If you ever want to feel like you know nothing about alcohol, come here.
Walk in and you see pretty much every single hard liquor that was ever invented on the face of this EARTH. I wanted to just go to the bartender and pay him to just name everything for me. Seriously. Ridiculous. So much liquor.
I ordered a basil gimlet. Heard they were good here, and everyone is right! Very smooth and the flavor was awesome. One of the best I've had.
All that would warrant 4 stars, but the 5th star comes from the atmosphere. One of the guys working there started jamming on the piano, and he was really good! It really made for a great mood that was very cozy and upscale at the same time. I would love to come here again!
Financial District hot spot!
I really like this place, mainly because of the awesome bartenders and their amazing alcoholic creations! They ask what you like and feel like having and bring you back exactly that. And if you don't know what you're in the mood for, they do make great recommendations. I caught their names.. but forgot them.. too many delicious drinks perhaps. I promise I'll get them the next time!
I went here a few weeks back with a group from work before it really got busy (3-6), and that is the time to come! Â The bartenders have time to create a new drink for you based on your alcohol preferences, and the drinks they make are astonishingly good. Â
Upstairs is cozier and less crowded than the main level, so try to get up there if its busy. Â Nobody was even up there, and it kind of felt reserved but its NOT. Â Note, don't go in hoodies or t-shirts, most of the people there are at least in polos.
Great drinks, great bartenders, great atmosphere
I like this place, reminds me a little of Rickhouse. The bartenders are really cool and are great at making suggestions if you are not sure what you want. Cocktails are specialties here, so don't go for a beer or classic well mixer, have them whip you up something really tasty. I like the upstairs lounge area, usually you have to reserve it but if you have a big enough group & its open, you can usually sort of commandeer it.
Review Source:Really enjoyed this place. Live piano player in the corner reminded me of an old-timey saloon. Â Nice bartenders, and a nice crowd - seemed like a lot of regulars/locals. Â Good beer on tap and bottle (Think Boont Amber, Port Brewing IPA and other local/west coast brews). Good prices.
Was there around 9 on Tuesday and had no trouble getting a couple spots at the bar. Â One small-ish TV in the corner showing the Giants game (though not many were paying any attention).
I'll definitely be going back.
Apparently everyone else loves this place too, and they should. Wonderful establishment with bartenders that give a damn about good drinks. Also, a nice mixture of your typical stereotypes, meaning- it's kind of hard to make a generalization about the feel and the clientele. It's just a cool bar and you can ask for whatever you want and the drinks are incredible and reasonably priced. This is me and my wife's favorite place right now.
Review Source:I've only been here once, but I sort of love it.
If I were into bourbon, scotch, or whiskey, I would be in paradise. But sipping my gin & tonic during the happiest of all happy hours, life was still damn good. We got there at around 3:30, but the place was packed by 6.
The ambiance is great (complete with a piano!). If I worked in the city, this would totally be my bar.
Friendly bartenders, decent selections... It's just been done before... Not saying that I wouldn't go here again next time I'm in SF, but I don't think I'd seek it out... The draft lines seemed fairly regular, liquor selections were OK, but nothing special...
Maybe I've just been spoiled by the places I do seek out, saw the high reviews, and expected more...
Sure. What the heck do I know about a bar when I'm not an imbiber? Well, here's my one cents' worth.
You have a nice little lofty area in the back for you and your pals. We jammed a dozen+ people up there and it was coze. Nice place if you can get it. Downstairs they're slinging drinks along the long bar and making friends with you as you sit and sip.
It's got one of those dimly lit vibes, and it wasn't so screaming loud so you couldn't have a conversation. But it ain't a quiet little place, either. I shouted for an hour or so and then got out.
83 Proof offers an impressive selection of bourbons. The bartenders here really know their stuff. They served me a new favorite of Rock Hill Farms, based on an old favorite of Basil Hayden's.
