Velvet 48 Wine Bar

Burlingame has long been overdue for a dedicated wine bar, and Velvet 48 Wine Bar fills that gap beautifully. Years ago, we were regulars at Nectar, a beloved spot for date nights, and ever since it closed, we've been waiting for something that could capture that same charm. Velvet 48 delivers. Though centrally located, the entrance is a bit tucked away — we might have missed it if a friend hadn’t recommended it. We’re so glad they did. From the moment you walk in, the service is warm, welcoming, and attentive without being overbearing. You’re greeted with a taste of their house sparkling rosé, which is so good we end up ordering it every time we visit. That said, their wine list is extensive and thoughtfully curated, and they also offer bottles to-go. We always enjoy their cheese and charcuterie boards — either one of each or the half-and-half option, which makes a perfect light bite before dinner. If you’re looking for an inviting, high-quality wine bar in Burlingame, Velvet 48 is absolutely worth a visit.

We love, love, love this beautiful bar! One of the best spots in the area for a glass of wine and snacks (or desserts for sweetlovers) that pairs great with it. They have a wonderful ambience and, impressive list of delicious wines, champagne, and beers. Andrea and her team provide exceptional service and welcoming vibes. Thank you and see you soon!

I love this spot. It’s a little hard to find. Into a narrow corridor and then you’re in a lovely, expansive room full of wine bottles. The bartenders/servers are so kind and knowledgeable. Zero attitude at all. Just lovely. Great selection of wines and snacks. Such a good vibe. Thank you, servers for being so good at your jobs!

One of the best wine bar in town. We love their indoor seating, with comfortable lounge sofa and excellent vibe for wine tasting. They have friendly staff that gives great recommendations. We took 3 bottle home on our first impromptu visit, and are very happy and glad we did, because they also have some great wined on sale from time to time.

I visited the other day. I simply love this place. First of all I was by myself, and that can be weird at a restaurant. But the staff here was exceptional. I came in for wine and dessert. After I sat, I received a complimentary glass of champagne. I didn’t know what wine to order, but I was able to describe the taste I was looking for (a big tannic heavy red that feels like a blanket in my belly). The waitress tried and then the team collaborated with a couple of options. It was great! And the chocolate mousse dessert complemented the red wine just perfectly! Even with how spectacular the service, wine and dessert were…. The BEST was the warm welcome I received from the bar staff. Drea stands out. I’m new to the area and she gave me a few recommendations of places to eat and things to do. It was amazing, not too overwhelming either. For the first time since I moved here (8 months ago) I felt I finally found a community.

Very nice wine bar, great atmosphere, when we got there they welcomed us with a glass of rose. We ordered some wine and it was great. They have a limited food items, but what they serve is decent and good quality. They have a large collection of wines.

Lovely, and much needed, addition to the Burlingame landscape. This little wine bar offers a fun array of glasses and bottles for in-bar and take-home service, with stunning decor and a warm and friendly service experience. An especial shout out to their cheese and charcuterie combo board (the genius move of the owner's wife). Highly recommend stopping in and giving it a try or six.

My husband pleasantly surprised with a visit to this elegant wine bar that serves beautiful tastings paired with chocolate and charcuterie boards. It was a perfect date night!!

I visited the other day. I simply love this place. First of all I was by myself, and that can be weird at a restaurant. But the staff here was exceptional. I came in for wine and dessert. After I sat, I received a complimentary glass of champagne. I didn't know what wine to order, but I was able to describe the taste I was looking for (a big tannic heavy red that feels like a blanket in my belly). The waitress tried and then the team collaborated with a couple of options. It was great! And the chocolate mousse dessert complemented the red wine just perfectly! Even with how spectacular the service, wine and dessert were.... The BEST was the warm welcome I received from the bar staff. Drea stands out. I'm new to the area and she gave me a few recommendations of places to eat and things to do. It was amazing, not too overwhelming either. For the first time since I moved here (8 months ago) I felt I finally found a community.

