San Francisco in June

Originally Posted by lefty

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At 4:00 am just so I could shine my headlights into the houses as I made each turn. What kind of masochist would buy a house there?

lefty
We looked at a house on that block about ten years ago. Nice place, but no thanks. I live only a block or two away, so when I walk the dog I have to brave the tourists. Makes me have much more compassion for Parisians.

The only thing that would be worse is one of those houses in Alamo Square. Imagine opening your front door to see 100 people across the street with cameras pointed at your house.

lefty

Forget B&B unless you really feel like you have to.

+1 Bar Agricole, but try and go early so you can talk to the bartender. It gets really crowded.

Clockbar downtown is very nice and they know what they are doing. Best place to meet people at the bar.

I also like Absinthe, great drinks, chatty, knowledgable bartenders.

But THE BEST bar for serious cocktails is Heaven's Dog on Mission. Discuss what you like with the bartender and have them suggest something (called "Freedom From Choice"). They love to talk cocktails and it is usually not super busy there. They will even serve Vodka (reluctantly)! I have had many unforgettable cocktail experiences there. Food is good as well, its owned by Slanted Door.

Further out is Berretta in the Mission. Great drinks and light dinner. Open late.

Finally, two wild cards: Royal Cuckoo in outer mission. Hipster bar with good cocktails and vinyl records. 2nd, Smugglers Cove in Hayes Valley, tiny three level bar specializing in vintage rum drinks. Strong Tiki vibe. Go early this place gets jammed.

PM me if you want a guided tour

Originally Posted by lefty

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Well, a trip to SF wouldn't be complete if you couldn't share pics of the sausages you met while there.

OP is not a tourist; he's a traveler. Wants to hang out in the city and spend his nights drinking cocktails. To me that means sitting at the end of a bar - hat off - enjoying a drink and casually flirting with the pretty waitress who will invite me to go drinking with her friends at the end of her shift. Lining up in a rented car to crawl down Lombard Street is for families from Des Moines. As are cable cars, Fisherman's Wharf, and Blue Bottle coffee.

lefty

Lefty, you deserve whatever anguish you are in since moving to San Fran. Yeah, I just called it "San Fran".

I used to love the Orbit Room on Market St., but I haven't gone there in a few years. They are still known for their cocktails, but I used to go when there was this utterly uncharming cock-eyed chick who made the best drinks.

Originally Posted by lefty

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Bring a sweater. I was at Absinthe a few days ago. It's okay for a quick drink but it is a rather ugly little bar and far too crowded to spend much time in. The recommended cocktail they served me was pretty much swill and to their credit they quickly replaced it with something decent. lefty
I agree wholeheartedly - the food there is meh, the bar is not well decorated, but they make great drinks, and if you order one and don't like it, they'll gladly replace it.

Originally Posted by binge

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Some nice spirits at Rickhouse as well.
LOVE this place.

Originally Posted by HORNS

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Lefty, you deserve whatever anguish you are in since moving to San Fran. Yeah, I just called it "San Fran".
Why am I not surprised that Lefty and Mr. White both live in SFO?

Originally Posted by iammatt

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Maybe hit Bar Agricole? I've not been, but a few friends like it a lot. Ferry building is great, though I would opt for oysters and a nice glass (bottle) of vouvray outside of Hog Island in the evening, even if it is cold.
What is this business with the oysters about? Do you forage for them, or buy them from the vendors up there, take them away and drink on the shore?

Originally Posted by pocketsquareguy

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Be sure and swing by here for a drink or a bite to eat http://www.comstocksaloon.com/ This is nice as well http://www.houseofshields.com/index.htm I like to take people to the Ferry Building around 4 pm for a drink and bar snacks at the Slanted Door. Great cocktails and you get to see a beautiful bay view while watching the ferry service. http://slanteddoor.com/index.html
Cool, thanks.

Originally Posted by lefty

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Bring a sweater. I was at Absinthe a few days ago. It's okay for a quick drink but it is a rather ugly little bar and far too crowded to spend much time in. The recommended cocktail they served me was pretty much swill and to their credit they quickly replaced it with something decent. lefty
Hmm, Absinthe does seem to get mixed reviews here. Odd. I think I probably will still go, though.

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

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I enjoyed the art deco walking tour, if you like that kind of thing. The art in the Coit Tower is also of the same period. I enjoyed that more than the big museums.
Oh, that's nice -- might do that if we have time.

