718 14th Street, Castro
415 797 8866
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They say it takes two weeks to kick a habit. So when we heard that one of San Francisco's last remaining smoking bars was calling it quits on New Year's and reopening mid-January as a strictly non-smoking cocktail club, we decided to slap on a patch in solidarity and wait. Emerging on the other side was, fortunately, not a twitchy, irritable and overweight version of smoking joint Amber, but a cleaner, more sophisticated and (dare we say) more enjoyable fellow–named The Residence,. In true hard-core self-improvement mode, The Residence kept only the walls and the bartenders, and gutted everything inside.
750 Harrison Street, SoMa
415 240 7558
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Sometimes you just need some space. Feel free to use that old chestnut in your relationship, but we're here to talk about a nightclub. One that understands your desire to handpick the invaders of your personal space. Introducing Manor West, a new lounge and nightclub that's mastered the fine art of crowd control, now open in SoMa. Brought to you by a few local guys who've promoted at 330 Ritch and Slide, Manor West is your new go-to place for a respectable evening of revelry, indulgent decor and plenty of elbow room.
650 Gough Street, Hayes Valley
415 869 1900
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Holiday season is in full swing. And while you love all the eggnog and mistletoe, sometimes what you really need is a tiki hut and a rum-spewing volcano. Thank goodness, then, for Smuggler's Cove, a new rum-soaked watering hole that takes the best of a Polynesian tiki hut and a Caribbean beach bar and wraps it all into one festive kitschy joint in the heart of the city, now open in Hayes Valley. Step inside this three-storied island megaplex that feels like Pirates of the Caribbean on steroids a two-story waterfall runs down the main wall and rum barrels and tiki totems abound, along with hanging blowfish and hatchets on the walls (rum and hatchets - perfect together).
1233 Polk Street, Nob Hill
415 885 1233
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Fedoras. Whiskey in the office. Roman Polanski. File it all under: what's old is new again. Which is why you'll want to get reacquainted with Mayes, the newly resurrected oyster house from 1867, opening in Polk Gulch on Wednesday. Scour the dive-y block for the original neon sign and duck inside. You'll find what looks like a modern seafarer's club room—where Captain Edgar Wakeman might have knocked back a few single malt whiskeys and aphorisms with pal Mark Twain at the original brushed copper bar, before they headed off to sail from the San Francisco Port on a steam liner headed to New York (a guy knew how to live back then).
2925 16th Street, Mission
415 558 8521
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You've never been one to wait for the weekend. Tuesday mornings look like Friday nights and Wednesdays have been known to go down easy like Sunday morning. So consider stopping by SOM. A new club and cocktail den that will be limited by no such thing as calendar days, seeing the light until 4am seven nights a week. At first, it feels like you're walking into an art gallery, with paintings hanging on the walls and woven through wooden cubbies in the back bar. But fear not—within those cubbies, you'll spot rows of carefully curated liquor bottles, and turntables lurk in the back corner.
2801 Leavenworth Street, Fisherman's Warf
415 775 5110
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It's not very often that you find yourself in Fisherman's Wharf. But when you do—like on the occasional In-N-Out run or Gary Danko five-courser—you need somewhere to go wash down all that food. Preferably, with a little bourbon. Welcome to The Parlor, a new weeknight whiskey den-slash-weekend underground nightclub, now in the historic Cannery building. Nestled inside a 1907 brick warehouse that once housed the first Del Monte Cannery, the place feels equal parts Barbary Coast saloon and neighborhood watering hole. (You might have missed it when the space was the Dirty Martini.)
575 Howard Street, SOMA
415 543 5874
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Every so often, you find yourself captivated by a creature of the night so tempting, so wrong (and yet so right), that you just can't get said creature out of your head. Yes, we're talking about a bar. Say hello to Eve Lounge, a swank new cocktail den (and den of temptation), luring you to SOMA. Brought to you by the husband-and-wife team behind John Colins, this siren of a watering hole—named after the original icon of temptation—offers up vintage pleasures like DJ-spun jazz and films noir (with their notorious femmes fatale) playing in the background. (It sounds a lot more decadent when you remember the building's previous tenant: Genealogy.com.)
