St. Regis Hotel Lobby Bar
Categories: Bars, Hotels & Travel [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMA125 3rd St
(between Minna St & Mission St)
San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 284-4000
- Price Range: $$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Valet
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Outdoor Area/Patio Only
- Coat Check: Yes
412 reviews
Neighborhood: SOMA
"I know this may sound cliche...but the W knows how to hold down...occasionally I drop in to the bar to have a cocktail with some friends and…" read more »
35 Reviews for St. Regis Hotel Lobby Bar
Another wonderful conversation over delicious cocktails at the St Regis Bar ;-) Sassy Jo & I can get use to this before every dinner ;-) 1 of our FAV now! Dirty Martini, Mango Martini, & of course Raspberry lemon-drop with Chambord! Arrrr
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/06/2008
1 of my FAV places for a drink after work with friends, because it's not overly crowded like other… Read more »
Date & Time: Monday June 23, 2008 @ 7:30-ish pm
Company: Michelle & Mark & Michael
Crowd: Well-Heeled Asians & Whites from 20-60 Somethings. Some Colorful Characters @ The Bar like Very Convincing Trannies
Atmosphere: Quiet Sophistication
Decor: Swanky. Classy. Five-Star. Fireplace. Paintings. Sleek Bar. Great Lighting. Generous, Nicely Spaced Loungey Seating Areas w/ Deep Velvet Sofas & Low-Tables. The Ultimate in Luxury.
Service: Professional- Real Class Act. As we pulled up, Valets were Very Welcoming & Kept our Car parked out Front where We could See it The Whole Time we were There! When it was Time to Leave- they didn't Charge us, but of course We left a Tip. Bartender is Sharp.
Imbibe: Hangar One
Devour: Wasabi Peas @ The Bar & Coffee Tables
Note: Must Make it Past The Lobby One Day
Side-Notes: A Luminary Resides on the 32nd Floor
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When I was 18, my friend took my military ID and scratched out the "6" on "1986" and dragged the little loop part into a "0". Since it was a military ID (right, "military"), no one would ask any questions.
For about 4 months I had this ID, sitting in my wallet and asking me to buy it some liquor. Of course, the good girl in me said I needed to realize that my ID wasn't fool-proof and there was that chance I could get caught.
Until one day--I was at Il Fornaio with my friend Gaby, and she dared me to order an Irish Coffee. She actually had to go to the bathroom she was laughing so hard, we were trying to keep a straight face. When we left, we realized we had this enormous power in our hands, and headed off to the Cheesecake factory to try something else. We were feeling adventurous.
Instead, they were too damn busy, and we walked across the street to the St. Regis Hotel, because I have Daddy's American Express Business Card with an unlimited, uh, limit, and Jaime is mad at Daddy for being an asshole. So we walk up to the bar, sit down, and order ourselves a Chocolate Martini a piece. No mind that it's a 12 dollar drink and I just discovered that I don't actually *like* Chocolate Martinis, the bartender was courteous, very attentive, and sweet. The decor was beautiful, very smooth and warm.
When I have my dad's credit card (BWAHAHAHAHAHA like THAT'LL happen again) or a rich boyfriend, I'll ask to be taken here for a special occasion to actually try their restaurant, and not just their cocktails.
But that won't stop me from stumbling in on a DYL night and possibly trying to hit up some random dude at the bar for drinks. Because if I'm gonna whore it up, I might as well be classy about it.
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i really love the st. regis. its one of the most up scale places to be at in the city with out the feel that your being watched like a hawk because you dont fit in. the drinks are really exceptional, and all these people complaining about the prices, all i can say is what do you expect? its the ST. REGIS! some of the staff are very exceptional, and some just make you want to kill. its so hit or miss with a waitress in the sitting area. the bar has always been a great experience. all the bartenders are really friendly. i am having my birthday here in two days, and i hope that it will go smoothly... after all it will be me and 50 of my closest friends. i hope the saint is ready....
