Great place, has gotten very popular over the past few months, so a little difficult to get a seat. The cocktails are beautifully made and with a smile not a I'm a freakin mixologist bow down  and listen to me blather on about me me me.. Nope, just a PERFECT cocktail hand made by lovely ladies.  A bit hard to get to the bar to order food, but I really like this place!!!!
Review Source:When you've had too much whiskey (or started the night with Sauzeracs at Absinthe), and need to calm your palate, here's my recommendation: Dark Matter + Low Gap Libre (substituting the vanilla and clove infused rum from the DM with the cola and lime of the Libre). Be prepared for some attitude from the bartender, who offendedly exclaimed, "if it's not good, I'm holding you accountable." Â Errr, doesn't take a mixologist to figure out that cloves, rum, vanilla, cola and lime would be pretty fucking good when swirled around on the tongue. And there's no reason to get all lawyerly over ten bucks. If no one combined ingredients in new or inventive ways, we'd all be drinking alcohol made from fermented bee larvae and saliva.
Once made, it was definitely the best drink of the night, which explains why it might have been a problem. Sorry to one up ya, but not all customers with requests are morons. Oh yes, and sometimes you have no idea who the people you're serving are or what they may or may not be capable of, so relax.
I really really like the ambiance here. And the bartender is super friendly and talks about the drinks he makes, and takes his time to make them. The reason for the three stars is that he made me a drink, and when I told him I did not like it, he didn't offer to make another drink. For the price, he should have done that. But overall cute place and is nice for a date!
Review Source:Cute and cozy bar in Hayes Valley. Wasn't that much seating on Friday night, but we luckily got 3 seats at the bar. They have interesting cocktails on their menu largely displayed behind the bar, which are $10 each. Not bad; they are pretty strong. I wish they had more cocktails with clear liquor though; almost all of them were made with either bourbon or whiskey. The bartender was super nice and it was cool being at the bar watching him make the drinks. We also ordered the mushroom pate, one of the salamis, and goat gouda, which came with honey-covered almonds and bread. They weren't amazing, but they were good. If I come back, I'll try the deviled eggs. This wouldn't be a regular spot for me, but I enjoyed my visit here and wouldn't mind coming back for a drink if I'm in the area.
Review Source:Lovely...just lovely. Great happy hour prices and though they have a small bar and therefore a careful selection of drink choices, they have picked solidly.
$3 beers during happy hour and I picked Arrogant Bastard. With my beer and a book in hand picked from their shelf I sat down to read and kill an hour and a half. Perfect afternoon.
Its a small yet long seating area and the bar has a handful of stools but go with a couple friends anyway and cozy up to each other! Or go alone...either way is a great way to enjoy this unique and cute little bar.
I love this quaint little bar tucked away in Hayes valley complete with...BOOKS! Go figure. There isn't too much seating though but the atmosphere is the perfect balance between intimate and bustling.
Drinks are made well and it's a great place for a date or catch up with a friend. Would return and try out their food next!
I don't get all the positive reviews this place gets.
The staff is nice, but that's about it.
It's a dark hole with uncomfortable chairs and mini-tables and it does not have at all the library-like cosy atmosphere the name suggests. There is nearly no choice of food and the food itself is uninspired and bad and expensive. They dare charging you 12$ for 2 eggs, 5 asparagus and a little bread. No sauce, no breakfast potatoes, no meat, nothing. A side of bacon is 5$. That's then 17$ to get to a half decent breakfast. There are places with great views and ambiance where you pay less for eggs Benedict with even salmon and breakfast potatoes and hollandaise sauce! No idea how they survive. They will never see me again. The get the star just for the staff.
Two Sisters Bar & Books is the business. Â Its got low-lit, hole-in-the-wall, pseudo-library charm, and it's the perfect place for a date night. Â Their seasonally inspired cocktails are a welcome alternative to pricey wine bars--rustic, full of flavor, and a great way to "spend the night together" with someone special.
Review Source:They get four stars because everything that displeased me about this place is due to the crowds that flock to this tiny little spot, even on a rainy Tuesday evening.
I ordered the house red wine, which was surprisingly excellent. I've only tried the deviled eggs, but they were divine. So great product, and great service.
The only problem(s) is that because it was so crowded, it was super noisy and squished and the lighting was dim and the door was open. Just uncomfortable.
It's ironic that it's titling itself as a book bar because the last thing you would ever be able to do in there is read. Me and my boyfriend were both charmed by the place... but then we had to get the hell out of there!
My advice: Go there, but avoid the rush.
My friend and I totally thought this was a lesbian bar when we first walked in. There were so many women!!! We were walking around Hayes looking for a bar after spending 30 minutes driving around Haight looking for parking and epically failing. I had been meaning to try this place out so I was pretty psyched when we walked past it.
Service here is awesome!!! Our water was always filled, they brought out chairs for us when we could only stand at this weird table section next to the bar and they were super friendly. Space is super tight here! The food looked amazing! I didn't even know they served food here but I'm definitely coming back to try it. My friend said the bathroom was really cool too and had books and everything in it haha.
Minus one star because they ran out of the ginger beer my friend wanted and then when I wanted to try their Dark Matter cocktail we realized they couldn't make it because it uses the ginger beer! Grrrrr.
An interesting spot in Hayes Valley. Old school cocktails in a vintage themed bar. It's VERY tight in there, so you'll be standing awkwardly against the wall waiting for your drink while people shimmy past you. Not a big deal but the place is very narrow. It's also quite dark inside.
The drinks are strong, and I tried something that wasn't so great but the bartender was really friendly and replaced it with something better. Didn't try the food.
Overall, a cool place to have a drink at, but not a place that makes you want to stay for an extended period of time.
Really want to love this place, because it has a cute story, quaint & cozy vibe, and friendly staff. But I've had disappointing dishes here on two occasions.
The first time, I got a really amazing pickle plate, and a-okay deviled eggs, followed by overly bread-y/grainy and sorta dry meatballs.
The second time around was for brunch, and I thought the place was surprisingly empty on a Saturday around noon. I got the $13 duck cassoulet with 2 poached eggs. Eggs were poached perfectly but the rest of the cassoulet was kinda of a soupy slop with minimal threads of duck and some white beans. I expected a richer stew. This was served with 2 slices of baguette. My friend got a grilled cheese, which came with a small bowl of tomato soup. I sampled the grilled cheese and it was delicious and gooey and very very buttery. Also, Â did not care for the house red, which tasted slightly sour.
So, hits and misses every time.
Now accepts credit cards.
Visited this bar on Saturday after dinner nearby. It is a very small venue, and it was super crowded, but the bartenders greeted us right away and our drinks were ordered and made immediately. Everyone was very friendly, and we were able to find a spot at the bar near the door even though it was so crowded.
I've heard a lot about their food, but it was too busy and too late to try any. I'm looking forward to going back when its less packed to try it out.
One of my new top favorite spots in Hayes Valley!!
A small space, but very relaxed and simple. Â Books on the side of the bar if you're interested in a quick read, and a great selection of cocktails, house wine and beers. Â
It's best to get there early for happy hour because the place does fill up, I would not recommend going there with a party bigger than 4. Â Oh yea, the food menu is pretty delicious as well!
Ambiance and cocktails were 5 stars all the way. Two of us came here on a weeknight at 6pm, the perfect time to actually snag a table! By 6:30 it was jam packed with people already. I ordered the chamomile old fashioned and it was made very well. That was the best thing I ordered, and at $10 a pop I am glad I liked it. The bartender was really friendly and made sure everyone was helped.
Now, onto the food. I was really disappointed in what we got. Maybe we ordered the wrong things and should have gone with the classic grilled cheese. We split the bean salad, which was nice but over dressed. In my opinion the short ribs were just not very good. For $15 the portion was very small because the ribs had barely any meat on them and tons of fat. I know they should have some fat, but I think they should be trimmed back a bit.
