For a night to remember, head to the Arabian nights-themed dive bar, Zam Zam located at Haight Street, one of San Francisco's popular tourist attractions. A prominent bar back in the days, this bar was well-known for its late owner and bartender- Bruno entertaining patrons with his grumpy behavior. He almost always dismissed guests if they weren't up to his liking. Till this day this dim-lit bar exploding with Persian decor allures locals and tourists with tales of its legendary owner. With no television, this bar encourage conversations. A must have here is Bruno's favorite- Finlandia martini.
Trendy and friendly, Tosca Cafe features a classy interior furnished with comfortable and inviting booths. The ambiance is subtle yet elegant, and the decor even more so. To avoid bass vibrations from the Palladium Club beneath the establishment, be sure to come to Tosca early on a weeknight. Relax in the same leather booths once occupied by Francis Ford Coppola and Sam Shepard at this charming and historic cafe. Sip a house coffee made with steamed milk, chocolate, and brandy, as you absorb the beauty of the opera on the jukebox and the antique espresso machine behind the counter. If you need something a little more substantial than a liquid diet, they serve a menu of Italian snacks and dishes.
Perched conspicuously on a busy corner in San Francisco's Mission District, Elixir is a kind of Jack-of-all-trades of the bar world. They have an array of tap handles and they take great care to serve beers in signature glassware, yet they are also famous for their expertly mixed, fresh ingredient-filled cocktails. The ambiance is similarly shifty. By day, regulars pull up a stool and revel in the friendly pub atmosphere. In the evening, happy-hour hordes give way to scantily clad party people and the whole place suddenly feels chic. At all hours, the jukebox is great, and the dartboards are awaiting.
This nondescript bar conveniently located in the Tendernob looks quite staid from its facade, however inside, the bartenders expertly craft cocktails to San Franciscans in the know. The atmosphere is casual. A couple of featured cocktails are the the Hemingway Daiquiri and the Basil Gimlet, both are delicious or you can order a perfect Martini or Manhattan just the same. They have a pool table as an added bonus or if you prefer, you can relax at the wood paneled bar.
Head downtown to Ryoko's for arguably the most creative sushi on Nob Hill. The family owned and operated restaurant has dabbled in the food business for over two decades. Exclusively sourcing its fish from Japanese waters, it creates an imaginative array of sushi and sashimi. Start off with gyoza, beef teriyaki, or wakame-su with octopus. The menu features classics like salmon sake, white tuna shiromaguro and BBQ eel unakyu. For a thrilling treat to your palate, brave the Volcano Roll which is a tasty tempura shrimp sushi filled with cucumber, peanut butter and jalapeño. The best seat in the house is right next to the friendly chefs where you can catch all the sushi rolling action.
Oakland United Beerworks makes hand-crafted beers using locally grown ingredients, creating a product that is very impressive. Formerly called the Linden Street Brewery, this brewery makes small-batches to ensure that each keg is up to their high standards. Their beers are available at local watering holes, but they're best sampled right here at the brewery.