K&L Wine Merchants

Dropped by just after Covid. The store was open, but it is hard to find beer by walking around. The selection is pretty good, but it is much better to order online if you are nearby, then walk up and pick it up.

So I love the Redwood City store, and figured I would check out their SF location, particularly since it was directly on the way from Black Hammer to Local. This location is much more warehousy than Redwood city. They do have beer technically, but its limited to a haphhazard pile of 12oz cases near the checkout. They were busy, but it was nearly impossible to get somebody to even answer my "do you have beer" question. Of course I am sure you can order online and select this as your pick up spot, but as a walk in beer destination, there is nothing here for you. I bumped up overall a bit mainly cause their online stuff is good, but still. Scroll. Past.

AS a wine store or even mail order beer, they’re ok, but as a beer store, this place was a huge letdown. Not worth a stop.

While I haven’t been to the LA location of K&L yet this is definitely the weakest of the locations that I’ve been to (only this and Redwood City). The beer selection is tiny, just a few cases stacked up next to the counter. On top of that, and what the other ratings completely neglect to mention, is that you can’t buy anything (at least not beer) if you don’t buy it online or over the phone first. It’s an attempt to keep the bums from buying booze there. So basically you either go to another location to order something or do it online and decide to pick it up in San Francisco. I understand the concept but I don’t agree with it at all. It was suggested to me however to just do it from my phone there in the store and then pick it up immediately. Of course these guys don’t have squat for beer on location so ordering online wouldn’t do me much good if I want something right away. In fact, the reason that I went in at all was that I was at 21A just down the street and wanted to try a Fireside Chat but they don’t have it on tap, they don’t serve the cans in the pub, and they don’t sell singles to go (I didn’t want a six pack). I was told by the bartender that K&L probably has it but I’m guessing that she hadn’t actually been there to know about this stupid rule. Frickin a.

Other than that mess the people are nice and if you order ahead of time they have access to all the same stuff the other locations do. So that’s a plus. Prices are the same high garbage but it’s primarily a high end wine shop, and this one is in the city, so what do you expect? I will not be frequenting this place.

Didn’t have the hugest selection of beer when I was there, but still, some good offerings. More of a wine store, and they’ve got plenty of that. The staff is super friendly, too. You can also order online and pick up at the Redwood City and Los Angeles locations.

Awesome beer selection.