Waterbar Restaurant

This has become a staple for us every time we visit San Francisco. Their daily happy hour (which includes weekends) has 1.55 oysters, you really can’t find that good of a deal on a weekend anywhere else - or at least we haven’t been able to!
Highly recommend

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Excellent meal (the black cod was amazing!) and the service was friendly and responsive.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food great service. While there is little that is vegetarian on the menu (entrees are all seafood) the chef(s) will make you something special that is vegetarian!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I’ve been coming to Waterbar for over seven years, and moments like today remind me why this place is truly special.

Every Friday, Waterbar offers their iconic lobster roll, and today I experienced something that went far beyond the menu. I don’t eat bread or pasta, and Fred — one of the bartenders — immediately suggested creating a healthier version for me.

Fred is someone I genuinely recommend looking for when you sit at the bar. His attentiveness, warmth, and ability to listen to the guest make all the difference. He remembered my preferences, took the time to speak with the kitchen, and made sure the experience felt personal and thoughtful.

Following Fred’s suggestion, a sous-chef named Carlos Benitez prepared a stunning lobster roll served on fresh butter lettuce — light, beautifully balanced, and absolutely delicious. It wasn’t just a dish; it was a gesture of care and creativity.

This is hospitality at its finest: listening, adapting, and creating something special. Waterbar has always been a place of consistency and excellence for me, but today was a reminder that what truly makes it shine is the people behind the bar and in the kitchen.

If you visit Waterbar, I highly recommend sitting at the bar and asking for Fred.

Thank you, Fredi, and thank you to Carlos Benitez for such a memorable experience. This is why I keep coming back — and why I always will.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food, drinks, service is all fantastic here. Definitely a great spot to unwind after work and enjoy the evening!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wonderful space with amazing views

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious food , the view incredible. The vibe is unmatched . The staff is friendly and professional

This spot holds a special place for me. The team really knows their stuff, especially when it comes to oysters—they’re great at explaining flavors and helping you choose the perfect ones, even if you’re new to them. Whenever friends visit me in San Francisco, this is always a must-stop. Each area has its own charm: the patio is perfect during the day, the bar is ideal for happy hour, and the dining room feels elegant and cozy for a refined evening. It’s a memorable experience every time, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Our experience at Waterbar was wonderful! We Sat on the patio outside and soaked in the incredible view. Once it got chilly, they closed the large door to block the cold air for comfort. Our server, Patricia, was kind, friendly and very helpful. The food was amazing! We started with oysters & champagne, then dorade and swordfish as main courses. The dorade was so flavorful and delicate and cooked perfectly. Since it is a whole fish, bones & head were included but so easy to separate the meat to enjoy. The swordfish was cooked ever so slightly rare and a nice, light meal. We finished the dinner with banana cheesecake and pecan creme brûlée. Bananas foster accompanied the cheesecake and the texture and flavor of the creme brûlée was excellent. Looking forward to our next visit!

Disappointed in the overall experience. The service for taking our order was slow so we were ready to order everything at once by the time we ordered. We wanted to start with a quick bite (the bread - which was great), several apps (shrimp cocktail, a salad and clams) and then an entree (the cod). When we asked our waiter to space out our courses he seemed confused given that we only had one entree. Our food came basically all at once and overcrowded the table, which meant some of the hot courses got cold, and it was difficult to really share the food or pass plates. the food was ok but not worth it for the price or the experience. Been here for happy hour, which is great and i'd return for that, but would likely skip for dinner. If I were to return for dinner, I'd probably skip the shareable items and do more of the “everyone get your own entree” approach.

My husband and I ALWAYS LOVE WATERBAR - The food, the people: Cesar, Valentina, the kitchen staff and so much more.

We hosted a private event which cost a lot but was worth every penny and that’s for someone that hosts a lot of events and has high bar. Bravo to david, Sabrina and team. A+

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Everything about the Waterbar was amazing. We visited for my girlfriend's birthday and they made sure the visit was worth every bit of the 2.5 hr round trip. I would highly recommend this location for the food, staff, and beautiful scenery.

We had a great meal and experience at Waterbar. The food was creative, well flavored, and well plated. The service was excellent, our waiter was engaging and quick to understand our interests. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal.