No sign on the door; check. Sultry warm lighting, high ceilings and cozy interior; check. Basil Gimlet = Fanfuckingtastic. read more

I went for the first time because it was a friend of a friend's birthday (and maybe a DYL as well?), and really liked the layout as soon as I walked in. Bright, classy (maybe a bit art deco?), with a kind of balcony level with seating overlooking the bar. We ordered Manhattans to start -- and wow! Not only were they fantastic, but we caught the bartender furtively watching to see how we reacted to our first sips, and he gave us a questioning look until we gave him the thumbs up, which made him smile. Yay for bartenders who care whether people like their drinks, even on a super-busy Friday night! I can't remember everything I had or tried there, but I do remember being particularly impressed by the mojitos, and I have rather a high bar for mojitos. A perfect balance of rum, sugar, lime, and super-fresh mint. It was so good I had another. :) We went again a few months later -- the mojitos were still super tasty, and when I was feeling uninspired by my usual go-to cocktails, the bartender was happy to take a stab at making me something fun and tasty based on a few well-chosen questions about my cocktail / spirits preferences. Big fan. Will be back, in spite of the fact that it's a non-insignificant BART ride away. read more

The atmosphere of this bar is cozy but still feels open to any newcomer. I never know what fun conversation will find me here! More importantly the men and women who bartend are always rad and hilarious. I've been coming here for years and have never had a bad experience. It's a financial district bar so of course it gets packed at times. Do yourself a favor and catch it a little later than happy hour and I'm sure you'll still leave happy. So much love for (formerly) AJ, Mark, Enrique, Nick and all the other homies there. You guys are rockstars. read more

Love this place although it's a bit hard to find. I had to do a double take as I passed it up the first time. It's great for happy hour and inexpensive too. I went on a Monday and there was a pretty good crowd going on. read more

Two words, Basil gimlet. Changed my life. I'm pretty sure they mash a little heaven up into that drink because it was one of the most amazing taste experiences of my life. Thinking it was a fluke, I ordered another. The second was just as delicious though! The only reason I can't give it five stars is because it is super crowded, but that's understandable given the deliciousness that awaits. read more

The most amazing mojito of my life! The bar tenders were amazing and friendly which is hard to find I'm this city. Plus, my first drink was free! It was busy enough to be fun but not overwhelming full so that it's annoying read more

Today I was met with the kind of bartender that you see in movies. My friend and I approached the Friday HH busy bar a bit apprehensive. We were shyly looking for a cocktail menu, but the gentleman tending bar met us with a smile through the crowd. We asked for a menu and he lifted his arms and said, "I'm your cocktail menu!! What are you looking for." This sounds cliché, but he was exactly what I wanted out of a bartender. He was friendly, but not TOO friendly. He listened to what we liked, asked questions to make sure he was creating a cocktail that would please, and he pushed us out of our comfort zone. The two cocktails that he made were quite possibly the best I've had in the city... and just to be clear, I've lived here 13 years and I like my whiskey. 83 Proof is a great after-work-hours bar with friendly staff. They have 2 to 4-top tables and a lot of bar seats. The bathrooms are clean. They take cash and card. And most importantly, ALL of the staff is friendly, hardworking, and knowledgeable. read more

Fun. I was excited to find out about this new bar so close to our office. I've already gone by the past two Fridays after work with colleagues for a drink, or two, or three... Each time, we've left much more relaxed, aka buzzed, and happy. The only pitfall is that it can get super crowded, but I've not had to wait more than 10 minutes to order our drinks which I think is tolerable. It certainly doesn't hurt that one of the bartenders is adorable and will make eye contact and smile as if to say..."I know you've been waiting, but I'll be with you ASAP, dear..." The drinks are strong and cheap compared to some of the other places around Financial District (i.e., Americano...). I'll definitely be going back. read more

Living on Treasure Island has its ups and downs, and the worst of the latter is probably having to take the bus home from the Transbay Terminal since I can't even walk there. Lately, though, I've discovered a silver lining: 83 Proof, a stone's throw from the Transbay, the perfect place for a quick beer (or five) after work. I've always been served promptly and cheerfully, the bartenders seem capable and confident. Apparently one of them is named Sky Jet, so that's cool also. The place isn't huge, although there's a nice little mezzanine upstairs, although it's often booked. The atmosphere, on the whole, is quite nice: Not too loud, not too dark or bright, usually not too crowded. Basically, a real nice bar to just relax at for an hour or two, or three. read more

First impression: a good vibe. Simple, unassuming atmosphere. Very warm and welcoming bartenders. People laughing and enjoying themselves. Our bartender steered each of us to a custom cocktail with our preferred spirit (Gin? Bourbon? Rum?) with flavor profile (Citrusy? Dark, rich?) and a kindly gut check (Spice OK? Egg white?). We loved this attention and got excited to try something new. I noticed our bartender laboring over the proportion of bitters in one drink, carefully second-guessing and testing the mix. I appreciated the care he put into it. The drinks? Fantastic. Each attractive and colorful, super well-balanced, bright, and really flavorful. Can't wait to return for another. read more

