I had a good time. I had a friend that raved about ABV and I def had to try it myself. i had previously been to Monk's Kettle across the street and enjoyed it too. We walked to the mission as parking is a nightmare and was the first on the waitlist at 6pm on a Friday. We were able to order drinks while waiting and began sipping before being seated. There was very limited outdoor seating but the staff did their best to accommodate. They were also attentive to our requests and quick to lend us a hand - which I appreciate and also understand the quick turnover nature of this business. The drinks were okay. The Moscow Mule was a popular choice among my friends. I enjoyed the food too; its not a place you can have dinner but they have smaller bar food. I enjoyed the Fried Cauliflower and Fried Mushrooms. The chips were decent. My friends got their burger and they had mixed reviews. I would come back. I enjoyed the vibes and was a great place to catch up with friends. Happy to see what SF's reopening would bring to the area and cant wait to get back into things. read more

Came for the drinks, stayed for the heat lamps for outdoor seating. Got a Moscow Mule and a Mumbai Mule. Mumbai was unique, with a saffron twist on the original, but I'd prefer the classic. read more

I went to ABV on a date last night. The drinks are magnificent and even though they have a small wine list, it was pretty good. I was impressed with the mushrooms, but not too much of the meat and cheese board. They could definitely up their game, but I am giving them five stars for their atmosphere and their great service. I am a server in two different restaurants, and I will acknowledge the fact that I can be a little pushy. They didn't seem to mind or even notice my bad behavior, and were pleasant, courteous, and made sure we constantly had water and drinks in hand. I really appreciate you guys. Thank you. read more

It's in the mission, so expect parking to be HARD unless you find valet or park in a lot. I'd suggest just BARTing in, since ABV isn't too far from the station. This is a really cool place to sit down, chat, and have a few drinks. Their food isn't like any other typical bar bites - they really took the time to put in their own spin of regular bar food. ABV's tater tots are a must have. It's square, they throw bento flakes on them, and the inside is more mashed potato than little pieces of potatoes (like a regular tot). Service checked in on us a lot and was really friendly. Rating this 4 stars because, although the drinks were good, they weren't unique enough to justify the price. read more

Really cool bar. The bartenders were pretty awesome and super accommodating with all the stupid drunk bar questions I had Location is super convenient and the food in the area is better than average. I didn't try the food at the bar but there was a fair amount of people ordering food so it makes me want to try this place again. The drinks were good and flavorful especially the off the menu menu. Ask your mixologist about it the off the menu menu and you won't be disappointed. read more

ABV - GreenPoint-from the "off the menu"menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

ABV is one of my go-to mission bars. Great service and atmosphere. They primarily play West Coast hip-hop. They have a fantastic spirits selection and great cocktails. I commonly get The Drifter, I would highly recommend. Aside from the drinks, the food is also quite good and reasonably priced. read more

The gin & celery is a must have!! I'm such a loyalist to this drink and will be coming back as long as they're serving it! My friends love the Bombay mule, it tastes like a masala soda (if you're Indian you know )! Highly recommend coming here and supporting them during Covid! read more

Really stupendous! Everything about my experience here was perfect. For drinks: Pink Banana: thought it was going to be too sweet based on the description, but they donated $5 to Planned Parenthood if you purchased, so why not? Drink was actually amazing. Super well defined and well balanced. My server told me they put some smoked coffee bitters in there which is probably what did the trick. Recommended. Next, I ordered some gin and passionfruit drink (forget the name), and it was super dry and super tasty. All the flavors really came through without the drink being too syrupy. Food: The food is amazing! Think middle eastern influenced bar bites. First, I had the octopus a la plancha served on top of fries. Octopus was perfect and it was served with french fries with chimichurri seasoning. Aioli was a house made bravas aioli. Second, I had the fried cauliflower which were bangin! Perfectly crisp, perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned bits of cauliflower with a harissa aioli for dipping. Service: Really warm and friendly. I felt very welcome there. Ask for Seslie....she was really really great (also, please give this woman a raise...she knows her shit and she knows how to treat people). Recommended (Highly) read more

The portion size is worth the price. Services is helpful. Fried cauliflower is must have. Their drinks are great too ( having Late Check Out) read more

