Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [179]
Perry’s If you read Tales of the City, you may remember that this bar and restaurant has a colorful history as a pickup place for Pacific Heights and Marina singles. Although the times are not as wild today, locals still come to check out the happenings at the dark mahogany bar. A separate dining room offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. It’s a good place for hamburgers, simple fish dishes, and pasta. Menu items range from $6 to $22. 1944 Union St. (at Laguna St.). 415/922-9022.www.perryssf.com.
The Redwood Room Best known for its gorgeous redwood paneling made from a single 2,000-year-old tree, the Clift Hotel’s Redwood Room bar and lounge has a plush, modern feel that’s illuminated by beautiful original Deco sconces. If you know who Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck are, then you know their scene: Amex Platinum posers and randy businessmen who mix, mingle, and never balk at the high drink prices ($9–$25). But even if that’s not your scene it’s worth poking your head in to admire the classy decor. In the Clift Hotel, 495 Geary St. 415/929-2372.www.clifthotel.com.
The Residence The bar-formerly-known-as Amber closed on New Year’s Day 2010 and reemerged a few weeks later as a completely new place altogether. Gone are the secondhand couches, graffitied and peeling walls, and years of smoke damage. It’s gone decidedly retro—way retro. Now you’ll find a quiet space lined with wood paneling and flocked wallpaper, 19th-century divans, fainting couches, and ottomans. It’s opium den meets Mary Poppins. It’s still owned and operated by the same people, who also took the opportunity to rethink what and how they serve. Enjoy the free chocolates served on silver trays at the bar while you scan the thoughtful drinks list. Look for both classic and modern drinks from icy, smooth Manhattans to sparkling sake cocktails. 718 14th St. (btw. Belcher and Church sts.). 415/797-8866.
Specs’ The location of Specs’—look for a tiny nook on the east side of Columbus Avenue just south of Broadway—makes it a bit tough to find but well worth the search. Specs’ historically eclectic decor—maritime flags hang from the ceiling while dusty posters, photos, and oddities like dried whale penises line the walls—offers plenty of visual entertainment while you toss back a cold Bud (sans glass of course). A “museum” displayed under glass contains memorabilia and items brought back by long-dead seamen who dropped in between voyages. There are plenty of salty and slightly pickled regulars to match the motif, so you may not want to order a cosmo while doing your nails at the bar. 12 Saroyan Place (at 250 Columbus Ave.). 415/421-4112.
The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar This was the original rainforest cafe long before there was ever an enterprise of the same name. It’s kitschy as all get-out, but there’s no denying the goofy Polynesian pleasures of the Fairmont Hotel’s tropical oasis. Drop in and join the crowds for an umbrella drink—mai tais are the house specialty—a simulated thunderstorm and downpour, and a heavy dose of whimsy that escapes most San Francisco establishments. If you’re on a budget, you’ll definitely want to stop by for the weekday happy hour from 5 to 7pm, when you can stuff your face at the all-you-can-eat bar-grub buffet (baby back ribs, chow mein, pot stickers) for $9.50 and the cost of one drink. Settle in and you’ll catch live Top-40 music after 8pm Wednesday through Sunday, when there’s a $5 cover. In the Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St. (at California St.). 415/772-5278. www.tongaroom.com.
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