Bourbon & Branch
501 Jones St
(between Geary St & Ofarrell St)
San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 346-1735
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Best Nights: Wed, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: Yes
238 reviews
Neighborhood: Financial District
"I came here last night with the Validant crew. My wine was good, and the bartenders were nice. I love the atmosphere! Highly recommend.…" read more »
778 Reviews for Bourbon & Branch
I love this place! They have top quality bartenders who make some of the best drinks in town... could be the unique blend of high quality ingredients. It was pretty mellow sitting at the bar... which was what I was in the mood for... I was able to actually talk with my date.
Fun place to go if you're into fancy cocktails. It's nice to be able to get a table and a waitress which is hard to find sometimes in SF.
Wouldn't go back, though, because the drinks just aren't amazing (some are downright disgusting, stick to the classics).
Impressions of the Prohibition Bar
I have been just taken recently to that bar by friends. First of all, they do not let you in without reservation. No address, no directions. You learn about them through the grapevine. Go to their website to make a call. Only after you make the reservation, typically nothing is available for the time you ask for, and only after you graciously accept their best offer, they will reveal the address. How about creating the scarcity effect? Well, it works... By the time you go through all the motions you really want to get in.
We arrived half an hour late. Non-conspicuous doors in a run down neighborhood, next to police station. Were rebuked for not being on time and told our reservation was lost. Well - somehow they managed to find a place for us anyhow. How about making you really want to be there? How about creating an impression that it is uneasy to get in?
Were seated in a semi-dark back room with a candlelight moonshine cellar ambiance of doing something illegal. It is a prohibition bar next to the police station after all, as in - it is the darkest under the lamp post 20s atmosphere. A glimpse of the dangerous life as it used to be. The only danger that you may expect these days though, is the quick parting with your money. Drinks aien't cheap here, mind you.
An interesting experience in overall. Would highly recommend it.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
When I was a little girl, I was always the one that was banned from the forts. Or the secret hideouts. Or something else that involved a club, cliquish atmosphere made up of several children who shared secrets with each other and, should they be bold enough, share each other's blood and call themselves siblings.
Ew. But I was also never very GOOD at being in those types of groups. When I was in Daisys (Girl Scouts for kindergarteners or something), I was kicked out because I was too sarcastic for the mothers to handle. Of course, I had no sense of wit involved so it just sounded like I was being a bitch. Once again Dad, thanks for teaching me that at such a young age.
Bourbon & Branch was like that secret hideout I was never invited to. And going with two of the most adorably attractive human beings on this planet, it was like must have done SOMETHING right to be invited to go along with them.
So we ring the doorbell, walk in, give the hostess our name and password, and be seated. We peruse the menu and since I like to go with what's popular rather than new and exciting, I settled upon the cucumber gimlet.
If this was made with gin, I'm going to be surprised (I'm pretty sure it was), because it was the most fabulous drink I've ever had in my LIFE. Despite the price for it, I'm pretty sure you're paying for labor and effort, here. And I'll gladly pay for it again, because it was just that awesome. They gave us water and a taster of their Bluberry Champagne Cocktail to start out, and the server was sweet and attentive.
As we're sitting there enjoying one another's company in the vicinity of a beautifully decorated and dimly lit smooth-wooden bar with the feeling like you're back in the 20's, we hear in the background from a group of girls:
"Omgosh did you read that on Yelp? Hahaha wow! I'm going to look that up on Yelp!"
And we just sort of look at each other like....
^_-
and
-_-;;;
and
o_o.
People thought this was:
Useful (10)
Funny (12)
Cool (12)
Been here a couple times. First just to see, second because a friend had heard about it and wanted to check it out.
Yes, all the drinks are $11. I haven't gotten any attitude from any bartender, but then, I just order something off their list.
They have the main room (reservations required, go to their website), the library (no reservations required, just a password), and they just opened up the new Russell Room. Honestly, the Russell Room seems like just another Library to me. Sure, different secret passage. But just another room with the same menu.
I haven't done the sit down in the main room yet, maybe when another guest comes in from out of town.
Funny story. Leaving here and heading for Market, a "local" local gave me and my friend some advice. "You two look like nice people. You really should turn around and not walk in that direction."
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
BOURBON & BRANCH - A Helpful Guide
1. Call ahead and place a reservation for yourself and an attractive female.
(Text yourself the password so you don't forget and embarrass yourself.)
2. Call again because said female has an attractive friend who would also like to join.
(Always be sure to wear clean underpants.)