The perfect place to go for an apres-Sex and the City movie cocktail with your girlfriends. At first, we had designs on the W, but it was filled with Moscone Convention chumps, so we setttled on the S. Regis, a much superior establishment indeed. At $14, the cocktails may be hard on the wallet, but easy on the palate...an infusion of ginger beer, cointreau, and vodka go smoothly down the hatch and worth every drop.
Waitresses are very attentive and male eye candy easy on the eyes. I had to leave before channeling my inner Samantha and turning my charms on some unsuspecting gentleman...meow indeed.
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Eye candy, beautiful decor, great wine and drink selection, good service, yummy nibbles, awesome fire treatment.
Oh, and beware the valet parking cost. I was there for a couple of hours the other night and paid $45 for parking (plus tip).
Willie Brown met me here :)
So far... Willie Brown, Sean Penn, and Kirsten Dunst have met me. I must either be going to all the right places at the right time, or I'm just that fabulous.
Actually, I'm both.
This place is a great spot to stop by and have your first drink... or drinks to start off your night. Then head over to XYZ, Roe, Fluid, B Bar or... all of the above. Just make sure you're dressed to super-impress and invite me.
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One of the benefits of working for Yelp is that many of my co-workers and I are on an undying quest to always try new places. Luckily for me, everything in this city is fairly new, so every time we hop to a new place, it's a fun reason for me to excited because I then have a new place to report on.
The St. Regis Lobby Bar is a fave of my buddy Nish N's. We've come here for meetings, for sad news, for a happy drink, a post work drink and even just to shoot the shit and eat wasabi peas. The looks of this place is nice. I wouldn't say it's the warmest or coziest of hotel bars, but really, what hotel bar has a homey feel?
What it is, is a nice place to catch a glimpse of some business folks using their expense accounts and of course, a guaranteed place to see San Francisco Willie Brown at the same seat at the end of the bar laughing it up. Good stuff.
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One of my favorite places to grab a drink with friends. Swank. Check. Good drinks. Check. Great people-watching. Check. Damn-good wasabi peas. Check. This is a great place for happy hour or any hour.
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Was late meeting a friend at the hotel's bar thanks to the city's poor cab situation. Grr! My phone was buzzing with text messages.
TXT: Chopchop, nt cool enough to hang alone.
REPLY: Tad late. Mk friends.
TXT: Mthrf*#@!!
A first look at the bar may intimidate the introvert, but it can also be one of the more sophisticated and friendly hotel bars in the city. My friend was kept supplied with Martinis and conversation thanks to amiable, jovial, aim-to-please bartenders. Afterward we made some inquiries as to how far our restaurant was from the hotel. Instead of giving us directions we were ushered to a courtesy car, having us arrive at dinner in a BENTLEY. Some company car. We soaked up every minute of our chauffeured Grey Poupon moment. The experience turned my mild-mannered friend into insta-pimp, who upon exiting the car repeated his new mantra, "Cause that's how Daddy rolls." The bar is representative of the classy, Rock Star service one can expect from the St. Regis!
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I can't possibly give the St. Regis Hotel Lobby Bar more than three stars because:
1. A passable Manhattan will cost you $12.50 before tip
2. The kitchen closes at 10:00 pm
3. The place is a bitch magnet (as are most swanky hotel bars)
Otherwise, it's a pretty good time. There are a lot of couches and comfortable seats. The service was slow, at best, but my buddies and I passed the time with good discussion and excellent people watching from our table in the corner.
If watching people who are trying to be seen is your thing (and let's face it, everyone likes to do that once in a while), then the St. Regis Hotel Lobby Bar is definitely worth a visit.
