50 Best Cocktail Bars in San Francisco

“There’s something magical about this bar and I just kept going back to it in the 2 months I stayed in SF. Def my fav bar in the area. They have such creative menu of cocktails and update the menu every 6 months. Super busy on Friday and weekend nights but bartenders make sure you’re taken care of. Just need a little time for them to get to you. Fun vibe and just so good drinks. Outdoor seating is pretty nice.“

“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.“

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

“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!!!“

“Lavay Smith sings there on Sunday evenings“

“Great environment, lively, and tasty food!“

“Beautiful and intimately small location to hear some great jazz music! The musicians were all very into the music, bumping along with each other and having a great time making some great music. The food was great as well, definitely recommend the bao! The cocktails were all very diverse, something really for anyone's taste, and were really quite tasty. There is a 90 min limit at a table before they move you to a bar, which makes sense. I also loved how the smaller location and unique entrance made the location feel welcoming but secluded. Would definitely visit again!“

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

“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!“

“Love this spot! Great cocktails, cool vibes, and the patty melt is amazing. Also really love the mushroom tempura dish. I've been coming here for years and while a lot of other places have gone downhill over time this place is consistently solid. Make a reservation if you can to avoid the wait!“

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

“Great atmosphere! Bartenders were great and able to make a variety of unique drinks. The back patio was arranged to accommodate 2-4 at a small table, and benches or high tops for groups. There was also an option to sit under the covered or outside part of the patio.“

“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! 👍🏿“

“Nice bar and really like the roof fan“

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

“Hands down the best cocktails in SF and def one of the best in America.

Love the beautifully curated menu and what it had to offer. Heavily influenced by Japanese ingredients hence offering a very unique menu of its own.

Cocktails were extremely well balanced with flavours, aroma and umami. A sip of The friend of a friend of a friend was no different to eating a bag of toasted chips with its long lingering smoked aroma. Insanely good.

Will definitely go back for the Japanese bites or even the Kaisei don.“

“My partner and I really enjoyed our dinner and drinks tonight. Will absolutely recommend the peanut noodles & scallion pancakes. Our server gave super helpful recs and was perfectly attentive. Totally coming back here after the terrific meal we just had!“

“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.“

“Fantastic concept, fantastic cocktails“

“Really great spot with delicious and healthy options. I went for the mixed grill, and the portions were generous and satisfying. The Seedlip non-alcoholic drinks were an unexpected and delightful surprise!“

“Historical significance with Jack Kerouac and very cool looking. Great location.“

“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.“

“Awesome karaoke bar in Chinatown, SF! Definitely a Chinatown feel with the dim red lights & decor. There's a huge karaoke book to choose a song to sing. If the bar is full, they'd likely limit you to 1 song at a time so others get a chance. Space is small so it can get crowded. Loved the energy & atmosphere.“

“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!“

“Wow, what a great restaurant. As soon as we walked in we were greeted kindly by the hostess. She was so sweet and even checked in on us during dinner. Our server Joselyn was very helpful and attentive. She helped steer us in the right direction of what to order since everything on the menu looked delicious. The food was outstanding. The portions aren't super big but perfect which allowed us to order a few entrees. We started with the pan seared brussel sprouts, stuffed calamari, & roasted baby carrots. We then ordered the ricotta strangulet, pumpkin caramelle, braised short rib cappellacci, and the drunken mafaldine. Wow, everything was truly amazing and cooked to perfection. We didn't have room for dessert but our bill came with a tiny assortment of cookies which was the perfect way to end our meal. Thank you Sorrella, we will definitely be back to enjoy your amazing cuisine.“

“It is miles away from the hustle & bustle of the city, so when we reached, we almost turned around and drove away as we wanted a nice place for our anniversary. However, it looked a nice cute place, so decided to take a chance. They seated us in the back room which was cozier. The server was outstanding - he explained all the food items (we are Vegetarians), and every food item we ordered was delicious. Perfect blend of flavors and taste. The corn bread is more like a corn cake but it was baked fresh and came steaming and was mouth watering. The cocktail was amazing and the Bordeaux style Cab from Sonoma was very nice. The manager stopped by many times to enquire how we were doing. Overall, we had a wonderful time. Because it was our anniversary, they even brought 2 glasses of complimentary Prosecco to make it special.“

“A cute and cozy bar with a friendly bartender. I got the Escape, which is made with a rum blend, pineapple, whipped coconut clarified pina colada. The clarification improved the texture, enhanced the flavors, gave it a crystal clear look, and had a smoother and softer taste!“

“Tony is the fantastic bartender“

“Very Cool Spot but had not Been Inside in like 35 + Years !! It was a Very Different Bar and if i remember correctly Super Creepy !! These guys Did a Great Job with the Remodel and i will Go Back and Check it out Further / i didn't Drink or Eat anything as it was a Political Action and Tenants Rights Meeting.“

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

“The food was delicious, especially the veggie dumplings and the vegetable dragon roll. And our server was incredibly nice! Also, the cute fish cup they served us in was for sale, so of course I had to buy it. Overall a great gem in the city.“

“Why wouldn’t you kick it here????“

“One great cocktail, one not as much. Can't remember the name but collins glass was very refreshing while the smaller one (smoked mezcal) was very smoky to the point where it was harsh. Went there around midnight, it was pretty damn hot in the bar.“

“Overall a great spot to chill w/ friends or on your own!! 👍 My BF & I have visited quite a number of times, and we love this place!“

“I work in the service industry so i’m very observant. The experience here was 10/10– this place was recommended by another industry member (server at Tripisueño another great spot!!!) everyone here is attentive. The place here is super cute & Francisco (the bartender that took care of me) will guide you to the best drinks & best spots here. 10/10 recommend.“

“Thank you, Le Petit Paris 75, for welcoming the Richard Crook trio to your delightful club. Always a friendly atmosphere, amazing cocktails, and awesome music line ups!“

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

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

“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.“

“Great atmosphere, great service, great music mix, and live sports!“

“Marcus & Aliah are two of the best. I frequented here for several months in 2023. This is a good bar for meeting people, with good music and cocktails. Juan, the owner, is sometimes here and very hospitable. The bartenders know the house cocktails, which are batched and quite good. There is a DJ playing on most weekend nights. They have recently had renovations which turned out quite well.“

“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.“

“Great cocktail bar. It was themed with "The Shining" for Halloween when we visited.

We got the Tony Negroni and Elevator of Blood. Both drinks looked and tasted great.

The bartenders were wearing red blazers with REDRUM pins, which added to the ambience.

Highly recommended for having a unique cocktail environment!“

“A special treat for yourself or for folks visiting out of town! Oswaldo was a kind, knowledgable, and exceptional guide, listening to what we were looking for, recommending pairings, and pointing out exceptional menu items like the fries flight (delicious), the oysters (outstanding!), and the tomato martini (life changing). The martini and champagne carts are SO fun, highly recommend!“

“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.“

“Love going to this place! Cocktails are awesome!“

“fantastic drinks excellent atmosphere and realy cool people“

“First time there, food is tasty.“