I would come back for the cocktails and the really nice dim ambiance, but probably not for a meal.
I'm so torn about this review. I wanted so much to like this place. But with a name like Two Sisters Bar and Books, I was expected more of a library-ish ambiance. I suppose this place might have that ambiance during slower hours -- which is apparently not Wednesdays around 6pm. Overall, it was surprisingly dark for a place with a bookshelf full of reading material, super loud, and poorly laid out.
Regarding the layout: you have to go up to the bar to order, so if the line is more than two people deep, you're right on top of the tables next to the bar. (We made the mistake of sitting at one of these tables, and had lots of behinds, elbows, and purses in our personal space while we were eating.)
The food and drink were total five-star, though, which adds to my conflicted opinion -- I had the grilled cheese and the chamomile old fashioned, which were absolute perfection. My date had the Dark Matter, which I tasted and also loved. But I honestly had a hard time enjoying my food because I kept having to scrunch myself against the wall as people pushed past my table.
Really, if this place doubled in size and added some kind of sound-absorbing material, and maybe added a few extra lightbulbs, it would be just what I hoped it would be ... but alas, definitely not the case. It just wasn't the quiet drink 'n' bite over a cozy table I was hoping for.
What's not to love?
Charm.
Coziness.
Bourbon.
Bites.
a 'Dark Knight'. (because we haven't all found the one in shining armor yet)
Chamomile old fashioneds.
The fact that the guy that last poured my drink was definitely *not* a sister.
Background music sound check. Could've fooled me and told me a pianist was hidden behind the curtain.
Any given night can swing from quiet romance to bustling, but not overly boozy.
Bring your date and leave your fan club at home. There's room for two. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Cocktail review only.
It's a hip spot. Â That's all I can say. Â The drinks aren't too impressive, the crowd is a little too cool for my taste and the seating arrangement is awkward. Â For example, why is the bookshelf SO MUCH taller than the chairs that are put out for people to sit on?
I'm sure brunch is a lot better - but I'm not sure I'll be back. Â And if you do come here, wear a fedora.
HOLIDAY DRINKS: 12.20.12 @ 4:30 PM
A place the size of a postage stamp. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/two-sisters-bar-and-books-san-francisco?select=gDTreoiP9WKw1sME1FYmjQ#9uWgC1Gy0vfkb_NjtToQkA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Once the door closes, once you adjust your sight to this very dark gastropub, after your first sip of the strong but well-crafted manhattan, you will be embraced by the warmth and coziness of the Two Sisters Bar and Books.
Two Sisters is a very tiny space that has more length than width. Â A display window holds vintage-looking books. Aside from the tea lights on the bistro tables, Â the only lights are coming from the festive holiday street lights and the sign at the bar. Â
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/two-sisters-bar-and-books-san-francisco?select=gDTreoiP9WKw1sME1FYmjQ#7cs_wKkc_Qom1CTNjUkXLg">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Bars usually intimidate me but Two Sisters made me feel right at home with its  cozy Victorian-esque ambiance-- old books, candlelights, a display window. The jazz completed the scene without being played too loud.  The bartender is probably the friendliest and most relaxed one I have met.  Patrons that evening included a group of middle-aged folks in business attires, a girl reading a book, and a couple on a date.
IMBIBE:
Two Sister provided a comfortable venue for me and my gf to catch up.  She took advantage of the HAPPY HOUR $3 DRAFT BEER while I ordered HARVEST MANHATTAN (a delicious concoction of rye, pumpkin liqueur, vermouth, bitters) $10 from the regular menu. Whew, so strong and so tasty!!!!!! 5 hours  later and I was still buzzed over this one drink!
