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"Two dinners and one brunch later, I have a five-star feeling about Maverick. Nothing screams five stars, but you know how the…" read more »
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This place is like a hidden gem. If I lived closer it would be my regular after work spot. As is, it's a great spot to meet friends who are driving into the city because it's close to the off ramp and there is easy parking near by.
It's cozy with dim lighting and lots of little circle tables, a comfy couch, and a short wine bar. Because of the lighting and the narrow space it seems very private even though there are people around you. The kind of place where you'll tell an inappropriate story in public without even thinking twice. It's perfect for a date or getting together with friends to catch up. They have a great wine selections and some snacks that pair well with wine.
My friend took me here last week, and I loved it! A little hidden place with a great selection of wine. Relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Highly recommend their cheese plates.
Great date spot!
It was wonderful to discover that my favorite secret weapon, romantic, eclectically cozy wine bar is just as effective as ever.
Still tiny, still dark, still full of wonderful wine selections.
Still crowded with couples holding hands over small rickety tables.
Still capable of offering a wine I didn't even know I wanted to try.
Still able to ramp up a date to that next level.
Yeah, I could be giddy from the company, but at least part of it was the location...
Came here one night during a crawl through Hayes Valley and sort of fell in love. It was a dark and… Read more »
Great European style ambiance. Brick walls harken back to the wine cellars and bars of old! A great selection of vinos, both red and white, and the cool Hayes Valley crowd make it a hit afterwork, before a show, or before you hit the sack!
a hole in the wall wine joint in the middle of nowhere really..but it has its charm.. its practically a one man show for the bartender has to take everyones order..they a couple of cheese plates but the wine list is pretty good considering how cheap the bottles were. Great place to start your night or wind down for happy hour. Great find in the mission area...a must visit. 3.5/5 judochops for uniqueness.
Last night was probably my 5th time at HB, and I am still in love. By far the best wine bar in SF because of it's subtle design, kick ass list, and super smart staff. The vibe is relaxed but its obvious the concept behind Biron was executed in a serious way by a true wine enthusiast. Note the well chosen lighting, furniture, and menu elements that tie it all together. The alley location is also a secret obsession of mine because it seems the crowd must have chosen to be there, not just stumbled upon during some sort of crude marina pub crawl. Guys, this would be a great date spot to impress, elegant yet understated. Perfection.
http://Groupon.com deal of the day: $30 gift certificate to Hotel Biron for $15?!? Don't mind if I do!!
Tucked away in a small alley in Hayes Valley this place is a wonderful find! Identified only by the circular red "B" sign fixated above the door, this place is easy to miss. It's a small and narrow establishment with lots of round tables all around the room and a couch in the back. Pictures of naked women grace the walls. The dim lighting and soft flicker of candles makes this a great date spot.
Great wine selection. Cheese, salami, fruit, nuts and olives are also available to nibble on.
I would have given this place 5 stars had it not been for the bartender. He was a bit snippy with me but I'm just going to assume you were having a bad day. Grab a glass of wine and chill, dude.
This is probably one of my favorite wine bars in the City! It's close to my house and walking distance (far walk but walking distance none-the-less!) It's off the beaten path and down a side alley so its nice and private. The ambiance is really nice, the people are nice and knowledgeable, and it has a certain feeling of relaxing comfort. I like how they swap out artwork on the walls and support local talent. And they have a really good cheese plate too! A must try!
I had absolutely no idea this tiny, dimly lit, gem of a place existed.
My friend and I perused the very impressive wine list and thoroughly enjoyed our glasses.
I absolutely love discovering new, cozy places like Hotel Biron in San Francisco.... It's the perfect place to visit for a very relaxing glass of wine and delicious cheese plate- especially on a gloomy and cold night. It would also be a very hott and sexy date location. Just saying.
Yeah this is pretty much a place to go on a date with your heartthrob.