After dinner at Rise Pizzeria on the evening of Wednesday, September 18, 2024, a group of us walked the streets of downtown Burlingame for some after dinner drinks. Our first stop was at Velvet 48 Wine Bar. We arrived shortly before closing, around 8:30 pm, to a nearly empty venue. Excuse my ignorance, but do wine bars normally follow restaurant hours? I just found it interesting that they were closing at 9:00 pm that night. No biggy to me, just curious. Inside, the venue is comparable to the size of a small café. At the time of our visit, the modern space was brightly lit and impressively pristine. I didn't use the restroom, but, based on the main area, I assume that it was immaculate as well. Upon seating, each of us were served a complimentary welcome pour of their SPARKLING NV Velvet 48 Revel Rosé ($16/Glass, $55/Bottle) which I found to be crisp, refreshing, and a tad bit dry. Disclosure: I'm no wine connoisseur, so that was my amateur critique that no aficionado should rely on as accurate. Our party of about six persons ordered a bottle to share and finish within half an hour. I couldn't drink a whole glass, so I gave my share to Joanna. Edward ordered a Glass of Broadbent 10 Year Aged Tawny Port which I found to be very nice. Service was very friendly and welcoming. If I return, which I wouldn't mind doing, I will order the same port that I sipped from Edward...and the Burrata & Pesto. I've got my eye on their Italian Pistacchio Ricotta Cake, too!

Greeted with complimentary house sparkling rose. We loved it so much, ordered a bottle for the table! Beautiful, classy interior. The ladies who work there are lovely and knowledgeable. Perfect choice for a girls night out or date night.

It's critical everyone checks this place out. Me being Portuguese I had to try the Portugal flight. The ambience and decor is great here,

Stopped in for a quick drink with friends before dinner. The location is right in the middle of downtown Burlingame and has a great selection of wine and beer. The food menu was light but had enough grazing options to choose from. I had the house rose which was delicious and we shared some of their house warm bread and butter that hit the spot. The staff was very sweet and helpful. Overall great little gem in Burlingame to check out.

We were warmly greeted by a server upon entering through the long walkway in. She was very sweet and gave us the full run down of options after checking our IDs. They have a lot of good deals going on with 30% off all bottles on the menu to take home and 50% off select bottles to go. We opted to try 2 flights- the Pinot noirs and the Cab, cab, cab. It was nice to be able to try many different wines at different price points to compare. Their bottle prices are all very reasonable as well if you know what you like. This place has a very relaxed environment with a modern ambiance. Highly recommend you check it out if you're looking for a relaxing yet fun weekend activity to chill with friends over some wine.

Cool wine bar hidden in a narrow entrance. The service is tops they are so informative and welcoming. We tried a flight of champagne and another one of Pinot Noir's. Ordered a cheese and charcuterie plate to go with it. Great place to hang out and try wine.

Amazing wine selection! All staff are informed and make incredible recommendations. I have felt welcomed every time. I have been partnered with Drea many times to work my table and she'll remember my taste preferences and has such a love of wine and life. The foos is tasty and pairs wonderfully with the wines.

We feel upon this lovely wine bar when walking around. The service is amazing, the wine is fantastic, and the food was perfect. Loved the ambiance and can't wait to go back!

Came in on Friday for HH at 4pm. The place was not big so there weren't a lot of tables. On the floor, there were two high top tables that's fits 3 ppl, 4 tables that could seat 10-15 ppl depending how crowded you wanted to be seated and a few bar seats. We were seated with a free glass of Rose which was good. The 3 of us we ordered the 3-2oz cup. I ordered the cab.cab.cab which was good. We also ordered some meat and cheese to go with our drinks. Parking could be challenging but if you drive around the blocks you will be able to find a parking space. This is a good place for HH if you want a more quiet chat with friends.

I loved that they had several different, unique flights available. Service was very friendly, cool and unpretentious. And they gave us a welcome pour of their sparkling rose, which was a nice touch. The ambiance is chic. The only downsides are that the music is loud and it's crowded. We were lucky and scored seats without a reservation. The chocolate plate was fun to pair.

Love this wine bar! A welcome rose. Intimate and personal ambiance Great wine list Amazing service Dessert tasted amazing Thank you!

A friend of mine is a big fan here and I got pulled in. I tried their white wine flights. It was a little disappointing. 2 out of 3 were a bit tart and one was a little bitter. The rose was okay. I couldn't finish and we left to the restaurant next door and had more wine after. Service here is always nice though and it has always been cozy here. But unsure about the wine selection here.

Excellent service, great wine selection and tasty nibbles. I was there in the afternoon, which was quiet and perfect for my meeting but I could see business was picking up and it would have a nice vibe when busier in the evening.

