I had the most incredible prosciutto, burrata sandwich. It had so many elements that elevated it.That with a glass of Rose from the wine shop hit the spot. read more

When you're in the Castro hankering for a drink but not seeking a bar scene, Swirl is a great find. It's a wine scene, a food scene, and, if you've joined their wine club, a backyard-garden-for-day-drinking scene. During pandemic times I discovered that Heroic Italian was operating out of Swirl, serving good, meat-forward salads and sandwiches. On this visit I noticed that the food menu has expanded significantly. No longer is it all meat-centric and, with indoor bar-top seating, parklet and sidewalk seating out front, and that coveted backyard space, Swirl provides great options for enjoying it all. Wine by the glass here runs from reasonable ($12 for an Italian red) to San Francisco-priced ($18 a glass or so) and the selection is nicely varied. They also sell wine and spirits by the bottle, for at-home consumption. I like that Swirl - despite it being primarily a place for alcohol consumption - feels like a comfortable and welcoming place for all. A good wine bar - with good food - is always a winning equation. Swirl is just that. read more

Small selection of wines by the glass! Upon ordering a white was informed it is an old menu and no longer available! Not impressed with the ambiance, service or selection. read more

Swirl on Castro - Pinot noir - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Swirl on Castro has a really cool, laid-back vibe that fits perfectly with the neighborhood. It's a fun spot to stop into, whether you're out exploring or just looking for a casual place to grab a drink. One thing that stood out was their membership option, which is a great idea and adds a nice sense of community. It feels like a place that encourages people to come back and feel like regulars. Overall, Swirl is a solid spot with good energy and a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the Castro and looking for a relaxed, social place to hang out. read more

The food is EXCELLENT. The staff is friendly and their parklet is adorable. It's a great spot for people watching too.

I stopped in here to make a deal. One glass of wine for use of the bathroom. They agreed, and when I saw the prices, I was pleased even more. They had a selection of nine wines by the glass, so I chose a red varietal I was not familiar with - Spanna, from Alto Piedmont. Not sure if it was a 5 or 6 ounce pour, but it was quite nice, only $12, and my server Brendan had described the wine well - similar to nebbiolo. There was an enticing list of nibbles; actually more substantive than that, but I wasn't hungry. Halfway through my glass, it turned 3pm, and happy hour started. My second glass (and there normally would be) was going to be reduced, and the falanghina beckoned. But I had a deadline, and had to leave. But first, I went out back to the restroom, and saw the members seating area outdoors. Very nice! I enjoyed speaking with Brendan very much, and the bottle selection included natural wines (not really my thing) and a wide range of prices. I saw the Frog's Leap on the shelf, and saw the price was not out of line with others I've bought. Eager to return and try the food! read more

See all

I went in to pick up a sandwich and also walked out with a bottle of limoncello! Loved the selection of wine and the staff were super helpful! read more

This place always calls my name with it's gay-friendly lighting, cozy couches & delicious wines by the glass. The crew is easy going -- and they are quick to help & chat it up if they're not swamped. I really dig their non-pretentious vibe. Swirl is one of the few neighborhood gems that truly represents a special era and Castro heritage I am oh so fond of. If you're looking for the above & maybe a few new folks to chat with while you're in town or passing through--check them out! read more

I love how yelp asks what the business can improve when you give one star... because in this case, the thing that could be improved is their customer service. This is the second time I have walked into the store on a mission to buy some wine and end up leaving because their sales person doesn't even take a moment to acknowledge my presence. The person manning the store this time was busy pouring wine to the club members in the back. Not once in the 15 minutes I spent walking around did this person stop to say anything. Not a hello., not a I'll be right with you, nothing. I've been in customer service for 35 years , and I refuse to spend my money at any business that has subpar to none when it comes to customer service. I won't be shopping here again, ever.... There are plenty of wine shops with a merchant that would be happy to say hello and happy for you to spend your money there . read more

Casual sandwich and wine spot in the heart of the Castro. Ample outdoor seating (pet friendly). Laid back SF vibe. QR code ordering for food. Purchase wine inside the shop. read more

Swirl on Castro - Polpette meatball sandwich - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Adorable neighborhood wine shop with a really cute outdoor back patio accessible to wine club members. The vibes are lovely, service is awesome, and I always discover new wines with each visit. They also have some great non-alcoholic options along with delicious bites from Heroic Italian. Look no further than Swirl for your next neighborhood happy hour! read more

Came here for a quick gab sesh with friends over a couple glasses of white wine varietals and stayed in the covered outdoor area until we got too cold. I loved that the menu was short, as I am a frequent victim of decision paralysis. Swirl was a perfect post-work stop and a quick walk from the Muni! read more

This place is awesome Warm and welcoming- comfortable Great staff and a small menu Wish they had better selections of wine by the glass sometimes but- It's one of the best spots in the Castro read more

Lovely place for a glass of wine, a salad, and people watching on a pretty day. Good outdoor seating with a mix of tables for 1-2 people and also a parklet with tables for up to six. read more

Swirl on Castro - Caprese salad - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Everyone is enjoyable, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the wine selections welcomes your taste buds to delightful flavors!

