50 Best Cocktail Bars in San Francisco

“The food in this restaurant is delicious, I hope you have time to try it.“

“We stopped in here while in the area and were pleasantly surprised we had never made the stop before! I'm a dog person so anything with a Dog theme and I'm in, but this place didn't stop there. They have an impressive drink menu with a few things I'd never seen, and they also have these delicious NA waters (?) that I wish I could remember the name of.

They also have a great food menu and the service was very good. I'll be back and you should stop by too!“

“Amazing food and wine, great view“

“Arrived solo while waiting for a mate and was instantly looked after by the lovely bartender & manager—genuinely great chat and brilliant drink recs. The “punch special” is chaos in a glass (a mix of whatever’s going—but cheap and fun if you’re brave). Music was random, the pool table was lively, and people were even sending drinks to strangers, which gave the whole place a buzzy, friendly feel. It’s the perfect mix of dive bar energy with proper service and solid drinks. Not polished, not trying to be—just effortlessly cool. Definitely worth a visit, and I’d happily go back.“

“Great environment, lively, and tasty food!“

“Get there early if you want a seat. Their Whiskey Sour is absolutely perfect And they have actual food if you like that kind of stuff🍸🍹“

“Brilliant flavor combinations and beautiful presentation. The gaeng bumbai aubergine has the the right amount of heat without being overpowering.“

“Had the best time at True Laurel!! We went because of them being ranked one of the Top 50 bars in the US, and after my time spent here I can completely understand why.

When we arrived a little less than an hour after they opened, they already had a packed house. We sat at the bar and were greeted by Jason. He exceeded all expectations with his knowledge of every cocktail, spirit, and origins of the drinks as a whole. Giving us a whole story behind every question we asked made us feel like we weren’t at a bar, but a class on the drinks they were serving.

I was a bit car sick when we got out of the Uber, so I wasn’t in a rush to drink and asked for a soda. Their version of a soda that they made in house was a phenomenal combination of flavors which tastes like a tart, less carbonated kombucha.

Besides that, the drinks were of course amazing. I am forgetting what everyone else had, but I had their Pea-casso. Such an interesting drink, and I say that with all the good things in mind. It tasted like a pickle-back cocktail, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The star of the show were the mushrooms. I have been craving them ever since. They were perfectly deep fried, had the most amazing sauce, and were seasoned so beautifully.

Accidentally made this review longer than I thought, so long story short this is a MUST go. Thank you Jason for all of your hard work and dedication to serving us. We can’t wait to be back.“

“Best dining experience I’ve had since I moved here. Great food, great service, great atmosphere. My new favorite restaurant 💚💚💚“

“One of the best tasting pizza I’ve tasted I highly recommend this place.“

“awesome food , great service definitely recommended“

“We walked in on NYE without a reservation and they graciously found us a spot in the bar area. Service was on point and staff were festively dressed! I love a crafty cocktail but most are too sweet. I had the Smokey mezcal cocktail 🍹. Perfection. Appetizers were delish as well. Perfect way to start our NYE celebrations.“

“Bring on the funny 😁 happy anniversary Lisa good times great atmosphere!!!“

“Tiki Bar with a definite 50’s vibe. Love the rum selection!“

“The chicken tangine was superb...very tasty, moist,tender. Mourad can lay claim to the best chicken in San Francisco! The basteeya was so delicious with all the Moroccan spices and light flakey phyllo pastry. The plates came out looking like pieces of art.“

“Wonderful restaurant with terrific food and service. We share the seasonal salad and the stuffed calamari to start. Both were excellent. My wife had a wonderful pasta stuffed with pea puree and in a pea sauce. I had a stuffed pasta with cheese. Both were exceptional. The olive oil cake finished the night. Fine wine list with many affordable offerings. We had a bottle of Arnie's and it was just right. The service is very attentive from the reception to the goodby.“

“I have been twice and so far everything has been delicious. I need to go back a few more times to try everything on the menu. Don't forget to save room for dessert. The cocktails are fantastic.“

“Really good pizzas! Loved the crusts and the sauce.“

“The pork chops are above world-class!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I'll be back.“

“The Morris , let me try to capture all the good things that are going on here. So we gave this place a try on a Thursday evening and it's certainly surprising how busy this little place is. The place is rather narrow and the ceiling is rather low. Congratulations to the decorator for making the place feel inviting and warm. I love the open kitchen at the entrance, it gives you a good glance at the various dishes and your nostrils will be on high alert absorbing the various smells.
The staff is super attentive friendly and has a fantastic memory as they remember which guest ordered which wine and brought the correct bottle for refill without having to ask.