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Ah, the Reeg--where to begin? I love hotel bars, but I generally don't frequent them because of the pricey-ness factor. But, when Vino Venue was shut down due to the faceless corporate asshats who refused to pay the lease for eight months (**SOBS**), one of my favorite "bartenders" from there got a job at the St. Regis Lobby Bar, so I had to check it out. In doing so, I met two of the most fabulous bartenders on the face of the earth--Darius & Rafael. (I have since met Brian, who is also great.) These guys KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, and it doesn't hurt that they are just wonderful and fun to be around. Half the time, I just let them make me whatever they feel like, because they can make some tasty-ass shit that is not on the drink menu.
What else should you know? Oh yes...the ladies of the evening. The SFPD has actually distributed a photocopy containing various photos of several known high-class sex workers who have been photographed working the area, including The Reeg and the XYZ bar. That was an amusing thing to see.
Also, as has been mentioned, the drinks are absurdly expensive. I give the place--specifically the bartenders--five stars, but the bar manager just raised the prices of the specialty drinks from $12 to $14. Really? Was that really necessary? Bothersome. - 1 star for that.
The crowd is on the older side, but even though I'm in my late 20s, I like it. This is one of the only places in the city where someone has offered to pay for my drinks, which is just nice every once in a while.
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Two stars for a lovely classy locale--snazzy little hotel lobby bar in SOMA 'hood. If the swanky couches and decor don't make you feel classy, the $14 martini will. I had a jack and coke here (a bargain at $10) and it wasn't just the service that was weak. Sadly you'd need several such drinks to really start making a dent, so you'd be best off just stopping here on a special occasion for a single drink to soak up the ambiance before moving on.
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I walked in to this place around 1130 on a Friday evening. It was pleasantly filled, not too many people standing and a few seats available to sit. I was waiting to meet a friend, who was late...(I guess cabs don't go to the marina at 1130 on a Friday night, who knew?)
I stood at the end of the bar and waited for the bartender to come to me. He approached me rather quickly, I inquired about the champagne list. He handed me a menu and recommended the Aubry. But they were a bit pricey, so I decided to go for the Nigori about a fraction of the price. If there was ever a time to use the quote you pay for what you get, this was it. It was HORRIBLE, and I usually LOVE Nigori. So I decided to go for the Aubry, at $21/glass I figured I couldn't go wrong. And after a long week of staying in and being a good girl, I figured I deserved it. I watched intently as the bartender popped a brand new bottle...It was delicious! Yum yum heaven! There's nothing better than the first glass of a new bottle of champagne.
My girlfriend showed up in the cab about 20 minutes after I arrived. She's a champagne lover herself, as she was strolling in, her glass was being poured, perfect timing, (behold the power of text messaging). We grabbed a seat and chatted, ordered another round of Aubry, and sat by the faux fireplace. It was great.
They did last call and we ordered one last round of lemon drops. These were quite possibly the best lemon drops I've ever had and as a bartender that's a complement. They were sour, but sugar rimmed, and just sweet enough to make it taste awesome.
This is my kind of place. The crowd was older, 35+, the place was clean, our drinks were fresh, glasses were clean, there was no line at the bathroom, it was also clean and smelled nice, and the men didn't hound us like we were pieces of meat. We were able to chat at a moderate speaking level, it wasn't too quiet, and wasn't too loud were we had to have a screaming match.
I would give this place 5 stars except that we paid $140 for six drinks. At that price I better leave feeling pretty damn good.
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Now this is a great place to have a convo. without the crazy YELLING. Yes, YELLLING that is NOT a CONVO. It is a SCREAMING match at some spots that really kills it for any erotic possibilities. Get my vibe?
It is an older crowd, but hey, they have the moolah and are the ones that KNOW how to appreciate quality and gotta respect that in my own groove...oh, yeah....BEWARE of those women that look like "Pros" and I am not talking "Prozac, pills for older men's libido", but hey....was I just imagining it...I don't know, but they sure were suspicious. Yuck...or whatevah...I don't live like them.
I pay with my own American Express.