Great happy hour pricing and lovely sidewalk seating; friendly staff and great wines.

We had a really nice time at Swirl. Super friendly staff and a great selection of wine and spirits. Will def be coming back. They have a back patio but it's open for wine club members only. read more

Swirl on Castro - a group of people clinking glasses of beer - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cute little wine place that is also open on Mondays. For glasses, they have a list of current recommended wines. Staff is pretty knowledgeable about the wines and give a lot of great recommendations. The cafe itself is a bit small, but that's most of SF. There's outside seating but depending on the day, it can get pretty windy. Although I only got glasses of wine, it's also a great place to pick up a bottle of wine. read more

Stumbled on this cute wine bar (also has beer) while strolling through the Castro. We were w my 15 week old puppy and to our delight- the outdoor Parklet (one of the nicest) had private little enclosed booths that allowed my puppy to safely nestle in. The wine option was great - and I'll definitely be back! With or without the pup! read more

Swirl on Castro - Three nice ganaches - 11$/glass - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

While waiting for our tables across the street at Anchor Oyster Bar, we decided to grab some wine here to pass time. The three of us all decided to get the flight of 3. The three glasses of 3oz pours were pretty good pours and got me on a pretty good buzz afterwards. I opted for the wine flight ($16), which was refreshing and crisp. The flight deal was totally worth it and allowed us to get a little taste of everything. While the space is small, it was cozy and intimate. I also liked how easy it was to close out our tabs individually for a quick process. This was a nice stop before our dinner in the lovely Castro neighborhood. read more

Swirl on Castro - White Flight. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food - 5/5 Service - 1/5 (this applies to the system, not the actual server who was ok) Venue - 4/5 (very limited outside seating) Nice sandwich and wine, but the ordering system is cumbersome to the point we almost walked away. Why is it so hard to have a server take your order, bring your order, and take payment for your order? Sometimes logging into a website, entering all your info including credit card (again because it doesn't remember when you did it all 5 minutes ago), ordering then hoping it all worked ok isn't the easiest or enjoyable experience. Especially annoying if you want to add something to your order as you have to do it all over again. Having to go inside to pay for a Diet Coke because it can't be added to your bill, and is provided by 'someone else' is lame. read more

Swirl on Castro - Outside. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

First, let me say, I love the Parklet! Great little private enclosed booths. I'm embarrassed to say I have never tried any of the wines, but soon. I have yet to get past a cold beer and some yummy nibbles by Heroic Italian. This has become a monthly meeting place for a friend and myself. So far we have had the following from Heroic Italian: Bruschetta toast points, always good, creative and beautiful presentation. The Roasted Artichoke Hearts are delish! Plentiful enough for 1 person. Chicken Tetrazzini Sandwich. Again, plentiful, but with all the ingredients, it still needed a bit more "punch", as it was a bit bland. But that didn't stop me. The gal who owns, runs and prepares all the meals is so sweet. I agree with another reviewer, I'm not a fan of ordering through a QR Code. Thankfully the owner is always willing to just "take our order". Stop by, say Hi and have a little nibble with your preferred alcohol choice. read more

We had to stop at this cute wine cafe for a glass of wine while visiting The Castro in San Francisco. It was expensive but we enjoyed our visit. We paid $18 per glass of wine. It was more about the nostalgia of the neighborhood the. The actual wine. They serve food as well but we had already eaten. It was worth the quick visit. read more

Swirl on Castro - Wine for two - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Such a positive vibe from the staff here, and the place was jumping. Great selection of wines by the glass, and with a nibble of delicious food, Bob's your Uncle, wonderful time had by all. Enjoy! read more

Cute little liquor shop, wine bar, and food to accompany. I think what's great is the little parklet on a nice day...I have spent way too much time there chatting with friends. There's a back patio where you have to be a club member or some other kinda nonsense (I think)...since I'm not ready to be a subscribing member, I'll stick to the street parklet when I can land a spot (even though that back patio looks lovely). read more

Most expensive, shittiest pour in the Castro. The food (Heroic Italian) is good. Same location but Swirl, the wine bar, is a complete rip. And they're so precious:. "enjoy!" read more

I was saddened to hear that Jerry, the original owner of Swirl, sold to another owner. But after frequenting the place under new ownership I realized that A. These people are 100% honoring Jerry's legacy of excellence (there's not a bad bottle in the place) and B. They are extremely ambitious in creating a truly delightful food program that is making me want to come back every weekend. Kudos new management. You guys are crushing it! read more

