San Francisco practically pioneered the low-proof trend and it's not all about cocktails. We rounded up four of the best bars to try tasty drinks and stick under the 20% ABV range.
Horsies Saloon, Mission
Royal Cuckoo Market, a small but savvy bottle shop in the heart of the Mission, sells a thoughtful selection of spirits, heavy on sherry, vermouth and other low-proof gems. While there has been some summer controversy over a beer and wine licensing error in the space, we cheer on the tiny 8-seat bar (informally dubbed Horsies Saloon) within the shop for its transporting setting, enhanced by little white lights, a quirky vinyl selection that might veer from Chinese pop to classic soul, and a low-proof cocktail menu utilizing their great bottle selection. Manned by one person, this isn’t about expert cocktails—although drinks are good—it’s about a charming space to sip funky wines and vermouths.
Birba, Hayes Valley
Tiny Birba opened in 2015 in Hayes Valley without much fanfare. But for natural and fortified wine lovers, it’s a treasure, the kind of enoteca one might stumble upon roaming an Italian or Spanish town. Humble and unassuming, the miniature space is inviting thanks to owners who take time to chat up their customers. For a minimal kitchen, they also turn out some fantastic bar bites, whether impeccable sardines with Tartine bread or spaghetti all’amatriciana tossed with Calabrian chiles, tomato, pancetta and pecorino cheese. The smart drink menu offers plenty of sherry and Spanish vermouth, Eastern European wines, orange and other natural wines.
The Punchdown, Oakland
Now in its second iteration since reopening in uptown Oakland in 2016, The Punchdown is not only a top East Bay wine bar, but one of the best wine bars in all of the Bay Area. Husband-wife team D.C. Looney and Lisa Costa preach the gospel of natural, sustainable, biodynamic wines via interesting flights and funky-fantastic pours from California to Georgia (the country), paired with cheese and charcuterie. Bonus points for serving Georgian wines in historic clay bowls (ask about the tradition when you next visit).
The Riddler, Hayes Valley
Champagne is a crowd favorite no matter which crowd you swing in. In Hayes Valley, The Riddler appeals to sparkling wine lovers with its eclectic offering of Pét-Nat (Pétillant Naturel wines) and even Miller High Life ("the Champagne of beer") ponies served on ice in a Champagne bucket. Grower-producer Champagnes and sparkling wines from Austria and California make an appearance on the menu alongside irresistible tater tot waffles topped with the likes of salmon and caviar. Only downside? The charming space is tiny and gets packed (and deafeningly loud) at all hours.