London Wine Bar

I think quite a few folks probably walk or drive by the London Wine Bar on Sansome and Sacramento downtown, but for whatever reason don't usually choose to pop in and give it a try. It's conveniently located and is a fairly immediate transport away from downtown of sorts when you enter. It bills itself as America's oldest wine bar, and offers over 1300 selections. The ambiance is "old school" with rustic furniture, dark wood tabletops and bar, old pictures and paintings and just an overall feeling of comfort and warmth. The service generally isn't quite attentive, so you may have to be a bit proactive in your ordering, but the staff is quite nice. The wine list has a nice range and is fairly well-priced as well. I have been several times recently and have tried the Deinhard Riesling, which is off dry and floral with a clean and smooth finish. Other selections I have tasted include a Baystone Syrah from Dry Creek, which is fairly big yet fruit-forward, and a Di Bruno Sangiovese which is well-balanced and velvety on the palate. During the evening complimentary cheddar and jack cheese cubes as well as crackers are offered. The food menu is short but the items, such as cheese and meat plates, salads, crostini and smoked salmon, work well with wine. It's a nice retreat in the middle of downtown, and perfect for an after-work glass of wine to linger over.

London Wine Bar

415 Sansome Street in San Francisco

http://www.londonwinesf.com/