3. Ring the doorbell, but speak easy because the hobo seemingly sleeping on the street might be a gumshoe.
(Explain to the staff why you're being an ass.)
4. Enjoy delicious homemade drinks like, "The Revolver," with Bulliet Bourbon, a lit orange rind and additional sweetness.
(It's featured in the Wall Street Journal!)
5. Tilt your head back and enjoy the great period music and fantastic company.
(Don't pass out or they'll think you are dead and ambulance costs are very high.)
6. Leave through the bookshelf into their subsidiary bar, The Library.
(Laugh at all the unimportant people who couldn't get reservations.)
7. Decide which of your friends you want to undress first.
(Go home alone and sob yourself to sleep...)
Swanky! I love you, Bourbon & Branch! :-D
People thought this was:
Useful (28)
Funny (52)
Cool (29)
Speak Easy. No really Speak Easy.
This bar is stupendous! I was told that they would ask me for a password and as long as I sounded sure of myself, id get in.
So First off, I'm like where is this place?? There is no sign, but then I put my mob face on and realized, DUH it's the place with beautiful huge wood doors with a little bell and speaker. So I buzz in, the beautiful woman answers and says, "Password"... shit I go blank and stutter...."UMMM I'm here for the PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) mixer". She lets me in, obviously because were paying for the place so why not.
I walk in and it takes quite a few minutes for me to see anything or anyone. Except the sweet chandelier that is more like a bubbly thing hanging from the ceiling.
I had all too many cucumber Giblet.... I think is what it was called.
The atmosphere is great and the service is even better.
When you go, act like you know what your doing and that you will kill someone if they don't do what you say or look at you funny. YEAH do it!
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Best sazerac ever!! It makes me never want to order one at any other bar lest I be completed disappointed.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
01/28/2008
Girls, bring your hot dates here (I did, wink wink). The tables are cozy, the lighting dim, the… Read more »
I liked this bar so much that I even consumed alchohol in it (if you know me in the least, this statement will make sense)! The gimmicky nature of having to make a reservation to secure seating and having to utter a password before entering was entertaining. Cocktail afficionados will appreciate the artisanal approach to drink preparation. The bar itself is dark and atmospheric. There's even a "secret" library with a revolving door. All that and the opportunity to mingle with some interesting folk made it a fun night, indeed.
Bottom Line: the history of Prohibition and the vibe of authentic mixology have been perfectly mixed together to create a great place and a great drink!
Picture yourself as a typical American in the 1920's... a hard working Flapper or Dapper Dan with an occasional thirst for a prohibited health tonic also known as a Sazerac. What to do... what do do...
Thus, the Speak Easy was born. An underground circuit of hush hush bars and in-the-know salons, these were some of the only places a US citizen could get a drink for over decade during Prohibition. They were normally undisclosed locations where you had to have a password to gain entry and you always had to 'speak easy.'
Bourbon and Branch has taken this hallowed history and infused it with modern day mixology. You still have to have a password to get in and speaking easy is rule number one, but now instead of moonshine and absenthe, you have a 20 page menu of cocktails and alcohols at your disposal to produce almost any cocktail you care to have.
The bartenders take the extra time, usually about 2-3 minutes per drink, to make sure that it is built to perfection and in accordance with the highest standards of bardom. They are friendly and extremely knowledgeable.
They also have the best tools at there finger tips. They employ at vast amount of strainers, mixing glasses, funnels, and even eye droppers when mixing a drink and they even use special ice cubes... one is a $100,000 ice machine which makes perfect cubes with no air bubbles to insure they they last longer and your drink doesn't get deluded.
If that doesn't say enough out there comittment to excellence for you then you should move back to France.
You got to call the day you want to go to make a reservation and get the password. The classics are all amazing, as well as the cucumber gimlet and the la perla.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
I was blown away at all the different specialty drinks they served here! I was totally seduced by the "speak easy" vibe so when I felt a hand on my leg I was down!
When a boy asks you out to a bar as a date it's kinda' casual but this was so much more. I was just totally charmed by the bar and didn't want to leave, I wanted to drink the whole menu.
Boys if you don't score after bringing your date here you are a total loser!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (4)
Cool (2)
Its taken me entirely too long to visit Bourbon & Branch so I went Friday night with a group that started with 6 people dwindled down to two people by we reach the door and dropped the password to get in.
