The Best Bars in San Francisco to Grab a Drink Right Now

SF went a while with its same handful of rooftop bars, but within the last couple of years, they seem to be popping up everywhere, and as denizens of a town with probably the most gorgeous views in the country, we couldn’t be more elated. The newest addition, Cavaña, sits atop the brand-new 17-story LUMA Hotel, and the indoor-outdoor space has views of the city, the Bay, and Oracle Park. The bar was created as a love letter to the cultures of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. You’ll find that inspiration throughout, from the decor and lush greenery to the fun and unique cocktails that showcase Latin ingredients in the cuisine. The arepas cooked over a budare and filled with a mouth-watering brisket are a must-order. And though it’s SF, so one pretty much never leaves home without a warm jacket, there’s no need to worry about the infamous weather spoiling your evening. Cavaña is completely weatherized with retractable glass doors and fire pits that are perfect for a cozy evening out.
How to book: Reserve a table on Resy.

In any other place than San Francisco, a wine bar called Sluts might raise an eyebrow, but in this town, it barely elicits a reaction except when one learns that it’s a natural wine bar since, well, most wine bars don’t lean into the bawdier side of life. The bar is the brainchild of chef and owner Imana, who describes it as the “weird little sister” of her Oakland restaurant Hi Felicia. There’s no shortage of fun things to look at in the dramatic space, which is moody and full of dark blues and purples, including a neon “spit or swallow?” sign making the obvious double entendre of wine-tasting and, well, you get it. There’s also no shortage of fun things to drink, assuming you’re into natural wine (there are also some non-alcoholic versions available). As far as food, unless you’re into gas station eats, maybe don’t go hungry. But if you enjoy Cup O’ Noodles and Chips Ahoy, then, by all means, partake.
How to book: Walk-ins only.

From the creative mind of award-winning bartender Derrick Li comes a sexy new “speakeasy” on the second floor of Cathay House with amazing views of Grant Avenue and the California Street cable cars and a sultry lounge vibe that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. Think ornate seating, cozy booths, a horseshoe-shaped bar, 20th-century Chinese and Victorian decor, and towering ferns throughout. The drinks use Asian-inspired ingredients like red bean five spice, salty taro pandan, and baijiu, a high-proof spirit usually distilled from fermented sorghum (a grasslike ancient grain), and are as beautiful as they are delicious.
How to book: Walk-ins only.

SF’s bar scene is newly enamored with Italian aperitivo culture, and newcomer Bar Sprezzatura is one of the best places to partake, with a chic gold and sky blue accents, plush velvet seating, and a long bar with swiveling stools to cozy up at. The cocktail menu spans some inventive Italian-inspired takes, such as the Cicchetti Martini, with vodka, Carpano Blanco, and olive brine, that’s served with an anchovy-stuffed olive, pepperoncini gran ripieno, and fresh shaved truffle, but there’s also a full negroni menu, a selection of spritzes, and a handful of Italian wines and beers. Snack on savory cicchetti options at the bar, like Guanciale Meatballs and Scalia Anchovies, or make your own charcuterie plate with their salumi and cheese selection. There’s also pizza by the slice, crudo, fresh salads, and pasta and risotto, should you decide to tuck into a full meal.
How to book: Reservations can be made via SevenRooms.

Hayes Valley has really turned into a mecca for drinking and dining, and this recent addition from the Hat Trick Hospitality team (Brixton and Rambler) and celebrity chef Joey Altman fills one of the few in the neighborhood—a place that’s super chill with quality eats and drinks. Located in the old Stack’s space, Hazie’s is great for casual hangs with friends with shareable comfort food, including Dutch Crunch profiteroles for dessert, and cocktails that go down easily, including a few large-format concoctions, such as a pineapple spritz for two. There’s plenty of bar and communal high-top seating, as well as regular tables, all of which create a fun and bustling scene in an already bustling area.
How to book: Walk in or make a reservation via SevenRooms.

