Bacchus Wine Bar

I come here as a Russian Hill local and enjoy the neighborhood feel. Good SF authentic feel with the cable car and view of life going by outside. Simple but complete menu of drinks. A go-to staple for a date night or solo beer.

My significant other and I were travelling down Hyde St on the cable car and passed this wine bar. As wine lovers, we knew we had to go back! What a treat! There is a great selection of delicious dry European wines. The atmosphere is intimate and inviting. Everyone in the bar including the owner were very friendly and helpful with other great recommendations in the area. I highly recommend visiting if you are a wine enthusiast.

Desi is one of the best wine tenders out there, sometimes when im drinking his fine selection he gives me that beautiful look of satisfaction. “Satisfied with that pour?” He says - I shiver inside. Truly a fine establishment.

Jessie was awesome and so attentive and also so knowledgeable about wine!

Super cute and excellent location to people watch ☺️ had born indoor and outdoor seating with good selection

Great wines, amazing vibes and really nice staff. Will definitely come back.

Cool little tiny wine bar in Russian Hill. They have a decent menu of wines by the glass and a fair bottle selection. Great spot for a drink in a cozy atmosphere but with only a handful of seats it only takes one group to fill the bar. Great if you can get the table by the window however.

Visited twice and twice I found the service to be unattentive and a little rude. They have a good selection of wines by the glass. They have a little outdoor seating area which has a lot of scope for improvement but benefits from the charme of Hyde street.

I love this place. We sat at the bar, introduced to new wines with great pairings, had great conversations, and was extremely comfortable. I even bought a bottle because the label was so close to my name... lol so immature but epic! What more can you ask for? Oh, the pricing is absolutely perfect. I look forward to going back and I wish they had a membership option because I'd get the premium package. I loved the overall experience. Touchdown

Best wine bar in the city! Cozy, intimate, great wine selection + delish bar bites. So happy this place exists.

Stellar, curated wine menu in a quaint neighborhood spot. Seating has expanded now with tables outside. A must for us each time in SF.

Ummmm what a disappointing experience. Looking for a wine bar open Sunday night of Presidents' Day weekend and this was near where we are. It's a tiny place but incredibly packed so no where to sit. I don't mind, means it has good business right? Ordered a pinot from Sonoma, they were out. Went with a pinot from Williamette Valley Oregon. Honestly I can't even tell you how the wine was because it was sour...aka probably an opened bottle that's been oxidized for a while. Even the cab my friend ordered was a little off. I don't know if sunday is a bad time to visit this place but the wines were definitely not fresh. A horrible experience.

A lovely and intimate wine bar in Russian HIll. This is a great date spot as the ambiance of the place really sets a romantic mood with the lighting, seating, and chandelier. They have a great wine list to explore and you can bring in outside food from some of the cute restaurants nearby. I came here with my boyfriend and his friend and started at the two lush couches in the front. It made for an intimate location for us to chat, eat some pizza we brought, and watch people walk by. After finishing up the food we moved up to the bar and conversed with the bartender who was very friendly and as well as other bar goers. Definitely a spot to check out if you're looking for a romantic drink.

Can speak for myself and my neighbors when we say we love Joshua's coffee pop-up. Really great coffee and even better conversation! We hope it stays long term. And love the wine bar, too. It's a great go-to for first dates or hanging with neighbors.

This place is tiny, but I really liked it. Maybe because it was so small. It's so tiny, that you can't help but talk to other guests and everyone's been really friendly. If you're lucky and get a seat on the couches, there's no real reason to ever get up again, except for getting another glass of that delicious Rose I've tried. Light, not too sweet, but still smooth - perfection! Well deserved 5 stars.

We stopped in here last night looking for a cozy neighborhood spot, and to have some good wine. Mission accomplished! We also were lucky enough to meet some fantastic people to chat with, and to meet Bohde (I may have spelled that wrong-sorry!), the very cool and laid-back owner. We recommend this great spot to anyone looking for great wine, atmosphere, and company! PS- If you look 12 years old, you should be carded, so suck it up and take it as a compliment. ;-)

A shoebox sized place with a decent wine list and VERY intimate atmosphere. If you don't mind sidling up next to strangers, listening to other peoples conversations, or standing at the end of the bar which is practically spitting distance to the bathroom then hey...not bad. Its akin to lounging in someone's living room and sipping on good wine, while not actually knowing whose home you are in. Eh. Just like any other Tuesday.