EATS:
My gf (The Cute Yoga Queen) refused to eat prior to her session but I ordered a plate of CRATER LAKE BLUE $7. It came with a wedge of semi-firm blue cheese, crusty bread, marmalade and head of too raw garlic. Delightful! (I skipped the garlic.)<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/two-sisters-bar-and-books-san-francisco?select=gDTreoiP9WKw1sME1FYmjQ#IrspdiLR2adlfwp7Bc7DUg">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
VERDICT:
A great find! A darling little bar! It is now my new secret place on Hayes whenever I need a little respite from the crazy world. I will be back to try more the long list of wines and cocktails. A great place either for a FULL DINNER, CHARCUTERIE/CHEESE $7 Â or LITTLE SNACKS$5 of potato chips or deviled eggs to go with your drinks.
FUTURE EATS:
Nex time I will try a plate or two of the following big plates: Â salad, fish, braised ribs and duck cassoulet.
TAB: $18 before tip (1 beer, 1 manhattan & 1 cheese plate)
HAPPY HOUR
Tues.-Fri. 4p - 6p/Sat.-Sun. 1p - 4p $5 cocktails and $3 beers
CASH ONLY.
A PERFECT VENUE FOR HOLIDAY DRINKS!
(But I hope to be back every season!)
Stumbled across this little bar in the Hayes on a rainny night, totally in love with this place! I consider it a perfect place to grab a drink and do some reading in an afternoon, or grab a drink and have a conversation with good company any evening.
Have yet to try the food raved by Yelpers, but I'm sure a fan of their cork screw with housemade tabasco sauce!
This review is long overdue. I visit San Francisco occasionally, but I'm mainly in the East Bay. However when I visit, I always recommend a trip to Two Sisters. My first time here was on a whim when a restaurant up the road was backlogged and our reservation was going to be an hour behind. Good thing for us. We landed here and had an awesome time.
First of all, one of the best Manhattan Bars in town!!! Hands down. The bartender is awesome, and knows his stuff. Don't ask him whatever he would get, tell him what your' favorite tastes are. The Duke was great! Also, the fresh snacks and cheeses were a nice touch. The only thing keeping this from a 5 is the size of the place. It's narrow, and I'm a big guy, so I do like my space, but I make due each trip. I'll bet after another visit or two my care for the size of the place may get pushed aside and this becomes a 5.
This place seems to be ground central for a pretentious style of running a business which is becoming all too prevalent in San Francisco. As lovers of quaint places, books and copious amounts of booze, my best friend and I made 2 attempts to patronize this business but were unsuccessful.
Firstly, this place is the size of a postage stamp. It cannot seat more than 15 comfortably. The pictures on the business website are misleading and none of the photos posted to Yelp show this. It is also almost completely pitch black, even more than most bars, which is ironic because you cannot read a book in there.
The first time we accidentally showed up in the middle of a book event. Ok, our bad, but why on earth are you holding large book events in such a ridiculously tiny space? We squeezed our way through, hoping the bar would be larger than it appeared from the street but were trapped in a crush of bodies and stuck listening to a reading of the THE most pretentious, yet vulgar prose. We couldn't get out again for a long while as the 'stage' was the only entrance/exit to the place. We tried to look at the menu, but were rebuffed by the staff.
Ok, so second time should work, right? Heading over after the Opera, we decided to try again as the cocktails *did* look delicious. We got there about 10:25 and were RUDELY informed by the bartender (as we headed for the one table free) that they were closing (they close at 11) and that it was last call RIGHT NOW. We hadn't even looked at him or approached the bar by this time. What kind of bar closes at 11pm on Thursday?! And what kind of bar makes their customers feel so unwelcome?
If you want the library atmosphere, good drinks and enough room to stretch your legs, try the Library Bar at the Hotel Rex. It also closes early during the week, but they are not rude about it.
I wandered in looking for brunch place in Hayes Valley- and Stacks down the street had a wait that would take me way into lunch. I wanted a relaxed, quieter place for the morning and Two Sisters Bar and Books was perfect! They had the most delicious egg sandwiches I've ever had! All the ingredients were fresh and high quality- I was really happy with my choice. I perched right near the window so I could read and eat and it was a perfect morning. All the workers were friendly, as well as all the patrons that came in that morning too- pretty impressive!
Gotta come back for drinks sometime soon!
