Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in San Francisco Bay Area? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Velvet 48 Wine Bar

5.0

5 (85)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Burlingame

About the restaurant

Velvet 48 is a premium wine bar in downtown Burlingame started by 20-year wine industry veteran, Jason Cooper. We offer over 40 wines by the glass, 1100 wines by the bottle, a cultivated beer selection, and a variety of delicious savory and sweet small plates.

We have wines across every price point so there is something for everyone, from the casual wine drinker to the wine aficionado, who will be impressed by a wine collection that houses some of the finest wines in the world. We aim to cultivate an experience for our guests that starts with a complimentary splash of our house label, Velvet 48 Sparkling wine, followed by outstanding service from our Wine Specialists to guide you through our expansive list. We offer a discount of 25% off bottles purchased TO GO.

Due to the nature of our alcoholic license, we are unable to allow anyone under 21 on the premises, including infants.

Thank your for your understanding.

Top review

Michael

Dined on Apr 5, 2025

Hundreds of wines to choose, from local to worldwide. Knowledgable and friendly staff, chic tasting room, always great vibes and good tunes spinning when we visit Velvet 48!

Galpao Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse - Napa

4.9

4.9 (1260)

$50 and over

Brazilian Steakhouse

Napa

About the restaurant

Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse delivers an exquisite dining experience inspired by the rich Gaucho culture and culinary traditions of Southern Brazil. Galpão Gaucho’s rodizio experience offers an unparalleled dining experience, featuring 18 unlimited selections from the grill, including the new 24-karat Golden Steak™, paired with unlimited visits to an extensive 45-item gourmet salad bar.

Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse, an authentic Brazilian dining experience.

Top review

Michelle

Dined on Apr 29, 2025

Excellent service and food! First time there. Can’t wait to return

Suda

4.9

4.9 (395)

$31 to $50

American

Santa Cruz

About the restaurant

Pairing seasonal produce from local farmers with line caught fish and lean, hormone-free beef, the menu at Süda stays as fresh as the ingredients. With a variety of inventive dishes, including vegan and gluten free options, there is truly something for everyone.

The atmosphere at the bar is lively, while booths offer diners a more intimate experience making Süda the perfect place for a casual meal with friends or a night out with someone special. We are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner so you can enjoy fresh food whenever your heart desires.

Top review

AlanD

Dined on Mar 16, 2025

Great food and service. Updated menu is a big improvement

The Tipsy Pig

4.8

4.8 (910)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio

About the restaurant

The Tipsy Pig is as American Gastropub featuring 50 artisan local and international beers, and seasonal and simple American cuisine. Our food, beer and wine selection concentrate on small American producers and our bar is open late every night. The Tipsy Pig is our passion and we look forward to sharing it with you.

Top review

TomVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We sat outside on a warm sunny evening and watched the activity on Chestnut Street.

Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club

4.8

4.8 (936)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness

About the restaurant

***Best Jazz Club in the City, by San Francisco Magazine***
Mr. Tipple’s is a craft cocktail bar featuring live jazz.
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Reservations have a 90min time limit from reservation time.
There is a $20/guest min for table service
Mr. Tipple’s heralds back to a 1950s NYC basement. Cozy. Dark. Boozy. The intimate setting features local jazz artists up close and personal. It’s a joint where you come as you are, hear great music, tap your toes, and sip a properly chilled cocktail.
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My name is Mr. Tipple. Just a simple and laughable bloke hailing from London. I run a recording studio. My friends joke that you’ll oft find me spinning cocktails, not reeling tape. After a few too many, I usually just sit back and enjoy the music, having forgotten to hit record. Regardless, the band is always jiving, the whiskey is always cold, and we’re having a smashing good time.

Top review

RemyVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Friendly staff, smooth service, and fair prices. A truly unique experience I would recommend to anyone visiting the city, and a place we will always go back to!

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Popular dish

Sui Gao Dumplings

Experience

Music Focused Preferred Seats

Experience

- Music Focused Preferred Seats - Center Section

Vino Locale - Palo Alto

4.8

4.8 (109)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Welcome to Vino Locale serving downtown Palo Alto since 2005!
The only Wine Garden & Kitchen in downtown Palo Alto with Nightly Live Music in the back garden!

