Grape & Grain

My husband and I love coming to this bar. The beer is always amazing, the bartenders are friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere is casual but classy. This is our go to place.

Came here a couple of weeks ago with a bud, and I really liked it. Pretty simple set up, great beer and wine list, friendly staff, laid back in a cool setting in DT San Mateo. Will go back.

This place is one of my absolute favourite parts about downtown San Mateo. Always great brews on tap and staff is friendly and knowledgeable. And there’s wine, too! My fiancé and I come here all the time and play cards together while enjoying great beer :) Be sure to check this gem out if you haven’t yet!

Great ambience and relaxing place in a unique setting. Service was great and the décor is warm and cozy. A lot of people were there with board games.

Came here on a Friday night and all the seats were full! :(but they had a large selection of beers and wine that I enjoyed. I ordered the Jolly Pumpkin dark ale that was on tap (because it had 9.0% ABV hehe) and it tasted pretty good. It looks like they have board games that they rent out to patrons as well. Definitely a chill atmosphere to hang out on a Friday night. I hope to come back and enjoy the whole experience next time!

Very cool bar in San Mateo with a variety of beer and wine! It’s a nice place to just relax and maybe grab a board game (they have a bunch). It is very casual with a very laid back feel. Everyone is there to have a good time! The only downside to this place is that it can get very busy and there isn’t enough seating accommodations. I really wish they had more seating so I didn’t have to prey on leaving customers. Also, there’s only one cashier to take orders which I find a little strange, but it works. The beer on tap seems to rotate out pretty frequently, varying between around 10 beers on tap. All in all, this is a very fun place to stop by if you’re looking for a drink!

I’m pretty big on ambiance when it involves anything alcohol-​related, so I’ll start there. To be honest, I don’t really get this place. I guess this is what you’d call a pub?
To me, it felt neither here nor there in terms of being a wine bar/​lounge/​pub. No ambiance, just kind of bland, and the lighting was the kind that made you sleepy. I walked in at 8:30pm on a Saturday night and it was so quiet in there (despite being pretty full) that everyone stared at me as I walked by. Things eventually got busier and livelier around 9:30pm, but I still found the place to be pretty underwhelming. Maybe I’ve been too spoiled by NYC and even SF.
They do have random games set up around the place which make it a little more «fun» but definitely not enough seats to accommodate most patrons, so prepare to get cozy with your neighbors or walk back and forth until someone gets up. Not really my type of place, but they did offer some interesting flights and beer!

I’m one of those twenty-​year-​olds that isn’t a huge fan of the bar scene. Loud, crowded places just aren’t my thing. One night a group of my friends stumbled across Grape and Grain after dinner and it was perfect for me. Quiet, mellow — a great place to just relax over a few drinks with some good friends.
They had a pretty good selection of wines and beers, and really neat chalk art on the wall above the bar. We chatted with the bartender and it turns out the chalk art that says Grape & Grain was done by a former employee. There’s also a chalk wall that you and your friends can leave your mark on. :-)
Also a big selection of board games! Not sure how the older crowd feels about it, but I love board games and it was perfect for our friends. There’s also an old time-​y Pacman arcade game over by the bar that was a lot of fun to play with.
All in all, I’d come back! I really enjoy the ambiance of the place. I’d even stop by on a work night to unwind and enjoy a book (though it’s a little dim inside). Not sure if it’s louder/​more packed on the weekends, but definitely nice and calm on a week night.

I’ve been here on two occasions and both times I’ve been really happy with the service and drinks. Grape & Grain is pretty small and seats are usually filled at popular hours of the day (ie after work). But the service is always great here and the drinks are good as well!
The staff/​cashier is always very patient and helps you choose a drink that matches what you’re looking for and will answer all your questions without making you feel annoying. Always great, since I always ask a ton of questions and want to try different samples out.
There’s also games and a pacman game you can pay for. Otherwise, the atmosphere here is chill and mellow. Usually pretty quiet for a lounge, but definitely a go-​to when you actually want to hear what the person across from you is saying instead of shouting to be heard.

Whether as a casual spot to grab a fantastic beer, or a chill wine spot to go on a date, Grape & Grain has your bases covered.
Located conveniently on San Mateo Dr, but a bit off the main area, the place actually has an inviting interior. The bar is located towards the back with some counter top seating, which there are high tables, and regular tables throughout. Right next to the bar is their beer menu and below is their selection of board games. I also noticed some video games in the back.
And by beer menu, I don’t mean only IPAs, stouts, and browns. They actually had some sours and goses up there, which made me regret not getting a second.
If I find myself in San Mateo in January, definitely making a stop over.

