Best Bars in San Francisco

Bourbon & Branch

A reservation-based speakeasy in a building that housed an actual Prohibition-era illegal bar from 1921 to 1933, entered via an unmarked door with a password. Go for the secretive, intimate vibe and a serious cocktail and whiskey program. Practical note: book ahead for the main bar or hidden Wilson & Wilson room; walk-ins can sip in the Library room (open 6pm-2am) without a reservation.

Bars

Comstock Saloon

A lovingly restored turn-of-the-century saloon with a mahogany bar, tin ceilings, and bartenders who nail classic cocktails. Go for an authentic Barbary Coast atmosphere with nightly live jazz and well-made historic drinks. Practical note: the Friday free lunch with a drink purchase is a fun local tradition.

Bars

Last Rites

A dramatic, dark-side tiki bar themed as a plane crash in a tropical jungle, with towering skulls, wreckage decor, and a temple-ruins atmosphere. Go for theatrical rum cocktails and one of the most immersive bar interiors in the city. Practical note: it is in Duboce Triangle near the Castro, closed Mondays, and the moody space is intimate so weekend nights get full.

Bars

Pacific Cocktail Haven (P.C.H.)

A buzzy, award-winning cocktail bar from acclaimed bartender Kevin Diedrich, known for bright, tropical-leaning, beautifully balanced drinks. Go for some of the most consistently creative cocktails in the city in a lively, welcoming room near Union Square. Practical note: it rebuilt after a 2021 fire at this Sutter Street location and gets crowded, so reservations help.

Bars

Smuggler's Cove

A three-story tiki bar styled like the belly of a pirate ship, with over 500 rums and a World's 50 Best pedigree. Go for genuinely excellent, deeply researched tropical and historic rum drinks in an immersive, dimly lit setting. Practical note: it is tiny and gets packed, so arrive early (it opens at 5pm) and expect a wait on weekends.

Bars

The Alembic

A cozy, rustic craft-cocktail bar and restaurant in the heart of the Haight, with dim lighting, an extensive whiskey list, and thoughtful seasonal drinks. Go for a relaxed, neighborhood-feeling spot to pair inventive cocktails with elevated bar food. Practical note: closed Monday and Tuesday, and the room is small so it fills up on weekends.

Bars

The Buena Vista Cafe

The historic cafe-bar that introduced Irish coffee to America in 1952 and still serves it by the thousands daily. Go for the iconic Irish coffee, the line of glasses being made assembly-style at the bar, and bay views near the cable-car turnaround. Practical note: it is a touristy Fisherman's Wharf classic, busiest in the morning and around sunset; cash and cards accepted.

Bars

The Treasury

A lighthearted, upscale cocktail bar set in a grand 1916 Beaux Arts space in the Financial District. Go for polished, approachable cocktails, well-chosen wine and beer, and chef-driven bar snacks in an elegant downtown room. Practical note: it caters to a weekday after-work crowd and is open Monday through Friday only, so plan accordingly on weekends.

Bars

Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

A campy, beloved tiki institution inside the Fairmont hotel, complete with an indoor lagoon, a floating band, and simulated tropical rainstorms. Go for the kitschy spectacle and a quintessential old-San-Francisco night out, not for cutting-edge mixology. Practical note: it is only open Wednesday through Saturday evenings and there is an entertainment cover charge during live music.

Bars

Trick Dog

One of San Francisco's most celebrated cocktail bars, on the World's 50 Best list nearly every year since 2014. The draw is its wildly inventive, fully redesigned menus that change a couple of times a year, each built around an unexpected theme. Practical note: no reservations and it gets busy, so come early in the evening; food is served too.