Clift, 495 Geary Street, Union Square
415 775 4700
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Widely acclaimed for its lush interior and innovative cocktails. A historical landmark, it has been restored and revamped nicely with some help from mr. Starck. Sound biased? Poke your head in and decide for yourself.
1525 Mission Street, South of Market
415-621-7007
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Even though the weekend was just, well, yesterday, it's never too soon to plan for the next. And given that it's still a few days off, you might not know what you'll feel like doing exactly. That's okay, because we've found a spot that blends a lounge-like bar vibe with DJ-spun beats—with one sure to match your mood. Say hello to Sloane—a new boutique lounge/nightclub that evokes the tony side of London's Sloane Square, brought to you by a duo who've helped open Fluid and Mezzanine—celebrating its grand opening Saturday in the old Duplex space at 11th and Mission.
246 Kearny Street, Financial District
415 398 2827
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Summer is, above all else, swimming season. And while some dive into glistening infinity pools and others choose the salty waves of the Pacific, you prefer immersing yourself in something a bit…boozier. Welcome Rickhouse, a new bar literally made of bourbon, brought to you by the guys behind Bourbon & Branch and Cask, pouring some of the world's rarest whiskeys starting Wednesday. Perhaps the best thing about Rickhouse, named for the place where bourbon is stored for aging, is that even before you step through the threshold, you'll smell the hooch.
301 Mission Street, SOMA
415-543-7474
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It's the beginning of an, er, fruitful partnership. Not just the one between Raj Parr and Jason Berthold—the former a Mina Group wine director, the latter a French Laundry alum. No, we mean the one between you and your new favorite vino spot. Raise a glass to RN74, a Burgundy-inspired wine bar and restaurant nestled into the base of the new Millennium Tower.
1001 South Van Ness Avenue, Mission
415 821 2134
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It pays to look beyond the obvious. Like, for example, when you drop into old favorite Limon Rotisserie for a quick bite.
On the surface, it's a casual Peruvian eatery, but if you make your way past the kitchen and down a flight of stairs, things start to get a little darker, a little sexier and the wine starts to flow. And flow... Say hello to the Lounge at Limon Rotisserie, a brand-new lair of an underground wine den and hangout, open now on the weekends for when you're looking for some South American–style debauchery.
555 12th Street, Oakland
510 529 5393
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With the buzz around Adesso and Camino lately, we've noticed that Oakland is having a bit of a moment. And while our first choice is still to unwind in the city, there are those times when we find ourselves on the other side of the Bay. For those occasions, you'll want to call up Penelope, your new slender superstar of a gastropub, open now in downtown Oakland. Named after Penelope Cruz, this sleek watering hole has less to do with hot Spanish actresses and more to do with Latin-inspired libations.
515 Broadway, North Beach
415 277 7228
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It's good to keep it in the family. So when the nephew of the Crotti clan (of Tommaso's, which has served the likes of Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas) decides to open his own wine bar a few storefronts away—and, most important, encourages you to bring your own Tommaso's pizza to eat at said bar, we knew it'd be worth a look. Introducing Vin Club, a new Italian and California-focused wine bar and tasting room brought to you by owner and winemaker Dario Zucconi, the pedigreed son of a long line of Italian restaurateurs, opening across from Enrico's on Broadway.
124 Ellis Street, Union Square
415 421 8700
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Fashioned by Hong Kong’s hottest designer, Kinney Chan, the Asian-inspired sub-rosa lounge is a true ultra lounge. Catering to both dancing hipsters and young professionals looking to relax in style.
1330 Fillmore Street, Fillmore District
415 655 5600
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Yoshi's Jazz Club and Restaurant flawlessly blends fine dining, artistic preparations and live music. A sister to the Oakland club, Yoshi's is run by chef Shotaro "Sho" Kamio, who cooks by a three-S philosophy: season, simple and surprise.