ABV - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This was my 2nd time here. 1st time was great and worth another visit. The first time we sat at the bar. Upon arrival we had a very nice young guy great us and he took a drink order for us. He wasn't our server. Wish he bad been because I think our night would have gone differently. Not sure if he was a manager or just helping out. Wasn't exactly sure who our server was but for the rest of our night 2 different ride girls made appearances at the table. When it came time for the bill the frumpy one in the stripped sweater is who we paid. Looking back I shouldn't have tipped her, she did nothing for us. I could also hear her and the other server making rude comments about guests. Not sure why these 2 would even want to work in the service industry or how they are even employed here. Maybe because they think they should be tipped for rude service. Horrible customer service from these 2. The food was good, for the most part. It also came out in a timely manner. There are lots of places that serve yummy food in SF so with rude wait staff not sure I will be back. I will say the bathrooms were also clean. So if you are looking for a decent food, clean bathrooms, and shitty customer service this is the pace. read more

I came here on a Saturday afternoon to meet some friends for drinks and had a great time! The dimmed lighting and open layout establishes a chill and warm vibe from the moment you walk in. People were there but it wasn't packed, both bar and table seating were available. We sat at the bar and everyone had a seat. It wasn't loud, so we could have a normal conversation without having to yell at each other which I appreciated. The bartenders were very friendly and knowledgeable of the drinks which is a must for me because I ask a million questions and expect recommendations. I got the Jackal which I loved and had a couple rounds of. I will definitely come back and highly recommend this to anyone looking for a chill place to have drinks with friends! read more

ABV - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mr. NSS: "Where are we going tonight?" Me: "Let's check out ABV that softly opened last week." Mr. NSS: "What does ABV stand for?" Me: "[A] [B]eezie's [V]ajayjay" Mr. NSS: "You're going to let me look at ABV?!?" Me: "Umm yah, sure." *Arrive at ABV* Mr. NSS: "Hey, this is no 'ABV'!" Me: "Ummm, yes it is. It's a new bar called [A]lcohol [B]y [V]olume." Mr. NSS: "Not funny...." Me: "DRINKS ON ME!!!" Admittedly, I felt bad for tricking him into going to a bar when he doesn't even drink. Hey, but I made sure to pick a bar that also serves food. I get my drank on and he gets his grub on. It's a win-win situation. Softly opened last Tuesday, ABV took over the old Tokyo Go-Go space and has transformed into a sleek bar serving cocktails from a Bourbon & Branch and Beretta alum with bar bites from a St. Vincent and Bar Tartine alum. They're currently open daily from 2 pm - 2 am. Kitchen closes at 1 am. The drink menu is separated into alkie categories: agave, gin/vodka, whiskey, rum/brandy, beer & wine, and no abv (non-alcoholic drinks). Cocktails are $10-$13. And for all you fernet lovers, they have four kinds available! I shamefully admit that I broke my 2 drink max rule here. I had four. In celebration of Hump Day. Of course. (1) Mumbai Mule: saffron, vodka, lime, ginger, mint & soda ($10): http://bit.ly/1l88QDZ (2) Dartmoor: calvados, lemon, juniper infused honey, basil ($11): http://bit.ly/1l89eCk (3) The Jackal: rye, lemon, pineapple gum, cardamom & egg white ($10): http://bit.ly/1r6sO7R (2 rounds) Loved all the creativity and fresh ingredients that went into making each artisan cocktail. They were all well-balanced but my favorite was The Jackal. It was nice and stiff just the way I like it so another round was justified. Bar food is usually an afterthought but the bar bites here are not to be missed. Just like the cocktails, the menu is inventive and not anything I've seen at other bars: http://bit.ly/1qKqcKV. We sampled about 1/3rd of the menu and plan to come back for that pimento burger on a housemade sweet potato bun and dolmas made with collard greens and dirty rice. (1) Kimchee Fritter ($8): http://bit.ly/1nOF6Re (2) Falafel Battered Lamb Dog w/ tzatziki sauce ($8): http://bit.ly/1tVR6oL (3) Tiny Fish & Chips w/ malt tartar ($8): http://bit.ly/1neQXZV (4) Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas ($8): http://bit.ly/1mkBIsf If you like pajeon and okonomiyaki, then you will enjoy the kimchee fritter which was a deliciously savory pancake topped with bonito flakes. We really enjoyed the Med-American fusion lamb corndogs which was battered with a falafel corn mixture and fried to a golden brown. Dip it into the deliciously creamy tzatziki sauce and enjoy! I wish there was more of them though. Mr. NSS loved fish & chips so he thoroughly enjoyed his tiny fish & chips (there were 4 pieces of fried dish hidden under the chips). I had a bite of the fish which was perfectly crunchy with a light, airy batter. The chips were nice, thick, and very crunchy. I really liked the empanada crust which was wonderfully buttery and flaky but I wish the filling embodied more of a "pot pie" filling with a savory gravy or maybe as a dipping sauce? Awesome cocktails and food aside, the staff was fantastic. All the bartenders were very friendly and attentive (hopefully they stay this way as they get busier), and the bar backs kept our water glasses filled. Shout out to Ben, the nicest, and most knowledgeable bartender I've met. Not only did he make my awesome cocktails but he went through the entire food menu with us explaining how each item is made and with what. I also overheard him explaining different types of alkies to the guy next to us. It's clear that the owners did a great and thorough job training the staff. ABV has an industrial warehouse meets contemporary artistic sheekness to it. It's one long bar with two communal tables in the back and another one in the mezzanine. It was already pretty busy by 5 pm so I can imagine how pack this place will be when they grand open. Needless to say, I woke up with a hangover this morning. No surprise. That's what I get for breaking my 2 drink max rule. Well that's what Fernet is for! Yes, it was only 5 am as I was typing this...Fernet, Breakfast of Champions. *hits chest with fist* read more

