The Ferry building is a terrific meeting spot, being at the intersection of BART, Muni and the Ferry system – which come to think of it, was the point when it was built 125 years ago.  That it has one of the best wine bars in the bay area is a surprising treat.

The Wine Merchant in the Ferry Building has a fine selection of by-the-glass wines as well as some yummy local appetizers, but that is not why it is my spot. It also has a very well-thought-out wine store attached and you can select any bottle there and have it at the wine bar for the price of the bottle plus $10. This is an amazing deal if you want a nice French Morgon or an Italian Brunello. One glass of those in a good bar would be $25 a glass or $150 a bottle, but at the Ferry building you can pick from a wide selection of California, French, Italian or other great wines and enjoy quality for a fair deal.

Most decent wine bars have a few great wines you want to try, but you never know how long they have been opened and per glass pricing is rarely reasonable.