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If you're looking to impress someone, you could do a lot worse than the bar at the St. Regis. It's very hip and ultra professional, and the atmosphere and decor fit in nicely with the lobby of the hotel. Plus, I like the Wasabi peas they have spread out on the tables and at the bar.
However, if you do hit up the St. Regis, be sure to bring some plastic. Drinks here ARE NOT CHEAP. I had two rounds with a friend recently that set me back nearly $50.
Oh, and the bar tenders aren't the fastest or the friendliest of sorts. But considering this is a swanky hotel bar, the staff is fine.
It's an older crowd, which means you won't have to put up with the riff-raff that plagues other spots in the area. And every time I go there, I usually spot a celeb or two (Willie Brown, Downtown Julie Brown, etc.)... Okay, maybe not an A-lister, but you get the point...
This place is not really a hotel bar. It's more of a lobby where you can get drinks. I took a seat on one of the couches that was weirdly located back to back with another couch.
Overheard:
Older-put-together-lady: I mean, she sits on her asssshh and gets, *hic*and gets $80K a year just because, just because she's married to you. I mean, I work *ice clinking*, ....I work my ass off at your*hic*goddamn office for $45K and what do I get? Nuffing. *hic* Nothing.
Older married CEO type: Why must it allllllways end up here between us?*heavy sigh**large gulp**sound of eyes rolling*
Boyfriend: Jesus Christ! Heineken's here ar.....
Me: Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
OPTL: Bechaussse, because, I loff you, and that bitch gets $80K a goddamn yeahar jhust because she*muffled speaking through gin glass**clink**clink**
OMCT: Oh sweet Jesus.
BEST. HOTEL NON-BAR. EVAR.
Oh, and by the way, Heineken's there are $9.
-1 star.
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Ahh the St. Regis Lobby Bar. What can I say, I love hotel bars! Tasteful and classy atmosphere where I can sip on a cocktail and carry on a conversation with someone. I've come here over a dozen times with friends and even spent one New Year's Eve here. But definitely an older and more sophisticated crowd frequents this chic place. I think that's the reason I like it. If you're looking for a younger late 20's, early 30's crowd....head down the block to XYZ at the W Hotel.
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Meeting a friend for a late evening drink at the XYZ bar just proved to me once again that I am too old for that crowd and the noise and the trademark repetitive W music. We hustled over to the much more sedate Ame bar at the St. Regis and it was a breath of fresh air. So serene but not boring - just so much more elegant. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and the crowd of friendly well dressed tourists and locals.
The bartender was friendly and welcoming. Lately I have experienced a happy rash of bartenders at the nicer places all too willing to provide tastes of the various wines on offer until I'm satisfied with my choice. The St. Regis bar was no different. You do pay handsomely - $14 for a Sancerre - but it is so nice to feel well taken care of. A really nice spot for a friendly drink and some excellent bar snacks.
The experience was so nice I forgot I wasn't actually having a glass of wine at a friends place, and at the end of the evening got up to leave without paying. I was quickly and amiably reminded of my oversight and paid the bill before Security arrived.
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Definitely has that swanky modern euro hotel bar vibe, complete with the blazers, $300 jeans, and ridiculously priced alcohol. $40 for 3 vodkas?? Seriously??
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Apparently not opening a tab and paying cash is the equivalent of telling the server something highly offensive or not bathing for days. I say this because when Gregor G. and I attempted to order another round, the server refused to come back to our table. As a matter of fact, she went to every table BUT ours. I also noticed that we were the only ones not wearing suits. Perhaps that was why. Bottom line: The bar is beautiful, but the service is not. And what's up with the uniforms they wear that look like curtains? Blah.