But be careful, don't park on Rose Street!!! Don't park on any of the alleyways in Hayes Valley or anywhere else. For the first time my car got broken into slyly after visiting Hotel Biron right down from the bar. Now the thief is lucky to own or pawn D&G prescription glasses, an SF public library book, Keep brand shoes, and an ipod radio adapter along with makeup from Walgreens. Pathetic, huh? I hope it made a good home. But honestly, I don't regret visiting Hotel Biron after getting my things stolen. It was worth the experience.
It's so romantic. I just want to give my sweet imaginary boyfriend sweet kisses thinking about the place. The bar is dimly lighted. The crowd does seem unpretentious. The wine selection is pretty wide. Yeah I am in love. My heart is starting to beat really fast just thinking about Hotel Biron although the irony is that it's on the street where evil happened.
This was a lovely place for a small group of gals to gather for a birthday. Charming decor, great mix of music and a delish wine menu. Suggestion: order by the bottle as it makes a ton of economic sense (duh) and more fun to share. Also fun that its in such a tucked away place near busy Market Street.
Really chill place to escape on a hot summer day, with dimmed lighting and plenty of seating....and lots of wine...you can't complain. Stopped here briefly with my brother before heading off to dinner to share a bottle of wine. Plenty of fabulous foreign wines to choose from and a no fuss staff that is able to handle managing the place with only two on shift at a time.
Let's just say I'm lucky to have gotten out of there so cheap (thanks bro!) and as sober as I did. I can see this place doing severe damage in the future.
This place is one of my favorite spots. It is kind of in a random spot, but I think that makes it all the more exciting. Great selection of South African wines which is sometimes hard to find. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate. The service is always excellent.
A little pre-dinner buzz. After a long day at work, its refreshing to sit back and relax with a couple glasses of wine over good conversation. Actually, make that interesting conversation. Did you know that animals believe in monogamy? And that male animals have the right to an EPC (extra pair copulations) but if the female were to do the same thing, she would be shunned? Yeah i didnt either. Just goes to show that double-standards not only exist amongst humans, but the animal kingdom as well. Males....cant live with em, cant live without em.
The white wine i had was fantastic and im kicking myself for not remembering the name, but it paired well with the cheese, Vignelait, a triple cream cow's milk. So soft and so creamy, i would have eaten more had dinner time not been slowly approaching.
I like the secret location of Hotel Biron. Its tucked away in a side alley you would never know it was there. Very cozy and quaint wine bar, almost hallway-like with a few tables lining the entrance and a backroom with two couches. And its extremely dim in here with candles illuminating each table.
This cute little hide-a-way wine bar is the kind of place i can enjoy multiple delicious bottles of wine with someone, and then ditch their body in the alley when im done if i decide their company is no longer needed. 4 stars!
I LOVE IT HERE!
Hidden away in the alley behind Espetus and Zuni, this is definitely a locals in-the-know type of spot. It's got an extensive wine list grouped by countries (US, France, Australia/New Zealand/South Africa, Portugal/Spain, Germany/Austria, Chile...) with a nice range in prices, depending on your reason for stopping in. Tonight I popped in for a casual night out with a couple of my best girlfriends and we shared a bottle of refreshing Fámega Vinho Verde. They also have some tasty cheese plates, a decent beer selection, and a few types of sake.
The best part of all though is surely the ambiance. It's cozy, intimate and sexy with (good) rotating art on the walls - a killer date spot!
A lovely place to spend a chilly afternoon...we selected Hotel Biron not wanting to deal with a whole scene for a happy hour one Friday afternoon. We scored a cozy couch and a bottle of Vino Verde and the four of us settled into what we thought was a relaxed intimate evening....
Fast forward to more friendly service and suggestions (read: tastes) a cheese plate with some amazing olives, quince paste, and choose-your-own cheeses, and several bottles of wine and I THINK we had dinner at Paul K, nearby but I can't be sure...
You want good times, you want hotel biron.
