The vibe is great, and the cocktails are pretty, food is a complete disappointment. I really wanted to love everything about the place and went in with high hopes for a special occasion, but we were sad that it was far from meeting expectations.The oyakodon was the blandest we've ever had, chicken tough, base dashi had no taste, and the soup that came with it was equally thin and flavorless. The tsukemono was nothing like was pictured, very limited quantity and way too salty (we returned it almost untouched).Really missed the mark unfortunately.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
56 hj6
Upscale vibe. If you like Japanese hiballs, this is your place.Excellent cocktails and non alcoholic renditions are tasty.Didn't have any food but the chicken kara age looked incredible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Karaage
Ole B
Great Place to experience Japanese drinks, Whiskey and other alcoholic beverages. Also, you can get Japanese food
Claudia K M
I had an enchanting evening at Bar Iris, where the cozy and intimate atmosphere set the stage for a memorable experience.The attentive waiter staff added to the overall enjoyment. Although we missed out on snacks, the highlight of the night was undoubtedly the exquisite cocktails.I indulged in two rounds of the LEVEL UP! drink, a delightful blend of strawberry juice, pandan, rhubarb, awayuki gin, lemon, egg whites, and the flavorful combination of shichimi powder, which truly enhanced the overall flavor profile. Its smooth not spirit forward which, I truly enjoyed.Additionally, my friend ordered the SORRY, NOT SORRY with a whiskey base, compliments the creative craftsmanship of the cocktails.The creativity and balance of flavors in both cocktails were truly exceptional. Looking forward to returning for a more comprehensive tasting experience, including the tempting snacks we missed out on.I’m back for the holiday drinks and have this "PUMPKABOO" is a warm, comforting cocktail with Kabocha's “Japanese Pumpkin” sweet richness, Pandan's fragrant sweetness, and Oolong's complexity. Iwai 45 whisky and Mugi Hokka shochu provide a spirited kick and depth. Gran Classico adds balanced bitterness, while milk contributes creaminess. Topped with a marshmallow garnish, it's a cozy, indulgent richness. I enjoyed the unique blend of flavors!Cheers to Bar Iris for an evening well-spent!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jack Brown
super cool spot, they seated us in the back room which was lower energy than the front bar (we didn’t have a reservation) but drinks were great, karaage was tasty, and service was
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Sarah Beauge
If you want a fancy cocktail bar with cool cocktails, look no further than Bar Iris. Service was great but this place gets really busy during peak hours so getting a table can be hard. One of my favorite bars in SF.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hina M.
I really had the pleasure of experiencing a great night at this upscale bar on Polk street. The ambiance of the establishment exuded sophistication, creating an atmosphere that seamlessly blended elegance with modernity. They had a very impressive cocktail menu. The faithful fool cocktail was a delightful surprise, with its unique blend of refreshing flavours that danced on the palate. I really like the urban jungle too, loved the presentation and the taste. I had a few more cocktails which were good, but the two I mentioned really stood out for me. The drinks were unquestionably fabulous and I would love to come here again for the drinks. The only downside was the slow service, maybe they were too packed but I had to wait for a long time for the drinks.Overall, I would recommend this establishment to anyone looking for a tasteful escape into the world of premium mixology and a classy experience.
Andrea Santos
one of my new favorite bars in the city. all of the cocktails were balanced and creative, the interior was moody without seeming pretentious and bartenders friendly and knowledgeable. overall, a top tier bar in the city and would try the food next time too!linda linda: probably one of my fav cocktails. creamy and refreshing and not too spirit forward.hidden trail: similar refreshing vibe as linda linda, easy to drink and tasty. loved the slight smokiness of the mezcal. top tier!level up: fresh strawberry flavor and love the spice that hits your lips. tart, slightly sweet. enjoyed this too.okinawa: liked the other two drinks better but this was still tasty. slightly too heavy for me thoughtsukemono martini: personally don’t like martinis so couldn’t finish that one. nice briny flavor from the pickles though
Chance K.
Woah! This place has some seriously delicious and complex cocktails. We ordered three different drinks which were all totally unique with many layers of flavor. I opted for the tropical Okinawa cocktail, which I was pleased was not overly sweet while capturing the creamy essence of the iconic potato. The space isn't huge, and seems to get busy, but they squeezed us in on a Saturday night with no wait time! And yeah the drinks here are on the expensive side, but you get what you paid for given the high quality.
Joe LaPenna
Definitely a return visit is in order. Stellar food, cocktails and vibe. Super happy with the variety of drinks styles offered, from smoother or sweeter easy drinkers to stiffer more biting martinis; solid curation across the board.
Great place. Creative drinks. Glad I like adventure in craft cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Daniel S
Pristine ambiance, yummy little bites, cocktails were creatively unique and very tasty. Super glad we came in on a less than usually busy night, it gets busy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Karaage
Bertrand Nocella
Exquisite cocktails with very unique flavors. They have a drinks menu but they can create any cocktail on demand. It's pretty incredible.The music is so good that it really puts you in a good mood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Luba K.
Amazing bar vibe with unexpectedly great service. My drink was delish, I'll be back! It was super busy but we were lucky to get an outdoor booth, which encouraged more drinks
Nikki Ahmadi
Stylish and sophisticated cocktail bar with a unique and innovative cocktail menu, as well as a carefully curated selection of Japanese whiskeys and other spirits.The bartenders are highly skilled and knowledgeable, and they take great pride in their craft. They are always happy to create custom drinks based on your individual preferences, and they are always willing to share their knowledge of Japanese spirits.They also have a small but thoughtful food menu.The bar is decorated with a mix of traditional Japanese and modern elements, and the music is always at a comfortable level (Unlike some of the other places on that same block) . The spot is small,specially if you want to sit inside, and can be hard to get into without reservations.