Thad Vogler is known for being a pioneer of thoughtful cocktails made with high-quality ingredients, so it only makes sense that, despite its new(ish) location on Mission Street, his James Beard Award-winning cocktail bar continues to showcase his passion and dedication to seasonal and ingredient-driven drinks and food. The drinks are, of course, the hero, with the 34-seat (all booths) “tasting room” built to showcase a center island where the drinks are (mostly) concocted. The space awash with pale wood is sleek and beautiful, if not also a little stark. This is not a place where you settle in for a night of raucous drinking with friends. It’s a quiet, almost meditative setting where you go to appreciate serious cocktails, many of which showcase single-origin spirits from Bar Agricole’s spirits line. There’s also a front bar for walk-ins, perfect for those times when you still want a quality cocktail but with slightly more casual vibes.
How to book: Make reservations on Tock.

The folks behind this bar (in the former Bar Fluxus space) want imbibers to “listen more,” making them a dream drinking destination for audiophiles. Inspired by Japanese listening bars, the intimate venue features over 2,000 vinyl records lining the walls. The playlist ranges from Charlie Parker to The Beach Boys to The Cars, and as far as what you’ll be drinking, think music-inspired cocktails and classics, like a Sazerac or just a great glass of cabernet.
How to book: Walk-ins only.

This tropical cocktail haven, which moved last year to bigger and swankier digs just a few doors down from the old space, continues to be one of SF’s best bars thanks to the creativity and passion of award-winning bartender Kevin Diedrich and his team. Grab a seat at the expansive wooden bar, in one of the cozy banquettes, or on the outdoor patio, and enjoy a cocktail featuring Asian and Pacific Island ingredients guaranteed to be thoughtful, well-balanced, and unlike anything you’ve ever had before.
How to book: Walk in.

The Future Bars team (Bourbon & Branch, The Devil’s Acre, et al.) never disappoints, especially if you’re a fan of American whiskey. This gorgeous bar was inspired by the American whiskey history of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. The “Bottle Club” part of the name references those decades when people collected ornate, colorful, and weird ceramic decanters, hundreds of which are on display. Also on display is a mesmerizing rotating bar with seemingly endless bottles of whiskey and spirit brands you probably won’t find at your go-to dive. There’s a fantastic cocktail list with drinks named after popular songs from those eras and a small menu of comfort food that includes a very satisfying smashburger.
How to book: Walk in.

There is much to appreciate about Kaiyō’s second location atop the Hyatt Place Hotel. The most obvious one is clearly spelled out in the name. And as far as SF rooftops go, Kaiyō is up there with the best of the best. The tropical space is filled with lush greenery, amazing views (seriously, you can see Twin Peaks and the Bay Bridge), and while we love the restaurant space for a sit-down meal, the bar area is where it’s at, in part because it’s very pretty to look at—emerald green tiles, arches over the back bar, Japanese lantern lampshades—but also because of Nikkei-inspired cocktails (including several in large format), pisco sours, and an extensive list of Japanese sake and whisky. There’s also a wood panel roof above the bar area, which allows for plenty of built-in heaters—a key to any true SF rooftop enjoyment.

At the curious intersection of Chinatown and North Beach, amid cheesy tourist traps and dental offices, there exists a soothing respite in Comstock, a reimagined, turn-of-the-century saloon with classic cocktails, affordable and creative beer-and-shot combos, good food, and live music with no cover. Our favorite place to sip is at the 20-foot-long mahogany bar from 1907 (be sure to take note of the—thankfully, no longer in use—urinal trough that runs beneath it), but there’s not a bad seat in the house. Stop by on Friday afternoons when the purchase of two cocktails gets you lunch on the house.
How to book: Walk-ins only.

Anthony Bourdain put this come-as-you-are dive bar on the map when he famously imbibed (perhaps one too many) of the infamous (and yes, we are using that word properly) Chinese Mai Tais in a San Francisco episode of his Travel Channel show TheLayover. But even before he brought widespread attention to this spot, those in the know headed through the red-lacquered double doors under the (somewhat recently restored) neon lantern sign for stiff drinks at the wraparound bar in the front and dice games in the back. Like, long before. As in: since 1937.
How to book: Walk-ins only.

