Pre Dinner cocktail/bar advice for Ame and Aziza please!

[allionder]

My dear hubby and I will be in SF this weekend. We have reservations on Sat at Ame and Aziza on Sunday. We'd love to have a cocktail hour or so before close to these restaurants. Hubby tends to be the classic martini type while I like a place with a bit of a buzz. It doesn't have to be formal, we do really enjoy the hole in the wall place as well. Something different and unique with an old school spin. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[allionder]

Thanks Chowhounds! Sounds like my best bet may be Aziza bar beforehand. The House of Shields looks great too right next to the Sentinel. Is there any place that Leary has had a hand in that hasn't been successful? BTW where is Aziza moving to?

[CarrieWas218]

Aziza is moving into the "kiss of death" location where the former Cypress Club, Scott Howard, Zinnia, et al were....

500 Jackson Street in the Financial District.

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Cypress Club
500 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[bbulkow]

Ah, the Cypress Club. I had a gig there once, showed up, and it had closed two days earlier. A wino in the alley said a guy had sped off with a wad of cash, as if the hounds of hell were after him. I don't think they served food, though.

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Cypress Club
500 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[Robert Lauriston]

The Cypress Club was a restaurant.

Aziza's planning to move the entrance to the corner of Montgomery.

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Cypress Club
500 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[bbulkow]

Yikes, I was thinking about a completely different place.

[vday]

Anyone know when the move will take place? I've been meaning to try Aziza and want to get there before it changes location . . .

[nocharge]

Sounds like it will be at least 6 months before it happens.
http://www.zagat.com/buzz/more-detail...

[vday]

thanks nocharge . . . I will make a point to get there by then!

[mrs bacon]

I'm going to cast another vote for the margaritas at Tommy's. They have some of the best around, and their tequila selection is unmatched in town. Tommy's + Aziza would be a fun combo. The cocktails at Aziza are good and inventive as well.

[allionder]

I will definately keep Tommy's open as an option. We both love a good margarita! I will post back when we return. Thanks again!

[pauliface]

Tommy's has great margaritas, but I would not want margaritas before a dinner at Aziza, it doesn't really match.
I also love Trader Sam's (near geary and 25 or 26 I believe) for cheap strong polynesian drinks, but I would not necessarily recommend that before aziza either. (plus, on certain days and hours it's pretty much like a frathouse in there)

Aziza has some of my favorite cocktails in the city. I sometimes don't even order wine there and just cocktail my way through dinner.
My favorite btw is the tarragon/cardamom/cachaca,

[Robert Lauriston]

Aziza's somewhat famous for its cocktails. Tommy's a block away is famous for its margaritas and tequila selection.

Near Ame, the classic House of Shields, recently taken over by chef Dennis Leary.

[ML8000]

Besides Tommy's there's Trad'r Sams tiki bar. It's a dive and goofy but there's not much in that hood right near Aziza...and you definitely only want to park once.

BTW, Aziza has a very nice drink selection, why not get there early?

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Trad'r Sam
6150 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121

[tranewreck]

For Aziza (before they move!) try Tommy's for very good margaritas. Across the street from Aziza, more or less. Definitely old school, can't comment on non-tequila drinks.

[wolfe]

I believe Aziza has some innovative drinks.
Bay Guardian 2007
"What Aziza does better than just about anyone else is create innovative and inspiring cocktails. The bar and the kitchen collaborate on these herb-infused concoctions, so the drink menu changes according to what's in season..."