Birba

Whether you pop into Birba (pronounced "beer-bah," in case you were wondering) solo or with a date, you're bound to make new friends quickly. That's because the Hayes Valley wine bar is tiny, with only 16 seats to settle into when imbibing by the glass or bottle. European wines are the specialty here—sherry, vermouth, bubbles, whites and reds are all available, with tasting events popping up each month. Birba offers lunch and dinner in addition to small plates, so you can stop by mid-day for a nice roast pork tenderloin and a glass of Gamay when Tuesdays are just too hard to deal with.