Tucked away on the first floor of an apartment building behind a Pie N' Burger, this tiny, cluttered shop is worth seeking out.

When the famed Chronicle Restaurant closed its doors in 1996, its award-winning wine cellar needed a home, so one of the owners opened the Chronicle Wine Cellar. It's got a great selection of top-notch Bordeaux, Burgundies and Italian wines, all at very competitive prices. Owner Gus Martin loves to engage customers in wine talk, so don't be shy about asking for something on the sweeter side to please the in-laws, or a crisp white for under $10; there's no wine snobbery here. —Lesley Balla