I came here for the first time with my sister. I'm not a winner but the service was very lovely and informative. I love that we were able to ask about the different wines and discuss which wine paired best with what appetizer. It was also nice to know that there was outdoor seating. It's very cozy and welcoming inside and you can sit at the bar which is really lovely. Since they rotate their seasonal drinks, I'll definitely be back soon.

Stopped by before our dinner at Limon. It's a cute little wine bar. They offer a few flights & a variety of wines to choose from. As we got seated, they offered a complimentary glass of rose which was a nice gesture. Would definitely visit again!

Cute little intimate wine bar in Burlingame! They made me feel welcomed. The staff were nice and friendly. The wine selections were good and charcuterie board had good options. It's a cute quiet place for a romantic date. I'll definitely be returning. There's plenty of parking in the area.

We came here to have some drinks and a light bite to eat for our anniversary. Reviews were good so decided to give it a try. The place is a little tucked away from the street so you won't see it unless you know to look for it. But once inside you're in for a very pleasant surprise with a nice clean place with shelves of wines all around. There's a small bar, some bench seating, and a handful of small tables. The service was super friendly. Being our first time our server explained how we could order a bottle of wine, an assortment of different choices of wine flights, a small selection of beers, and some food choices. We ordered the spicy reds flight, European reds flight, and a Margherita flatbread pizza. Then for dessert we ordered the pistachio ricotta cake. Before ordering we were offered a small glass of their house sparkling rosé. Everything was very good. Our service throughout the evening was super friendly and attentive. Best of all, the flights were labeled so we could remember what we were drinking. If you've ever had wine or beer flights you'll know how it can be very difficult to remember what you're drinking so we were very appreciative of this nice touch. We will definitely be back. We really enjoyed the service and the quality of the food and drinks.

This wine bar was excellent. There's nothing better than chilling here in the afternoon/evening chopping it up with a friend or partner, They cater to large groups as well. The chocolate plate was alright with drinking the reds since they pair very well. The bartenders are super rad too and not pushy with what they're serving. 10/10

Great selection of wine! By getting flights you get wine tasting experience for a a decent price . Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Def will be back :)

Finally came to check out Velvet 48! Let me start by saying the staff are super friendly and welcoming here; everyone was attentive and warm. We didn't try any food so I can't speak to their menu there, but we did have a few glasses of wine. The atmosphere was cozy and intimate. The only reason I'm giving 4 vs. 5 stars is because I wish there were a few more affordable wine-by-the-glass options on the menu, but otherwise, great little spot.

What a lovely group of people and delicious selection of wine! The staff were very kind and helpful, and the wine list extensive. It was a fun little stop before meeting up with a relative in the area.

Great place for drinks. Tried the spicy red wine flight with half half cheese charcuterie plate. Love the Sangiovese the best but all the reds in the flight were good. The service was great. Appreciated the complimentary house rose. Perfect place to chill and people watch.

What a gem in downtown Burlingame! This place has been open for 5 years but we just discovered it this past weekend. Great selection of wines and a fantastic bubbly rosé. They actually give you a sample of it when you arrive, which led us to order a bottle and spend a glorious couple of hours drinking that with a cheese plate and delicious Gruyère puffs. Super friendly staff and very chill space. Highly recommend!

Velvet 48 is a really awesome wine bar in town. The service is always spectacular and the choice of wine is top notch. The flights are well constructed and they change them frequently enough that it keeps things interesting, but not so frequently that it's dizzying. They also run incredible take-home deals regularly.

Came here for date night with my husband and it was perfect - we shared the 1/2 cheese 1/2 charcuterie board and the burrata and pesto. The burrata was definitely the winner (isn't it always?) but it was all good. I had the Spicy Reds flight and the Malbec was amazing so I also had an additional glass of that. My husband had the Rasputin dark beer which he said was very good even for someone that doesn't typically like dark beers. We liked that they are tucked away from the street noises of downtown Burlingame. It's a small space but easy to get a table reservation in the earlier parts of the evening. Music isn't too loud, good place to talk. The server was so friendly and helpful, excellent service. Will return!