Check music schedule on our website www.vinolocale.org
Join us for Dinner, Wine and live music in the Vino Garden!
Dog Friendly Patio

Happy Hour (Tue-Sat) 3:00-5:30
Great wines from California and around the world
Wine flights with cheese pairings
Craft beers on tap & beer flights
Nuts and olive flights
Cheese & Charcuterie boards
Extensive Tapas Menu
Dinner Menu

Top review

Ben

Dined 6 days ago

A wonderful evening in a laid back backyard with great music and good food. Can’t believe that Palo Alto has something this nice and not overly fancy

JOEY Valley Fair

4.8

4.8 (69)

$30 and under

American

Santa Clara

About the restaurant

JOEY Restaurants is an award-winning, globally inspired brand with a collection of elevated yet comfortable restaurants. JOEY Restaurants’ thoughtfully crafted menu features recipes representing cuisine and hospitality standards from across the globe, curated from journeys by the brand’s leadership and culinary teams. From fire-torched sushi and premium cuts of steak to comforting bowls, burgers and handhelds, JOEY Restaurants is committed to blending local culture with innovative and fresh techniques, resulting in delicious harmony of ingredients. Each JOEY Restaurant location is unique, but they all have plenty in common: great food, lively environments, and exceptional dining experiences.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

The food offers exceptional value, and the service is superb.

Angelicas

4.7

4.7 (765)

$30 and under

Latin American

Redwood City

About the restaurant

Angelicas is a family-operated business and is located in the historic district of downtown Redwood City, come visit us Tuesday through Sunday for breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour, or weekend brunch. Our Executive Chef Angelica, offers a unique style of California cuisine with Latin Flair. Dishes are vibrant and full of flavor. We offer cozy indoor and outdoor seating.

Happy Hour: 4pm-6pm, Tuesday to Friday.

Top review

Dominik

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

Im here all the time and I just love it! It is my favorite brunch spot in the peninsula: The ambience is very nice (make sure to snatch a seat on the patio), the food is tasty and the service is impeccable

The Shuckery

4.7

4.7 (1070)

$30 and under

Oyster Bar

Petaluma

About the restaurant

Indulge in seafood the way it was meant to be—fresh, seasonal, and delightful. Experience The Shuckery, where we offer raw oysters and a range of creatively crafted, ocean-inspired dishes. Beyond just an oyster bar, The Shuckery embodies a culinary journey rooted in genuine hospitality and dishes that both comfort and exhilarate.

Best of The Bohemian Northbay Winner "Best Restaurant for Oysters" 2024 & 2025 and "Best Sommelier" and "Best Wine List in Sonoma County 2023"

Currently, all our seating is indoors, and we provide a unique experience in the heart of downtown Petaluma, nestled in the historic and beautiful Hotel Petaluma.

To ensure we can accommodate all of our guests, we kindly ask that table seating is limited to 1 hour and 45 minutes for parties of 2-4 and 2 hours for parties of 5+ or more.
While reservations are recommended, we do have an 18 seat first come, first served bar and hightop table selection for walk-in guests.
Chef; Matt Meyer
Owner; Jazmine Lalicker

Top review

JillVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Fun place to go for happy hour especially if you’re an oyster lover

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Experience

Wine Wednesday

The Red Window

4.7

4.7 (79)

$30 and under

Modern European

North Beach

About the restaurant

The Red Window that offers dinner, brunch, a Cocktail bar and an event space. Its menu is marked by innovation and intentionality, bringing a touch of modern European cuisine blends the vibrant flavors of Spanish tapas, the rich traditions of Italian cuisine, and the boldness of American culinary influences into a captivating dining experience to the San Francisco dining scene. The Red Window is distinguished by its remarkable Art and Décor, all meticulously crafted by the diligent work of local artists and designers. At the Red Window, dining is an immersive and positive experience that transcends the food on the plate. Whether indulging in brunch or dinner, guests are guaranteed an unparalleled and enjoyable experience.

Top review

Nicole

Dined on Apr 27, 2025

Excellent food and atmosphere! Great for a big party

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Experience

Sip, Smile and Save - Early Birds Special!

Experience

Brunch and Live Music

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