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I stopped here while barhopping in the area since it looked really interesting. I decided to try the Mumbai mule because saffron vodka and ginger beer mixed sounds interesting and was it! Delicious drink, totally reminded me of Indian food haha it had an essence I swear. I highly recommend this drink, you can't taste any alcohol, it's sweet, and it's strong. I also liked how they gave a pitcher of water! The only thing I'd change is the servers were constantly checking in. I prefer to enjoy my drinks in peace haha. But I guess some people enjoy the extra nice service! read more

ABV - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Pretty cool, lively bar with some great cocktails and bites to snack on! My bf and I came for dinner on a Friday night (we came just before there was a line forming outside) and had a pretty good time even though we had to stand by a wall. It was a bit challenging having 3 plates of food (one was a cheese board) on a rather narrow table that lines along the wal (I kept bumping into the person behind me!). Food: Cheese board: loved the assortment and homemade strawberry jam. The jam was the star. It paired so perfectly with the cheeses. The only thing I didn't care for was how buttery the toasted bread was. Less butter please! (4/5) Ceviche: delicious delicious delicious! It's hard to taste a ceviche that isn't drowned with lime juice and that the fish is completely raw. Most of the time places would slightly sear the fish since the fish isn't fresh enough. That's def not the case with this place. (5/5) Pork tacos: these were tasty. Loved the addition of the pickled onions on top. Flavorful, not heavy, and the perfect amount of pork to toppings ratio. I like how thin the flour tortillas were-- although they were thin, they held the fillings well. (5/5) Drinks were overall great. I really liked the gin and cucumber one-- so refreshing. I'll be back. read more

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When you open a bar for bartenders by bartenders, you leave no room for mediocrity. Because they KNOW Industry people are the hardest critics to please, but then ABV is no novice to those they serve. What does that mean for you? You get nothing but the GOOD stuff. I mean, GOOOOOD. The excitement was pumping in my veins as soon as we sat down. There were SO many cocktails to choose from! Take for instance the ODB cocktail: blanc rhum, fino sherry, banana liquer and coffee bitters. It's a brisk drink! I say that because it's not a typical drink you'd order for brunch, but it really cuts through the fattiness of the bar foods that we ordered. If your style is more fruity/agave, the Pina Verde with tequila, pineapple and genepy will do it for you. Or for non-drinkers, a mocktail like the Pineapple Basil lime soda is tops. Naturally, all this drinking will get you hungry. The Pimento burger was recommended by my fave bartender and boy, was he right on the money! This thing will add another inch to your waistline but you'll be so happy eating it, you just won't give a damn. It's 1/4 lb. grass fed beef patty combined with 12% aged beef fat. (weird huh!) It's a compact burger but the MMMeat is thick and works with the pimento cheese, pickle slices and caramelized onions. I'm drooling just typing the description! It's a really, really great burger. I just wish they offered french fries on the menu, it felt incomplete without my fried potato sticks! Their chicken karaage is amazing. Just how amazing you ask? it's served with mini bacon cheddar biscuits. A Japanese/Southern fusion dish that totally works. And you need to order the kimchee fritter which is basically an okonomiyaki topped with bonito flakes. Doesn't boozing make you crave Korean food? ;) The time to come is after hours because they're open til 2am and even serve food until 1am. Since I've changed my vampire ways (i.e. need my beauty sleep!) brunch is now my thing. I'm just glad San Francisco is a big drinking town that it doesn't really matter whether you get wasted at 12 noon or at midnight. ABV you just rock! Vesper approved. read more