Renting out the bar is a good deal if you can bring in the people. A friend held a birthday party here on a Saturday night from 8-11pm for just a bar tab guarantee, without a charge up front.
In this excellent, friendly group of people, almost none of whom I knew, folks came and went but the crowd stayed strong until just before close.
It's also a great happy hour place: cozy but not crowded, and lively due to its noisy acoustics. Superior bartending is the secret.
I had interest in this venue for a surprise "still in my 20s" event for my girlfriend. Yes, you read that correctly, not a birthday party, but to celebrate the last few months before she turns the big 3-0. From the very start, Veronica was such a delight to deal with. She was already very accommodating and flexible to my needs. The process was way easier than I imagined - possibly due to how professionally but easy going Veronica is.
On the night of, I was pleasurably greeted by Nick and Marc, probably one of SF's friendliest bunch of bartenders. Unfortunately, I came a bit unprepared on my end for some bits and cords for hook up my DJ equipment to their sound setup. Thanks to Marc, he was able to quickly remedy the issue and hand me the things I needed. When all was said and done, the event was a huge success. The surprise for my girlfriend could not have gone and better, and a majority of the guests informed me how well the bartenders were throughout the night.
If I plan to book another event in the near or distant future, 83 will be on my list once again, and I would definitely come back another day just to have a drink or two. If I'm not driving, then why not attempt a bottle? JK. Well, maybe not.
whoooooowhee. I love me some whiskey, but I also love me some good whiskey edumacation.
You see those whiskey tours and tastings that cost upwards of 100+ bucks? Or the fancy speakeasies that say they care deeply about the alcohol they're serving? Phooey. They're a little bougie and a little pretentious dont you think?
Look no further than this place. Before you buy your whiskey, the bartenders take it upon themselves to edumacate you on the history, the different kinds, the evolution of whiskey and where it is now. What's nice is that they genuinely care about what they're serving and are very willing to have a conversation with you about what to look for in a good whiskey/bourbon/scotch.
I tried some old american whiskeys, some japanese whiskeys, new age whiskeys, and some irish ones as well. Bring a notepad if you would like to remember some of the lessons because as the end of the tasting, I don't know how much you might be able to keep with you.
I was "cheating" on my detox and wanted a nice clean drink, you know just a vodka soda, splash of lime. Â So I asked the bartender for a vodka recommendation and had a nice chat. Â I landed on our local Hanger One, and it was a nice treat. Â It's nice to have a bartenders with not just knowledge but opinions.
Sometimes it does get annoying packed here, but when it doesn't it's just a nice after work bar.
And I heard on Tuesdays they have a piano player, nice. Â Will have to check it out.
One of my favorite bars to go to for happy hour after work. Although this place defintely gets  packed, they make delicious (perfect balance between alcohol and flavor) cocktails for a decent price. (7 to 8 bucks per cocktail)
The bartenders are all friendly, attentive, and fast (as they can get depending on the crowd). Â They're also pretty good with being consistent on their drinks. (meaning- not one of those bars where one bartender is good and the other one sucks)
My favorites here would be the mint mojito, gimlet, and cucumber gimlet.
In the mood for a creative cocktails? 83 Proof is your place! Upon walking in, I saw the bartender making a delicious fresh fruit cocktail concoction. When I asked him what it was, he said he had just created it on the fly. This is my kind of drink! I decided to put my cocktail faith in him and asked him to make me one  of his creations. The drink was delicious! It was fresh squeezed fruit with a hint of carbonation and went down very nicely.
The bar has little frills. It's a narrow bar on the first floor and then the second floor has an intimate sitting area that's good for a small group or about 10-15 people. Everything about this bar is calm, cool and collected and if I lived in SF, it would definitely be on my rotation.
I've come here on Fridays with friends after work, so naturally it gets REALLY FULL. Tons of people milling around means you have to weasel your way to get to the bar to order. Best thing to do would be to have one person to order for the group.
The drinks here are small and the crowd is usually Deloitte/business folks on Friday nights.