Two Sisters is a great spot for drinks in a small group. Even four feels like a lot in a place of this size on the weekend. The great drinks here, ordered from a small bar, will help make your night (or afternoon) even better.
My girlfriend and I came here on what happened to be their 1st birthday party. $1 bourbon and $2 cava! These specials are good once year, though perhaps not next year. Since our previous visit in the winter, Two Sisters now accepts credit cards. Yea! Typically drinks here are on the pricey side, but in line with what I now expect in Hayes Valley. Often there will be 2-3 small plate options for nibbling, and perhaps a sandwich as well.
There is a lot to reflect on in life these days, and yesterday was a strange day with much reflection. Â It was a major milestone birthday and we attended a funeral of a friend a colleague who passed way too young. Â So after an appointment on Hayes street in the late afternoon I passed by Two Sisters. Â It looked like the ideal place to relax and contemplate life for a bit. Â And being a gentleman who likes to read and also enjoys an occasional adult beverage, it seemed like a good place for me.
The setting is casual, slightly dark, somewhat occupied but not too crowded, and has a nice selection of music playing in the background. I seated myself at a table towards the back, across from the small bar.  The crowd was friendly, ranging from late 20's to late 40's and consisted of several couples and a group of three women at the table by the front window.  The décor is well done and there are plenty of books to pick from if you want to relax and read for a bit.
Service was friendly and prompt. Â I ordered their signature Two Sisters - a twist on the classic Manhattan - and the snack special - spicy kale crustini with goat cheese. Â Both were tasty - though the drink was a tad bit sweeter than I prefer.
As I sat there thinking of the recent life events the crowd slowly changed. Â First, two women came in at the same time, but not together - they each sat at their own table along the wall. Â Then as the couple started leaving, one by one, additional women came in. Â Each of the earlier women had another woman join them at each of their tables, another two women came in and sat at the bar, and one more pair of friends met up and sat at yet another table. Â During all this, on of the women at the front table left, leaving two.
So as I sat there finishing the last bite of spicy kale and enjoying the last sip of my Two Sisters, I realized that all the other patrons were pairs of women. Â So here I sat at Two Sisters, drinking a Two Sisters, surrounded by 5 pairs of two women/sisters.
Just one more thing to reflect on.
It's a small, narrow and dark place to have a cocktail. I like it. I just don't get it. Supposedly Two Sister and Books started between Krakow and Warsaw on a train inspired by an English language book store. I get the cocktails and food part, but I doubt I could read my iPod here let alone a book...hell, I came here to imbibe and not read Cervantes.
Try their two sisters Cobb salad of petite romaine hearts, some eggs, tomato, guac and some chicken. There's also some braised pork meatballs (with , yum, caramelized onions) for about 11 bucks.
There also some some charcuterie and fromage...and dare I say it, BREAD PUDDING!!! Yeah, I found another place that has bread pudding...weeep all you Bread Pudding haters you!!!! Sorry, I love the stuff.
What I really came here for, after umpappa music at nearby Biergarten, was some brut cava, vino blanc from espana. Then again, there's albarino, hendry 2010 from Napa...no, but wait, there's some sauvignon blanc portalupi 2010...je suis desolee, mais prefere vin espanol, Â pero en este momento yo habia bebiando Belgian Blonde...OK not, the big French speaking hoochie mama from Belgique, but a tall beer Tiburon blonde, draft from Marin Brewing.
What the hell, I'm in the city. I'll drink them all, crash at my friend's place and drive back to Man Hozer er San Hoe when I'm good 'n sober.
(Oh yeah, there also house red...garnach, lechuza 2010, un vino de espana, muy sabroso).
If you're looking for a cocktail in Hayes Valley, THIS IS THE PLACE TO GO!
2 sisters is definitely a small and quant place, but the atmosphere is fantastic and the drinks are even better.
My favorite is the Chamomile Old Fashioned and any other bourbon drink.
Additionally, the food menu is pretty good, especially for cocktail snacks and other gastro pub type fare.
GO HERE!
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