Yes, it's a bit hard to find but you can't walk by it without seeing the crowd. I really liked the decor in this bar, and especially that it has a mezzanine/private area. The HH specials are amazing ($4 well drinks), but that meant that the bar was packed. It would be nice to have a bit more seating at the entrance (what looks like the dance floor but not sure that's what it is). Overall, still a great place to go. read more

This place is a regular happy hour joint for me. It could be a bit of a scene if you wanted it to, but mostly it's full of people who want to go for a drink after work with their friends. What makes this place great is: $2 cans of Hams A huge variety of liquor Bartenders who know how to mix all that liquor These guys are really great at what they do and will make whatever you throw at them. read more

I didn't get a chance to taste the cocktails when I stopped by, but the place was bustling with a good energy at 6:30pm on a Monday, which is fairly impressive. As others have echoed, it's a lot of the FiDi tech bro types, which may or may not be your thang - but the staff is pretty attentive and they had Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky so i was a happy camper. the noise level is pretty intense, so be prepared to try and find a quiet nook - or better yet, sneak upstairs to get a little relief. all in all, a convenient spot to meet up with a couple of buddies, but maybe not a place i'd linger for too long, if only for the somewhat cramped atmosphere. read more

Our office's personal "watering" hole. A tremendous and possibly the best selection of bourbon and scotch in the city. The staff is well educated and very accommodating.... Best time is from 4-7 pm and then after 9 pm...Wed and Thursday nights are my favorite here. read more

I met some friends for a drink hoping to find a good spot for a future work event. The bar was perfect. Nice decor. A lovely, intimate (but not too intimate) mezzanine and a great selection of whiskey. Not to mention cute, knowlegeable bartenders. The only real hitch is the bar isn't marked other than the address. Oh well, maybe it keeps out the lookeyloos. read more

My friend held a private party here for his birthday and it was pretty nice. My college friends and I basically had a mini reunion. :) The place is pretty small and narrow though, so don't expect space to be dancing (my friend said there would be). It did take us awhile to get ahold of the bartender and they were constantly making drinks for everyone, so maybe they could have had more bartenders? The drinks here are pretty good though! My friend ordered something similar to a Alabama Amaretto (I think that's what she said- it gets rather noisy in there) and it was really good! I wish I knew what it was. The place isn't super well lit, it has a bit of a dim, orange-brown cast, but it's not hard to navigate your way at all. There's a second floor where there's couches and you can look over the balcony onto the first floor. The railing didn't seem particularly study though. And there's two bathrooms on the first floor, one co-ed, and one just for the ladies. Tip: There's no fee to rent the place, you just have to meet the bar minimum (which we did!). read more

Came here for a birthday party pre-dinner meetup and by 7pm, the place was pretty packed. There was no bouncer as mentioned in previous reviews which was nice because I did have to run in and out of the place to take calls. Also, a draft beer was only $5. Not bad at all. I wish they had a sign or something because I parked around the street looking for signage and I did a full circle until I realized that it was sitting right next to me. I stayed mostly in the front area near the door as the inside tables and upstairs area were already occupied. The volume in the room can get really loud but it makes for excellent atmosphere. There were a few TVs scattered around but not to the point of sports bar overkill. Parking is street and usually pretty decent to find after 6pm and the meters become free. read more

This was a really nice find for happy hour in the financial district/SOMA. Some co-workers had been recommending that I try this place so I finally got around to it and it was a treat! I asked the bartender to make me something a little sweet and a little sour and he put on a show; he was also one of the nicest bartenders I've met. He made a delicious drink with blueberries, mint, rum and a few other ingredients. I wish I had asked the name because I would definitely want to order it again. I did come to this place on a Friday after work so it was pretty crowded and tough to find a seat, but that's what it's like with most places in the city so I can't complain much. A good place to sit and chat with a drink, you just need to be willing to wait a while to get a table. read more

Always a greet place to have happy hour, can get packed so get there early. Tip your bartenders

My new after work happy hour spot if I can get off work early enough to secure a table. Like most jivin' bars in the FiDi, this place is inundated with white collar from 6 to 8PM. Not very suprising considering drinks are dirt cheap during happy hour. I've also been here on a weekday, later in the night, around 10 PM or so. As the masses begin to leave and the chaos wanes down, it begins to feel more like a winter log cabin. The dim candle lighting creates the image of slender flames licking away from the fireplace. At this point, a warm sensation begins to emanate from within... must be the whiskey. read more