Swirl on Castro - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Service is good, the wines are good too, the business model sucks. They charge $10 if you purchase a bottle and if you are not a club member. First, we are purchasing a bottle from them, we are not bringing our own bottle for a "corkage" fee. Then, they don't even try to sell you their membership, maybe if I get a good sales pitch I may become a member. Anyway, good wine but not worth it if you are planning on getting a bottle or two to enjoy onsite. We had a glass of wine and walked over to Castro Village Wine Co. and their wines are great, service superb and no $10 charge if you purchase a bottle or a few. Cheers. read more

Swirl is a cozy spot in the Castro with an excellent selection of wine and spirits. I can count on them to have something I have not tried before, and it's delicious. On the wine side, I appreciate how they carry a balance of old and new world wines. The wine club is also convenient, and of great value. Easy to get to on the Muni or the bus (24/35 come to mind). All of the staff at Swirl are kind and helpful too. read more

Nice wine bar with outdoor seating at the front and a cute members-only patio out back. Selection was good and bottle prices decent with some great food options from neighboring Heroic Italian which you can order from the table. read more

Swirl wine bar and shop, including in-house pop up restaurant Heroic Italian, is so good, I don't want to tell you about it. But I do because I want them to be around for a long time. We come for wines by the glass at the tables in the sun out front, and order delicious, flavor-filled savory food from Heroic Italian to accompany the wine. Seriously enjoyable environment, customer service and quality food and drink. Nice jazzy but current music playing. Tables and parklet booths in the sun and shade. And you're spending at local business, not big corporate joints (no offense to them but it's nice to support small, local folks doing a great job). Love love love these two businesses. read more

Swirl on Castro - View of Swirl / Heroic Italian's front tables in the sun. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Need a great bottle of Wine? Need to get away from it all? Swirl is the place for you. They now have a spectacular patio oasis where you can enjoy your bottle of wine. Bring a friend and relax in style read more

Swirl on Castro - Turkey!!!! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

It's so easy to like this place. They have a large wine and bubbly selection, the staff are helpful and easy and fun to talk to, and the backyard is so peaceful; it's one of my favorite backyards in the entire city. Can't wait to go back there! read more

I love this place - everyone that works there is knowledgable, approachable and gives excellent service - Jerry the owner has hired an excellent staff. Josh, Tim, Stanley, and the others do such a great job - I love going by there and having a glass or 3 before heading out to dinner. The wines and spirits there are unique - and most of the time not offerered anywhere else in the city. And the wines by the glass are affordable and I swear, there is not a dud in the bunch! Great Job Guys!! read more

Love Swirl! It's hip and trendy, but they've got some great finds if you spend time with one of their salespeople. I came in here on Christmas Eve and was shocked to find it open, let alone open with an awesome staff! My husband had to work late and it fell to me to buy wine, thanks to these guys I was celebrated for my choices! They are really great at listening to your tastes and making reccos. They also have this rad barrel thing I'd never seen before that chills your wine in minutes while you wait! As a tasting bar it can get pretty crowded, but it's a nice place to go for a glass. read more

Amazing service, called last minute to see what half bottles they had. He told me of the 1 Champagne they had in a 1/2 bottle size. I drove over and picked it up. Didn't catch his name, around 730pm on a Sunday. Sweet man! read more

Great wine, food, vibes, and generous pours. We were coming here so often we decided to become members and enjoy the garden setup out back.

Okay, who drank all my wine?!? So, I'm all out of wine at home. What's a girl to do now? ((Enter Swirl on Castro.)) Swirl. What a captivating name. My gf & I had some time to kill before our massage appointment @Always Tan Skin & Body. We saw the cute little wine bar/shop and decided to come in for a quick look see. It's a cute & cozy little spot located in the Castro, nestled between trendy restaurants, bars, & other miscellaneous shops. They have a nice assortment of whites, reds, dessert wines, sake, & other spirits/liquor. They even served Absinthe- something I've never tried but always heard so much about. The nice fella behind the counter explained its acquired black licorice taste and 140 proof in alcohol content. Woah. That's pretty strong. The back area holds a wine bar which offers tastings that average about $3 per taste. Nice. Bottom line: Cute little wine bar/shop that has lots to offer, not to mention friendly & personable staff. Tip: Exclusive wine tastings go down every other Thursday. read more

See all

Very interesting place! We were in the Castro today taking our elderly friend to lunch. After we dropped her off at the bus stop, we went to the edge for a drink. We were ready to to return home via muni/bart to the east bay,but I wanted some wine and some JW Red for my sweetie. And I remembered a little place up the road that had hand blown grappa bottles in the window. So, I think we found it. We entered. No one really greeted us. The staff was busy. We were looking at wines when some other patrons came in. Immediately recognized, they were greeted enthusiastically. We ended up getting some help after asking. Got 2 bottles of wine and the Johnny Walker plus a muddler for our friend Valerie. I think I'm just spoiled. Living in Alameda and frequenting the same places all the time, we usually get the vip treatment... read more

Lovely little wine bar / wine shop with pleasant owners and employees, a nice selection, and enough inexpensive wines that I can afford to actually make decisions! Wine for the people; not for snobs. read more