The Top 10 Bars In Nob Hill San Francisco

Nob Hill’s watering holes range from sophisticated to shabby, and each one has its own particular appeal. Whether the mood calls for a kitschy-cool tiki joint, a classy San Francisco hotel bar, a taproom brimming with craft beer choices or a sleek lounge pouring inventive cocktails, Nob Hill’s bar scene can quench any thirst.

The Big Four

Bar, Restaurant, French

The Big Four is a swanky bar located in the Scarlet Huntington Hotel. Surrounded by green leather seating and dark woodwork, it’s easy to imagine sharing the space with San Francisco newsmakers, and the California memorabilia on the walls provides a history lesson to go with your Hemingway daiquiri. Whether it’s a lunchtime drink or a New Year’s Eve celebration, any visit to the Big Four feels like an event.

The Cinch Saloon

Bar, Gay Bar, Pub Grub

The story of the Cinch Saloon provides a crash course in Polk Street’s evolution. The facade is a remnant of the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, which gave part of the street a cowboy movie makeover. Three decades later, a plethora of gay bars reflected Polk Street’s status as the city’s center of gay life. As the sole holdover from that era and one of the oldest gay bars in San Francisco, the Cinch Saloon is well worth a visit. Inside, televisions broadcast beefcake photo reels alongside Warriors and Giants games, and erotic artwork hangs beneath mounted cattle horns.

Liquid Gold

Bar, Pub Grub

The selection at Liquid Gold, part taproom and part bottle shop, spans the spectrum of brew hues from pale blonde to espresso. With a tap list 30 beers strong, custom tasting flight combinations abound. You can also transform your brew of choice into a beer float with the addition of a scoop of Humphrey Slocombe Tahitian vanilla ice cream. Don’t forget to check the cold cases for a few craft beers to take home.

Tonga Room

Bar, Restaurant, Cocktail Bar, Pub Grub

A fixture at the Fairmont San Francisco since 1945, Tonga Room is a world all its own. Dugout canoes hang from the ceiling and dried-grass awnings border the blue lagoon at the center of the dining room. Periodic tropical rainstorms fall into the pool, where a band floats on a thatched barge. After 71 years, the tiki theme that was once new and exotic skews more toward kitsch, but that hasn’t dampened the appeal. Order a mai tai and surrender to the atmosphere.

Harper and Rye

Bar, American, Pub Grub

At Harper & Rye the beamed ceilings, herringbone plank floor and industrial railings befit a modern-rustic destination for craft cocktails, and the drinks are just as carefully considered as the decor. Deft use of bitters, herbs and spices adds depth to each concoction, and precisely calibrated recipes keep sweet, spicy and savory notes in balance. As weekend nights get later, the line outside gets longer and the music inside gets louder. Go on a weeknight or early on the weekend to sip and chat in a more relaxed environment. Either way, the drinks will be stellar.

Nook

Cafe, American

The aptly named Nook, at the corner of Hyde and Jackson, pours coffee by day and wine, beer and cocktails by night, and its cafe menu includes tasty options for any hour. There’s a daily happy hour and sangria specials all day on Mondays, making Nook a solid, unfussy neighborhood staple.

Nook | Courtesy of Nook

Zeki’s Bar

Bar, American

Even without a sign to announce its presence, Zeki’s Bar is an inviting oasis removed from the more heavily trafficked Polk and Hyde streets. Inside, dark blue-gray walls and a fireplace create a cozy vibe. A stuffed pheasant and ram serve as dueling bar mascots, while modern light fixtures provide a counterpoint to the hunting lodge decor. The beverage offerings will please cocktail connoisseurs, beer lovers and wine drinkers.

Hopwater Distribution

Bar, Pub Grub

The San Francisco bar scene guarantees neither space nor food, but Lower Nob Hill’s Hopwater Distribution delivers both. Mingle on the main level or retire to a mini booth on the mezzanine, a perfect spot to catch up with a friend. There’s no table service here. All orders are placed at the bar, where 31 gleaming copper taps pour California beers exclusively. When hunger strikes, a menu featuring tater tots, deviled eggs, salads and sandwiches stands at the ready.

Upcider

Bar, Gastropub, European

Even in wine-crazed California, a state that’s also home to more than 400 breweries, there’s room for an alternative beverage. Sample the fruits of the craft cider craze at Upcider, which opened in 2012 as San Francisco’s first cider bar. A wide variety of domestic offerings, as well as dry, complex varieties from England and Europe, showcases impressive range. Head to this second-floor cider house/gastropub to break out of your beer rut and watch the nightly shenanigans unfold below on Polk Street.

Hyde Out

Bar, Pub Grub

Locals need groceries, drugstores and laundromats and a dive bar. Hyde Out—or is it the Hydeout? – is just that. The contradictory signs outside make it tough to tell, and the bar doesn’t appear to have a website to settle the issue. However, the people who come here know what they’re going to get: plenty of beer, two levels of seating and absolutely no pretense.