I'd been waiting for a chance to visit Bacchus. From the outside the wine bar looks adorable and date worthy. Upon entering, the inside does not disappoint. To get a seat (since there are around 15), the date gods have to be on your side. We lucked out and found 2 spots at the bar. The wine choices were good, a little more $ than the average glass ($12+) but that may be in part to the high quality of the bottles. I got a Riesling and loved it (I prefer slightly sweeter ones). I am a fan of this spot.

The word on the street is all the law school students escape to this place. Once you get here it is obvious why. They have a decent selection of wine & beer but I'm suspecting its the casual lounge-y vibe it carries throughout the dark dim room.

In the heart of Russian : a total gem ! Wonderful service, very good wine selection and good good vibe :-)))

Oh, my - i have found heaven in a wine bar. This place is so cool. Great wine pour - kudos to the bartender on duty the night I dropped by - great music also - they play records - and seems to be a lot of locals coming by to drink, chat and hang. This place is not large but so comfy and great wine selection, good prices and just perfect. So happy I spent time here and I will return. Thanks also to the cool bartender. He was super nice and welcoming.

This is very much a neighborhood place - with a twist; it's small, relatively sophisticated and somewhat hidden. And, that - in addition to the incredibly knowledgeable bartender (who - to his credit - traffics more in knowledge than pretension ) - makes this a gem. Imagine a place that has seating for only 9 - at best - and can accommodate only a few more standing; add to that good wines, a great vibe and sufficient visual stimulation indoors and out to complement conversation - and you've got Bacchus. That corner of Hyde and Union sees not only the cable car, but is tree-lined and pleasant - only moments from the Hyde-street restaurants (sushi, Spanish, Continental), if that's your destination. This is a fantastic place to either begin or end an evening with a date - intimate and unique; it's also ideal if you want to enjoy a glass of vino away from the noise that can be Polk Street - and to exchange ideas and converse with a buddy or galpal.

I am lucky enough to have Bacchus as my neighborhood wine & sake bar. It's a tiny, stylish, cozy cube where one can enjoy fine wines, superior sake cocktails, a well selected cheese plate and even delectable sushi from Sushi Groove just a few doors down. The proprietor, Bodhi Freedom (yes, that is his real name) knows his wines and knows the regulars. It is a happy little escape pod that is like no other in the city. Swirl around on one of the bizarro blue bar stools or snag one of the two leather love seats by the window for cushy privacy. The rotating artwork is always interesting and the small scale makes for intimate times. Do it like Dionysus and groove on over to Bacchus.

I love Bacchus. It's my favorite hangout whether I'm doing laundry next door at Missing Sock or I have a friend over who wants to grab a glass of wine before dinner. It's pretty small inside so it's not good for big groups at all, but it's charming which I like. The staff has always been super friendly and very knowledgeable about the wines they're serving...and if you ask, they love to talk about any and everything wine!!! I always do a flight of some sort, which ends up being about $18/20 with tip...which isn't bad if I'm getting my buzz on while doing my laundry...eh?! Perfect spot to hit up before going out to dinner, or if you just want to grab a glass of wine and chat w/ a friend/date.

I love wine. I love everything about wine. I went to college in a wine town where we went wine tasting 2 Sundays a month. Some might say I am some what of a wine snob (I wouldn't say that, but some might). I enjoy wine bars. I frequent plenty of wine bars, in fact I believe that the atmosphere really makes the wine in a wine bar. Now that my wine knowledge and experience is out there, I can write a proper review. Bacchus Wine Bar is your quintessential wine bar. Beautiful wooden bar, a few intimate tall tables, knowledgeable staff, late 20's to early 30's crowd. It is great. My friend had a port here that she loved and they let her take home the bottle so she would know what to buy. They sell wine, they talk wine, they serve wine. The space is some what small, but I like it, its intimate and cozy. The prices are average (6-10 per glass) they have something for everyone! The hooks under the bar are a definite plus!

