In my early twenties, I impulsively flew cross-country to San Francisco for a long weekend. At the time, seeking out the best bars in San Francisco wasn't even a consideration.
Instead, I went out for electronica the first night and a punk show the second. My third night was spent touring a subway tunnel filled with street art. I didn't even see the Golden Gate Bridge. It was an atypical experience, and I've wanted to return to SF.
My opportunity came en route to Oahu, where I spent a weekend exploring. This time, I saw the Golden Gate Bridge from both water and land, visited the best bakeries, and explored some of the best bars in San Francisco. My weekend left me wanting more, and after returning in 2023, I added new San Francisco bars to the list.
Table of Contents
Where To Drink in San Francisco
1. The View Lounge
Conveniently located a few blocks west of the Financial District and south of Union Square, The View Lounge on the 39th floor of the Marriott Marquis San Francisco offers panoramic views.
This Art-Deco-inspired space atop one of the city's tallest hotels provides a unique experience for relaxing and unwinding after sightseeing. Inside, a mix of bar seating, high-top tables, and soft green chairs by the large windows offers plenty of options.
Some nooks between the two main lounges, with floor-to-ceiling windows, offer additional seating and privacy. Be there when the bar opens for the best shot at a window-side seat, as they fill up quickly on clear days.
The bar serves craft cocktails, including signature cocktails like the SF Manhattan and rum Skyline Punch; however, I was in the mood for a Grey Goose and tonic.
After I finished my drink and paid the bill, I walked over to the other side of the bar, which was noticeably quieter. A friendly waitress from Oahu began chatting with me and offered me a glass of water. Not wanting to leave, I started perusing the food menu.
Small Plates
The cheese board and charcuterie options would be better with friends. The Niman Ranch sliders with caramelized onions and short rib tacos were tempting. Ultimately, I opted for a colorful heirloom tomato salad with burrata.
Afterward, I paid my second bill, sure I was ready to leave. Then, my kind server said she'd ensure I got one of the window seats at this remarkable place.
To complement the experience, I ordered the triple-layer chocolate Marquis cake with local berries and sea salt caramel sauce. What began as a cocktail with a view turned into a terrific dinner with attentive service that left a lasting and positive impression.
While there, the day's overcast skies began to lighten; however, I'd love to go back on a clear day and see the city view at night. 780 Mission St, San Francisco, marriott.com
2. Redwood Room
When I booked my three-night stay at The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel, I was unfamiliar with the Redwood Room. However, I was giving myself easy access to one of the best and oldest bars in San Francisco.
Staying at The Clift was my first experience with a hotel booked through the American Express travel portal. As a part of the American Express Hotel Collection, I received my third night free, plus a $100 dining credit for use at the Redwood Room and Frederick's, a new on-site cafe.
Like The View Lounge, the Redwood Room is inspired by the Art Deco movement. Constructed in 1933 and opened for business on December 6th, the day after Prohibition was repealed, it harkens to an era of high-class cocktail bars.
The paneling is taken from a single redwood tree, while the long bar was built from an 800-year-old redwood. The Redwood Room was refurbished in the early 2000s.
See also: Here Nor There in Austin
Dinner
An hour after my unexpected dinner at The View Lounge, I sat at the Redwood Room's bar, illuminated by a tall wall of spirits, some of which are rare.
After reviewing the cocktail list, I ordered Summer in the City, which consists of Wheatly Vodka, Liquid Alchemy strawberry syrup, lime juice, Angostura bitters, and basil poured over crushed ice.
I went with the artisanal cheese plate with walnuts and olives for food. The Redwood Room maintains a smart casual dress code. 495 Geary St, San Francisco, redwoodroomsf.com
3. Li Po Cocktail Lounge
Operating from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., seven nights a week, the Li Po Cocktail Lounge has been a destination dive bar in San Francisco's Chinatown for decades. This historic little bar has mainly stayed the same since it opened in 1937.
Li Po made a more prominent name for itself 60 years later when it concocted its signature Chinese Mai Tai. The potent cocktail consists of dark and light rum, 151 rum, Chinese liquor, and pineapple juice.
For $11, it packs a powerful, albeit fruity, punch. It was one of Anthony Bourdain's favorite bars; he featured Li Po Lounge on his San Francisco episode of The Layover. 916 Grant Ave, San Francisco, lilpolounge.com
4. Vesuvio Cafe
Vesuvio Cafe is another historic San Francisco bar located in the North Beach neighborhood. Across the alley, the landmark City Lights Bookstore soon joined it.
