We asked, you told. The best mixology bars in SF are...
Its true. We're pretty fancy here in San Francisco, and we like our drinks with a little extra somethin' somethin'. So, the question of what bar has the best mixology is a heated one, and one that requires a good amount of sipping, swirling, and stumbling all in the name of research.
1. The Alembic (1725 Haight Street, Upper Haight)
With the mysterious, old-world atmosphere of a hip New York cocktail bar, this spot is a welcome change in the often crowded and boisterous Upper Haight. A favorite of Pinchit staffers Matt Seliga, Joshua Gillespie and Anjelika Paranjpe, the Alembic's drink menu is pure poetry. Jenna Keys writes: I'm a whiskey/bourbon girl, myself, and I like it stiff - umbrellas belong in Seattle, not in your drink. You might like my faves: the Sazerac and the Vieux Carre. Both will put a little hair on your chest. Wheeee! Also on the whiskey team is Lewis Morales who goes for the Alembic's tasty Old Fashioned. If you're looking for something a little more summery, go for the Southern Exposure, a favorite of tastemaker Samantha McCurry.
2. Bourbon & Branch (501 Jones Street, Tenderloin)
Located on the same foundation as an actual speakeasy that operated from 1921 to 1933, Bourbon & Branch is a glimpse back on the era of Prohibition, when the only way to relax with a little bit of libation was quietly. S. Bell writes: Once you get a reservation (you must have one) and the password for that night, you enter into an atmosphere not unlike a 1920s speakeasy. The cocktails are unusual and divine. The drinks are served in many cases with home made ingredients and herbs that you wouldn't expect in a drink but that makes the cocktails as special and unique as the bar itself. A bar this secretive is the perfect spot for a don't drink and tell mantra. Almost all of our sweet tastemakers (ahem... Stephanie Curran, Heather Seliga, Margaret Odisho, Thao Le, and Daniel Pickard) have kept their Bourbon & Branch drink favorites a secret!
3. Blackbird (2124 Market Street, Castro)
Defined as a neighborhood bar and local drinkin' hole, Blackbird offers local wine, artisanal beers, and, naturally, one-of-a-kind craft cocktails. Many of their cocktails are delicious twists on familiar favorites. Samantha Curry and Josh Sprague swear by Blackbird's Mint Julep while AJ Evert urges fellow mixology enthusiasts to go for the Slushee. One can only hope a drink of that name would bring us all back to middle school days hanging around at 7-11.
4. Burritt Room (417 Stockton Street, Union Square)
Pinchit tastemaker Eric Podolsky writes: The Burritt Room in Union Square has to take the cake for the best, least-known-about mixology bar. This classy joint is tucked away in the recesses of Crescent Hotel, up a flight of stairs and around a bend. The professionals behind the bar here will make you whatever concoction your little heart desires, and whatever you order, it's guaranteed to satisfy. There's no drink menu, so you just tell the bartenders what you desire, and they'll whip something up like the pros that they are. Plus, as it's a hotel bar, it's not very often crowded, even on a Saturday night. Bottom line, this place rocks.
5. Bar Agricole
With a space so impressively designed that it truly brings you to another realm, Bar Agricole is the perfect chic spot to drink outside the box. The cocktails are gorgeously and artfully presented, and the garden-studded patio is perfect for September. First mentioned by tastemaker Jay Boren, its popular for both mixology (described by Rita Heidtman as "some of the weirdest, yet interesting drinks I've tried thus far") and unusual food combinations such as the assortment of pickled roots, as recommended by Bri James.
6. Lion Pub (2062 Divisadero Street, Pacific Heights)
Located on the leafy and seemingly residential corner of Divisadero and Sacramento in Pac Heights, Lion Pub (also known as the Lion’s Den) is a dark cozy den that could most certainly lead to some devilish debauchery. Tastemaker Bri James writes: The back bar at Lion Pub is reminiscent of a farmer's market, overflowing with grapefruits, blackberries and anything else you could want freshly squeezed or mashed into a cocktail. There's also a a life-sized lion statue and occasional complimentary cheese and crackers. What's not to love? Bri goes for the Blackberry Mojito. Chelsea Murdock favors the Mango variety and our editor, Anjelika Paranjpe, can't get enough of the Sweet Tea Arnold Palmer.
Photo Sources: New York Times, Chronicle, SF Examiner, Trend Central and SF Gate.