Originally Posted by Roikins

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Do The Wilson Bar instead of Bourbon & Branch (it's the same people, just located next door with the same pretentious password stuff), but it's a smaller bartender/patron ratio and allows you to really talk to the bartenders. B&B can sit you in a private booth where you can't talk to the bartender. Around the block from there is Rye, another cocktail place, and down the block is another B&B owned joint, Mr. Lew's Win Win Bar & Grand Sazerac Emporium; it's billed as a cocktail dive bar, because they crank out really amazing cocktails for ~$5. Don't miss Bar Agricole; it's a good later night spot on Fri./Sat., because it's usually very mellow and lots of industry people end up there, but don't order food there. Comstock Saloon and Alembic are the only 2 cocktail places I would order food. There's also Beretta in the Mission for strong cocktails, which was Bar Agricole's Thad Volger's previous project. If you're into rum, there's Smuggler's Cove and Nihon for whisky. The wildcard is Blackbird, because sometimes they have barrel aged cocktails.
Whoa, thanks. This is the only comment that makes me consider not going to B&B, even with people like Kent (whose cocktail tastes seems to dovetail with mine) not praising it. When I was getting into the cocktail scene, the triad of must-dos was NYC (M&H, Death, PDT), Seattle (Zig-Zag, Vessel), and SF (B&B). Really, this trip is basically because I wanted to go to B&B. I've only got three nights for cocktails, can't waste any of them.

Originally Posted by lefty

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FYI - it seems that "You're fuckin' kidding me?" is not the password at B&B. lefty
Haha, I love that.

Originally Posted by NorCal

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If you like beer and prefer a more down market **** you type of vibe go to Toronado. They're in the lower Haight. Tons of beer and you can buy a sausage next door. They also carry barley wine which if you like it is a wonderful thing.

Originally Posted by HORNS

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+1 on Bar Agricole - they do brunch there, so if you want a brunch at a place where they take their cocktails seriously, you should do this one. Toronado is a classic. My favorite beer place, though, is Monk's Kettle - the staff and patrons are much nicer there and their list is amazing. The owner has been aging many of his Belgian beers for years for his personal use, then realized that he has way too many beers and decided to make a special menu with aged beers on it.
Ah, cool, I like a morning cocktail when on vacation, and as I am so completely not a morning person, pure breakfast is never my preference. I like beer, trip out about good wine, but I am a cocktail/spirits person at heart, I think. So thanks for the beer recs, but I'll skip them this time -- NorCal, barleywine is one of my favorite kinds of beers!

Originally Posted by ramuman

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I'm a creature of comfort so I always fly into SFO, take a laborious BART ride to Union Square and stay there...but I hate the touristy nature of the area. My advice...see the entire area, not just San Fran. You can start your day in Stanford/Palo Alto/Mountain View seeing the garage where Apple and HP were founded and you can end your night at the French Laundry. It's almost cliche (and I'm guessing cynical SF members like iammatt would never admit it), but in my opinion, it's the greatest region that I've been to on the planet.
As an engineer, PA is a mecca one step shy of MIT, but I'm here to get away from that sort of things, though I will try to see the area -- one day reserved for out of the city. Is the geyser worthwhile? I've never seen a geyser, and it's not too far from Merry Edwards. Also, speaking of outside the City -- the drive north on 1 to the Bodega Hwy was suggested as a scenic run to Merry Edwards, but I not that you never see the ocean on that run? What's a wonderful oceanside view I should see?

Originally Posted by pocketsquareguy

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The one touristy thing I will suggest is that you swing by the Buena Vista Cafe http://www.thebuenavista.com/home/home.html for an Irish coffee. It is touristy because it is a landmark and located on the edge of Fishermans Wharf (avoid that) but it is the real deal. The drink is delicious. Got to love a place that is the single largest user of Irish whiskey in the US. It has a nicely kept up dive quality to it and interesting patrons many who are long-time regulars for a reason. The Hells Angles headquarters used to be right around the corner in the 70's. If you want a true SF experience, stop in early for breakfast and an eye-opener.
Hmmmm.....

Originally Posted by Mr. White

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You're only saying that because you not only drove down Lombard Street, but circled back to take the ride over and over. I'm presuming that the OP hasn't and might enjoy doing some of the touristy things -- because he might not want to show the pix of sausages to his coworkers back at home.

Originally Posted by lefty

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Well, a trip to SF wouldn't be complete if you couldn't share pics of the sausages you met while there. OP is not a tourist; he's a traveler. Wants to hang out in the city and spend his nights drinking cocktails. To me that means sitting at the end of a bar - hat off - enjoying a drink and casually flirting with the pretty waitress who will invite me to go drinking with her friends at the end of her shift. Lining up in a rented car to crawl down Lombard Street is for families from Des Moines. As are cable cars, Fisherman's Wharf, and Blue Bottle coffee. lefty
I am thinking that by 'sausages' you don't mean a local dish? Or maybe you do, just not the kind served on a bun....damn, can't avoid puns. lefty, I appreciate the compliment. Only objection is that flirting with the pretty waitresses might cause some distress to the lady sitting with me, though! And though my co-workers never see my pics, Mr. White, I do concede that when in NYC, I look up at the Empire State building, like any proper tourist -- when I do touristy things, its to do them or to see them, never merely to say I've done them or seen them.