Always wanted to try this place but they are normally crowded. It is a small place so it doesn't take many to fill this place up. We were in the neighborhood early for dinner and had time to kill. They just opened up so we grabbed a seat at the bar. The bartender, Matt, was very friendly - you can find him down a couple doors at Luella too as he also work there. They only have one champagne by the glass but he gave me a taste before I decide, which I really appreciate. He did the same for hubby after recommending a sauvignon blanc. Nice music, good ambiance, not a bad list of wine with some sake. For bites, there is a cheese plate available. However, I'm guessing they'll be ok if you brought in food from the restaurants nearby. A true neighborhood gem.

I was able to take a date to this spot. I tried to score the sofa in front because I've heard that if you can land the sofa it's a "WIN". I was unsuccessful on the Sofa, but I didn't let that get in my way of a "WIN" date night. HUGE array of wines. For someone like me, being a newbie, the bartender was very helpful. I love the quaint "neighborhood" feel. I'll be back and I sure hope to land the sofa next time. ;) Thanks for a perfect evening.

Small space - can probably only fit maybe 20 in there comfortably. The wines were definitely delicious, but not a very big space. Protip: get there early and get a spot, or just get lucky. The wines that I had tried were delicious so try a few.

Can't finish your drink before dinner at Sushi Groove? Not a problem my imbibing patrons! Let me show you the new and improved, super small, super swank Bacchus Wine Bar. Taking your time, talking to your date kept you from sipping your alcohol? Well, not a problem anymore, just take the drink with you. You heard me correctly, I said TAKE THE DRINK WITH YOU. Only in San Francisco could you pull these crazy shenanigans off! Order your drinks with sushi to follow today! Note: May not be legal to have open intoxicants, but in this city, who cares?

I love small, hole in the wall drinking spots. That is why I love this charming little wine bar in Russian Hill. One night, the bf and I had reservations at Luella's but had arrived really early. So, instead of waiting around in the restaurant, we walked down the street and happened to walk by this place. It's SOO small - I think my studio apartment is bigger! However, with its simple decor and neighborhood charm, we entered inside to get some drinks. The owner of Bacchus was there and he is SOOO nice! He has a great selection of wine to choose from and the prices are totally reasonable. It's a great place to start off your evening or to meet up with a small group of friends for a casual night out.

Named after the Roman god of wine, this cozy little spot is a perfect date spot. Not that I'd know. I just hope every time I walk by. ;) Seriously though, if you can score the couch in the front window then it's a WIN. I'm always impressed by the array of great wines and the knowledge of the bartenders. This is the essential neighborhood spot.

Thank you Bacchus for one of my best birthday's ever! I had mentioned to one of my buddies that I wanted to have a private wine tasting at a wine bar with friends to celebrate my 21+5 birthday. Ben M., as he tends to do struck up a conversation with the bartender at Bacchus one evening with this in mind, which led to getting in touch with the owner Bhode. Bhode kindly opened the bar for us one Saturday an hour an a half before it usually opens, so I could have my shindig there. I provided the cheese and crackers, he provided the wine, champagne, port, muscat, etc. He even let me pick the music! The intimate and elegant atmosphere was perfect for nine of my friends to mingle and talk, all with impeccable service and no need to holler to be heard. Did I mention they also have those purse/coat hooks under that beautiful wood bar? Talk about a tipping point! However, don't EVER drive here, getting parking takes FOREVER, and is NEVER close. Besides, drinking and driving is bad. Drinking and taking a cab, not so bad =) I wish I lived close enough to be a regular at Bacchus, there seem to be several, but I guess it's just as well for my liver and my wallet that I don't.

Adorable wine bar in Russian Hill! I live across down the block so I end up here a lot when I'm debating on which wine bars to bring friends to. It's also a fantastic place to go have a pre-drink if you are waiting for a table at Elephant Sushi. The owner/servers at this bar is extremely friendly and helpful. Keep up the good work guys!

