call a connoisseur, but I do drink the stuff and as a Level 2 WSET student, have learned quite a bit and especially to steer clear of wines typically stocked in grocery stores as they tend to be mass-produced and subsequently, lower quality. I was greeted upon entering and when asked if I was looking for anything in particular, told the clerk (I hesitate to call him a customer service representative) I appreciated White Burgundy's and Bordeaux the most. He directed me to the section and asked again if I knew what I was looking for. I told him about a particular wine, a little known domestic from 1996-2006 that was a really nice blend as an example of what my flavor palate favored. He asked again, "what do you like" in a way that was clearly annoyed so I said "Please, don't worry about me, go about your business and I'll poke around" to which he replied, "great" and rushed off. I watched him walk back to his two colleagues and witnessed him clearly saying something that prompted the two of them to look my direction and quickly look away when I met their gaze. I'm guessing whatever it was, wasn't very kind. I tried to dismiss the awkward moment and went back to perusing but then thought, why on earth should I spend good money on such disrespectful service? Was it my tattered Adidas or lack of a french accent? I'm a collector of great wines and I have no problem shelling out $60 for a cheap weeknight bottle, and much more when looking to add to my collection or share with great company. So I left, and on my way out, said: "thank you, you're unbelievably snotty." It's people and businesses like this that make me miss NYC, but while here in SF (where I am from), I'll take my business to Adel's in Cole Valley or K&L. Adieu, Arlequin. I'll not be back.

I recently got a small wine cooler from a friend who moved out of town. I suddenly felt the urge to fashion myself a wine connoisseur and begin perusing the contents of this store. "Tell me what's the finest, cheapest sparkling that you carry" I asked the staff. I marched off with two outstanding bottles - one Spanish cava and one French brut. They were excellent and much better than the mass produced wines you can buy at grocery stores for not much more. You'll never buy a bad bottle of wine here! I discussed the qualities that made these wines differentiated with the employee. I'll be back for more!

The Greatest Wine Deal in San Francisco Great selection from all major new and old world areas at every price point. They also have wines by the glass. My wife and I will usually grab a bottle of Rhone or Burgundy along with an awesome lamb burger, charcuterie platter, or maybe a pizza and a salad from their adjoining cafe and adjourn to their beautiful patio outback before Jazz. Its hard to believe you are in San Francisco! Very few places do what Arlequin does: they sell the wine at retail, and for just a $7.50 service charge they supply glasses and the most gorgeous patio to enjoy it. When you look at most restaurants marking up wine 250 - 350%, $7.50 is a rounding error. Or put another way, a $50 bottle at Arlequin will easily set you back over $100 in most restaurants. The value proposition is incredible. So do what we do, grab a nice bottle and enjoy.

Great selection of wines to choose from. A chill and relaxed vibe. Perfect combination for a lazy Saturday afternoon to people-watch. (and dog-watch for that matter) Pick a bottle. Or two or three. They're probably all good since they've been curated by the Absinthe Group. You'll find something along a range of prices. Ask for recommendations otherwise. Pay the corkage fee and grab a table outside if you can. It's great for catch-ups with friends. Order a cheese plate or some charcuterie from Arlequin Cafe next door if you're feeling peckish. Stop on by. Arlequin Wine Merchant offers an enjoyable afternoon of wine and conversation along Hayes Street.

Indeed a wine merchant, who knows how to offer a great variety of wine. On top of that, they provide a dining area for you to enjoy your bottle(s) inside and outside of this place. Lounge outside if it is a cool and sunny day! The outdoor patio lounge is splendid. They have a service charge if you do decide to dine at the place and they provide you with wine glasses. Just see it as tipping. My friend and I came and tried out the Malbec from Argentina. The taste was clean and not too dry at the end. I loved it. A suggested merchant to see if you are deciding to get some fine wine.

Decent selection but the staff of this store is cold and unfriendly. I've been here multiple times and no one has ever said hello or bothered to offer assistance. I can buy wine anywhere, so why would I choose Arlequin when the staff could care less? Quick update. Walked in again today to see if they had a hard to find wine. Four employees working in the store, and only one customer (me). It was clear I was looking for something, but the staff again ignored me. Cool, thanks guys. I'll order the bottle of Caymus from BevMo instead.