Really great wine… really great service. The perk is… you don’t have to choose whether you want to drink beer or wine… they have a great selection of both.
We came for a friend’s surprise 30^th bday and basically took over the place for a few hours. I was really impressed with the wine recs from both bartenders; I loved every glass they recommended.
My friend ordered some apps but I didn’t try them; I heard they were great, though!
All in all, a great night and I would definitely return.
NOTE: If you ask the bartenders to take a pic of you and your friends, they may take a selfie of themselves first and then one of you and your friends (saw one on my camera) :)

Cute little place tucked near the San Mateo caltrain station. There aren’t a whole lot of spots (maybe 50, and no upstairs) and on a Saturday my friend and I ended up squeezing in the same seats as a couple obviously on a date night. It worked out fine because everyone was really chill and cool but I could see that if you wanted something very intimate you better be putting your purses and manbags on the seat next to you.
They serve only beer and wine here, and there are lots of board games to try. It was pretty loud but it wasn’t deafening.

It’s beer and wine only guys. When I read grain– i thought whiskey :) No such luck. The menu is cute– they have small plates, fun craft beers etc. There’s a few tall tables and some small personal comfy chairs and tables. If you don’t want to really booze it up go here.

My husband had been talking about this place for some time. We finally made it out. It’s small, but cozy inside. They have games placed on a table for you to use. A nice selection of beers on tap or in bottles.
If you are a Sharks fan, the owner is a huge Sharks fan from what I hear. So if you need a place to watch the game. This could be your hangout.

Solid venue that serves a large selection of beer and wine. In the afternoon, the vibe is casual, with lots of room to lounge around, play board games, or (horrors!) fire off some emails quickly. As it gets later, the vibe becomes more cozy and intimate, with lots of people out on dates and small groups out socializing. Service is super friendly and engaging, and the staff here is perfectly willing to recommend a fantastic new wine or beer your way given your mood or tastes.
Highly, highly recommended whether you live in the immediate area or happen to be stopping by.

I stumbled upon this place one night, and I’m so glad I did.
Location/​Atmosphere: ⁵⁄₅. Grape & Grain is a smaller bar, with warm ambiance, lots of seating, and a bustling conversational atmosphere. I immediately felt drawn in by the couches, high-​top tables, and offerings of board games.
Service: ³⁄₅. The staff was nice. Although the service was honestly a little slow, it’s nothing to complain about.
Food and Drink: ⁵⁄₅. The wine selections are superb, and the array of small plates are perfect pairings.
Overall: My new favorite bar, I think!

The Good:
— Excellent selection of tap craft brews
— Excellent selection of sour brews
— Excellent selection of craft bottled brews
— Excellent selection of red and white vintages
The Not So Good:
The Bottom Line:
When you’ve grown out of that clubbing scene, and you just want somewhere nice and quaint to grab a glass of beer or wine that is miles ahead of that Coors Light or BV in your fridge, look no further.
PROTIP:
Free parking after 6 PM.

Grape & Grain is a great example of how far wine bars have come along. With a great selection of reds and whites, an interesting and novel choice of beers on tap, and a small, but delicious sampling of charcuterie, Grape & Grain could have stopped there.
Pair it with a classic video game machine (with free plays) and casual seating perfect for the classic board games available near the bar area and you have a perfect get-​together or date night place. It’s like your own home if it was a super cool place and had an unlimited drink selection.
We were able to spend an hour and a half here as we waited for our reservation at another restaurant and had fun the whole time. Service when ordering is both low key and friendly and the casual vibe is present in the clientele as well.
Grape & Grain accepts credit cards including American Express.

One of my favorites! :) Great rotations, good tap takeovers. Owner and staff are very friendly and accommodating. Minimal food choices, more like snacks. Their ‘crack corn’ is absolutely appropriately named though.
It’s right by my workplace so I stop by after work every so often. Always love that there’s usually an old school film playing on the televisions. I remember the first time I ever came here was Ghostbusters — I knew I had to be back! Then I remember coming the times when Jurassic Park, ET, and Nightmare on Elm Street were on (there’s more! I can’t remember, but they’re all classic). Goooood stuff.
Busy weekend nights can get super busy — as you have to stand around because of the limited seating. Still fun though especially if you’re just there with a group of friends for a casual hangout. There’s also some interesting art hanging up on the walls, makes me want to paint a few pieces. :P
Will be back again and again — I can’t wait to see how Grape & Grain will grow! Cheers.

This was a stop post YEE at Mortar and Pestle. Because Unilocalers roll like that!
I fell in love with this place upon walking in. Sparse décor. Comfortable high chairs. Sofas for that private tete a tete. Just an easy feeling. Very conducive to wine tasting and insightful conversation.
I started with their Rose. Proceeded a bit more with this interesting choice called The Bomb.
Looking forward to going back to stay longer and to do more exploring!