Came here while waiting for our table at Zarzuela to be ready. I'm not a wine-o, so my review is more geared towards other Irish pub, pint of Guinness lovers. I would not recommend coming here with more than 2 other people. The place was probably designed as a garage for a fleet of Smart Cars in its previous life. The bar takes up over half of the place, which really only allows for maybe 10-15 patrons. The wine was good. And the bartender/owner seemed like a friendly, knowledgeable guy. If you're around the neighborhood and enjoy your wine, I think you will have a pleasant time here with 1 or 2 of your friends. But for me, it's a little too "classy" for me.

Cute and cozy little space but too bad it's not a larger bar where you'd hang out normally besides waiting for a table at Sushi Grove or other surrounding restaurants. In terms of the bar itself I'd probably just give it three stars but what's pushing it over to 4 for me are the amazing sake cocktails! Very light and refreshing and lethal for me since I wouldn't mind sitting at the bar for hours on end drinking those concoctions!

I came here with some friends after celebrating my birthday dinner at neighboring restaurant Luella. Cozy little wine bar with interesting swirly seats at the bar. Good selection of wine and the bartender was very helpful and friendly.

I love it when I come and Milton is working! This bar is great in general but Milton plays great music, is super friendly, and always recommends me on new great wine. Love Bacchus! It's super tiny but super worth getting here early to get a seat.

My friend to Bacchus barista: "I have a broken heart." Bacchus barista to my friend: "I have syrah grenache." 'nuff said. [best of all, the bartender had my back when two Marina guys were trying to get me to visit their MySpace pages - what? - while I was waiting for my friends to show; major points to him for that]

The 1900 block of Hyde is one of the city's more magical stretches of thoroughfare. One of the city's three remaining cable car lines runs up-and-down the block, and Hyde is one of the more tree-lined avenues on Russian Hill. This block boasts one of the city's finer pizza establishments, one if its most romantic restaurants, a great sushi joint, and the original Swensen's Ice Cream Parlor. Among all of these gems is Bacchus - small but robust, its list is limited at times, but the selection always offers something to satisfy and enlighten. Seating is often uncomfortable, but the attraction is the staff. the cozy, friendly atmosphere and the location, rather than the room or the wine list. You're practically guaranteed a good time with each visit, and the walk to and from Bacchus will put you in a terrific mood.

I liked it! Incredibly tiny/cozy wine bar just a few doors down from Sushi Groove... Bacchus is where SG sends their patrons to *wait* while their table is getting ready. Very clever. Intimate wine bar with wonderful selection... my friends and I ordered a bottle of yummy full bodied pinot noir that the bartender recommended and it was perfect. We were lucky and scored the 2 comfy couches up front by the window and tucked our legs under us and planted ourselves there for 1 hour after our nice dinner at Sushi Groove... we are so spoiled! Recommended, perhaps not as a destination because it IS so small, but if you're in the area and you see some available seats do check it out.

Bacchus Wine Bar hit the sweet spot: it's bright, honest*, unpretentious, and the owner rocks. *Honest: the owner's tastes in wine are definitely Continental. He's the guy running a wine bar in California who spent his formative wine years sampling in France, thanks to a fortunate turn of life events. So his great love is the French, more than the California, grape. He shares this love with his customers. Yes, he cares about what you drink. You will not drink crap on his watch. This is all so lucky for you, if you happen to step in -- especially before or after dinner at Zarzuela a few doors away. My husband and I discovered Bacchus (and Bodhe, the owner) when we dropped in on a Saturday night. Because the owner is a low-key guy, and a local, he was pouring that night. I'd like him on general principle, even if I hadn't gotten to know a bit about his life and the musical tastes while we were in there. Which I did. What do you want? It's an intimate space. This is San Francisco, not Las Vegas. If you're like me -- maybe you live here because you don't mind people too much? Maybe you *like* the occasional conversation with someone you've never met? -- you will LOVE this place. Say hi to Bodhe for me; and thanks.