83 1st Street, SOMA
415 296 8383
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Having had quite enough of the hybrid restaurant/concept bar/lounge, the folks at 83 Proof have decided to keep their style simple and their cocktails top notch. Their bar menu reads like a fantasy liquor cabinet, and they are actively bringing back a tradition lacking in SF for far too long: happy hour!
2113 Chestnut Street, Marina
415 567 0646
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A wine retailer with a a busy bar attached, where San Francisco's single men and woman congregate early every evening. The choice of wines by the glass and quality of the glasses they are served in are both good.
500 4th Street, at Bryant Street, Soma
415 546 6300
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Founded in 1908 and still serving up great booze and live music. Chef Joanna Karlinsky (Meetinghouse) has gone gourmet with her bar food -- niman ranch burgers, vegan chili, an excellent nicoise salad. In short, everything you need for a full evening out.
501 Broadway, North Beach
415 982 5299
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This swank new Mexican hotspot in North Beach is perfect for grabbing a seat at the bar upstairs, ordering margaritas and cerveza, and lapping up the scene. Head downstairs to the lounge for dancing.
3138 Fillmore Street, at Pixley Street, Cow Hollow
415 563 4180
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There's no sign; you'll know you're there when you see the huge flames in the center of the space through the window. Have a chocolate-cake martini at this sleek hipster-filled, dj-spun lounge.
242 Columbus Avenue, North Beach
415 986 9651
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The elegant, old-world vibe is legit: Tosca has been around for 90 years. Think romance like they don't make it anymore. Opera on the jukebox, liquored coffee drinks, and red-vinyl chairs.
488 Presidio Avenue (at California)
415 346 7431
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This 60s-style cocktail bar specializes in classic drinks like Negronis and Old Fashioneds, best sampled by their vintage fireplace or over the classic mahogany bar. There’s a whole page of the menu devoted to champagne cocktails, but also enough beer and wine on hand to satisfy simpler tastes. As for the fabric wallpaper and sputnik-style chandelier…it’s all part of the retro ambience.
582 Washington St (at Montgomery)
415 983 1500
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This just-opened spot channels an old-school, saloon-meets-Italian-cafe vibe with a space strewn with old-timey antiques, quality Cal-Ital bites and late-night classic cocktails.
Phoenix Hotel, 601 Eddy Street, at Larkin Street, Tenderloin
415 885 5088
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Pan-Asian is the flavor of choice at this sleek spot in the phoenix hotel, with floor-to-ceiling waterfalls, indoor/outdoor slate fireplaces, and a heated patio bordered by a bamboo grove.
620 Post Street, Union Square
415 674 3567
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A tiny jewel of a wine bar in the back of the old Fitzgerald Hotel, The Hidden Vine, owned by husband and wife team David and Angela Cahill, lets guests in on their favorite local, best-kept-secret wines.
27 Main Street, at Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon
415 435 4527
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Take the ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf to this waterfront spot and enjoy a delicious ramos fizz while taking in the views of Angel Island, Alcatraz, and the San Francisco skyline. The most popular place on the Bay -- and well worth the trip.
3199 Fillmore Street, at Greenwich Street
415 921 3944
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For a true San Francisco experience, head to this old school San Francisco spot. The dark, wooden bar is always crowded with well-to-do 30-somethings. And if you get the munchies, the balboa burger is downright delicious.
111 Minna Street, Soma
415 974 1719
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Take the little alleyway near sfmoma to this soaring, minimalist art gallery, bar, club space, which changes identities as the night wears on. From 5 to 7 p.m., it's downtown and SOMA dilberts soaking up the chic post-work scene. By 11 p.m., when club nights like Oxygen, Pepper, and Qool warm up, it's club kids and experimental lesbians. That's when things really get interesting. You never know what may happen.