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When I first arrived in SF, the Redwood Hotel was my hotel bar of choice. However, I've grown older and wiser and am tired of the sleaziness that manifests there. Ok, it's fun every now and then, but not every week. So the St. Regis is my new favorite upscale hotel bar where I go have a drink when I"m feeling fabulous, which happens on a weekly basis. Although I think the server's uniforms are severely outdated, the ambiance is pure decadance. If you're on the prowl, this isn't an ideal bar choice as the layout is more condusive to gathering with those you know...or want to get to know better!
P.S. For all of my Francophile friends, they serve Ricard.
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I live right across the street from "the Reej" and like to pop into the lobby bar from time to time. It's very sleek and they have a great selection of booze. As you should expect, the drinks come with a price and the crowd can be interesting, at times. When I'm here, I like to play a couple entertaining people-watching games with my friends:
1. "Spot the high-class hooker" - They are easy to spot when they get dropped off adjacent to the valet area in a black SL65 Mercedes ($130K+...P.I.M.P.!). You get bonus points if you make the spot post-entry. Tip: professionals get the "nod" instead of a verbal greeting from hotel/bar staff...it's pretty funny because THEY ALL KNOW.
2. "Check out that miserable couple" Bro, I know that spending $500/night for a "romantic weekend in the city" sounds like a great way to salvage your relationship but you should just tie Old Yeller to a tree and spend that money on yourself. Because when the two of you are crammed into one of those love seats, not talking or making eye contact, it makes the rest of us sad. But like a car crash, we all have to watch.
The Reej does boast a cool "indoor fire" and occasional b-list celeb sightings so it does round out the experience - as a 5-star hotel, you would expect nothing less.....
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I love this bar. Sure, my martini costs $14 here, but it comes with three perfectly skewered pieces of cucumber, a cloth napkin, and little munchies.
But the best part is that is such a nice relaxing place to have a nice quiet drink and chat anytime. Even on a Friday night. Even after 11PM.
I made the mistake of going north of Market last Friday, thinking of the bars as I imagined them on a Saturday or Wednesday evening. The problem is that on a Friday, they all turn into loud, crazy places. And the quiet places close early. So I ended up back at St. Regis where they served until about 1, and since it is a hotel lobby, let you stay as long as you want. I ended up curled up next to the fireplace well past two without any dirty looks.
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I've been here a few times and every experience has been fabulous. Now that I've read Ari G's review, I'll have to look out for the people he flagged! I never really noticed.
The Sweet Heat is my favorite drink. The last time we were there, they informed us that they had no basil. We decided to try it without and it was amazing-tequila, lime juice, hot chili pepper ... what else can you want?
The food is pricey but also really good. I've shared some appetizers with friends and they were all excellent. It's fun to just hang out at the bar and enjoy the crowd. I did notice last time we were there on a Friday night that it gets super busy so coming early is key. When we got up to leave, this woman just walked into me to grab the table. She seemed very determined and her manners were a bit questionable!
This place is relatively new and continues to evolve. It reminds me of the XYZ lounge back in the day where pretentious folks go to by overpriced drinks and mingle with fellow jet setters. The ambiance is comforting and the service is great. I wish the drinks were more affordable.
I went last night with a fellow yelper Javier O. and his wife. Oh, and I almost forgot their infamous pug named Buddha...
Even though Kuanmei(Javier's wife) had a tag which signifies that Buddha is a service dog, they wouldn't let him in the main bar area, they relegated us to the lobby area adjacent to the bar. Which was okay by me...
The people watching was excellent from our point of view... And I believe I saw a few "working girls."
The service was good. You're always going to a get a lot of attention when you have a dog with you. People just love petting dogs! So do I - especially canines...
I'm going to start frequenting the St. Regis Hotel on a regular basis since a friend of mine who used to work @ SCLA/SF is now a concierge in the residence area. And hopefully, another friend who worked @ the now defunct Vino Venue will get a job behind the bar? He did get a job and his name is David.
An update on February 15, 2008. The bartenders that I know are excellent- Rafael, Darius, and Hector. I don't know Hector as well as Rafael and Darius. Rafael and Darius are first rate professional bartenders. I highly recommend them! And the servers that I know are quite good- Ally, Rowena, Lauren, and Meena.