Two gentlemen were working at the counter Sunday afternoon. Walked in looking for a nice red. Asked what they had by the glass and he pointed at paper menu on the counter and said "you're looking at it". Then asked if they had anything from either the Willamette Valley or Russian River Valley by the bottle, responded with "nope". Didn't provide any recommendations or assistance whatsoever, not even a hello at the door. Unless you know exactly what you want and where to find it within the store (nothing is labeled) - you're better off going anywhere else. If you want to purchase anything harder to get, my suggestion would be k&y Wine merchants online.

My go to place for event bulk wine purchase. High quality, world wide selection and you can also purchase a bottle add a few dollars and enjoy right away with a friend in their cafe backyard. Best deal in the city. Seriously. We found amazing white and red for $15 and under. Have you ever tried sparkling red? It's actually quite special. They have a sparkling red (lambrusco) here, perfect for the sweet tooth.

Perfect place to go and share some lovely wine on their patio or to grab a drink before the opera or ballet. Staff are super nice and helpful. One recommendation - please add more Cremants to your bubbly collection. I'm being selfish cause I love those budget friendly but yummy bubblies :)

I stopped in to this shop while I was walking down the street looking at the local shops. It was a nice sized shop with a large variety of wines available. There was also a nice amount of wines under $15 in the back. You can also take your wine next door and have a bite to eat and a drink. It does cost $7.50 for corkage to open your wine, but depending how much you spend in your wine.

This one has been long overdue. Moved to the city little over 3.5 years ago and this is my favorite wine bar/store in the entire city! Arlequin's back patio is San Francisco's best kept secret and I hope this review blows the lid off! The wine selection is unreal, no seriously, you're going to be shocked. The value section is pretty phenomenal - I would spring for a more expensive bottle but don't understand the 7ish dollar corkage fee if you're buying a bottle from them and drinking it on the patio. But hey I still keep coming! Last but not least, this place is special to me for more than just wine but because of that special someone! I'll keep that to myself though

This is truly such a hidden gem in a busy part of Hayes Valley. You order wine at the front counter, then walk back to a lovely (and large!) outdoor seating area. The wines seem reasonably priced for SF ($11-15 or so a glass) and you can grab a bottle to go on the way out. The staff seems really knowledgeable about wines.

This place is fantastic! I went with some of my lady friends and we had a great time. The outdoor seating area is beautiful with its green garden scenery. It gets pretty crowded, so you might have to wait for a table to open. It's definitely worth it though. My friends and I had a bottle of red wine that we split. I'm not sure which one we had, but it did not let us down. And surprisingly, one bottle was perfect for the 4 of us (mind you, this was daytime drinking so we were trying to keep it to a minimum). I'll definitely go back when I'm in SF again.

A wine shop, a wine bar, and a little cafe - all in one. What more can you ask for? Loved this (surprisingly large) wine market. High quality, diverse selection with varying price ranges. The staff is friendly and was happy to help select a bottle. We purchased and payed the corkage fee to drink on the back patio - definitely recommend doing this with a group of friends! They also have a little cafe where we bought some pastries and snacks to eat with our wine. A pleasant place for a chill night with friends. I will be happily going back!

Here's what I think about when I think about Arlequin: 1. Wine Island. Wine Island is my name for the 2 - 3 coveted two person tables that sit surrounded by crates of wine. They are the most desirable seats in the house if you're in the mood for romance. 2. Al Fresco Patio. Can't get a seat on Wine Island or have a party larger than two? The charming community garden/backyard patio with heat lamps is a find. Day could (did) slip into night while consuming wine out here with friends. 3. How does this work? There's a wine bar on one side, a cafe on the other and you're free to mix and match and eat or drink anywhere but if you want both wine and food you'll have to stand in line at each place separately. 4. Will I ever get a seat? Being located quite near the Jazz Center, Nourse Theatre, the Symphony, et al the secret is out. This place does bang-up pre and post show business. I've yet to have much problem getting a seat but I've never not stressed about it and it wasn't always the seat I wanted. Good wine by the bottle or the glass. And: * Food reviews can be found under "Arlequin Cafe". * Same team also owns Absinthe, Boxing Room, and the Comstock Saloon.

