looking to get drinks somewhere fun this weekend
my boyfriend and i are coming up to san francisco tomorrow for the weekend and we are staying at the Hotel Nikko near Union Square. We are looking for some great low key places to go out and get drinks after dinner Friday and Saturday nights. Either by our hotel or the restaurants is preferred for recommendations. Friday we are eating at KISS seafood and Saturday we are eating at Delfina. We are both in our early twenties from LA and we aren't looking for anything super exclusive or upscale, just a laid back atmosphere where we can enjoy ourselves. PLEASE HELP!!
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Delfina Restaurant
3621 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
By amichelle
on May 26, 2011 10:58 AM
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There's a speakeasy near you called Bourbon and Branch. You will need to make a reservation and remember your password to get in but it's a cool unpretentious place for fabulous cocktails. I just recently disovered a very cool bar just past Union Square called Gatine. The restaurant was certainly not my favorite but the bar is really cool and off the beaten path down an alley. Depending on what time you are eating, I would recommend these spots for a cocktail or two before dinner and they are not far from your hotel.
Unfortunately, I do not have any good recommendations for you near KISS Seafood as I really don't find myself in that area often but there are plenty of bars to choose from.
Delfina is in my 'hood and you will really enjoy it. To be honest, I prefer the tiny Delfina pizza joint next door than the full restaurant primarily because the servers are nicer at the pizza place. That said, you will enjoy the food and don't let my personal opinions drive your decision.
There are some great bars near Delfina. I just learned about -- and thoroughly enjoyed -- cocktails at the Hideout. This is a bar-within-a-bar so go to the Dalva Lounge and just keep walking, walking, walking until you head into the little bar in the back. People are just discovering this spot so it could be easy to wonder in and sit or not :-). Since I'm sending you to a spot that may or may not be too busy, just nearby is a bar called Elixir which is a very eclectic mix of locals and they seem to be very dog-friendly so it's a cool place to just hang out and enjoy the atmosphere (although they measure there pours here so if you aren't into that sort of thing go elsewhere).
A brisk walk from Delfine (a few blocks) are two great largeer hangout spots with nice cocktails as well. There's the younger gay/straight mixed crowd at Blackbird or go around the corner and you will find a very cool hangout spot called The Residence (a bit more relaxed but great little spot).
Hope this helps!
-Bill
http://www.gitanerestaurant.com/
http://www.blackbirdbar.com/blackbirdbarsanfr.php
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-residence...
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Bourbon & Branch
501 Jones St, San Francisco, CA
Elixir
3200 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Dalva
3121 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
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that is perfect, thanks so much!
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Gitane's a fun place. Rickhouse is also nearby.
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Gitane Restaurant & Bar
6 Claude Lane, San Francisco, CA 94108
Rickhouse Bar
246 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA
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I haven't been but really want to try Comstock Saloon, it's in the North Beach neighborhood if you are in that area. Also Burritt Room in the Union Square area
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Comstock Saloon
155 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Burritt Room
417 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94108
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Comstock is a really comfortable place. I'ts been quiet when I've gone but maybe I've gone only at off hours.
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it's pretty hard to find an exclusive bar in the city. also it's a holiday weekend so things will be slower than usual.
aside from the recs above keep in mind many restaurants have good wines by the glass and don't mind if you sit at the bar. This might be a better approach near Japantown than some of the bars.
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Two low-key places near your hotel (Union Square/Tenderloin) are Rye and Mr. Lew's Win-Win Bar & Grand Sazerac Emporium. The latter is a dive bar that has been taken over by some of the Bourbon and Branch people. Both are relaxed places (no reservations needed) with carefully made cocktails. Cheers!
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After your meal at KISS, you might want to wander up and down Fillmore; south from Japantown and you will find the bars/jazz clubs = Boom Boom Room, Rassella's, Yoshi's, and Sheba's. 1300 Fillmore also has a laid-back bar.
Right near Japantown is Dosa, an Indian restaurant. Not laid back, but AMAZING cocktails (over 25 kinds of gin).
As you wander north of Japantown on Fillmore, you will hit Elite Cafe and Harry's.
I suggest staying and investigating the 'hood near J-Town!
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