The bookstore was opened in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin, who specialized in publishing Beat Generation writers. By 1955, Vesuvio Cafe had become popular with authors such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.
I studied both legendary writers in college and considered Kerouac, specifically, to have influenced my life and career as a writer.
Related: Speakeasies in San Diego
Vesuvio opens at 11 a.m. daily, and I arrived soon after. The two-level bar is chock-full of Beat-era memorabilia and has a whole vibe. I ordered a Diet Coke and went to the second floor, where I perused the newspaper clippings and old photos on the walls.
The colored glass light fixtures hanging from the ceiling reminded me of one my parents used to have above our kitchen table when I was a kid.
Upstairs, I took a booth with a portrait of James Joyce above it. I'd read and enjoyed A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man in my senior year of high school. Other early arrivals had taken tables near the windows, overlooking Jack Kerouac Alley and City Lights Bookstore next door.
Vesuvio has a nice air about it, and I imagine it's even better at happy hour with a few friends and a craft beer, perhaps paired with a poetry reading next door. 255 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, vesuvio.com
5. True Laurel
True Laurel is a lively neighborhood bar opened by Michelin-starred chef David Barzelay (Lazy Bear) and bar director Nicolas Torres. Serendipity struck as I arrived while outdoor seating was still available, the setting sun casting an orange glow against the sidewalk scene.
I scanned the cocktail menu, which was updated daily, and was delighted to see the Old Cuba-Nah made with non-alcoholic cane rums, lime, mint, and Nosecco.
Did anyone know it's possible to make non-alcoholic rum? I certainly didn't! Nosecco was also new to me. It's a California wine with less than 0.5% alcohol.
The cocktail was delicious and looked the part. You'd never know it was essentially alcohol-free. You may wonder why I spent $15 at this popular bar if I didn't get a buzz.
My reasons seem to grow by the year and include the following:
- I want to pay for the time and space I'm taking up at a busy bar.
- Supporting different ways to cater to designated drivers and those who choose alcohol-free living.
- Better sleep.
- More energy the next day.
True Laurel was indeed a joy to experience. If I hadn't eaten dinner, I'd have dug into their food menu, too. In 2024, it ranked #30 on North America's 50 Best Bars list. 753 Alabama St, San Francisco, truelaurelsf.com
6. Bar Sprezzatura
"Laid-back Italian elegance in the heart of downtown San Francisco" is how Bar Sprezzatura describes itself. And after reading early reviews of this lovely new aperitivo and cicchetti bar, I prioritized a visit.
The Venetian-inspired bar opened in November 2022 and updated its cocktail menu the day before I arrived in April 2023. Lucky me! Italian-born partner and mixologist Carlo Splendorini is the man behind the magic.
I walked in at 11 a.m. on a Friday for an early drink and loved it so much that I stayed for the delicious food. They were offering a three-course lunch as part of San Francisco Restaurant Week.
For a time, I had this spectacular space, designed by Martin Brudnizki, to myself. Natural light poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
I began with a new cocktail, Lievitante, made with Hangar One Buddha's Hand Vodka, Italicus, Cocchi Americano, clarified lime juice, and Lambrusco.
I savored every sip of this delicious drink, kept cold by its crystal-clear ice cube. To continue enjoying the ambiance, I ordered lunch and a lighter Prosciutto & Melone spritz garnished with prosciutto-wrapped cantaloupe and balsamic balls.
Finally, after more than two hours at one of the best new bars in San Francisco, I forced myself to leave, already looking forward to next time. One Maritime Plaza, #100, San Francisco, barsprezzatura.com
7. ABV
A ranking of #39 on The World's 50 Best Bars list for North America in 2022 brought ABV in the Mission District to my attention. I dropped by for a tipple before dinner at Che Fico and found the sparsely decorated ground-floor bar welcoming.
The creative menu is organized by spirit, with a page for low-ABV cocktails. The knowledgeable bartenders are there to help if you need it.
In the mood for something adventurous, I ordered the Tarragon Fix, which included blanco tequila, tarragon, lime, pineapple, and absinthe. It was tasty, herbal, and not too strong.
Punk rock I didn't recognize blared from the sound system, leading me to break out Shazam to keep up. 3174 16th St, San Francisco, abvsf.com
8. Novela
During my 2023 trip to San Francisco, I was with my girlfriend Kel, an avid reader. I suggested we check out Novela, a literary bar lined with bookcases, photos of Hemingway, and a framed fragment of Jack Kerouac's writing.
The colorful space was as wonderful in person as it appears in photos, though the music was a little louder than I'd have liked. It's a bar, after all, not a library.