Arlequin represents all that is great about independent wine stores and living in the fantastic wine mecca that we do. It's not just about stopping in to find that hostess gift, or the perfect present for your hard-to-buy-for Dad, although these needs are always expertly met. No, it's about indulging yourself. On a visit to Arelquin, you are going to talk to some people, learn something, hear a story, get to know a grape, and take home something special. Going there reminds me of going to my favorite bookstore and excitedly rushing home with a new tome. What they do right service-wise here is concentrate on what you like, and if you don't know, they help you figure that out, completely without pretension. I don't like visiting wine stores where I feel that they are just trying to prove how smart THEY are - I just want to drink something delicious that is within my budget. We attended a tasting last night of small-production Pinots. I just loved their wonderfully roomy new space. Don't get me wrong, I would have continued to go to the old narrow one - but I always felt like George Costanza in the Gore-Tex jacket in there, about to knock over a case of Chardonnay. Now I can breathe easier as I browse. The back patio area is a wonderful, rare find in the city, and a place to enjoy some wine (why wait until you get home?), or some delicious food from their to-go emporium next door. It almost feels like a portal into wine country, seeing the sunlight-dappled tables and chairs back there. Give yourself a treat and visit these lovely folks - allow ample time to let it all sink in and enjoy it. Go alone or with a good friend (who knows, you might even make a new one there!) If you want to get serious, check out their Wine Club program - a great gift for a newly married couple (they'll use it more than a Kitchen-Aid mixer, trust me), or my favorite recipient, yourself.

(See pics) Review #1088. A good wine merchant if you want to get half a glass (in pouring term, a quarter of the actual glass.) They carry a good selection without paying a hefty price. They also mentioned that they carry rare wines as well. Something to keep in mind for special dinners. There are a couple tables if you want to sit down and enjoy it or browse the wines at the back. Because you get to taste the wine first, you are more likely to get a bottle you will like depending on what they serve for the day (they had about 13 on the menu and some under the counter.) They also have wine tastings on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons.

I love this place, their wine selection is perfection! The team is always helpful and friendly as well. I love coming here knowing I can get Bouchard, PYCM amongst other benchmark producers. Even If you're not a wine geek like me, this is still a must try! I also love the cute patio in the back, can't wait to spend a lazy Sunday there soon.

Can I make it 6 stars? Please? Lovely amusement park for the vinous set amongst us. At first, I was taken aback when I was told they didn't carry Condrieu. But the helpful staff did direct me of to what I would call Off-Condrieu wine, an IGP Voignier from an adjacent non-AOC region. The dude was probably thinking "Are you fucking kidding me? Condrieus are like $100/bottle, I can't believe we just lost that sale". Yes you did honey, but thank you so much as I sip this Clape St. Peray blanc from this store.

Just moved to a new location - next door to the old one. But the space is nicer and the selection still wide-reaching, though not massive. Great advice, as usual, led me to a really bold Tempranillo. Though they don't really have an extensive selection of Spanish wines. Arlequin's Pinot choices always feel like discoveries and have me intrigued, so I'll rotate through occasionally. Which is saying a lot since the Arlequin and my apartment don't have the benefit of propinquity.

I found Arlequin Cafe n Wine Bar soooo... charming. The garden setting located behind the cafe is a perfect spot to enjoy a newly purchased bottle of wine. The staff are well knowledgeable of every wine, very informative and helpful. I bought a bottle of "Calera 2007" Pinot Noir. It was exactly the flavor and depth of pinot noir I prefer. I will be sure to visit this place whenever I'm in the area.

An interesting wine shop with a varied selection of grapes off the beaten path, I enjoyed my visit here, though not as much as I could have. I was impressed with the Hungarian, Portuguese, Austrian, and French wines. This shop appears to focus on European wines at varying price points, though some Californian and new world wines are available. Many wines are under $20. This makes me want to come back once I've done a little research on a particular grape. The problem with this wine shop is that I didn't find it to be accessible to someone who wasn't going for a qualification as a sommelier. Descriptions of the wine were completely lacking. When trader joes provides you with more guidance, that's not going to entice someone like me to buy a bottle. I also tasted a couple wines here: a "new" zinfindel (done like a Beaujolais but with zinfindel grapes instead of Gamay grapes... Yes I know that before visiting this shop) and a grenache blend (maybe a GSM blend they didn't specify). Both were good, though I preferred the GSM. The tasting disappointed me in two ways. First, only a couple of the wines were grapes that were outside of the common way. The new zinfindel and a cinsaut, were wines that someone would not have seen at Trader Joes or whole foods. Both are also not that uncommon. When I go to a shop like this, part of what I'm hoping for is the chance to try something I hadn't before, to try something I might not otherwise have tried before I buy a bottle of an unfamiliar grape. Next, there was no education from the person working the counter at the wine tasting area. "Jammy" and light may be an acceptable wine description by me, but if I'm going to your tiny boutique wine shop, then it should probably be better. This shop will always struggle to compete in price, but it should make up for it in both variety and education. It provides the former and misses the mark on the latter. So go to this shop if you could run a tasting in nearby Napa, Sonoma, Livermore, or even Suisun. Maybe go to this shop if you want to try the latest grape Eric Asimov has written about in The New York Times. But don't come here expecting to to get guidance on what you should buy.