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I came here based on a recommendation from a friend who knows I love to eat and was staying close by. ABV is a cool place to hangout with tables in the far back and bar stools in the front. Nice dark atmosphere and I had a pretty good drink -MUMBAI MULE (saffron vodka, lemon, ginger, mint and soda.) Because my friend and I got in late from our flight, we were a bit hungry. We ordered the new fuckin burger with spicy-ass chips based on the menu on the wall. When we received our order it was RARE with blood dripping. I'm not a person to eat RARE ground beef so we asked one of the bartenders if we can get the burger cooked more. With a rude and short attitude, the guy says "NO, that is how it's served, MEDIUM RARE." My jaw completely dropped. So we sat there thinking "what an ass" but I will speak to our server directly instead of that guy. When our bartender became available I asked again if the kitchen can cook our burger just a tad bit more. He said "no" and said the same thing the other bartender said. He then said that the kitchen cannot do such a thing because the grill is small and they cannot cook a lot. WOW! That small huh. Like really? Okay, I get it. Obviously, there's no changes to the way they cook their food. The bartender offered to remove the burger from our bill and grab the burger and chips and threw it in the trash in front of us instead of taking it to the back to throw away. Recommendation: Please UPDATE YOUR MENU AND STATE THAT THE BURGER IS SERVED RARE (RAW) AND NO EXCEPTIONS. SERVER SAID MEDIUM RARE BUT IT WAS RARE. If I had seen this on the menu I would not have ordered it. Also, if the bartender warned us it was served Rare - RAW we would've been informed and would have not ordered it. My experience here was such a negative one that I will never return or recommend this place to anyone. read more

ABV - BOO! Beware if you don't eat rare meat. This is the only way they cook it. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

True or False: The service friggin rocks. True. The cocktails are stellar. True. The food is exceptional. True. The pimento cheese burger is all kinds of juicy & delicious. True & True. The pulled pork is smoky, tender, & tasty. True, True, & True. The service is angry. False. You knew that last one was false, right? Seriously, the service was refreshingly attentive. And pleasant. And quick. I had to remind myself I was actually in the mission. It was even Saturday night for chrisake. But it was early. Before 7:00. We both loved our drinks. Gin & tonic for him. It's made w their special gin of course. I had the Eastwood. Just as crisp, smooth, & intoxicating as the man himself. What would have been mad sick is if the song Clint Eastwood had come on, too, right? But I thought of the song, so it's kinda the same thing. Speaking of music... What was played crushed it. I don't know if it was a personal playlist, pandora, or what; but I was compelled to Shazam two songs while we were there. Music gets 5 stars. You're going to want to order 2 burgers. After trying mine, the man actually said "they know how to make a burger." That's the best endorsement they could get. 5 stars. read more

