Since the cocktail resurgence of the 2000s, the anticipation of a new San Francisco bar opening would often spark excited curiosity. What Disney-worthy interiors would await? What clever, Instagrammable vessel would drinks be served in? What cheeky phrase would the neon sign espouse?
That’s all changing. Now, local bars are eschewing novelties in favor of an age-old attribute: conviviality.
Today, a connection to others is the defining feature with gregarious regulars, friendly bartenders, and spirited bonding around Giants, Dubs, Niners games. No pretense or pyrotechnics; just good old-fashioned socializing. In other words, the neighborhood bar is back. This time, with better drinks.
Shotski's Alpine Lodge, downtown's newest bar (Courtesy of Shotski’s Alpine Lodge)
Shotski’s Alpine Lodge
Chambongs and draft Red Bull cocktails. A glowing wheel with a variety of drink options decided by a spin. Namesake shotskis, whose mounted glasses can be filled with a selection of 100 shots. This isn’t your father’s Future Bars Group.
Yet, while the cocktails are still top-tier—crafted as always by the group’s ridiculously prolific beverage director, Jayson Wilde—the vibe at the latest Future Bars opening is notably less precious. With the slogan “All altitude, no attitude,” the taxidermy-filled, lodge-themed space is only in service of a jovial, après-ski mentality. The group’s special events manager, Alexandra Garrett, who managed nearby Rickhouse for many years, noticed that downtown’s post-work crowd needed a little nudge to mingle. Enter the shotski.
For those unfamiliar, a shotski is an actual ski that’s been modified with four affixed shot glasses to accommodate a small group taking a simultaneous shot by carefully hoisting the ski-mounted glasses up together. It’s lawn games meets the dive bar. It’s also the perfect ice breaker. Only two in your party? Grab two new friends.
Fueling Ritual at Shotski's(Courtesy of Shotski’s Alpine Lodge)
Shotski’s has plenty of non-shot options, too, including the fennel-tinged Magic Carpet Ride, likely your new favorite tequila highball. Other highlights include the Permanent Vacation, a macadamia nut-infused piña colada, and the Death Cookie, an old-fashioned-style sipper served with a Biscoff cookie. Pro tip: add a creamy Straus soft serve topping to the Dance with the Devil for an extraordinary, boozy root beer float. Plus, all cocktails top out at $13—unheard of for downtown.
Can’t decide what to order? Plunk down $10 to spin the wheel of fortune and let fate decide, with options that include a bucket of 10 beers, a flask of various spirits such as Casamigos, and non-drink options including an aux takeover or 10 plays on the claw machine. Add a foosball table, a second upstairs bar, and an official entertainment zone on adjoining Claude Alley (read: you can drink in the street on special events), and you’ll see why Shotki’s might be the most fun to be had in downtown right now.
// 239 Kearny St. (Downtown), shotskislodge.com
The Golden Rule's interior was designed by SF's own Jon de la Cruz.(Douglas Friedman)
Golden Rule
Golden Rule is what a neighborhood bar from a fine-dining group looks like: stylishly simple interiors with a come-as-you-are vibe, a smattering of TVs for sporting events, Bay Area rap bumping in the background, and exceptionally good cocktails. Back Home Hospitality, the restaurant group behind Che Fico, clearly had fun with their first bar outing, cloaking a standout cocktail destination as a casual, neighborhood hang. There’s nothing quite like it in the city.
Set within Thrive City, the food- and drink-fueled development surrounding the Chase Center, Golden Rule includes a few clever nods to the Warriors’ adjoining home. The fetching, airy space designed by Jon de la Cruz is dominated by a bar composed of blue, orange, yellow, and red tiles, inspired by the colors of the Warriors’ jersey in 1962, the year the team arrived in the Bay from Philadelphia. Squint and it could pass for a fashionable take on a retro fast-food interior, a fitting example of the bar’s decidedly sophisticated take on fun. As explained by beverage director Danielle Peters everything should be "exciting but approachable,” which aptly describes the cocktail menu she’s assembled.
Drinks cover a range of styles, and are all utterly flavorful with a clean, round finish. When was the last time you had a citrus cocktail that sipped as smooth as a martini? The Ms. Denise, named after the first woman drafted by the Warriors, is a clarified bourbon, citrus, and strawberry cocktail with the refinement of an eau-de-vie and deliciousness of an agua fresca. Margarita fans will love the Oh Sheila, a richly layered, herbaceous agave cocktail with a caramelized pineapple base; while espresso martini drinkers should opt for the Bi-Coastal, served in a Greek coffee cup, with all of the richness of a latte but none of the heft.
The Oh Sheila at The Golden Rule(Krescent Carasso)
Don’t miss the MIP, a playful martini riff with a spritz of Hubba Bubba essence (yep, you read that right) and a WNBA playing card, alluding to the gum-stick-filled card packs of Peters’ youth. There’s also a well-considered non-alcoholic menu, and a Little Treats section with petite cocktails and spirit pairings such as the Snaquiri, a mini daiquiri served alongside Incan corn nuts.
For food, Golden Rule stays true to the neighborhood bar concept with small bites all under $8. The addictive chile- and lime-dusted potato chips are handmade, and the wafting aroma of Che Fico pizza will have you flagging your server for a slice. For now, Golden Rule is open Thursday through Saturday and on all Chase Center event nights, when the buzz of excited concertgoers and Valkyries and Warriors fans spills out onto the sidewalk patio seating.
// 720 Terry A. Francois Blvd. (Mission Bay), goldenrulebar.com
The Lucky Spot in North Beach(Courtesy of The Lucky Spot)
The Lucky Spot
In contrast to the fantastic settings of the Future Bars spots he once worked, owner Barry John Walsh’s new bar, The Lucky Spot, swaps thematics for simplicity. That’s not to say it isn’t noteworthy. In fact, Walsh has accomplished something extraordinary: opening a new bar that feels like it’s always been a part of the neighborhood.
The convivial space has been instantly embraced by locals—an even more impressive feat in the close-knit community of North Beach. The handsome pub, with SF memorabilia adorning its wainscoting-finished walls, has slid effortlessly into the neighborhood like the clean-shaven cousin of Gino & Carlo. What’s his secret? A warm, engaging staff that sets a hospitable tone that resonates with its patrons. This is the place where you’ll quickly get to know every bartender by their first name. It’s also the type of place that buys Golden Boy pizza for customers every Sunday during football season.
While game day may call for a pint, don’t forget that Walsh spent eight years with the cocktail-oriented Future Bars Group (he was introduced to the company after a chance encounter with the father of the bar group’s owner in his native Ireland). He also owns the ‘70s-themed Marina cocktail den, For the Record, and The Lucky Spot’s cocktail offerings are equally strong. The Orange You Glad is an easy-drinking vodka-spiked take on a creamsicle, while Dirty Deeds is a perfectly balanced dirty martini with subtle, savory notes and a Bloody Mary-worthy garnish of a speared cornichon, pickled onion, olive, and cherry tomato.
Still, as attractive as the drinks are, they are not what fill the bar’s Instagram feed. Rather, it’s the patrons, representing a broad swath of San Franciscans sporting everything from button-downs to Niners jerseys, confirming that The Lucky Spot is first and foremost about the good cheer.
// 1431 Stockton St. (North Beach), theluckyspotsf.com
The Dirty Deeds at The Lucky Spot(Courtesy of The Lucky Spot)