If you are looking to be pampered by cajoling staff who think you are the reason the sun rises, then take your $@$#~!@# American over entitled attitude, shove it up your #@$#^%@ arse and go somewhere else.
However, if you want a place that's full of energy and atmosphere, requires you to be a bit assertive to get your way AND has a great selection of wine and cheese/charcuterie (with a knowlegable, albeit overworked staff) then look no further.
This place is more like the best of Europe than any other place I've been to in the city. It's small, tucked away location makes you feel like you've found some hidden treasure the Wharf-visiting-wrong-clothes-in-summer tourists will never know about.
Can it get crowded? Yes. Lose the personal bubble.
Will you have to wait a bit? Sometimes, Yes.
Will you get 4 star service? No. This isn't French Laundry.
Will you have great wine? Yes. And they pour well!
Can you get good charcuterie/cheese? Oh yes. "Barnyardy, not putrid"
It is Woohoo! As good as it gets! as Yelp would say. Hotel Biron is so incredibly romantic and cozy it should be an actual hotel! But alas, it is "just" a deliciously, dimly lit, haven of all havens wine bar in SF.
It's tucked into a small alley behind the ever popular Zuni and the small sign and single entrance door is just enough to detour the "non-locals", but screams out to any levelheaded San Franciscan to come on in! It's dark, it's comfy, and the wine list is good. I always tell the bartender what I like and they always give me a good rec. And if you like cheese, there are always some delish ones to go along with that wine rec.
It is hands down my favorite date spot in the city! And being on the edge of the Castro even this gay yelper feels completely at ease tucked away on one of its couches.
I returned to Hotel B with the intention of inventing a new memory of this place. It was easy as pie. Gorgeous, really.
The scene on Tuesday evening was cooled chic. Around 6pm, the place was chill. A few couples cuddled or mingled with their wine glasses. As more downtown workers left their offices, they began to filter in with the hopes of being transported to a European wine cellar. And they were!
Wonderful wines. I'm still blown away each time with the exotic selections. No two-buck chucks here (not that there's anything wrong with that). I have yet to try their cheese plate; it looks fabulous.
Go if you want to be surrounded with sophisticates and great company.
Where do I begin? The place is a gem. My blind date was not.
The bar is divine. Hôtel Biron…
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Inconspicuous. Chill music and crowd. Comfortably intimate. Wide selection of wines and fine beers. A self-service approach to drink ordering.
This place rocks and another reason why City living is the best and why Hayes Valley is climbing my list of best areas in SF to hang out. A perfect spot for many things: pre-dinner drinks, post-dinner drinks, casual meeting to catch up or a date.
Do it, done.
Hotel B is a charming boutique wine bar down an alley near Market and Gough. I just love hidden gems and I would have never found this one on my own.
The wine was just lovely, served in beautiful large stemware and somewhat generous pours. We all know there are plenty of places in San Francisco to find great wine, but what Hotel B stood out for was the cheese. Those cows must really be holy and sacred like the Hindu's say, because NOTHING short of 'Slice of Heaven' could adequately describe the triple cream I ate.
I could not resist asking my date to order more cheese, and I heavily considered just skipping dinner and spending the rest of the evening here, with the cheese. Days have gone by and still, I have not stopped thinking about it, obsessing, and reminiscing about that decedent cheese......
XOXO
I had high hopes for this place after reading reviews on yelp, but unfortunately, I ended up walking out of here before even enjoying a glass of wine.
Upon entering the half-packed bar, I looked for place to grab a seat with my partner. We ended up playing musical tables for a while before settling in towards the back because the tables along the wall in the front were either sticky or stinky. (Think of mildewy clothing.)
I approached the bar to ask one of the patrons if there was table service since the bartender appeared to be busy, but before she could answer, the bartender interrupted to tell me, "No."