ABV - The juicy cheese burger. Do it. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food was delicious, the drink selection superb, and the service was phenomenal. Not to mention that I had some awesome company; I guess I can't give ABV credit for everything. My cousins, Daly City natives, brought my wife and me here for a great meal. ABV, as the name suggests, does cocktails right. There are about 4-5 cocktails for each spirit. I didn't care for my first cocktail (too smoky), but the waiter, eager to please, took it from me and let me get a different whiskey drink at no additional charge! The other cocktails we had were all stellar. I could drop a pretty penny here just ordering plate after plate of this great food! The foie gras stuffed olives were good, but definitely share them with others; they're very rich. The blistered hot peppers are tasty shishito peppers - spicy enough, but not murder to the tongue. The cheese plate was full of delectable dairy goodness. The most memorable item for me, however, was the octopus a la plancha with herbs. Nice char and lemon flavor on top; would totally get this again. The ice cream oloroso sandwhich was a good but I think I'd rather just drink some oloroso sherry to end my meal. Not the cheapest place, but worth every red cent you spend. Definitely recommended. read more

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Every once in a while you eat or drink something that resonates harmoniously on your palate. The flavors and textures are so remarkable that they become ingrained in your memory and the experience of enjoying said item simply cannot fade. These are the menu items and experiences food and drink lovers seek out, and I can say confidently that ABV has many of them to offer. We came to ABV by another awesome recommendation from the best bartender in Seattle, future husband of Yelper Katy H, the one and only Jim, who has no initial because he isn't on Yelp. Katy H suggested we make our way here after enjoying a beautifully hot, spicy, sticky and sweaty meal at nearby Mission Chinese. So, with the promise of AC and great drinks, off we went! This is a sexy bar. Combining accents of industrial concrete and metal with organic elements like warm woods and dim candles, the ambiance kind of wraps you up in it and makes you forget about what lies beyond the doors or who's tweeting, texting or Facebooking you for the duration of your visit. The menu alone could keep a cocktail lover entranced and entertained for hours. Divided by base spirit, there are some very interesting drinks here. In my old age I've begun to appreciate the simpler things, so I tend to stick to those with the fewest ingredients, but I also enjoy exploring the broad spectrum of each type of spirit, and lately I'm all about Mezcal and gin. Being the first night in SF I thought I'd saddle up to something a little smokey and spicy and settled on a mezcal cocktail that is a riff on the classic Blood and Sand. From the first sip to the last, I savored each and wished the glass would never go empty. I fell so head over heels for this drink that I began to proudly parade it down the bar offering friends a taste, which in hindsight was a bad idea because I got less :( oh well! I even went so far as to snap a shot of the menu and texted it to my bartender buddy in Reno hoping he'd perfect it by the time I got home (he hasn't). Oh how I wish I could just have another, or maybe one of their other clever concoctions. Either way I know I couldn't go wrong here. This is my kinda bar. Great drinks, educated staff that can explain the nuances of the many spirits that line their shelves, and a killer atmosphere that just may make you feel too comfortable! Run, don't walk to check this place out. You won't be sorry. read more