I think I fell in love with B&B because as I walked in it was like I step into the 1940 or something. Nice big band music, some jazz, and I think I even heard some Billy Holiday.
If you are a master of seduction or just looking for a place that is a little different where you can have a drink; Bourbon & Branch is the place for you.
The drink menu is pretty large with a lot of tasty options. I had two Bourbon drinks a Democrat and Black Manhattan. The Democrat was a tasty blend of peach schaups and honey with bourbon over ice and a lemon wedge. The Black Manhattan was a infused bourbon I think with coffee and cherries and was great! I like how they served in a Martini glass.
My date had a couple of martinis and she let me take a few sip and they were good. If you've read my Zazie review I kind of wish I would have wrote this the same way. I had a similar hot girl but better results.
I guess I can thank B&B for that and myself oh yeah and the Club One goer that got me the freshest table in the spot..
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
The place to go if your are into civilized drinking... which I am.... Loved being taken back to the twenties... I've always felt I was born in the wrong time period now I know my belief to be true. My BF was in love with this place and was drinking Absinthe which he thought was just the bee's knee's.... We fell in love with our cocktail server Christina and have decided that we wish to only be served by her when we go back.... which we will sooner then later.... If your looking to go somewhere to get wasted and be loud... go elsewhere....
Do Not Ruin It!!!!!
Bourbon and Branch has, by far, the most extensive specialty cocktail list I have come across in my "stomping through the savoy" style adventure to hip speak-easy reminiscent spots...on either coast!
Bourbon and Branch in one word?
Sexy.
and charming.
and delicious.
Ok that's three, but one for each element:
Sexy atmosphere. Charming decor. Delicious drinks (that are expertly made).
What more do you want?
Blah, blah, what everyone else said, blah blah.
The most important thing was that it gave me an excuse to wear a skirt and stockings, which lead to a highly entertaining after-party with my date.
It also inspired me to order something besides a Stoli & tonic for the first time in uh... ever.
Thanks, B & B, it was a good night. *Naughty smirk*
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
'We HAVE to go to Bourbon & Branch', I was told.
Hey, I trust this guy. He's never let me down.
'Sounds great! Let's do it.'
We originally had reservations for 'the library' here for 7:30pm, but got bumped a few days prior. We decided to go anyway and sit at the bar, b/c apparently their cocktails are some of the best the city has to offer.
Once again, I was not let down. We were seated at the bar and consumed some of the finest drinks I've ever had- the Marmalade Whiskey Sour and an Old Fashioned. I totally fell in love with the MWS; the Old Fashioned was just a little too much liqs for me, but it was still very good.
The bar was beautiful, the bartenders awesome, the ambiance- KILLER!
Why the four stars? The previous bump in our reservation put us in the bar, rather than the coveted secret library. Twice, while in the bar, we were moved to different locations to make room for others, and when we finally made it into the library, it was about 120 degrees. The AC is being installed next week, we were told.
I will definitely come back to B&B, possibly every time I visit SF, I'll probably just stick to less busy nights on cooler days and it will be perfection!
People thought this was:
Useful (8)
Funny (6)
Cool (9)
I was told by fellow colleagues that the "mixologists" were some of the best. First, I had no clue what the term meant and second, trying to build up a refined palette to appreciate the slightly overpriced drinks at Bourbon and Branch wasn't an easy task.
I had hesitations walking through the door after being asked for our password. A password for a bar located in the Tenderloin? Really? A friend we were with mentioned that the "secret room" aka The Library was a nice place to enjoy a drink but, surprise surprise, it also required another password to enter.
Pro's: Aesthetically pleasing ambiance and decor. Friendly and attractive wait staff. A ridiculously long menu with signature drinks. Great date place to impress a girl.
Con's: The 1.5 hour appointment slots. Straining to read the menu from a dimly lit lamp. Having to save up funds to afford more than one drink!
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Everyone likes a little bit of adventure. Nothing says "ultra-cool" more than going to a passworded joint with minimal signage.
All in all, this is a fantastic place with lots of atmosphere and great, tasty drinks. The bartenders seem to know what they're doing and are ready to roll. I've heard all the stories about them denying someone their cosmo or dirty martini. Good lore...
Anyway, what can I say-- I was trying to lay off alcohol in prep for the SF Marathon, and I still had to take one at B&B, so it's gotta be pretty decent. And they didn't skimp on the booze. Always nice to get that big buzz hit after a nice alkie absence. Ah, how the liver grows fonder.