If you haven’t been to Dalva in a while, it’s time to change that. The beloved neighborhood bar reopened after the pandemic with a lighter, airier feel and inventive cocktails, like the Garibaldi Sunrise (Campari, tequila, fresh orange juice, “sangrita fluff,” and an orange wedge sprinkled with Tajin), as well as a couple of highballs, plus beer, cider, and vermouth on tap. And for everything we love about its new and improved look, what we also love is that its not-so-secret hidden back bar, the Hideout, feels much the same. With dark, moody, cozy, and casual, with red walls and cushy banquettes, the only major change is its menu of classic cocktails. Change is hard, but in this case, the Dalva folks got the balance just right.
How to book: Walk-ins only.

If there’s one bar in SF everyone will agree should be on a “Best Bars in SF” list, it’s Trick Dog. The printed drink menu changes every six months or so, with fun takes on an old letterpress broadside, a dog calendar, and an airline in-flight safety pamphlet, but the food menu stays pretty much the same, so you can consistently get your Trick Dog and Caesar fix (the Trick Dog is a hamburger that comes on a hot dog bun hence: Trick Dog). And for fans of Quick Dog, the kid-friendly, fast-casual operation serving hot dogs, nuggets, and (adult-friendly) bottled cocktails that popped up during the pandemic—it’s still there, and a new permanent location is in the works.
How to book: Walk-ins only.

It’s a rite of passage for any booze-drinking human who would like to refer to themselves as a San Franciscan to enjoy a martini at Aub Zam Zam, a bar that was once known for its cantankerous (yet beloved) owner, Bruno Mooshei, who had very specific rules about bar etiquette and was not afraid to ask someone to leave who did not live up to his standards (a martini is made with gin, not vodka, for instance). Since his passing, things at the dimly lit watering hole with a Middle Eastern ambiance have mellowed out a little bit. Yes, you’ll still need to have cash, but you don’t need to have it immediately ready to place on the horseshoe-shaped bar, and you can certainly ask what the bartender recommends, though the only real answer is a dry martini made the way Bruno liked, which is the same way his father made them when the bar first opened in 1941.
How to book: Walk-ins only.

Right above Mister Jiu’s, the Michelin-starred, upscale Chinese restaurant from chef/owner Brandon Jew, is a former banquet hall transformed into a stylish salon with mid-century modern flair, a retro color palette that was modern at the time, cushioned seating, and moon gates throughout. The space is, dare we say it, sexy (at least for SF) and almost makes you wish you’d worn something other than sneakers and a puffy jacket, a thought that will likely dissipate as soon as you start sipping the Chinese lunar calendar-inspired cocktails and/or organic and natural wines available by the glass.
How to book: Book online.

Drinking in SF is always more fun when you’re getting your drinks from bartender extraordinaire Kevin Diedrich, which now you can do at Pacific Cocktail Haven (P.C.H.) and his second venture, Kona’s Street Market, a spacious street market-inspired lounge complete with booths, lanterns, and string lights. The drinks at this spot are inspired by places around the world (as well as some great puns) with options like Hard to Say Dubai (Wyoming Bourbon, apple brandy, montenegro, prickly pear, citrus, absinthe, bitters) and Iran So Far Away (Calvados, Gin, quince, celery-salted melon seed, pear, basil, bitters). Even better, while the drinks are on the complicated side, you don’t have to wait a long time to get them, thanks to a bar setup created specifically for speed.
How to book: Walk-ins only.

Polk Street’s been stepping up its game in recent years, and Macondray is definitely helping. Choose between the stylish, plant-filled indoor space and the perfect-for-Polk Street people-watching parklet, both excellent environments to enjoy very drinkable cocktails, like the Hell Yeah! (vodka, apple, cranberry, tarragon, lemon), which could also almost be your morning juice—you know, if you held the vodka—and a frozen Pina Colada, as well as its seafood-focused menu, with highlights like a Maine-Style Lobster Roll, crinkle-cut fries with malt vinegar powder, and Rock Crab-Stuffed Deviled Eggs.
How to order: Walk-ins only.