ABV - #Quicksand, ABV's take on a blood and sand with #mezcal! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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There are some places that I bookmark that take me a little while to get to and ABV was one of them. Does that happen to you? A "To Do List" of good things that you just can't seem cross off. Ugh, just me? Well, for how often I am in San Francisco, it is a little ridiculous that I just went to ABV (acronym meaning: alcohol by volume) for the first time not because of how long it took me to get there, but because of how enjoyable that time first time was. I got to ABV earlier in the day than I thought I was going to, which was actually before they opened, so I went across the street to Cary Lane and dropped a small fortune on some sample sizes that are a-m-a-z-i-n-g. All in, the block ABV is on is relatively straight-forward with some construction, some older shops, some newer hipster dives, a cigar shop, and (of course) ABV. The Mission District is so fun and blendy that way. Although, if I didn't have the exact address, I would have walked right by this place because the outside is totally unassuming. The front is black with tan woodwork and no extraordinary sign hanging at 90 degrees from the building- just the discreet one on the wall. This reminded me of the time that I walked by the front entrance of The Violet Hour in Chicago seven times before realizing that I was already there. I do not experience shame remembering this story; I'm just saying it happens to everybody (or I am just saying that it happens to me repeatedly). Anyway, maybe it was serendipitous that I was delayed in my first visit to ABV because I went on a Perfect Weather Day. There was a nice breeze at the bar because they kept the front door open. Happy Hour + a breeze are my two favorite things in San Francisco and even middle-of-the-block-and-not-on-the-water ABV can make that happen. Carried by the wind, I was greeted immediately and told about specials. The staff was fantastic the entire time I was there- quick and friendly. Obviously, I am a wine girl, so cocktails regularly intimidate me. But, the descriptions in the menu were clear and the very nice bartender made me feel at ease. You could, basically, close your eyes, point at the menu, and order something good. There aren't any failures here. (Well, you know there are probably a few failures at life drinking in the afternoon on a Friday, but there aren't ordering failures happening. You feel me?) For my first cocktail, I had the Mumbai Mule, which was spicy and bright yellow; the Mule is made from Saffron, Vodka, Lemon, Ginger, Mint, and Soda. It tasted like curry blended with a Moscow Mule, which likely sounds absolutely disgusting to you, but it was actually very good. What is not to love? It is a beautiful, spicy, tall, and yellow drink with a huge mint sprig on top. Perfect! For a little nosh, I ordered the Falafel Lamb Dogs and the Matzo Ball special. The Falafel Dogs were spicy and super hot, which made for an ideal pairing with the mule. They come with a tzatziki sauce and are, basically, a faultless bar food. The Matzo Ball special was completely decent and a nice little side. If I had room for it, I would have absolutely gotten the cheese plate, if only because it comes with Tartine Bread. Tartine is my soulmate in bakery form. My next drink (because there was always going to be a next drink) was a Tarragon Collins made with Gin, Lemon, Tarragon, and Soda; it was refreshing and calming after the Mumbai Mule. Excellent cocktail-sequence-ordering for a girl routinely frightened by liquor. ABV has one long bar on the right in the first room and two large tables in the back room. The gorgeous bar has a sensational selection of upscale liquors. It is the kind of bar that I would have designed. Meaning that my imaginary dream bar has books and nice alcohol on it. Obviously. If you can, this is a place that I would recommend going to right after it opens or during happy hour because all reports are that it gets VERY busy on weekend evenings. Wait until that perfect blustery, but warm afternoon to head over and enjoy! read more

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Great place if you like strong drinks and delicious bites! I came here on a Friday night and i'm glad we were able to find seats because it is quite small inside. Majority of the seating is at the bar and there is some standing room, but overall my biggest tip is to get here early. We got the pork belly, asparagus, octopus and fries, and the ceviche. My favorite was the octopus and fries because it was so tender and flavorful. The pork belly had a perfect crisp and the asparagus is great for people who love a saucy veggie. Drinks were great as well - I got the Lands End and a Mule. ABV is a great place for a date or hangout with friends. read more

Specialty cocktails galore! I got their Highball, which was a spritzer with a slice of lemon exterior layer and Japanese dark liquor. It was pleasant for the whiskey, cocktail lovers with a hint of refreshing zest from the lemon! They have other cocktail varieties, so if whiskey isn't your cup of tea, there are others that will suit your style. Service was splendid and ABV offers industrial decor to bar dining as well as upping their bar bites. I really like their bar bites! Their grilled octopus with snazzy squid ink ranch on top of spiced up and nicely crisp, diced potatoes, was like a gourmet gastropub dish. Too bad it is served up in petite portions. I could have ate 3 of those orders and that would have cost me a mighty 30. That would have been a mighty meal somewhere else. They offer other delights, such as kimchi fritters and mapo sloppy joe, that caught my eye. I will definitely be back for more tries on drinks and bar bites. read more

ABV - Highball - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Drinks. Lots and lots of drinks! This was our second and last stop of the evening. Granted it was a Wednesday night, so we only had one round. (Well, I may have snuck off and had a couple more, but I didn't take any pix of those.) *Dartmoor ($10): apple brandy, lemon, juniper infused honey, basil *Old fashioned *House Gibson ($11): gin, dry vermouth, orange bitters, house pickled onion *Whisky in church ($14): smoky scotch, oloroso, maple, smoked pear bitters *Fogerty ($11): rye, campari, cacao, orange bitters I wanted scotch and I don't mind some smokiness in my drinks, so I ordered the Whisky in church. This is definitely an end of the night drink. The smokiness of it may be too strong to start the night off. Perfect for me since I wanted some strong and bold in flavor. Especially having had several rounds at the bar prior. I'd love to come back and try some bar bites. And of course, more cocktails as well! read more