The bar snacks are "zesty." Cheese crisps, wasabi peas, and almonds.
My favorite beer @ the St. Regis is the Orion beer from Okinawa, Japan. The Yebisu beer also from Japan is good, but a little too malty for my taste. I really like the Brasserie Dupont "Foret" Organic Saison Ale from Belgium. It packs a wallop...
I drink the sake @ this place since it's affiliated with Ame. FYI, ame means rain in Japanese. The hitori musume nigori junmai unfiltered is good. It's from Ibaragi, Japan which is famous for their sake. My niece taught middle school in Ibaragi a few years ago, therefore I always seek out sake from Ibaragi. And the wakatake oni koroshi junmai dai ginjo from Shizuoka, Japan is also nice.
One of the best bars in the City!
Oh and I forgot, I had my first taste of Absinthe @ this bar last week. It was lethal!
This place has some amazing fries! Four stars for that alone. Aside from the potatoes, the bar is nicely decorated and the drink menu is pretty strong.
After not getting into our first choice for New Year's, we decided to stop by the bar in the St. Regis. We found a place to sit for our party of five and they provided some party favors. The decor was very sleek and modern but still had an inviting vibe to it. I would definitely stop by there again for a drink.
The St. Regis Hotel Lobby Bar is my favorite place to meet people for drinks downtown. Swanky but unpretentious for the most part and the free bar snacks are delicious. You can hear people talk which is a nice change from the usual shouting match you have to engage in at most bars.
It's definitely a place to go with friends for a nice evening drink after work, though I get the sense that if you were looking for some action (I'm not) it wouldn't be too hard to find.
5/5 for the guys who work here.
I had to really put on my thinking cap when it came to assessing an overall rating here. The ambiance is easily five stars. It's beautifully appointed and conducive to conversation at one of the intimate tables in their staged, luxe living room. The specialty drinks were amazing. I had a Hiro-tini -- a very dry spicy-ginger/cooling-cucumber combo, while Robert P. enjoyed a sugary yuzu-infused number. Interestingly, our cocktail choices were reflective of our personas, too, since he is young and sweet and optimistic, whereas I am bitter and old and kick a lot. The service just plain sucked after we placed our initial order, though. Our drink wench turned into Jimmy Hoffa on us, so we never had a chance to do a second round (which we would have), so that was a one star experience. It was also annoying that Robert kept doing a terrible Regis Philbin imitation -- saying things like, "Regis likes his martinis." Overall, I'll settle right in the middle because there is a lot of potential here and it is so freaking gawgeous.
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classy but not pretentious. the bartenders i mean, not so much the clientele. i go here quite a bit. don't sit at a table if you can help it, stick to the bar. the bartenders are rad. drink selection awesome. sometimes you end up meeting people that you thought were random but end up knowing who they are and it's a relief when someone you admire is cool. if you come in with attitude later in the night, chances are you're going to get some kind of attitude back. the bartenders aren't uppity so they could care less what you're wearing. but they're social observers and they can smell it if you're worried about if you're classy enough for the place. just be yourself, not a jerk, and everything will be cool. bring some $$ though cause it aint cheap.
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$14 for an average martini. Sure its a hotel bar, but give me a break.
I had one drink in this bar once after seeing a performance at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (it was an awful performance art piece and the friend who invited me felt the need to compensate me for my wasted time with a free nightcap). This bar was packed with the most beautiful (and presumably rich) people I ever had the pleasure of mentally undressing. They have a great drink menu, with an extensive list of whiskeys, scotches, and the like. I had an Old Potrero on the rocks. Not very many bars in SF serve Old Potrero. Some day I'll go back, it's just not in my neighborhood and it ain't cheap (but then again, have you ever seen high concentrations of beautiful classy broads in a cheap bar?).
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