I grabbed a couple of menus and returned to our table. Once we decided on what to order, I walked over to the bar again and waited awkwardly behind the people who were seated at the bar for far too long, while the bartender seemed to be preoccupied in the kitchen. When he finally poked his head out and I told him that I would like to order, he informed me that he was busy making a cheese plate and I would have to wait until he was done.
I don't know if the place was understaffed or what, but I just think that there is a better way to take care of your customers, especially when those customers have been waiting and everyone else in the place seems to have at least a glass of wine.
Love this place!
Very impressive wine/sparkling selection considering the size of this place and the hidden location! I went a couple of times with different sets of friends - every time was a blast! Last time I went was a hot night so my friends and myself sat on the bench outside and drank up a bottle of delicious bubbly!! The only drawback was the dumpsters nearby.
The bartenders are really cool and definitely know what they are selling - I like professionals explain the goods with personal experience and knowledge.
M and I have a great friendship.
It especially shines when we grab drinks. He usually provides the metrosexual (but straight) eye candy for the gay bartenders who give us fantastic service. I usually provide the location of a new potential date spot for M to scope out. WIN-WIN.
So we hit up Hotel Biron.
It's the perfect date spot!
Tucked away in an alley. Cushy couches. Dim, sexy lighting. Cool art on the walls. Mellow vibe. Friendly, knowledgeable staff who ask: Red? White? Sweet? Dry? Oaky? Then pick the perfect wine for you. A nice assortment of cheeses and other snacks to accompany your free flowing wine and conversation.
But for us, it was the perfect trade-your-dating-stories spot!
("He dragged me to the suburbs!" "She dragged me to a chode bar and bought me Jager shots!" "He said he 'loved Japanese food' and suggested Benihana's!" "She was a crazy stripper!" "He was married!" "I got rejected from eHarmony!")
GOOD TIMES.
p.s. This review is dedicated to M. May you find what you're looking for.
p.p.s. Hey single ladies - I know a great guy you should meet! ;)
Any place that has a crystal pirate ship chandelier in their restroom automatically gets 5 stars from me.
I mean, it screams class without being pretentious. Right? Okay, maybe it actually screams "You wish you could have something so fucking tacky in your place and still come off being chic and cool", but whatever.
Cool and chic, yet unpretentious, is exactly what makes Hotel Biron so great. From their great wine and cheese selections to the semi hidden location to the dim lighting and exposed brick and edgy artwork, this place draws you in and makes you think "Hell yeah, I am getting me one of those chandeliers because I am classy shit!!"
I love you, little Hotel Biron wine bar. This place is as adorable, eclectic, groovy and sexy as it gets. It is my favorite little get-away just a few blocks from my apt. They have a great wine selection and a delicious snack menu (the the different cheeses they have are so killer...)
This place is what I think of when imagining myself socializing in San Fran.
When visiting the Bay Area this is a stop I am sure to make.
Serves as a perfect interlude-
sitting on the couch with their selection of wine and cheeses leave my palate warm, and my mood sublime. A great visit with a date, or with your friends for a fine social time.
LOVE the selection of fruit plates! You create your own perfect mix of sweet and saucy.
Prefer early and late nights, when the crowd is less invasive-
If someone didn't open the door for me, I probably would've walked by this place about 10 times looking for the entrance. Situated on a charming little alley, and by charming I mean dirty, this is the kind of place that if you are not purposefully going there, you will walk right past it. But, maybe that's a good thing because it's so small that if more people frequented this place it would be less of a wine bar and more of a cattle pen.
I'm not a wino, so I don't often think highly of wine bars. But, the perfectly dimmed lighting, the different styles of seating (i.e. I can sit on a couch OR a garden chair, oh boy!), the intimate feel (not stuffy and silent), and the friendly service make this quite a fine establishment indeed. It's small enough, and has enough little nooks, that you can have a close conversation if you'd like, or you can pretend to be listening to someone while you're actually listening to the highly inappropriate loud chick at the next table. And, if you order cheese (which you should), they give you far more than you could possibly ever need or want. Certainly enough to last you through the night, or bottle.
