Hotel Biron

I went to Hotel Biron for the first (and only) time on a weeknight. The place was not busy - about a third of the tables and the diminutive bar were occupied. We took a table 5 feet from and directly in front of the bar and bartender, but service never arrived. Eventually I made my way to the bar and as I expected, having observed and overheard an unwelcome, loud and inane exchange going on between the bartender and two male and rather obnoxious patrons, was ignored by the aforementioned for some time, despite physically disposing myself between the two dilletants on my side of the bar. As it became increasingly apparent that I would not likely be asked if I cared to spend any money at this establishment before closing, I butted into their conversation and ordered some wine of all things, along with olives, cheese, and water. I was later surprised to discover the bartender was, according to him, the owner. Friendly enough when later in the evening as he passed by our table I struck up a casual intro/ Caucuses wines conversation, but nevertheless laissez-faire in every respect. I won't be heading back. For comparison, I enjoyed a better product and much more enthusiastic and attentive service at Amelie. more

this place does have great ambience, but a good rating comes with a total package, and service is above everything else. i went in on a tuesday evening at 9:12pm, and it looked like no one was in charge of the place. i was hoping to make my way to the end of the bar where there's a cosy little room, and it was a mess in there. there was a girl behind the bar but she just didn't seem to care. and here came the $75 dollar bottle of pinot, and it was warm. obviously the wine had been sitting in the kitchen for a while. i wasn't expecting a wine cellar environment but if you call yourself a wine bar you better have a good storage system - it was as if you were ordering a half cooked sashimi. what a disappointing experience i must say. Pros: Ambience Cons: Service more

Love this place. Great wine, nibbles, and atmosphere have made it one of my new favorite places. The laid-back vibe and 30s-ish crowd makes this a perfect spot to throw back a few glasses. It gets a little crowded as it gets later, so get there on the earlier side. It's a great place to start the night! Oh! And the staff is really cute, too! Pros: Cute boy staff, Good Vibe, Couch in back Cons: parking more

This place is full of hip artsy cool people. The beer, wine & champagne (try the rose!) list is unique. A sample platter of cheese, thin sliced baguette, pear and honey make for quite a combination. Elliot Smith was playing in the background...and I had a big smile on my face as I sat at my candle-lit kiosk bistro table. We had dinner at Zuni next door after. Perfect night. more

What a great low-key place that isn't overmanaged and doesn't just treat you like a consumer. This is a great experience place. Everything is delicious and worth the price, however expensive the good stuff might be. Pros: Great wine selection, knowledgable staff, Low key vibe Cons: Not cheap more

Great space!! Love the decor... the walls, the floors, the art. Very fun, but not intimidating wine list. Appetizers are wonderful (try the roqueforte grapes). Could use a little lounge music sometimes, but all in all, I love it. more

This place almost makes it worth while to live in San Francisco. What a great, non-pretentious wine list; delectable cheeses; and such a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere. And the bartenders are an absolute delight. I love it! Pros: Great wine, Great food, Great peeps Cons: None, None, & None more

The cheese goes great with the Old English...... Keep up the good work, Mr. Byron! Pros: PBR Cons: No Fernet.... more

Hotel Biron does it right, New Artists showing new styles, Great wine, cool 40's, love the (Old E) not to mention great logo. Pros: New Artist monthy, great wine, romantic environment Cons: none, none, none more

Tres Parisien! Tres romantique!! Great SF find, right behind Zuni. more

A warm, friendly and unsual place. Great for getting together with friends and meeting new people. A very knowledgeable staff in regards to wine. more

Hotel Biron is a really, really great 'off the beaten' path wine bar/art gallery. A unique spot where you can sit at the bar, unwind and chat with the folks huddling around the bar, or cozy up with your friends in a couch nook. It is super intimate, friendly, and is a great alternative to over-crowded bars. The fact that they don't advertise has really helped keep the vibe, local and intimate, and the owners are young, friendly entrepreneurs that are usually manning the bar themselves. A perfect ending to a long week! Pros: Easy Parking, Great Atmosphere, Very Intimate more

I love this place! It's great to go as a couple or with a small group of friends. The staff are great to chat with and the clientel are always friendly and chatty. The art work is always interesting and enhances the already very cool atmosphere. Pros: Great people, intimate, Unique more

I agree! I don't want this place to get pretentious and overcrowded--then again, I want them to stick around, too! A lovely, hard-to-find (go behind Zuni and walk west on Rose St.) little bar, with a good wine selection and a few snacks. The perfect place to have an impromptu party or meet a date before dinner. more

An unpretentious yet fabulous hideway that provides better wine, atmosphere, food and service than any other establishment in the area. Charming, funky and fun - a great place to go with a date or a few friends looking for fun and some good wine. Pros: atmosphere, romantic, trendy more

Great, place to take a date and get to know them. You will not be landlocked with pretentious yuppies on cell phones. In a city filled with such types it is a gem. Do't go here it is all mine. They have a good wine list, perhaps not the bacar-like, but it is nice. Besides it is perfect for a low key night of wine sipping and a chat. It is not trendy just comfy which is the best way to keep away the individuality bankrupt. Pros: Small, Uncrowded, Esoteric Cons: Hard to find, small winelist, few seats more