Be ready to shell out for the drinks, of course. This isn't some dive bar, you can get your $2 happy-hour fix in for.
I'll definitely come back, though it seems the place more likely to be fun to take out-of-towners, for that "hip-ster" injection. *sip sip*
It's like someone walked into my head, took an inventory of loves, interests, obsessions and made something just for me. This place is MINE in every sense of the word.
I love having to have a password
I love the fact that it says Anti-saloon league outside
I love the music that is playing
I love the drinks even if they are retarded expensive. So worth it.
I love that they have Delirium (on tap or a bottle? Don't remember)
I love the lighting, the ceiling, the floor, the books the EVERYTHING!!!
And that is really all I have to say about that.
People thought this was:
Funny (2)
Cool (1)
It's a good novelty spot to take people who are visiting you out of town. The inside is cozy for small parties but I'm lame and never make reservations so I end up in the Library.
About the drinks.....the drinks are measure with a shot glass and kinda pricey. Example: Gin measured in a shot glass +tonic = $9. Yeah. Standard bourbon will run you about the same price or more. The bartenders can be a little snobby as well. The overall crowd is diverse so anyone can feel comfortable. Overall, it's cool novelty spot to take someone new to SF.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
THEMING:
Disneyland and Vegas are my favorite vacation spots so I'm a sucker for good theming. I definitely enjoyed Bourbon & Branch. If not for the alcohol, it'd fit right in on New Orleans Square at Disneyland.
- The buzzer with the entrance password was neat.
- The dim, candle-lit interior made me feel like I was in an old mansion.
- The pretty, 20s-looking menus were fun.
- The house rules were a conversation piece.
- The library in the back was super cool. It's behind a bookshelf with a hidden lever.
- There's a revolver on the bookshelf that looks like it came out of Dick Tracy.
- Glass chandelier.
- Nice, well-maintained bathroom that was nice but fit the period.
Theming-wise, I wish the staff was more "in character" and the menu-writing was a bit more amusing, but aside from that, it was a fun escape.
ALSO AWESOME:
- Extensive list of cocktails and hard liquor. It's a big ol' menu just for drinks, for crying out loud. I like girly drinks where you can't really taste the alcohol so my favorite was the Mint Julep, though the Blackberry Bramble was a close second. All very strong.
- Free amuse bouche.
- Quiet but not too quiet so you can talk to your friends.
- Friendly waitstaff.
- Large tables so you can play cards.
DOWNSIDES?
- Cost a LOT more than a typical bar. You're paying double for your drink - $11-12/drink - in exchange for nicer ambiance and a waitress. You can always cheap out and get a $5 beer though.
- No food served.
- Requires a reservation unless you want to just be in the library.
- Sketch neighborhood.
- The no-loitering rule where you're encouraged to stay seated is a little silly. I'm not in elementary school anymore, nor on an airplane.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
The drinks kicked ass - thanks Yanni! ( I apologize for asking if that was your real name).
I had drinks with my boss here when we were traveling for work. Fortunately she lived in the area and knew where we were. I was kind of fearing for my life and knocking on the side of a building wasn't make me feel any better.
I am forever sold on the idea that the bartender should taste his creation before serving it.
B&B - I have been ruined on all other bars.
Love and Kisses
I love this place...but only on weekdays when it's not so crowded. I am definitely a fan of the library and how you have to get escorted through the main room and through the fake bookcase door thing. So fun.
And the drinks, wow. I had the Elderflower drink and the Whiskey Apple Sour. Definitely pricey, but the care the bartender took to making the drinks and the wild ingredient combos made it worthwhile. Definitely a great place to take someone if you want to go somewhere different.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
What can I say that hasn't already been said...
The atmosphere was as authentic as I could have hoped. Period music, dim lighting, dark wood, secret passwords, uncomfortable wooden seating and pages and pages of whisk(e)y's, scotch's and of course bourbon's.
Where drinks are concerned my personal favorite was the Cucumber Gimlet.
Though it was expensive it was an experience!
Good selection of Bourbon, and bonus points for the creative idea but a little cheese-ball in its delivery and difficult to get a drink. I have hit this spot a few times, and I give it a strong two to three stars. (I have also sat at the bar, the library, and at a table.
The downfall of this place is how much of a tool you will feel to have to say a password to get into a club where the door is run by someone younger than you. That being said, if the crowd inside was not so Marina in dress, and at times a touch unsophisticated it would be much better. I would recommend this spot only for parties of two to four that prefer a little cheese on their crackers. Note: this is not a good place for large parties b/c they will assign you just to the "library" where the whole place is first come first serve.