I can't say I've been won over by the wine bar lifestyle, but Hotel Biron put out one hell of an effort to convert me.
You know the Sex and the City episode where Carrie and Big are just starting to date, and he always takes her to that Szechuan restaurant that is filled with couples who don't want to be seen by anyone they know? Well, that's kinda the feeling that I got from Hotel Biron. OK, so not everyone in there was on a date, but it seemed to be very easy to "hide" from the general public if you wanted. Yes, I was on a first date, and I definitely prefer to be incognito on first dates, since I'm already self conscious as it is.
So, I actually did like this place, as it does have a pretty cool vibe and some interesting pieces of art on the walls. My glass of Cava was tasty (I love bubbles!). And the whole place doesn't actually feel like a hideaway; it actually started getting quite lively by the time we were leaving.
I'm sure I'll be back at some point. . .when I need to hide!
The perfect wine bar, the most lovable and heartfelt I have seen anywhere. Where can I start?
* Most wines are $9-12 for a generous pour in a burgundy glass, $30-40 a bottle. Mostly European with a smattering of South America, Australia, and US, they are interesting and well-chosen, which means you will get a tastier glass of lesser known wine at this price than paying half more at most restaurants.
* The cheese plates here are even better than the wine, and if you ask they know the menu and are great at pairing. Huge hunks of thick cut cheese from all over the world and half a loaf of sliced baguette. A $6 plate plus a $2 quince paste or almond side can substitute for dinner.
* The place is comfortable and completely unpretentious. A dark candlelit cave off a back alley, there is barely a sign, just a slightly illuminated blue B. You nave to know where to look. But what an alley! It's in the same cluster as one of SF's landmark restaurants and another great but expensive wine bar: Zuni and Cav. Half the crowd are neighborhood regulars who have been coming for years.
* They play good music, mostly eclectic alt rock, noise pop, post punk, 60s psychedelia, and European pop, at high volume from a good sound system considering the space.
* It is open until 2AM. Every. Day.
If I found Biron in any city in the world I would write home how good the wine bars are there. For this to be in our little town makes me happy to be here.
this place has so much potential, but i felt that it falls short. maybe i was just there on a bad night, but not sure that i'll be back any time soon either. i love the ambiance inside, it's really cozy with some sofas around the room and also tables. there's a very small bar area and there's a back room that seems a bit more private, like someone's living room. i liked the exposed brick walls and the art hanging around. so, what is it i don't like?
well, if i'm going out i like to actually receive some service, otherwise, it was cozy, like being at a friends place. we had to go to the bar to get a menu, put in our order and then i had to bring the bottle of wine and glasses back to our table...really?! soooo....the only added value in this experience is that someone opened a bottle of wine for me? thanks, but i'm perfectly capable of opening my own wine, and would perhaps rather save some bucks and just drink at home. this is NOT service!
we had a bottle of torrontes which was pretty nice. but i have pretty nice wines at my place too...
Adorable, amazing. The cutest little European hotel / wine bar I've ever seen in San Francisco
Came here for a drink before dinner in Hayes Valley. It's tucked away in an alley off of Gough near Hayes street. It's tiny, romantic, and perfect for a date or to meet up with girlfriends to have a glass of wine and chat.
Non-pretentious at all. Everyone was super nice and the bartenders were attentive and gave great recommendations.
The wine list is pretty extensive, mainly with European (French) wine options, a few from Australia, South America, and Napa/Sonoma. They also have a good beer list. NO LIQUOR, which is fine. They also have hors d'oeuvres (which we didn't try), but I'm sure the cheese selection would be quality.
I def, def, definitely plan on coming back here. It's so cute and romantical!
I can't believe I have never reviewed this place. I spend a lot of time here drinking wine and eating cheese with friends and cute boys.
The service is superb - the ambiance is sultry and rustic and the wine list is well planned but not overwhelming.