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A rather small yet cozy bar in the Mission district, ABV offers an extensive selection of their house cocktails as well as several small bites. The Mumbai Mule (saffron vodka, lime, ginger, mint, and soda) is a different take on the Moscow Mule. It's deliciously light, savory, and refreshing. It's strange, yet very interesting. Definitely give it a try! The kimchi fritter is a cross between a fritter (texture) and an okonomiyaki (style): spicy kimchi battered and fried until crispy, then topped with a savory, possibly mayonnaise-based sauce, green onion, and bonito flakes. It's a little too heavy for one person to finish, as it's very oily. Although I'm not a huge fan of lamb, I thought ABV's falafel lamb dogs were quite tasty too! Juicy and spicy lamb sausages coated in a cornmeal batter and fried paired nicely with the accompanying light yogurt sauce. Service was great, and given our large group, we were attended well. Background music isn't too loud, so you can actually hear and hold a conversation without screaming. Although ABV is a little hipster-y and discreet from the outside, their cocktails and small bites surely aren't to be missed. read more

ABV - Mumbai Mule - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Interior is modern. Kind of dark and when its busy, youll have to squeeze in. Restaurant like pub vibe. I had tacos and a friend had a burger, it was delicious. Its a bit ruckus so you will have to raise your voice in order to talk and hear . Totally recommend for a FUN night out around Castro. read more

To start, it was a Thursday night and I was exhausted but baby bro and cousin wanted to go out. We were met with the most unpretentiously cool staff person who sat us, and even made my brother laugh (ten points). The drinks were BOMB- hello mezcal with beer? Sounds like a crime BUT IT IS NOT, at least here. The Veggie Burger was also very very good- its bar food to the next level! Will coming back soon with my sister! read more

ABV is my favorite cocktail bar in the city. Heh, not like I go to many.. but still. Oh, and I live 2.6 miles away from it (a 15 minute walk and two Bart stops aka far in SF terms). It's still my go-to which says a lot. They have really creative cocktails here. My personal favorite is the Mumbai Mule. Whether you're into whiskey, vodka, mezcal, etc., they'll have a drink for you. To be honest, I don't even come here for the drinks -that's just a plus. I come here for the food, specifically the octopus. The octopus a la plancha is hands down THE. BEST. OCTOPUS. EVER. Do not pass on this!! If you really like eating octopus and want to get a bit tipsy doing so, ABV is your place!! read more

ABV - Octopus a la plancha with fries. SO GOOD! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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If you ever coming during fall season and its on the menu you must get their soft shell crab taco and burger. It was hands down the best thing ever and to this day we still think about it. We came one late night after clubbing in hopes to get some late night bites and this was our closest option. When we arrived the kitchen was about to close in 5 minutes but they were kind enough to make an exception for us given how desperate we were for food. Sadly I did not save any pictures but everything we got was delicious. We ordered the soft shell crab taco, cauliflower bites, and truffle fries all were delicious especially when you've had a few drinks. We attempted to come back here for the crab but sadly crab season was over and the item is not longer available. But for sure next season we will be back! read more

ABV has a diverse drink menu that's organized by alcohol type and a fried chicken sandwich that rivals any other in the city. Every drink in the Agave section sounded up my alley but I went with the herbaceous forward Tarragon Fix and the ginny Late Check Out. Both were excellent cocktails with good color story. read more

ABV - Tarragon Fix and Late Check Out - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

#46 of World's 50 Best Bars Excellent cocktails - Mumbai Mule, Tarragon Fix, and Jackal were all delicious, refreshing, sparkling and without any alcohol taste. Fried cauliflower - Amazing how well it's cooked. It's crunchy, hearty, and crisp to perfection. Japanese tater tots - Softer than the cauliflower, somewhere between a mashed potato and an actual tater tot. Spicy chips - Nice kick in flavor. Octopus a la plancha with fries and herbs - Octopus was soft and savory like calamari. Fries were delicious. Service - Excellent. I loved our waiter. Open seating. Sit anywhere and the servers will come find you. read more

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This should really be more of a 4.5. The bar is great! It was super busy on a weekday afternoon. Drinks were great and service was friendly. It was pretty busy so they were spread a bit thin, but that was expected with all the well deserved hype they're getting read more