And if you have Five people don't do it, even if your NY cousins up in your grill sayin' "don't worry about it." The booths do not seat five, even if you are all anorexic or only ate one piece of popcorn for dinner.
People thought this was:
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
I'll make this a quick number 741 review - Bourbon & Branch is fun. The drinks are pretty awesome and having to know a password to get into anything short of someones pants is cool by me.
Celebrated a birthday here and our waitress was a complete sweetheart, we had 12 people and didn't have to party in the library, so I'm confused as to what other yelpers are dissing on bigger parties here for, they simply split us up into two booths across from one another and everything was fine.
Go or don't, but you'll be missing out on this amazing ice tea concoction and finding the secret latch to that damn library door
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
All those books made MB feel smart...until he finished house bourbon, which began yet another blackout. Password only needed for entry--thank god. Monkey would have wet pants and slept on floor otherwise.
People thought this was:
Funny (3)
Cool (1)
This place kicks ass, no kidding. The variety of drinks is mind-blowing, and though they're pricey, they're absolutely worth it. Our server possessed a wealth of knowledge and personality, and the speakeasy atmosphere ensured it a spot near the top of my list of things to recommend to other visitors to San Francisco. Check it out, you'll be glad you did.
This is definitely a novelty...which typically wears off after the first encounter, right? Right.
You need to get a reservation -- so going with a group can be tough.
The drinks are great but there isn't a huge variety of wine.
The atmosphere is also novelty like, and the hood is straight TL.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
One would assume that a stylish vintage gentleman such as Mortimer Pestlebottom would revel in a vintage-styled drinking establishment such as this, but alas, no. I too was under this mistaken impression when I took Lady Pestlebottom here to celebrate our six months of un-wedded bliss. The sole attribute of this place is the decor in the library, and the stacks and stacks of vintage books which go completely unnoticed and unappreciated by the completely uninteresting, unfashionable Marina-dwelling throng.
The faux speakeasy gimmick was mildly amusing for a moment, only to be overshadowed by the unbearable mass of patrons, the sweltering heat created by the bodies of said patrons, and the prohibitive prices of cocktails (though delicious). And by prohibitive I mean that one is prohibited from becoming inebriated unless one is an aristocrat, which, despite the nomenclature, the Lord and Lady Pestlebottom are not.
I enjoyed two Whiskey Apple Sodas, which were absolutely delicious, and which I have now learned to make at home for mere pennies compared to the $11 price tag at this high-end saloon. My Lady enjoyed her Cucumber Gimlet, but not enough to have a second. We were quite anxious to leave this place and its tedious clientele, and we left quite sadly sober.
We didn't hate it, but I can't think of any reason to return unless it miraculously became more interesting and less snobbish. Lady Pestlebottom and I would much rather spend an evening at Jonell's a block away - gutter dwellers and fellow riffraff make much better drinking companions.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
A nice change of pace from regular bars. It has a roaring 20's prohibition scene. Small, and can get crowded. But you can call it intimate. Like every one else has said, cool decor, fake bookcase door.
Btw, it was super hot, and stuffy in the library one night, but problem was fixed the next night.
Drinks a little pricey, but different. They need more than 2 bar tenders for the library on busy nights.
If you want a change of pace, a place to talk, a cool spot to check out.
***Becareful the surround area is ghetto, lock your car, and lock your things in your trunk. Or better yet just take a taxi there, because parking is tough
3.5 stars
Bullshit and Bitch, more like it.
Are you hopelessly uncool, and wish there was some faux-"exclusive" spot with which you could impress your equally uncool friends by learning the password to get in? Do you have money to burn, and enjoy acting haughty while you taste ridiculously expensive versions of drinks that don't taste any different from their cheaper incarnations? Are you a pompous douche that loves to be shit on by a crap wait staff that won't even make the drinks you want?
If you answered yes, then B&B is for you. From the obnoxious point of entry to the retarded 2-drink maximum, the horribly shitastic "oldies" music to the insane wait to get your drinks, everything about this place eats ass (and not in the good way).
I can pay more for a "Tommy's Margarita" that doesn't taste as good as the ones you can make at home with the store-bought mix? HOORAY! Your bartender--excuse me, "Mixologist"--won't make me a dirty martini* because it goes against his rigorous code of bartender ethics? WHOOPEE!! Your ice is made with filtered water? WHO GIVES A SHIT.