I sort of came here on a whim during my stay in Hayes Valley area I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't have Bev-Mo to tell me how many points is what wine The wines were set up good. It went from lowest to highest price so you knew what you were getting into The place is very cute and just visually neat. Since I knew I wanted Pinot but not much else I went by my other way of picking wine. Pretty label. So I found one with a label I liked. It was almost $40.00. I am keeping it for a special occasion. I can only hope pretty label system works The people themselves were a tad prickly. The guy on the floor seemed to dismiss us when we said *we were just looking around* when he asked if we wanted help Still I have my pretty label wine I didn't really need..not sure if that is a good thing, but I am still glad I stopped in

Very disappointed in there service. They claimed they didn't take reservations but then put reserved signs on tables next to us. Furthermore, this was a wedding celebration, we spent at least $1000. Someone brought in a cake for them and they said there will be a charge for that when we asked how much they said "they haven't decided yet." This service was so disappointing. When I ordered lemonade without ice because the ice hurts my teeth they didn't give me a full glass and accused me of ordering a lemonade with less ice so I could have more lemonade. My sister the bride is still upset this morning due to this service. There were two nice people which is why she is not writing a review but at the end of the day I'm listening to my sister incredibly upset because 2 of the servers were insanely rude. They tried to tell us they had a big party coming in and there was a time limit. All that was a lie. Furthermore, there were people in our group that are wine club members here. This was my sisters wedding day(civil ceremony) before the Mexico big wedding. They should have treated us better. She attempted to make a reservation two weeks ago and they said no reservations on Friday and then proceeded to put reserved signs on tables around us so we would not use them. It's good that 2 people were nice to us because had they not been you would have more than just this negative review. We tip well and spent lots of money, the service should have been better. If you want to spend a lot of money on food and wine, I'd recommend you go somewhere else where they are not so mean.

I like their wide selection of wines, they have a few unique old World wines falling in the $85-$130 range and they don't make it up ridiculously so it's a great place to have some decent wine. I just tried a bottle of the Volnay and cornas here and enjoyed it. Can't wait to go back

Good wine selection although a bit pricey. Where this place shines is the backyard area. Forget picking up a pricey bottle and have a glass in the backyard space. It's pretty amazing how this space is right in the middle of Hayes Valley so it can be a nice break from it all.

I really like this spot. I went here this past weekend. They have pretty large back courtyard with heating lamps and tables. You can grab a bottle of wine from their wine shop right next door that leads into the cafe. They will charge you a corkage fee for about 7 bucks. I tried the grilled cheese, which was alright. I'll definitely try something else next time. I also had the Vanilla Bean Donut which was great.

I love Arlequin so much. The staff is always super nice and SO knowledgeable. They host amazing tastings and events. I'm a proud member of their wine club and eagerly look forward to coming in, picking up my wine, chatting with the employees and seeing what's new in the store. My only complaint is that they aren't open later. There have been so many nights when I've wished they were open at 9 or 10. Please Arlequin - just consider it!!

Not so friendly. Treated my wife less than pleasantly when she asked if they had Rombauer Chardonnay or anything like it.

I've come to about half a dozen of Arlequin's winemaker tastings, of which I've always enjoyed the wines poured. But their tasting experience is a bit rough and tumble. It's always packed around the bar because they have so much inventory in the shop that there's no place else to congregate. What I'd like to see is what Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant does on tasting days, which is to set up temporary cocktail tables and bar stools. Overall I find that I'm dragging myself to Arlequin's tastings, whereas I'm excited to go to FPWM's and as a result have been to probably a dozen tastings there.