The vibe is great, and the cocktails are pretty, food is a complete disappointment. I really wanted to love everything about the place and went in with high hopes for a special occasion, but we were sad that it was far from meeting expectations.The oyakodon was the blandest we've ever had, chicken tough, base dashi had no taste, and the soup that came with it was equally thin and flavorless. The tsukemono was nothing like was pictured, very limited quantity and way too salty (we returned it almost untouched).Really missed the mark unfortunately.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Upscale vibe. If you like Japanese hiballs, this is your place.Excellent cocktails and non alcoholic renditions are tasty.Didn't have any food but the chicken kara age looked incredible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Karaage
Great Place to experience Japanese drinks, Whiskey and other alcoholic beverages. Also, you can get Japanese food
I had an enchanting evening at Bar Iris, where the cozy and intimate atmosphere set the stage for a memorable experience.The attentive waiter staff added to the overall enjoyment. Although we missed out on snacks, the highlight of the night was undoubtedly the exquisite cocktails.I indulged in two rounds of the LEVEL UP! drink, a delightful blend of strawberry juice, pandan, rhubarb, awayuki gin, lemon, egg whites, and the flavorful combination of shichimi powder, which truly enhanced the overall flavor profile. Its smooth not spirit forward which, I truly enjoyed.Additionally, my friend ordered the SORRY, NOT SORRY with a whiskey base, compliments the creative craftsmanship of the cocktails.The creativity and balance of flavors in both cocktails were truly exceptional. Looking forward to returning for a more comprehensive tasting experience, including the tempting snacks we missed out on.I’m back for the holiday drinks and have this "PUMPKABOO" is a warm, comforting cocktail with Kabocha's “Japanese Pumpkin” sweet richness, Pandan's fragrant sweetness, and Oolong's complexity. Iwai 45 whisky and Mugi Hokka shochu provide a spirited kick and depth. Gran Classico adds balanced bitterness, while milk contributes creaminess. Topped with a marshmallow garnish, it's a cozy, indulgent richness. I enjoyed the unique blend of flavors!Cheers to Bar Iris for an evening well-spent!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
super cool spot, they seated us in the back room which was lower energy than the front bar (we didn’t have a reservation) but drinks were great, karaage was tasty, and service was
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
If you want a fancy cocktail bar with cool cocktails, look no further than Bar Iris. Service was great but this place gets really busy during peak hours so getting a table can be hard. One of my favorite bars in SF.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I really had the pleasure of experiencing a great night at this upscale bar on Polk street. The ambiance of the establishment exuded sophistication, creating an atmosphere that seamlessly blended elegance with modernity. They had a very impressive cocktail menu. The faithful fool cocktail was a delightful surprise, with its unique blend of refreshing flavours that danced on the palate. I really like the urban jungle too, loved the presentation and the taste. I had a few more cocktails which were good, but the two I mentioned really stood out for me. The drinks were unquestionably fabulous and I would love to come here again for the drinks. The only downside was the slow service, maybe they were too packed but I had to wait for a long time for the drinks.Overall, I would recommend this establishment to anyone looking for a tasteful escape into the world of premium mixology and a classy experience.
one of my new favorite bars in the city. all of the cocktails were balanced and creative, the interior was moody without seeming pretentious and bartenders friendly and knowledgeable. overall, a top tier bar in the city and would try the food next time too!linda linda: probably one of my fav cocktails. creamy and refreshing and not too spirit forward.hidden trail: similar refreshing vibe as linda linda, easy to drink and tasty. loved the slight smokiness of the mezcal. top tier!level up: fresh strawberry flavor and love the spice that hits your lips. tart, slightly sweet. enjoyed this too.okinawa: liked the other two drinks better but this was still tasty. slightly too heavy for me thoughtsukemono martini: personally don’t like martinis so couldn’t finish that one. nice briny flavor from the pickles though
Woah! This place has some seriously delicious and complex cocktails. We ordered three different drinks which were all totally unique with many layers of flavor. I opted for the tropical Okinawa cocktail, which I was pleased was not overly sweet while capturing the creamy essence of the iconic potato. The space isn't huge, and seems to get busy, but they squeezed us in on a Saturday night with no wait time! And yeah the drinks here are on the expensive side, but you get what you paid for given the high quality.
Definitely a return visit is in order. Stellar food, cocktails and vibe. Super happy with the variety of drinks styles offered, from smoother or sweeter easy drinkers to stiffer more biting martinis; solid curation across the board.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great place. Creative drinks. Glad I like adventure in craft cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Pristine ambiance, yummy little bites, cocktails were creatively unique and very tasty. Super glad we came in on a less than usually busy night, it gets busy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Karaage
Exquisite cocktails with very unique flavors. They have a drinks menu but they can create any cocktail on demand. It's pretty incredible.The music is so good that it really puts you in a good mood.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing bar vibe with unexpectedly great service. My drink was delish, I'll be back! It was super busy but we were lucky to get an outdoor booth, which encouraged more drinks
Stylish and sophisticated cocktail bar with a unique and innovative cocktail menu, as well as a carefully curated selection of Japanese whiskeys and other spirits.The bartenders are highly skilled and knowledgeable, and they take great pride in their craft. They are always happy to create custom drinks based on your individual preferences, and they are always willing to share their knowledge of Japanese spirits.They also have a small but thoughtful food menu.The bar is decorated with a mix of traditional Japanese and modern elements, and the music is always at a comfortable level (Unlike some of the other places on that same block) . The spot is small,specially if you want to sit inside, and can be hard to get into without reservations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu, Grilled Onigiri, Karaage, Steak Tartare, Escargot