83 Proof's slogan is "If you've got the time, we've got the everything." And It's a pretty fair statement.
+ They've got friendly barkeeps that know how to make a mean cocktail.
+ They've got a cocktail list you can choose from or you can just give them a liquor and they'll make something.
+ They rarely have a wait.
+ The prices are reasonable for the area ($9-$12 per drink.)
+ They have an intimate upstairs area that can hold a group of about 15 fairly well.
In fact the only think they don't have is food, but who needs to eat when you're drinking this well?
83 Proof is one of a litany of solid cocktail bars/lounges nestled down in to SOMA. It offers up a dandy combination of tasty craft cocktails and various other drinks in a decently lounge-y setting.
The cocktailers here are plenty nice and willing to work with you to find a drink you'll like, pull off a dealer's choice, or make a solid off of their regular menu. I didn't sense any of the pretentious attitude I caught at another notable nearby bar, which is always a welcome relief. Drink prices run right along with the standard SOMA cocktail prices - around $9-$12/each, which is totally fine for a solid cocktail made with good hooch and an experienced hand.
This bar has been in the rotation on my last few visits to SF, and I totally see it staying heavy in the mix the next time I'm back. I totally enjoy this spot.
Very nice place, a bit too loud for a date in my opinion, and gets really packed. The bartenders are knowledgeable and ask you right away what your drink preferences are, and then fix you up an amazing drink. Â Very personalized. Â The drinks are super strong, so you can take that how you want it. Â It's very hard to find, I was walking up and down the street looking for it so expect to find yourself in front of a bar with no sign, next to Walgreens.
Review Source:I've been to several large, private parties here. I can not give 83 Proof enough praise. The bar itself is beautiful, not themed or overly ornate. Just a well put together, neutral space. There's a relaxed area upstairs that overlooks the entire bar and several high top tables and chairs donwstairs.
The only complaint I've ever had is that they sometimes underestimate the staff needed for large groups.
83 Proof gets Crowded (I actually wanted it in all caps but that seems a bit too melodramatic). You have to walk through the narrow hallway to make it upstairs. Make it through the crowd and head up those stairs, it is worth it. There's more lounging space and it is slightly more quiet. Try the basil gimlet. Drinks aren't necessarily strong, but they certainly are tasty. Bartenders, like reported, are friendly.
If you're in the area and don't mind getting your elbows bumped, check out 83Proof.
This is a really cool place to just hang out and chill. The atmosphere is really laid back, and it's usually not that crowded as long as you avoid the after work people. They should be out by around 9pm. Upon entering, I've had little trouble finding a spot a the bar or grabbing a table.
The bartenders here are absolutely fantastic. I remember the first time I came here and asked for a drink menu, one of the bartenders pointed to his head and replied, "It's right here." I described to him the kind of drinks I like, and then he worked his magic and served me something really tasty. I appreciate that they put in the extra effort to make drinks based your preferences, as everyone has a different palate.
I also enjoy their vast selection of whiskey. I always make it a point to try a different whiskey whenever I come, and I love how they always have a recommendation based on other whiskeys I like. The bartenders are very knowledgeable so don't hesitate to ask about anything they have on the shelves. If you're not feeling adventurous, they'll likely have your favorite whiskey in stock so take a seat and enjoy a glass.
I've been here twice for after-dinner drinks. They have ice-cold pints and a large whiskey selection (sadly, no Pappy 15 or Four Roses Small Batch Limited Ed). Don't be afraid to ask the bartender for whiskey recommendations.
There are two leather couches and several armchairs in the upstairs lounge area. It can get pretty loud, which works out if you want an excuse to lean in closer towards your attractive drinking companion.
Amazing HH and cute spot in FiD with liquor bottles aligned up against the wall. I recall $5 beers and $7 or $8 cucumber gimlets. So much better than overpriced so-called HH spots elsewhere. Though crowded, surprisingly not difficult to buy a drink or get a seat at the bar. The bartenders are really nice here. Ended up staying from 5-8 and had a great time. Wish there were hooks to hang up jackets and laptop bags!
