San Francisco - Alison Bing [144]
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SOMA
83 PROOF Map Bar
415-296-8383; www.83proof.com; 83 1st St; 2pm-midnight Mon & Tue, 2pm-2am Wed-Fri, 8pm-2am Sat; F; & Montgomery St
High ceilings and a mezzanine add visual drama to this happening Financial District bar, which is popular with an unpretentious mixed crowd of 20- and 30-something after-work drinkers, who swill sexy cocktails (think basil gimlets) as if tomorrow wasn’t a work day.
BLOODHOUND Map Bar
415-863-2840; www.bloodhoundsf.com; 1145 Folsom St; 4pm-2am; 12, 19, 27, 47
Our favorite SoMa bar feels vaguely Nordic, with white wood, antler chandeliers and fantastic art, including a murder of crows painted on the ceiling. Top-shelf ingredients, but no drink is over-intellectualized. Best Sunday to Thursday, or before midnight on weekends. Killer jukebox.
BUTTER Map Bar
415-863-5964; www.smoothasbutter.com; 354 11th St; 6pm-2am Tue-Sun; 47
Butter satirizes trailer trash – think cocktails mixed with Tang – providing a refreshing contrast to the VIP clubs across the street. Best of all, you’ll never pay $10 for a drink at this tiny, always-jumpin’ bar, leaving you extra cash for Tater Tots and Spaghettios – cooked, of course, in a microwave.
CITY BEER STORE & TASTING ROOM Map Bar
415-503-1033; www.citybeerstore.com; 1168 Folsom St; noon-10pm Tue-Sat, to 6pm Sun; 12, 19
Sample exceptional local and Belgian microbrewed beer (6oz to 22oz, depending how thirsty you are) at the city’s top beer store, then assemble your own six-pack to go.
HOUSE OF SHIELDS Map Bar
415-975-8651; www.houseofshields.com; 39 New Montgomery St; 2pm-2am Mon-Fri, from 7pm Sat; & Montgomery St
Flash back a hundred years at this classic high-ceilinged bar, with tiled floors and a huge mahogany backbar. The odd mix of slumming debutantes and bike-messengers seems weirdly anachronistic in this once-fancy bar; $5 cocktails explain why they’re here. And everyone looks good: half the red bulbs in the original c 1908 chandeliers are usually burned out.
MARS BAR Map Bar
415-621-6277; www.marsbarsf.com; 798 Brannan St; 6pm-midnight Thu, 9pm-2am Fri & Sat; admission $5-15; 12, 19, 27, 47
Cool urban cats hang at Mars Bar, a raw space defined not by its design (think beach shack), but by its happening crowd of locals who wear denim, not dresses. Dance on the little floor to bangin’ house music, or hang on the big outside patio with the smokers. Check the online calendar for DJs.
MEDICI LOUNGE Map Bar
415-863-8334; www.medicisf.com; 299 9th St; 11am-2pm Tue-Sat; 12, 27, 47
When you’re wandering South of Market and just want a damn cocktail, Medici is a welcome sight. It’s a dimly lit bar that serves great mixed drinks made with fresh-squeezed juices, including killer lemon drops. DJs sometimes spin down-temp beats. Good pizzas, too.
ZEITGEIST Map Bar
415-255-7505; 199 Valencia St; 9am-2am; 26; 16th St Mission
Social headquarters for the city’s motley crew of bikers (motorized and pedal-powered), Zeitgeist is always a happening scene – whether it’s yours may be a different story. You’ve got two seconds flat to order from tough-gal barkeeps who are used to putting macho bikers in their place. When it’s warm, regulars head straight to the bar’s huge graveled back patio to sit at long picnic tables and smoke out.
BRAINWASH Map Cafe
415-431-9274; www.brainwash.com; 1122 Folsom St; 7am-10pm Mon-Thu, 7am-11pm Fri & Sat, 8am-10pm Sun; 12, 19;
The coolest place to do laundry is also a happening cafe with coffee, beer and live performances most nights. Last wash is at 8:30pm.
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THE MISSION & POTRERO HILL
ARGUS LOUNGE Map Bar
415-824-1447; www.arguslounge.com; 3187 Mission St; 4pm-2am Mon-Sat, 5pm-2am Sun; 14, 26; 24th St Mission
This young locals’ hangout named for a mythical monster that never slept supplies jukebox beats, occasional