A small group of four of us just had some sushi around the corner but wanted a bit more wine and sake to tuck us in for the night. We walked across the streetcar tracks to this lovely gem and were welcomed in by the owner and his friends that were celebrating his (the owner's) birthday. Some highlights: 1) Wine/Sake Menu is pretty awesome. Best Temparanillo I've had in the city so far. Awesome burnt/chocolatey aftertaste, smooth and a nice pour. 2) Awesome music. Yep, it was Pandora but the mix was great. (Anything that starts with Radiohead is gonna rock). 3) Friendly service/ambiance. The lighting/decor is simple and cozy. The service was great. I felt as if I had stumbled into my local that I'd been visiting every Saturday night for the last decade. That's pretty cool and definitely one of the reasons that I'll be back. This place is versatile - it's a "just want a chill glass of wine after work to decompress" kind of place. Or it can also satisfy your "i want to go out but without all of the fuss of the scene/reservations". We'll be back...next Saturday? If not before...

If I could pick one place in the city to chill out with a couple of my friends with a few glasses of wine, this would be it. The space is awesome with some interesting characters. First tip, if you hang out for 20-30 mins when its busy a spot will open at the bar. The crowds (i.e. more than 10 people) go in waves, so don't get put off when people are standing by the door. Bhode is a great guy to hang out with. As a hint, if you have more than three people, buy a bottle. They are priced much better than the glasses. Bhode also has an excellent collection of Oregon Pinot...he's got some gems! Oh and by the way, Random-Frat-guy-who-had-sex-with-your-date-in-the-bathroom-last-Saturday, you are a sick bastard. Go back to the Marina or wherever you came from...

This review is has to do with the wonderful peeps at Bacchus that serve Thrive juices (a drink of the gods that they modestly refer to a Almond Joy). Was on Polk st, on my way back from a bike ride when I decided to ride up the 17% grade on Union to get my Thrive on. Most of the drinks looked really good, and in the face of a difficult decision making moment, I went with the Almond Joy. I also found that Bodie (sp?) is the owner of 20 Spot (what I consider as one of the Mission's best kept secrets). Go check these guys out, you won't be disappointed.

Stopped in two nights ago. I was out taking an evening walk, and popped in. It is TINY. But I consider it a "destination" stop. There are maybe 8 seats total. A really wonderful wine selection. I think they have sake too. I asked about a wine - the bartender offered a "try". He's knowledgeable about wine, and the vibe is so friendly. Everyone else in there knew each other. Quiet, comfortable, really nice wine, uncomplicated, relaxed. As good as it gets. Next time in San Francisco, I'll go back on purpose.

If you love pinot noir, or if you have a reservation at Frascati, this place is a must. They have a gigantic menu of pinot noir by the glass, much of it local, of course. If you can, grab the couches by the window. You get to watch cable cars roll down the street while you chat with your friends and enjoy a great glass of wine.

Great teeny tiny spot in the heart of Russian Hill. Situated conveniently near my favorite place (Za Pizza) and not so favorite (the 'ol Laundromat). On our way to dinner we decided to stop in for a glass of wine. It was a Monday and it was slow. We were the only people in there for the second half of the glass. It was really nice and relaxing. I loved the laid back atmosphere which is ideal for a little sippage. I think we paid about $25 for two glasses of wine plus tip. We both enjoyed our picks, but we are no wine experts. This is a great place to go, relax and enjoy a nice glass of vino.

Great selection. Quality jazz music. Welcoming and relaxing atmosphere. AWESOME bartender.... who was willing to stay open for us even though his last customer of the very slow night was leaving and he was about to pack up.

I stopped in here for a glass of champagne following a dinner date at Luella. I had walked past it a few times before, but I was glad to finally stop in for a drink. I'm not going to talk much about the champagne, because we only had a glass here, and we'd already polished off a bottle of wine at dinner. I don't think I could reliably critique based on the drink I was poured. I finished it, and I recall thinking it was reasonably good. A new bottle was opened for us, and the cork was allowed to pop, so that was fun. This is a really intimate place with room for 10-15 people. There are coat hooks beneath the bar. It was also St. Patty's Day, and it didn't appear that anyone had escaped from the Marina to here. What more do you need?