Originally Posted by MyTailorIsRich

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Forget B&B unless you really feel like you have to. +1 Bar Agricole, but try and go early so you can talk to the bartender. It gets really crowded. Clockbar downtown is very nice and they know what they are doing. Best place to meet people at the bar. I also like Absinthe, great drinks, chatty, knowledgable bartenders. But THE BEST bar for serious cocktails is Heaven's Dog on Mission. Discuss what you like with the bartender and have them suggest something (called "Freedom From Choice"). They love to talk cocktails and it is usually not super busy there. They will even serve Vodka (reluctantly)! I have had many unforgettable cocktail experiences there. Food is good as well, its owned by Slanted Door. Further out is Berretta in the Mission. Great drinks and light dinner. Open late. Finally, two wild cards: Royal Cuckoo in outer mission. Hipster bar with good cocktails and vinyl records. 2nd, Smugglers Cove in Hayes Valley, tiny three level bar specializing in vintage rum drinks. Strong Tiki vibe. Go early this place gets jammed. PM me if you want a guided tour

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Huntsman

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What is this business with the oysters about? Do you forage for them, or buy them from the vendors up there, take them away and drink on the shore?

Hog Island is one of the local oyster farms, but at the Ferry Building they have a nice little cafe. You can just sit outside, have some beer or wine, and order as many oysters as you like. You can, of course, pick up unshucked ones as well, if you want to picnic.

Originally Posted by HORNS

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Lefty, you deserve whatever anguish you are in since moving to San Fran. Yeah, I just called it "San Fran".

I don't disagree.

Originally Posted by Huntsman

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Hmm, Absinthe does seem to get mixed reviews here. Odd. I think I probably will still go, though.

Whoa, thanks. This is the only comment that makes me consider not going to B&B, even with people like Kent (whose cocktail tastes seems to dovetail with mine) not praising it. When I was getting into the cocktail scene, the triad of must-dos was NYC (M&H, Death, PDT), Seattle (Zig-Zag, Vessel), and SF (B&B). Really, this trip is basically because I wanted to go to B&B. I've only got three nights for cocktails, can't waste any of them.

lefty, I appreciate the compliment. Only objection is that flirting with the pretty waitresses might cause some distress to the lady sitting with me, though! And though my co-workers never see my pics, Mr. White, I do concede that when in NYC, I look up at the Empire State building, like any proper tourist -- when I do touristy things, its to do them or to see them, never merely to say I've done them or seen them.
!

Go to Absinthe for a quick drink, but go early to avoid the crowds. It's just not a great bar at which to sit. I think you're getting some good suggestions for some quieter places, which is my preference. I don't want to line up, bring a secret decoder ring, or have to deal with an overly complicated menu of infusions. I just want a drink. That why I prefer hotel bars and older bartenders. For what it's worth, they free pour here.

Never underestimate the power of a casual and polite flirtation with a waitress in front of your date. It shows both that you're a keeper and could well end up with the three of you drunkenly skateboarding down Lombard Street at 4:00 am.

lefty

P.S. - the walk along Crissy Field is a good way to see the GG Bridge as it takes you right underneath.

Originally Posted by iammatt

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Hog Island is one of the local oyster farms, but at the Ferry Building they have a nice little cafe. You can just sit outside, have some beer or wine, and order as many oysters as you like. You can, of course, pick up unshucked ones as well, if you want to picnic.

yes you do!
hey mattie, do you know that little french bakery on fillmore? like almost across from vivande porta via? i'd forgotten about it but a couple of visits ago we stayed in the area and i got addicted to the place. real old-school. completely forgot about it until just now.

Originally Posted by HORNS

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I used to love the Orbit Room on Market St., but I haven't gone there in a few years. They are still known for their cocktails, but I used to go when there was this utterly uncharming cock-eyed chick who made the best drinks.

+1 to every one of those points.

And if you go, stop in at Grooves beforehand to browse the records and talk to the zany staff there.

Originally Posted by lefty

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At 4:00 am just so I could shine my headlights into the houses as I made each turn. What kind of masochist would buy a house there? lefty
Nice, I've been down once as well. Found it randomly one new years eve, well my friend driving found it, I was out of my head on LSD in the back seat. I'd never heard of it before and at about 5 am and high on illegal drugs careening down Lombard St. was just about perfect. Laughed for five min straight.

Originally Posted by lefty

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I don't disagree.


I'm just kidding, BTW. I hope you have a moment where you see the city in a different light and thus make you happier about being here.

Me too, but every time I get close ...

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lefty

That's just background noise to me. Like sirens.