House cocktails are named after literary characters like Aster Grey and Jay Gatsby. Seasonal cocktails are classified as "refreshing and juicy" or "stiff and spirituous" to help guide you.
The punch on tap appealed to me, especially when you can get a flight of four for $20. From left to right in the photo above, I tried the vodka peach, strawberry mezcal, mango rum, and blueberry bourbon.
Each glass was garnished with fresh ingredients. The vodka peach punch was my favorite. Meanwhile, Kel enjoyed the refreshing Stormlight with gin, Lillet, lavender, and lemon.
A small selection of wines and beer on draft and by the bottle, as well as a few spirit-free drinks, are also available. The Spanish menu features artisanal cheese, charcuterie boards, oysters, tapas, and larger dishes like pan-roasted octopus and fried wagyu beef short ribs. Dessert includes churros and gelato. 662 Mission St, San Francisco, novelasf.com
9. Bourbon & Branch
It's not a Feastio-certified list of top San Francisco bars without a speakeasy, and that spot is now filled by Bourbon & Branch. This reservation-only craft cocktail bar is in the heart of the Tenderloin district. During Prohibition, it operated as a speakeasy from 1921 to 1933.
Before you make a reservation, read the house rules on the website. They include a request to speak quietly and prohibit cell phone use and photography.
Once your reservation is confirmed, you'll receive a password to provide on arrival. If you make it inside, you can look forward to a good time with the friendly bar staff and some of the best classic cocktails in San Francisco.
The drink menu has five categories:
- Lighter Fare
- Spirit Driven
- Free Range
- Ice Breakers
- Fresh and Fancy
I ordered a gin drink with St Germain Elderflower liquor, lime, and bitters, and Kel sipped a Delicious Sour with Applejack, peach liqueur, and lemon.
We exited Bourbon & Branch through an adjoining (sister) bar, the Library, which is accessible without a reservation. You will, however, need to provide the publicly available password ("books") to enter. 501 Jones St, San Francisco, bourbonandbranch.com
10. Cityscape
Cityscape is a block east of Bourbon & Branch, on the 46th floor of the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. The city's tallest sky bar provides 360-degree views and complements your preferred cocktail, wine, or beer.
We visited at 5 p.m. on a Saturday, and plenty of seats were available in front of the windows. The views were magnificent. Kel and I shared a Basil Bay with Nolet's Gin, pear, lemon, basil, and tonic. We also snacked on an artisan cheese board and truffle potato chips.
Related: San Francisco to Sonoma Road Trip
Our cocktail was one of the most expensive I've bought in San Francisco, at $24. You're paying for the view, which felt worthwhile to me. If you prefer to skip the booze, there are a few zero-proof drinks for $14.
For parties with fewer than ten people, seating is first-come, first-served. 333 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, cityscapesf.com
11. The Buena Vista
The Buena Vista is a few blocks west of Fisherman's Wharf, across from the Powell & Hyde Cable Car Turnabout. The Buena Vista Cafe opened across the street in 1899 as a lodging and saloon for local dockworkers.
According to the plaque, it moved to its present location in 1907 and was renovated to the current Queen Anne style in 1911.
That's all well and good, but what put Buena Vista on the map was that, in November 1952, it was the first bar to serve Irish Coffee in the United States.
That's about nine years after Joe Sheridan first developed and served the recipe in Ireland. Buena Vista's version was so good that Joe Sheridan would later travel from Ireland to San Francisco to work there.
Given its popularity and the fact that it serves up to 2,000 Irish Coffees daily, it's a busy place. I lucked out with a short wait to grab a stool at the bar.
On the wall in front of me was a framed palm tree polo shirt from Hunter S. Thompson, who used to hang out at The Buena Vista.
Buena Vista's Irish Coffee is still made according to the original recipe, using:
- Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey
- Peerless Organic Coffee
- C&H Sugar
- Heavy Cream
It's a great place to get a quick drink—and I do mean quick. During peak hours, the bartenders make six at a time. The specialty drinks menu offers Mexican Coffee with tequila and Kahlua, Bailey's Irish Cream Coffee, and Skrewball Irish Coffee with peanut butter whiskey. 2765 Hyde St, San Francisco, thebuenavista.com
Trick Dog
I'd be remiss not to mention Trick Dog in this list of the best cocktail bars in San Francisco. On my first visit, I dropped by the converted warehouse turned bar; however, it was temporarily closed.
Trick Dog is around the corner from True Laurel (which is how I happened upon the latter). In 2020, it was recognized for its inventive drinks when it ranked #77 on The World's 50 Best Bars list.