This is a perfect place for the post date night dinner wine cap. Service was great, from getting seated to the comp'd a sample of their new rosé, to the wine recommendations, and the amicability of all the staff. Sometimes i walk into a wine bar and get intimidated because i'm not "fancy" enough for them, but i don't get that at all here! rberikne was super welcoming and it's more in between an elevated and cozy wine vibe. Great variety of wine for anyone in your party--I say this because I'm moreso a dessert wine kinda woman myself and I felt so accommodated here when the list was over 6 wines! everything else is very expansive and extensive, and the price variety is great too. there's a good menu of bites you can get here that go beyond the typical cheese and baguette here--so not a bad place for a snack or a little brunch/outting. the seating is limited, but i like the more intimidate environment. the ambience was nice and the smaller space allowed more depth to your time spent together, like being in a little bubble. I also luckily found a new favorite wine thanks to our host, who put everything behind his recommendation and blew me and my s/o away!

Recently used Velvet 48 for catering a cocktail party. Originally, we thought we would have 75-100 people and placed a catering order with Drea. Two weeks before we realized our headcount was much lower. Drea was responsive, clear, and asked the necessary questions to make sure we had everything we needed. She was amazing when we picked up our order! She had everything ready and prepped and gave explanations for everything - telling me exactly where each of the items were from. She was awesome! We ordered the charcuterie and meat trays which were delicious but the real stars were the burrata and pesto and gougeres - so delicious and served warm. Thank you to Drea and the staff at Velvet 48 for bringing our event to the next level!

Súper cute wine bar tucked away down a tiny alley like corridor. One would never know. Reservation recommended. The inside is so nicely laid out and designed. Service was excellent. They gave us a sample of the house wine once we sat down. It was tasty btw. Looking forward to returning.

Almost missed this place while walking down the street and so happy we stumbled into it. Great space with great wine.

It's been so long since I've been to a wine bar! I stopped by to have a post-lockdown reunion with a friend and really don't regret that she chose this place. Given that many bars around the Bay are still in a state of transition back to normalcy, I was initially concerned that this place would be filled up. It was easy to make a reservation online via Yelp at exactly the time we needed, and the check in process was super smooth. Velvet 48 has both indoor and outdoor seating, for those with varying preferences. My preference during my visit was not to bake in the hot weather (89 degrees F is a lot for the Peninsula, ok??) so opted for indoor. The interior was beautifully air conditioned and also had a relaxed, clean, and modern vibe. The staff was all super friendly and provided a small complimentary glass of wine for each of us upon our arrival. What a nice touch! They also walked us through all our questions and helped us pick just the right thing to drink. I'd highly recommend this place to any group of friends, coworkers, or partners looking for a relaxed, comfortable setting for sipping the good stuff. Next time I visit I'll definitely do so on a weekend so I can try more of their list and get even more "happy!"

Superior service and extraordinary conversations with the staff. The Margherita pizza is well worth it!!!

Terrific wine bar with excellent environment and vibe. Server was very helpful, tackling a very expansive wine list. She did a superb job of serving the bottle of Burgundy I ordered, treating it with respect and care. I will definitely go back. You should go too if you like wine.

What started out as a happy hour meet up ended up being a 4-hour conversation over a bottle or so of wine and a plate of burrata, pesto and crostini--that's how much I enjoyed the vibe at this place. We temporarily occupied a corner table that was reserved by another party and when they had to move us because said party had arrived, they were so gracious about it that it almost felt like they were guilty for having to interrupt us. They started with a sample of their house Rosé, crisp and very refreshing. That burrata and pesto served with crostini--we asked for extra crostini--were creamy and salty, perfect accompaniments. My friend ordered a bottle of Sancerre plus a couple more glasses of that and at the end of the night, I found myself saying 'what's up my burrata?' to which he responded 'I'm not my burrata's keeper.' Yeah, that wine was good.

Overall: 3.6/5 We had a reservation so we were seated outside & were immediately served their house bubbles. The house bubbles were really good and my favorite of all the drinks to be honest. We ordered two flights of wines- one red & one white. With each flight, there was a clear favorite for all of us so you can really distinguish the taste for each glass. We also like that they write the name of the wine on the glass and told us the recommended order of tasting. Summery White Wine Flight ($20): My favorite was the Txakolina. Italy, Spain, & Portugal ($25): I think my favorite is the Roriz Duoro if I remember the order correctly. The white was better than the red flight in my opinion.

We stopped in for a quick drink before dinner and could not be more impressed. Started with a taste of the house bubbly, the wine list was comprehensive (with flights so you can try multiple), and the service was impeccable. We felt like we were having a drink with a friend who was also very knowledgeable about wine. We will definitely be back and would love this to be our neighborhood spot.