I've been here a few times and it's always an evening well spent -- confirmed last time I was here by the fact that the piano player did a rendition Karma Police. Bold. Very Bold. I've never hit it on the weekend, but on weeknights it's a solid place to grab a casual drink -- they have an obscene collection of fancy spirits, and although the bartenders are not remarkably helpful, they are friendly and perhaps I've never asked the proper questions? You're able to hear the person across the table from you fairly well -- and it's dark enough that if they're a little busted, you'll never know the difference -- in other words, not a bad place for a first-ish date. read more

It's clean inside, I snagged a table with my friends and my greyhound was only $4 at happy hour, so I'll be back. Perfect place for tying one on after work. read more

A little expensive, but the fantastic knowledgeable bar staff makes up for it. Mark, our bartender, wanted to know what bourbon we liked to know what other bourbons fit the same flavor profile. These guys really know their liquors - matching the right profiles and nose to what you're looking for. Outstanding. read more

83 Proof - Whiskey Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a really cool place to just hang out and chill. The atmosphere is really laid back, and it's usually not that crowded as long as you avoid the after work people. They should be out by around 9pm. Upon entering, I've had little trouble finding a spot a the bar or grabbing a table. The bartenders here are absolutely fantastic. I remember the first time I came here and asked for a drink menu, one of the bartenders pointed to his head and replied, "It's right here." I described to him the kind of drinks I like, and then he worked his magic and served me something really tasty. I appreciate that they put in the extra effort to make drinks based your preferences, as everyone has a different palate. I also enjoy their vast selection of whiskey. I always make it a point to try a different whiskey whenever I come, and I love how they always have a recommendation based on other whiskeys I like. The bartenders are very knowledgeable so don't hesitate to ask about anything they have on the shelves. If you're not feeling adventurous, they'll likely have your favorite whiskey in stock so take a seat and enjoy a glass. read more

3.5 I'm always a fan of owner-operated bars, but really, the bartenders/owners here are super nice and friendly. I talked to Sky the last time I went, we high-fived. Regarding the location, I like that it's downtown but isn't yuppie. It's just a chill, comfy place to grab a drink with some friends. Don't bring the whole office though, it's an intimate place better suited for smaller groups. I recommend going on weeknights if you want to relax and avoid the scene. When this place gets crowded, expect to wait a while for a drink. I was feeling a little under the weather but still wanted to go out to meet my friends so I asked Sky to recommend something. He came up with a Hot Toddy. How neat is that?! read more

Me likey!!! The service here is awesome; the bartenders (Sky and Mark) were so friendly and so attentive. We did come in after the HH rush, so we got seats at the bar and some very lovely martinis. Don't really want to talk about how many, so I'll just leave that out. I will say that Sky made us many different and unique libations, all of which were tasty and well, full of alcohol (just the way I like'em!). I can't say I've ever had basil in a martini before! The place actually picked up around 11 (Thursday night) and there was a great vibe. Though in FiDi, it felt very local. Love that. read more

My coworkers and I were on a mission to branch out from the 2 bars within stumbling distance from work, so we wandered an additional 3 blocks. It must have been a successful happy hour! We missed it by 20 minutes! Drunks #1 and #2: Let's just say that #2 was getting more play than the sale peaches at Safeway. We soon found out that the reason was a special anise drink composed mainly of tequila/cinnamon/cherry liquor and "magic" as we were informed by number #1 when he paused from testing the produce for a moment. Drunk #3: Apparently I was holding my drink in a way that looked like it needed a clinking because he stumbled up and gave it a go before being apologetically ushered away by his friends. Cheers buddy! My blueberry lemon drop was quite fancy with muddled blueberries. The bartenders are very talented with what you can come up with because they don't have a drink menu. A definite find and we might have been #4, #5, #6 and #7 when we left! read more

Nice decor. Not too bad between Sundays and Wednesdays. That's the good part. Now for the bad part. The drink prices are... unreasonable in my view. 30$ for a pour of 18yo Macallan. - I know the retail price. Like Remy, Macallan suffers from being a bit over popular with the expected effect on price and quality. I also know at least one bar in downtown SF that charges $18/pour. 25$ for a 10yo Japanese single malt. - I also realise that Japanese whisky is hard to get in the US, but if I can manage having some 15 and 18 year old bottles (no, not Yama) at home, I figure a full-time bar can swing it, somehow. Midnight closing time on the days that I go out. I've been informed by the owner(?) that this is a limitation of their liquor license, and I can sympathise, but in the end - it still means I can't go there late on quiet evening. I've toned the review way down after messages to/from the owner. He had some excellent points, but after all is said and done, I still can't come here late on a Monday/Tuesday night, and have a glass of good whisky at what I consider to be a reasonable price. read more