Bacchus is great! Amazing California red wine selection with an emphasis on Pinot's. Make sure you try the Joyce Kelly Cab Franc if you like a little spice. This place has been open for over 13 years and opens at 5 pm everyday. The whole staff is pretty cool and super chill. They play everything from jazz to hip hop to international music. These guys just opened up a new place called 20 spot which is in the mission but this is a gem that you just can't pass. One of San Francisco's (un-tapped by tourists) classic bars. It runs right along the Hyde street cable car too. Average glass is between $10-$14 and they have half glasses too.

Came here on a Thursday night with three other friends after we were in the neighborhood looking for a chill place to drink. When we came up to the window there was no one inside and we assumed it was closed until the person working behind the bar waved us in. The place is quite small and intimate so we were really lucky that it was empty when we arrived. Since there was four of us we decided to order a bottle to split, which is probably a good choice if there is a group of you and you are all open to trying different wines. The music being played while we were there was definitely one of the highlights of our time there which I would have to attribute to our specific server who was the only working that night which I think was Milton. He was taking very good care of us the whole night even as more people began to show up and fill the place out. Definitely a place I see myself going to again, especially for a more lowkey evening.

I went here last night with a friend who I hadn't seen in a while. We sat down at the bar and, by the end of the night, had enjoyed some fantastic wine ranging from a pinot noir to a malbec (or three), to a half bottle of Veuve to a wonderful champagne by the glass to cap the night off. Bodie the bartender was awesome (if you read this, best of luck with the little one on the way!). The atmosphere was cozy and perfect for yesterday's cold, rainy night. We ended up chatting with another patron sitting next to us, as the place has the feel of someone's living room - casual, comfortable, intimate...kind of like you're at a friend's house. Tucked away in Russian Hill, it is an adorable and unassuming place to spend the evening, or to spend an hour before your reservation at Sushi Groove South. I will definitely be back - this might become a regular meeting place for me and my best friend.

Very fun cute little wine bar -- the owner/bartender was very pleasant, and sitting in the couches by the window watching the world walk by was atmospheric and provided some very entertaining people watching. Also, I'd never heard of any of the wines, and the two glasses my friend and I ordered were all excellent! So top marks for a fresh delicious experience.

This place rocks. I think the bartender was really cool too. Their selection of wine is quite large and if you're looking for something that isn't available, their knowledge is good enough for other choices available. I plan on coming back here. The atmosphere is chill, with not a lot of people. It's small, but it's perfect in a sense that it's not targeting crazy large drunk crowds. Nice wine bar!

In a perfect world, this place would stay exactly the way that it is: very wide wine selection and knowledgeable staff who will help you pick something outside your usual comfort zone, delicious small plates, overall incredibly friendly bartenders and wait staff, two blocks from my house, and mellow enough to have no wait for 2 on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, the business volume probably needs to kick up a notch if they're going to stick around, so I will join the bandwagon on singing the praises of 20 spot on yelp. The restaurant is certainly off the beaten path and a little bit difficult to spot (no pun intended), since they opted to keep the (super cool) vintage neon record sign outside of the restaurant, the signage for the restaurant is subtle enough that it's probably tough to draw people in off of Mission and Valencia. Hence, great place, not that busy as of yet. But do yourself a favor and check it out, best wine bar in the Mission in my opinion.

Do NOT waste your time or your money at the Bacchus Wine Bar. In more than 20 years of traveling throughout the world -- in numerous countries -- my two friends and I have never been treated as poorly as we were here. We stopped in to sample some wine on a Friday evening. The owner apparently didn't like that my friends' first language is Spanish, but he also wasn't intelligent enough to realize that we are also fluent in English. We were essentially treated like field workers who had somehow gotten lost in a posh area of San Francisco! Imagine that. If you are a native Spanish speaker, you will not be welcome at this bar; you will be profiled and treated like a pauper. Do yourself a favor and boycott the Bacchus Wine Bar. The owner has no respect for his guests -- and you will also pay about $16 for each glass of mediocre wine that you order. Thank you for reading this review. When in San Francisco, don't bother with the Bacchus Wine Bar. It's terrible!

I really like Bacchus. I love me some wine, and this place always has a great selection, including some very non-obvious but delicious stuff. The owner and other staff clearly love wine and people and that makes for great atmosphere and conversation. It's hip but not too hip, and a great place to start or finish the evening. Some great restaurants right nearby, too.