Review Source:This is one of the more classier bars I've been to in the city. It has an upstairs area that overlooks the bottom. I heard that you can rent out the whole bar as long your party spends a certain minimum amount or else you would need to cover the difference.
We drove here from my work, so there's a lot of parking on Mission that's really close to here. However, please don't drink and drive if you come here.
Inside is dim but not super dark. It's a good place to catch up and talk with people. The bar section had a decent amount of alcohol. I only had Bulleit and Coke for $8 but it was good and I could taste the bourbon in it.
The concept is simple: tell the bartender what you like in a drink and they'll customize a drink just for you. It's a little difficult to find if you don't know where to look since the sign isn't the most obvious. In fact, the only reason why I found it was because there just happened to be people smoking outside.
The inside is dark (this is good if you want to look prettier than you really are and it will help disguise your true drunken state) and the crowd is loud and lively. A great spot to kick off the weekend, to meet up with your friends, to troll for women, or all of the above.
We trolled in on a birthday night and I had no idea this place existed.
A pretty good little bar I'd say. Â Good selection of spirits and beers on tap.
I like the long bar extending from one end to the other with plenty of stools for everyone to hang. Â The spirits shelf is pretty solid.
Good bartenders as well, who were prompt to place your order and with a smile.
I'll have to swing by again sometime soon. Â Recommended.
This is a great little unpretentious bar. I get that their gimmick is to design you a drink based on the taste you describe wanting, and that's all lovely. What I think is really special about 83 Proof, is that the bartenders' helpfulness doesn't just extend to creative cocktails. They have a great selection of whiskeys, and last time I asked the bartender for "an inexpensive whiskey that is interesting". He delivered exactly that, and without wrinkling his nose or trying to upsell me. It's a good little spot, when it's not so crowded that it's 90 degrees in there.
I don't understand the ebb and flow of the crowd there. Sometimes it's packed and 30 minutes later it's empty. If you walk by and it looks like doin' too much, stop by again in a while.
We had an insane amount of fairly pricey wine. Â My date for the night was lovely and had the staff turning cartwheels for him. Â They happily did everything he asked and more. Â They kept the wine flowing and brought us a complimentary dessert.
We shared 3 or 4 things. Â It seemed to me that the portions were small. Â I tend to eat a little at a time (although often) and we finished every dish.
We had a pasta dish, duck, and 2 salads I believe. Â Loved them all.
The place was hoping and the crowd was fairly thick but you could still have a great conversation over the music and the people. Â
I liked this place a lot.
Post dinner, we needed some proper fuel in terms of alcohol since I only partake in one glass of wine with dinner. I'm often in this neighborhood and always looking for good bars. I pulled up yelp and was surprised to have never found this spot before.
After walking in and noticing no sign outside, and a nice dark interior I was taken aback by the selection of whiskey especially bourbon, this was a winner. We started off with a couple beers, they have some good options on tap. I had some type of tasty Pilsner, but I forget the brand.
While we were putting back our second beer I noticed the bartender making some very interesting bourbon based concoction, and began asking questions about it. It had a name, which eludes me, but it had some type of blood orange liquor, bitters, something else bitter, and bourbon with a lemon peel in it. It was an interesting and tasty cocktail. These guys are true mixologists and whiskey lovers, just explain what you like and they will craft something interesting you will enjoy.
A real gem for this area!
So there I was on a Bart train, on my way to meet a friend for drinks... Â 83 Proof was just a 3 minute walk from Embarcadero station, super convenient. Â The few tables were taken, so we sat at the bar. Â The space was charming and intimate. Â I liked that the music was loud enough to hear, but not too loud to talk over. Â Good lighting, good crowd, a nice comfortable feel.