The vibe is extremely cozy, the lighting is flattering and one is able to taste a spot or two before deciding on a full glass.
This is a must - especially if you like little places tucked away in charming alleys.
This place is super chill. Nothing about it is pretentious. Just a solid wine list, a friendly bar staff (super helpful!), and a cool create-your-own cheese plate on the menu...(I love that!)...
I don't quite remember leaving that night (maybe TOO much wine?), but I remember having a blast and being completely satisfied...
FYI...A little off the beaten path and hard to find...but worth the effort. Cozy. Lovely.
Beware the walk to the bathroom... The stank of love-making was in the air last night, that's for sure.
So Hotel Biron is a nondescript wine bar/art gallery tucked away on Rose street off Market. The only distinguishing signage is a big orange B out front. If you see that, you are only moments away from a great selection of wines, and if you're lucky like we were last night, a free porno show on a couch tucked away in the back of the restaurant on your way to the bathroom.
Wines by the glass or bottle are available, and the full gamete in terms of selection. Reds and whites from the US, Argentina, France, Spain, Portugal, and several other countries. We tried the Malbec, and a Portuguese wine, then a Spanish wine... All reds, and although the last one smelled like wet dog at first, it actually tasted amazing. The smell could also have been a result of the sour stank from the lovebirds in the back. They were back there for some time; hands exploring, loins burning and erupting in passion and lust, tongues and lips locked in a heated embrace. Hahaha... There is also a small menu, I believe, although we had just eaten at Zuni, so we didn't partake.
The atmosphere is my favorite part of this experience. I really enjoy art, especially when I am buzzed and can make up funny shit about the artists' state of mind during the painting. I like to try and reconstruct just what the artist was feeling at the time, and it is usually really far-fetched and typically pornographic in nature. (I'm just a man...) There were plenty of art works in here to keep me busy. It's dimly lit, candles at each table, a few sofa chairs, many tables, and even a little bar. As I mentioned, there is also a couch in the back, but I would imagine it has seen more action than the "hottub" at the Welshley Arms Hotel. (See YouTube SNL skit for details.) But in hindsight, the atmosphere may just encourage some "beernt chicka beernt beernt."
I will definitely go back. Great little place to relax and enjoy wine and company!
I think SF has a way with film-noir-type ambiance. A rainy, foggy or misty night is best spent in a nook, down the alley (named after one of SF's famed harlots? or just the flower?), around the dumpster, and yes, in the brick buidling. The wine selection is varied (many countries are featured) and sure to fit everyone's taste. I wish there was more variety with the food though, but I understand you don't come here to eat, only to nibble. I also like when you can order a mix of cheeses without ordering full orders of the different kinds...you can't do that here. I also think the layout could be cozier (the chairs need to be different).
All in all, a cute place with a unique feel to it.
Wine Bar Mecca.
Literally. Just....amazing.
I like my wine bars to have a hell of a lot of pizzazz to them and this one lived up to all my expectations. It's located in an alleyway that anyone could very well pass, and the entryway in unassuming and unpretentious. It's small, dimly lit, perfect for a romantic rendezvous or a meetup with friends. Their wine selections are diverse, with many great international picks. The pours are generous and the cheese that is paired with the wines are divine.
This place, after one visit, has quickly become one of my favorite SF winebars, hands down.
Go. Experience. Enjoy.
What a gem of a joint. I sampled two spanish white wines at the bar - neither to my liking. The barkeep did not bat an eyelash and found me a delicious crisp Italian wine that was refreshing. Such hospitality.
Nice cheese options. The triple creme was so spreadable and sinful. This could become a habit.
This hidden gem is a great place for a romantic first date..or just a good meeting spot for friends in and around the city.
The only downfall is that it is tiny..not so fun dodging people when it gets crowded.
Dark, secret, low key, mellow wine bar. great selection of wine and people that know what they are talking about. Good for small groups or a cute date - cheese plate is delish!
Neighborhood: Dogpatch
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Wine Bars
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