But seriously, folks: if you want to drink a souless "perfect" drink in a museum, this place is for you. If you want to have a good time at a bar, go somewhere else.
*About the dirty martini, here's how it went down:
ME: Can I please get the $57 martini, but will you ask them to make it dirty?
SUPER BITCH (SB): No, our mixologist won't make a dirty martini. It's not a real martini.
ME: Ummmmmm, can mixologist add one olive?
SB: Yes.
ME: Can he add two olives?
SB: Yes.
ME: Can he pour in some of the olive juice?
*SB gives me a dirty look before turning to leave.*
*Edit* I see Matthew W.'s got me on blast because B&B isn't part of a "pub crawl" but should be a "destination." I agree, B&B is a destination: Choach City. ALL ABOARD!!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (13)
Cool (2)
I'm going to give them the benefit of a doubt and assume that the ventilation problem will be fixed the next time I visit. It was so stuffy inside! I don't think they have a central A/C unit, so they rely on individual A/C units scattered around the small space. When we went, there was only one available in the main room; and luckily, it was pointed at our table. Nice.
I like the decor of this place, and I love that the entrance of it is so unassuming; I probably would have walked right past it multiple times if my friend hadn't instructed me on what to look for. Reservations are a must if you want a seat in the main room, and they can be for parties no larger than 6, simply because each booth in the main room can hold at maximum 6 people. Next time, I would probably try to reserve the table at the mezzanine level - I took a peek up there, and it looks like a chill place to be with a group of 10-15 friends. Good times.
Their drinks are on the expensive side, which they justify by telling us that they hand-squeeze all the fruit juices during the day. I loved the drink I got called Blackberry Bramble. It came over crushed ice with a blackberry floating on top and a slice of pineapple wedged enticingly on the lip of the glass. Delish.
The only beef I really have with it is the location... It's in a pretty sketchy part of town, and I just don't feel comfortable parking in the Tenderloin with all sorts of uncouth people loitering around. Some of them even offer to "watch" your car for you... *shudders* Either way, if I were visiting again, I would seriously consider parking in a safer neighborhood and walking there, or I would even just try to cab it instead.
I love this place and can't wait to go back. I like the cache of having a secret password to get in (not like it's hard to get!) and while for po' folks like me prohibitively expensive, they sure do deliver on quality, large selection of liquor. Any of the whiskey drinks are stellar and I love the atmosphere of the library. Not a place I'd hit up every week due to price but other than that, the ambiance and drinks rock!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Damn!
you found this place.
Thought it was still one of my secrets-
Ah, se la vie!
This place is about getting there, its about the low-profile entrance, its about the password, its about the "secret" door between the two rooms. Its fun, drinks are good. Its about a change of pace from your regular bar. For me, its about escaping, sitting back, enjoying the ambiance and the books. Okay, okay, I haven't read anything while in the library room, but I did flip through a few :). Overall, very quaint; I loved it.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
great novelty place to start off a night
undoubtably, as you progress to the next place, the quality and sophistication will drop a few notches
thus, might as well begin at the top of the hill in a cool speakeasy (with reservations) or library section (without ressies)
$11 drinks...try the gimlet
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
Whether you buy into the whole Speakeasy part or not (I mean how thrilling can ringing a doorbell be...I've been doing that since I was five), this is one seriously GREAT bar. They have a drink for any tribe and taste, and the help is truly what you might term professional. They will recommend drinks, I mean like really recommend them, which means if you order badly, they are not shy about giving you alternatives. How many times have you asked a wait staff person 'so how is the so and so' and they inevitably reply 'it's wonderful'. At B&B, you won't get that BS answer. You'll get the truth, and you'll be a better drinker for it.
I could spend the night at this place. It's super sexy.. the staff is great... the booze is all top notch and the music is just right.
Spending a night at Bourbon & Branch is like going home for the holidays, sans the annoying cheek pinches from Aunt Gertrude and your grandmother's fruit cake. There's always plenty of people around, and everybody is in good spirits. And, if your family is anything like mine, holidays are always accompanied by great drinks. And trust me, there's a reason that Bourbon & Branch is known for its sultry cocktails. The ambiance is awesome with low lighting that is perfect for flirtatious encounters, and I love love love the whole "speakeasy" sass that they have going on. Great place for cozy dates, after dinner drinks with friends, and celebrations of just about any sort. Cheers!
People thought this was:
Use