The gimlet was tasty, and there was a great collection of scotch and whiskey. Â Our bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. Â This guy was a pro...a bit later into the night, he approached with a big pink box, silently opened the lid...Kara's Cupcakes! Â Yeah, I was excited. Â
Nice chill spot for evening drinks. Â Doesn't seem like there's much else in the neighborhood going on in the evening, so it's a little isolated. Â But if you're in the area, this is a great choice.
We stumbled in here in the midst of a long, dark night: full of chatter and vinegar and more than a little libation, 83 Proof has long been a known commodity amongst my pals that count themselves part of the Bay Area set: easy, accommodating, with a quick pour regularly on the make, or a cold one at the ready if you're nearby and thirsty.
They weren't busy when we popped in, and that was just as well: my gang was leaning into the dying of this particular night and ready for a room full of conversation -- in the end, our drinks were readily found, the pours steady, the tab reasonable. What 83 Proof may lack by way of frills (if that's even what you're after), they more than make up for in familiarity. Bottoms up.
I've heard a lot about 83 proof but when I tried to go once or twice, it was always too crowded. Last night for NYE, around 11, it was surprisingly sparse so my friends and I popped in for one last drink before midnight.
The good: The drinks are pretty darn well made. My basil gimlet was the perfect blend of basil flavor and gin- and even though I usually am not a gin drinker, it was dangerously easy to gulp it down. It was also relatively brightly lit with comfortable places to sit and stand- a very welcoming, come in and drink for awhile kind of vibe.
The bad: The crowd was definitely more 30's and up, not looking to party and just to chill. Also, I can see how the focus is on the drinks and not on the decor; no hipstery pretentious ambiance here, but maybe that's a good thing.
Overall: Seems like the drinks here are pretty top notch, and it's a good casual bard to grab happy hour at.
Came here strictly on a fluke after the Giants parade yesterday. After much fuss trying to find it (its has NO sign outside) we came into a very neat looking bar. They had the Giants ceremony on and piped t through some speakers so everyone could hear. It was pretty neat but I kinda wish they had another TV at the other end of the bar. If I didn't have my glasses I would have been screwed.
The bartenders were really cool, mostly because of the following. For the first time in my life, I brought my mom to a BAR. I was hilarious to watch her scowl...so I took apropriate action.
I told the bartender "I need a cosmo. Make it fruity but strong." Â LOL and boy did it work! She was singin along to Tony Bennett 10 mintues later. Thank you 83 Proof.
I'm going to leave this review to be updated because I had a good time here but I could't thoroughly enjoy my whisky here.
First off: I asked the bartender for recommendations on whisky and he asked what I like. Being new to whisky I didn't really know how to respond without sounding like a complete idiot. I really could have figured it out if I had some sort of menu but apparently at a whisky bar they don't have a whisky menu because they change so much. hmm. O well.
He ended up giving me a whisky that I was not so keen over but also had me try a rye that was great. I definitely want to like this place so I'll give it another try. Kudos for the bartender for trying to help.
Why haven't I written a review about this place yet? HMm hard to notice on one of the busiest streets in SF. It's direction is towards the bay bridge. With excellently crafted cocktails, a professional staff and a swanky yet casual atmosphere. Small venue but perfect for an after work drink =)
Ps. If work crowds aren't in your immediate bag of tricks, don't bother coming here.
Hours of operation: M-Tuesday 2p-12am
Wed-Thur-2p-2a
Fri-12p-2a
Sat-8p-2a
Who shows up at a bar but doesn't drink booze?
*raises hand*
Although I had volunteered myself last night to be the DD, I still appreciate super cool bartenders and good drinks.
Thanks for taking my card last night instead of my friend's, he had already paid for dinner.
Thanks for being super attentive to our drink needs (We wanted a bitter cocktail but ended up with old fashioneds but the bartender making our drinks was a super sweetheart, THANK YOU!) AND helping me out when I felt like a divorced child (my friends were arguing, but it was all out of love)
You guys are dope.
Coming back to try this basil gimlet people keep raving about but I think I might just sit down and sip Jameson for a night or two.
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