The food. we really enjoyed the appetizers. The pork cracklings were yummy and rather light great for sharing and best with a cocktail.
For me the best dish was the brocolini with squid. The combo of the charred, the lime juice ...out of this world.

For the main we tried 1/2 of the smoked duck. Now let me tell you it's good but.. it's so rich in smoked flavor that after a few bites I was completely with the flavors and we had a hard time finishing the serving. My recommendation 1/2 a duck for 4 would be the right serving size otherwise your taste buds will go on strike

Great experience overall definitely worth a follow up visit.“

“Excellent espresso coffee, friendly service and a lovely brunch menu. I look forward to returning sometime for dinner. The chef’s were prepping a range of fresh looking ingredients and the smells emanating from the kitchen were beautiful!“

“Holy moly, this place was great! The food is tasty & beautifully served. The service was great & Hannah made terrific suggestions. Really well done!“

“Lavay Smith sings there on Sunday evenings“

“The cocktails on the menu are like a culinary experience. It’s very experimental. I’m not one to love savory drinks usually but I’ll say that bar iris executed its savory drinks well. The Ninjin Sour’s coriander taste is quite on the tongue, and it feels like I’m drinking a dinner. That said, I find it a very balanced drink. The menu also has less experimental and culinary flavors. I also got the Third Wheel (pictured), which is a matcha based drink and was super refreshing. It came in with a tea cup and that made it a bit more special.“

“Really cool local bar…..the first time I ever tried Flor de Caña was from here…..all the proofs! Nice crowd, service, atmosphere, good drinks, vibe & bar bites! 👍🏿“

“Great place great food. Love it“

“We applaud all those who help PCH become Miracle @ PCH, it’s amazing!“

“I recently hosted a family celebration in the back patio and everyone raved about the food, cocktails and ambiance. The service was on point given it was a bit crowded for a Sunday afternoon.

We ordered the fish & chips, tomato soup w/grilled cheese sandwich, onion soup, ceviche, and fish tacos - all delicious and reasonably priced. My 4-year old niece danced to her heart's content to Nirvana and other tracks. It's a hidden gem that offers a complete package and worth the trip.“

“So I was lucky enough to give this place a try during a closed event hosted by the Seoul sisters and the Hoo Lee Gans. Pretty cool vibe and atmosphere when you walk in. Extensive drink list and pretty skilled bartenders tend to your thirsty soul while the home cooked Korean style street food dishes caress your belly. As it was a closed event , the food was a buffet style, help yourself and gubble it up style. Regardless the food was spot on. I really enjoyed the onion pancake. This dish is as simple as it looks it is actually rather tricky to make. The popcorn chicken was tender, the kimchi zesty yet firm and tender.
I suggest you give it a try and work yourself through their menu.“

“A bar! No food, no frills, just lots of beers, great drinks, and a great patio!“

“Stumbled into this pub after a show in the theatre district and experienced a rush akin to what the first prospector must have felt finding golden nuggets in the Sacramento Valley - EUREKA! We have struck gold!!

Bottle Club Pub really IS gold — killer cocktails, mouthwatering food, suave atmosphere, and reasonable prices. It’s almost too good to be true.

The rotating liquor shelf is the star feature of this lounge, and it’s incredibly mesmerizing to watch it spin around as the red lighting dances on the bottles. It was fun to watch each new group notice it the first time it moved for them — it seems a pretty ubiquitous experience that everyone enjoys watching it.

The decor is kitschy Americana but in a classic, timeless way — very Norman Rockwell-esque. It gives off a masculine atmosphere with a warm, sensual vibe.

The cocktails were excellent and sit around $15 (affordable by SF standards, for sure). The TL crush was bright and fruity, while the Plum Daisy was surprisingly robust. Plenty of options for cocktails as well as draft beer and a small selection of wine.

The real standout however was the food — the fish and chips were PHENOMENAL. They were incredibly crispy and dusted with a type of chicken salt that added a unique layer of umami. The fries were lightly battered (which I loved) and the tartar sauce had fresh dill in it.

The Nashville Chicken sandwich was about as authentic as you can find in the Bay — it was dripping in that classic Nashville sauce and had just the right amount of spice.

The service was excellent and friendly. They initially mistook my fish and chips order for a burger, but when they brought out the wrong dish they quickly made it right and we didn’t have to wait long at all for the right order.

