Champagne bars are fancy and fun. Every town needs one, and after visiting The Riddler in San Francisco, you can’t convince me otherwise.
The Riddler SF is the cutest champagne bar, situated in Hayes Valley. Their branding is so on-point and everything is equal parts chic and cheeky, which is such a fun combo. From the “Reserved for Beyonce,” table plaque that was on our table, to the “Of course champagne, but first coffee,” mugs, there are plenty of fun little surprises in this place. You’ll love the ambiance—it’s just so vibey and cute.
Let’s talk food and drinks—it’s a champs bar after all. Their sparkling wine menu is extensive, so there’s definitely something for everyone. I personally loved their sparkling wine cocktails that they change up with the seasons. When we were there last they had a couple of fall cocktails that were just so delicious and like fall in a glass.
If you’re not into sparkling wines, they do have a few still wines by the glass, like pinot noir.
Whether you’re going for brunch or happy hour, you’re probably going to want some food too. I love their tater tot waffles (I want to learn how to make these at home!), especially the crème fraîche and smoked salmon one.
Of course, they also serve some of the more classic food items that come to mind when you think of food and champagne pairings, including oysters and caviar served with crème fraîche on potato chips. If you’re just in the mood for something to munch on, you can grab some free popcorn from their cute machine.
And if you’re really into champagne, you can join their 100 Club, where you’ll get access to event invites, swag, and work your way up to 100 bottles and ultimately earn a bomber jacket with your name embroidered in gold.
The Riddler is a great spot for brunch or happy hour, and you can make reservations for a table online. If you’re in New York, you’re in luck! They’ve recently opened up The Riddler in NYC.
The Riddler SF is located at 528 Laguna and is open during the evenings every night, and for brunch starting at noon on the weekends. Cheers!
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