It's the closest bar to my office ... and probably the "classiest". As much as I enjoy the taverns/pubs around me, it's sometimes nice to grab a drink at a bar that offers creative and tasty cocktails. I really like the decor ... dim, warm colored walls, long wooden bar, some high wooden tables and a small upstairs section with additional seating (couch and some armchairs). After work, this place is extremely crowded and loud. I'm usually snaking my way to the bar and then standing the rest of the time. read more

On our bar hopping tour of the Soma area we wound up at 83 Proof. The space is narrow but they have a nice second level area and some seating down below as well. Their selection of hard liqueurs are well rounded and a decent variety of beers on draft. They have 2 bathrooms, 1 is for both Women and Men and the other is just women. Thought I throw that out as an extra perk for the ladies. Overall Thoughts I don't have anything negative to say since we weren't there for too long but based off my first impressions I enjoyed the atmosphere and could see myself coming back read more

Great value for beer! Very wide selection of scotch at reasonable prices. The place gets busy after work and it's loud enough where it becomes hard to talk. AJ, Mark and the staff are all awesome. read more

one of my favorite bars in the fidi area! the only downside is it gets REALLY packed after 5pm on work days. so if you're able to skip out of work early, highly recommend coming here at 4pm for your apres work refreshment. or do what i do and come out for a couple drinks before returning to work :) it is one of my favorites because it is not pretentious, drinks are actually affordable considering the area (gasp! under $10 for a cocktail?!), and if you come early or late enough you can definitely grab a table downstairs or couch upstairs to hang out. read more

One of the best brown liquor collections at a bar downtown! The prices are reasonable and it's super convenience for a drink after work. The staff is very attentive and friendly and the atmosphere is pretty cool for a bar downtown. If you are into single malts, they should have something to quench your thirst. read more

What a great little bar in SF. I'm so glad I decided to research some bars around the hotel this past weekend... 83 proof has very nice bartenders, an impressive array of alcohol, cheap prices and even nice bathrooms. It was walking distance from our hotel (hyatt embaracadero). read more

This is one of my favorite happy hour locations in the financial district for the following reasons: a) It's not overly expensive. Can get a decent buzz on without emptying out your wallet. b) It's less than a block from my office. SCORE. c) It doesn't come with the normal, pretentious financial district crowd that seems to frequent the bars in the area (i.e. Americano). d) On evenings they open up the huge window in the front & my favorite place to perch is right by the window. Nice breeze, do some people watching, perfect. e) Great upstairs lounge-y area that (if you're lucky enough to snag a seat) gets you away from the crowds of the downstairs. Love this place! And they're having an awesome "Pig & Swig" event this weekend! I've gots to go. read more

Fun happy hour spot! Friendly bartenders that will keep you liquored up and a good noise level to be social but not having-to-yell kind of loud. A lot of the people sitting at the bar had their eyes glued to the television in the corner that was showing football highlights from the weekend. Went around 6pm and didn't have any trouble finding seats as a lot of people were shuffling in and out. It would be hard to seat a whole group though, so it's better for people who wouldn't mind standing if necessary. Nice spot, i would check it out again! read more

'was there for happy hour- it was crowded. Dirty Martini was well made and so was the manhattan- we had a private chef event upstairs- unfortunately i did not go up to see the space (other HH commitments,hehe) but overall besides being too crowded, i liked this place. Good professional crowd. Worth trying different drinks. Not everyone makes dirty martinis good!..mmm just saying..and i love it when they put 3 (yes 3- not 2, not 1) olives, that makes it a small meal! :) haha. Good times. iRecommend. read more

Loud and crowded. One star is for the friendly and skilled bartenders. One more star for being fairly priced with a good selection of beers and other booze. Most people go here for an afterwork drink. It is convenient for those working in the FiDi/SOMA, however, this place is narrow and gets packed quickly. It is impossible to carry on a conversation. If you can get one of the handful of tables, do it. Otherwise you will be shoved around as people try to worm their way up to the bar. With so many bars within a 3 block radius, there are better options. read more

Nice spot convenient to financial district. Bit tight, at 4:30 there were no seats available and by 6 it was shoulder to shoulder. But the bartenders were good, quick, very pleasant. I ordered a rye on the rocks and watched the bartender measure out exactly one shot. On my second round - after the bar was much more crowded - he free handed the pour which is what I would expect from a good cocktail bar. read more

Met an old friend for a HH drink here last Thursday - based on Yelp reviews ;-) Will have to give this visit a 3-star. Selection was top shelf, service was solid, drinks well-made... but spare seating, shoulder to shoulder crowd, wait for drinks doesn't offer anything special, besides the walk from 1 Market. That said, maybe a 4-star visit if it was 3p instead of 5:30p or a Mon-Wednesday. But would definitely give it another shot, since it's also a halfway point to other friends who work in the area. read more