Can’t wait to come back and try more things on their menu. We’ll be showing this hidden gem to all our friends for as long as they keep that cool rotating liquor shelf maintained!“

“Delicious drinks with amazing service. Michael was able to create a fantastic cocktail for my spouse. Between Michael and the cocktails, there is no reason to go anywhere else.“

“It was late night order and I’ve never had a burger dog before but wanted to try since frisco fried out them on the scene back in the day. Ordered my door dash and couldn’t wait. As soon as they arrive I could smell the goodness so I take my pics and dive in.Burger Dog: Hefty on the meat, felt like it was more beef than an actual burger and I wanna say easier to eat. Only change I would add bacon and that’s my bad. Very good burger dog!Bacon Hot Dog: Butterflied Beef Dog with crispy bacon! Another hit.Very simple menu options but they hit it out the park. Would definitely double back to this spot to try them fresh.

Parking: It’s on 20th street so not impossible but keep your eyes open spots get taken fast

Kid-friendliness: Burgers, Hot Dogs, Fries I think so….

Wheelchair accessibility: It’s in San Francisco it has to be accessible“

“Great cocktails and service, not a massive venue so would be perfect to have a cocktail party“

“Nice bar and really like the roof fan“

“Hidden in an alley way, this is a great coffee shop with attentive service. It’s a coffee shop in the morning and turns into a bar at night. You can get booze in your coffee as well. Part of the proceeds go towards Ukrainians affected by the recent events. Coffee was delicious- espresso was smooth. Highly recommend the lavender latte!“

“The Food is good the service was great and the entrainment was awesome“

“First time there, food is tasty.“

“One of the bartenders, Kundan, is awesome: she saw a very drunk lady taking someone's drink when they weren't looking and read her the riot act. I already loved this bar, but it made me feel far more safe, knowing bartenders are looking out for their customers.“

“Terrene in San Francisco feels like one of the city's hidden gems, definitely underrated. We originally came for breakfast (which ends at 11am) and had just missed it, so we stayed for lunch and were not disappointed

The space is located within a hotel and has more of a causal service process where you order first, seat yourself and the food is brought out to your table via a number tag.

We ordered the Harissa chicken bowl, a matcha latte with coconut milk, and an açaí smoothie. The chicken bowl was fantastic, super fresh, vibrant ingredients, perfectly grilled chicken, sweet onions and veggies, fluffy grains, and a flavorful sauce that brought everything together beautifully

The matcha latte tasted like it was made with ceremonial grade matcha: smooth, rich, and not too sweet. The coconut milk complemented it perfectly without overpowering. The açaí smoothie was also a hit: fresh and refreshing

The vibe of the place is stunning, it reminds me of the Public Hotel in NYC meets The LINE in LA. Minimal, modern, and thoughtfully designed. It's right by the Embarcadero, which makes it a great spot to start a walk along the waterfront (just be prepared for SF parking chaos)

The prices are a bit on the higher end, but the quality and experience make it well worth it. 100/10 would come back, and finally try the breakfast!“

“Why wouldn’t you kick it here????“

“I really never have enjoyed tasting menus….but Tiya’s tasting menu fully changed my opinion on them. 4/6 dishes were things I probably wouldn’t have ordered on a regular menu so getting to try these dishes was a treat. We supplemented the tasting menu with the chicken gushtaba and the shrimp. They were both so good but the gushtaba was outstanding….Think a chicken meatball in fondue.
Everything was a flavor bomb and I would definitely come back“

“Great views, great staff, great food, and great drinks. Loved the decor and atmosphere. Would recommend and will return. Enjoyed the DJ, my favorite drinks were the Love Cats and Mr. Jinks. We shared several plates and the pork belly skewers, the pretzels (the mustard and pimento stuff was delish) and the asparagus salad were all amazing.“

“A must stop when in the area. Nothing fancy, dive bar feel, but always a good time.“

“If you’re into tiki, this place is a must. If you’re not, it’s still going to be a very good time. Drinks are strong and expertly crafted. I love Smuggler’s Cove’s cocktail book but don’t always have all the necessary ingredients at home, so was glad to be able to experience the recipes where they can be properly executed.“

“Very unique atmosphere! Great food and drinks!“

“Every drink is handled with care.“

“Loved the decor and the vibe，great place to hang out with friends.The food was absolutely delicious! The flavors were spot on.If you're in the area, this place is a must-try!“

“My husband and I enjoyed our dinner very much! He had the Paparadele and I had the beet salad and pizza. They were both delicious! We definitely will be going back!🍷“

“We stopped by last week and had some great cocktails and an appettizer. Very good. Nice atmosphere and decor. However, our particular server could use some people skills and speed. Other than the service issue - great place.“