Reason # 1,294,485 to love San Francisco: Arlequin Wine Merchant. I walked in JUST TO LOOK. I walked out with half a case. Okay, here's where I get up on my soapbox. One of the most amazing, wonderful and incredible things about living in San Francisco is the pervasiveness of the wine culture. I must have four 'favorite' wine shops...and this doesn't even include wine bars where wine may also be purchased. Wine, and the true enjoyment thereof, is so much a part of living in this city that I never feel weird for my geeky enjoyment of odd varietals and vintages. And I keep finding more places that must fit into my 'favorites' list! If you have not taken advantage of this amazing subculture - what is your issue? Are you lacking a pulse?? Arlequin is one of those places that hit my favorites list. Beyond the lovely and inviting back patio, above the interesting bottle selection, the service is EXCELLENT! I walked in thinking I was just looking - I walked out (2 transactions later) with 5 bottles of incredibly interesting and good wine. The staff knows their wine - and what one staff member might not know, another will. I will be back - for the excellent suggestions, for the wine club, and for the fantastic and unpretentious service. If you have not been here, you are missing out. But that's okay, 'cause I'll grab what you haven't discovered yet :) UPDATE Sept 2007 - Joined one of the wine clubs and have had excellent selections so far. The new space is gorgeous and the staff as friendly and helpful as ever.

This place is THE best. It looks part deli (on one side) and random wine shop (on the other side). It doesn't have a hipster vibe and it's very easy to just walk on by. But step inside, buy a bottle of wine ($5 corkage) and take it out back to the beautiful urban garden with outdoor heaters. It's gorgeous. And the food isn't too shabby either - the cheese plate is amazing and the fries are definitely a good snack while you are pounding down the wine. A GREAT place for a date, a business conversation, a secret rendezvous :)

Tried Guilhem Rouge 13 and Branger Le Fils and loved it.

I will be an outlier in the reviews here... My first experience walking in and out of this place was not exactly pleasant. I walked in looking for a specific bottle of wine that they had sold at some point since I found their place through wine-searcher.com. When I walked in I wanted to browse their selection of wines while also looking for the bottle of interest. This was the first wine store (outside of wineries) that I've actually walked into so I could have spent forever looking through their stock. (Yes, +1 for actually having a lot of wines on hand.) It took a little while until someone asked if I needed help, but when I was asked I said yes and walked up to the counter to receive help. I showed my list of wines that I was interested in and asked if they had any, and asked if they still sold the one I was looking for. Nope and no. More funny looks... or was it an air of impatience? So anyway, as we go on... based on the list of wines I was interested in, I was given other recommendations. However, when I asked for a similar wines that were under $20, I felt another wave of annoyance or judgement as I was taken to the boxes of cheaper wines. I was given a recommendation for a bottle of wine that I ended up buying, but as I left and politely said thanks for your help, I wasn't really given much of a response or "bye" or "thank you" at all... as if I must have somehow caused irritation in the way I shopped for wines. I did not feel I was getting the same sort of customer experience as the rest of the people who were there tasting wines. Or was it because I look young and did not dress like the other ritzy patrons who walked in? I bought the bottle for a friend since we were to have drinks that night, and honestly that bottle was the worst bottle of wine that I can remember to date. My friend agreed. The recommendation was horrible. I am a very novice wine drinker, but let's just say in the past 2 months I have been around Sonoma and south of Spain, tried over 50 wines, and that recommendation was THE worst I've had. My friend and I had less than a glass before we gave up and stopped drinking it. For good measure I had my boyfriend try the wine the day after (to see if it may have aired out or whatever) and he even said it was bad. It was so bad... I tried mixing it in sangria and it couldn't be saved without a decent amount of apple cider and mixing it with another wine. So overall it was an uncomfortable experience visiting this store and I was recommended the worst wine ever. Since this was my first wine store experience I decided to go to another wine store before I wrote this review, and had pretty much the exact opposite experience. I guess there are wine stores out there that are not snobby and actually helpful. The only reason why I am not giving this a 1 star rating is because a second person who seemed pretty nice came up to me (instead of me having to go up to the counter) and asked if I needed help as well. If I had instead chosen the second person to help me I might not have had the same experience... maybe.