Visited Velvet 48 and got 2 flights between my partner and I. He got the Worldwide Sauvignon Blanc and I got the Summer in France. I love very dry wines with a crisp finish, so I enjoyed his flight much more. The servers were so sweet and helpful as we chose our drinks. I am obsessed with the inside and the stacks of wine bottles. They also have a beautiful wine room too. Also want to mention they gave us a complimentary pour of their house rosé!

I don't drink wine like I used to. As I get older, my metabolism tells me to take it easy. So when I do indulge, I want to make sure it's a good indulgence. Velvet 48 definitely makes it good. It's a lovely wine bar with such a good selection and a variety of small bites that match well. I visited a couple of times with a girlfriend and was able to really relax and catch up with her. It's great when you first arrive and they provide you with a complementary sip, this last time we had a rosé. I love the duck liver mousse and spanakopita bites. Their flights are very good. I tried a Cain Vineyard flight which was excellent. This is a great place for gathering with a few friends to just drink and talk in a friendly and relaxing environment. I'm looking forward to visiting more often, especially during the summer months. Check it out when you are in the area!

Wonderful experience - great wine and beautiful ambiance. You can literally walk right past this place. It's the perfect example of a treasure in a "hole in the wall". Especially loved the burrata and pesto appetizer! We will definitely go back!

First time here and the walkway into the bar was stunning!!! The ladies who were serving wine were so sweet and very helpful the pizza was delicious and the cheese boards are a must coming here I highly recommend this place to anyone who is around the area. Also this place is very clean and esthetically pleasing!

This place has been my family's go-to for over several years for anniversaries and birthdays, so I thought I'd finally leave them their well deserved review. Their food has been delicious and consistent over the years, with only some little changes to the prices here and there, which one can really notice when they visit a restaurant often. They do have quite a conservative choice of dishes, but they're exceptional. I especially like the duck mousse. Their place is nice and the staff are calm, which makes it pleasant to stay there. Hoping to visit soon.

Valentine's Day special wine tasting....? Don't mind if I do--but maybe next time I'll just pass. The space was beautiful and very chic and the wine was delicious. HOWEVER the environment doesn't make up for the horrible service. My sig-o and I were treated as invisible patrons. The tables next to us received consistently friendly and thorough service. First off, we weren't even given a menu for food or the wine list or even the tasting menu. Correction they gave us a tasting menu after the first few sips of the first wine. Even the explanation of each wine and cheese (on the cheese plate) was sub par. It didn't seem like the server had any knowledge on the wine or cheese and even had trouble with the names of the items. What was supposed to be an exciting and romantic night turned out to leave a spoiled taste in our mouths.

Great service, attentive. Small but a hidden spot that made you feel like a secret meeting place. once you're in there the tall ceiling makes it feel more spacious and comfortable. Wine was good and the two of us shared a small cheese plate.

Great service and amazing selection!! So glad I live so close to here. I'm currently pregnant and I really like that they have non alcoholic wine options!

Velvet 48 is a sleek wine bar tucked between a massage and nail spa and has a beautiful modern interior. There is a large parking lot available across the street with $2 per hr parking. Upon arrival we were greeted by their friendly staff with a complementary glass of their delicious rose! I also really enjoyed the Tempranillo from Spain!

Cool spot right next to Saltyard. Nice people working there. Friendly and knowledgeable about there wines. Liked there overall setup. Will be going again soon.

Great wines. Super knowledgeable and friendly staff. Perfect spot for a glass of wine before a dinner date

First time and had a great experience up on arrival. I came in while they were having a quarterLu private wine tasting for members of their wine club -I was asked gracefully by Drea to return at 5:30 - I was on time. Drea (sp?) greeted me with genuine kindness and I sat at a high table complimented with two extravagant lists -one for by the glass, and one for advanced wine nerds like me - extensive, impressive and well priced. Jason, the owner came and served my selection of a juicy fat Chardonnay - my favorite. I coupled it with an exquisite CoriVin served glass of red blend... truly a great experience in an elegant setting with customer-focused atmosphere.

They greet you with a smile and a glass of their sparkling rose on a warm night. What's there not to like? This little bar is tucked in the side but beautifully decorated with an open atmosphere when you get in. The photos on Yelp didn't provide any ambiance to the nights in this place so I took a few shots. I loved the little outdoor patio they have. I believe there were 3 or 4 bar tables. It's a great feel for a date night or just an intimate girls night out. Highly recommend this place and look forward to returning!