San Francisco’s Award-Winning Bars

There’s no shortage of hip and happening bars in San Francisco. Here are some of the best night spots in the city.

• Buddha Lounge

  901 Grant Avenue

  One of the most popular dive bars in Chinatown, Buddha Lounge is known for its dice games – if you lose, you buy the bartender a drink. You win, and your drink is on the house. The crowd doesn’t arrive ‘til late, so make sure to hang around until the party gets started.

• Redwood Room

  1222, 495 Geary Street

  This historic bar in The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel has been restored and redesigned as a modern, art deco-inspired nightspot. Known for its gorgeous redwood paneling and digital artwork, Redwood Room bar serves artisanal cocktails and gourmet small plates made with farm-fresh ingredients.

• White Chapel Gin Bar

  600 Polk Street
  This award-winning bar has the most extensive collection of gin in North America. In addition, White Chapel offers a carefully curated cocktail menu showcasing gin’s versatility. The food menu is no less impressive, with samosas, wings, fried cheese curds, and other delectable dishes to choose from.

• Benjamin Cooper

  398 Geary Street

  Enjoy the freshest oysters and the best cocktails in Downtown SF. Sip your handcrafted drinks, savor the small bites, soak in the atmosphere. Best of all, admire the skill and friendliness of the bartenders – you’ll have a good time no matter which time of the week you go.

• The Snug

  2301 Fillmore Street

  The place is known for Instagrammable drinks like the Golden Flamingo, a shareable punch bowl that the whole group can enjoy. Other drinks include Buddha’s Hand and margarita on nitro. The food menu lists pork belly, Korean fried chicken wings, and other tasty treats.

• Trick Dog

  3010 20th Street

  Trick Dog changes its drinks menu every six months, offering a new experience each time. The bar has an extensive cocktail menu and serves amazing wings, beef tartare, and kale salad. Guests can host private events in the upstairs area, or buy out the whole bar for the night.

• Forgery

  1525 Mission Street

  Hailed as one of SF’s best new cocktail bars, Forgery makes use of Japanese whisky gin, cognac, and other spirits to create handcrafted cocktails. They also have an excellent selection of wines and beer.

• Smuggler’s Cove

  650 Gough Street

  The pirate-themed décor will put a smile on your face, while a bevy of exotic cocktails will transport you to the Bahamas. This bar won the Best American Cocktail Bar at the 2018 Spirited Awards, and was named the Best Cocktail Bar in San Francisco in a reader’s poll. The crew is helmed by rum and cocktail expert Martin Cate – so put on your best Hawaiian shirt and make your way to this crowd favorite.

Live close to SF’s lauded bar scene. Call Bernard Katzmann at 415.906.6000 or send an email to KatzmannSF(at)gmail(dotted)com. You can also get in touch with Mike Shaw at 415.308.4281 and MShawSF(at)gmail(dotted)com.