Hey, man. Any place that pays attention to the non-drinkers like me gets love. Not that that is automatic qualification for full stars, but it was the icing on the cake. I'm usually sipping water when I'm at a watering hole, so the "0% ABV" section of their menu is pretty attractive, if not a simple way to take care of the teetotalers. Add in the not-aloof bartenders (the cooler-than-thou barkeep has their place, but ABV isn't one of them) who was willing to talk about the drinks, a pretty snazzy bar (that pressure activated cup washer was hypnotic) and a location with plenty happening around you, and you've got a recipe for the W. The place has a few small seats, but we sat right at the bar. I chose a pineapple basil concoction from the mocktail menu, and it was fresh and lovely. Not too sweet, pretty simple, and enjoyable enough to nurse for the evening. Lest you think they're about the mocktails, I can report that that part of the menu is but a teeny weeny part; they have lots and lots (and LOTS) of booze on hand and can pour many kinds of full-spirited beverages. read more

ABV - Pineapple basil 0% ABV. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Bad service, rude server, no hospitality towards their customers. I will NEVER come back here and I was just visiting the city for the night with a friend I haven't seen in a few years...THIS BAR NEEDS TO DO BETTER WITH HOW THEY TREAT THEIR CUSTOMERS. If you obviously don't like your job then simply don't need to work here. read more

I came here on a weekend with a friend who knew the owner, so of course we got the rockstar treatment. So this review is about the ambiance and the food. Ambiance - This looks like a cool hipster place, but its actually really cool and relaxed. Case and point, I was wearing black yoga pants, and I felt like I still fit in. The front is a till more crowded with the bar area, but the back had a nice seating area that we chose to dine at. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. The bathrooms are all-gender, so pick whichever one you want. Food: We got to try so many things on their menu. And you can really make a meal out of the small bites. * Spicy Chickpeas: Order this if you need food now. It's like bar nuts, they always have it on hand. * Fermented edamame: I've never met a pickle that I didn't like, and these edamames were also soft, with the right amount of crunch. * Fried Cauliflower: It was like hitting the jackpot when you got the extra crispy parts! The flavors were on point! * Japanese tator tots: Its cubes of celery root perfectly fried and seasoned. * Tartine toast: I love the bread! and the carrot hummus on it was magical. I do wish the kale on top of it was chopped a little smaller so that when I took my bite, I didn't take all the kale off at once too. * Roasted carrots: just say yes. * Pork tacos: The pork and pickled cabbage on it was amazing. This meal was a pretty amazing low carb meal without even trying. I'm definitely coming back to try the rest of the menu! read more

I walked in on a Saturday night, asked the "host" if the kitchen was open and where we could sit. He told me seating was open. I have never been here before, so we were just standing there looking around. I saw almost every single seat was taken, other than some space on a piece of wood sticking out of the wall. I walked up and tried to bring 2 stools there, then some manager and bartender walked up to tell us we could not bring stools there. What really gets me is how the "manager" said "we pull the stools out of here for a reason on the weekends, so our servers can walk by" in a very condescending tone. I'm sorry but I've never been here before, and was not treated with ANY hospitality until the bartender who walked up with the manger says "you guys can sit over here" and points to 2 hidden chairs in a corner. This all could've been avoided. Your manager lacks in customer service, and is very condescending. Maybe the "hosts" can actually seat people if it's such a big deal ??? Gave it 2 stars because the food and drinks were good. It just sucks we had to be the managers little punching bag for his bad day. Very unnecessary and ruined the experience. read more

Two tables of outdoor seating here; you sit and get served right away. The cocktails are fantastic. Whiskey in Church - smokey and strong Mumbai Mule - tastes like Indian food with not a strong alcohol taste, topped with mint Tarragon Collins - very herby, great if you like tarragon Octopus a la plancha was well seasoned, but the texture was slightly off (drier than I was expecting). The fries were fantastic. $10 Charred brussel sprouts with xo sauce was very greasy and the sauce was just ok for me - not too flavorful, but it had a good kick to it. It was more the puddle of grease at the bottom and the grease that dripped from each brussel sprout as I lifted it off the plate that turned me off. $9 The snacks were a tad pricey, but they did the trick at keeping our hunger at bay before dinner. Service was great and our waitress was knowledgeable about the liquors. read more

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Cocktails were good, but the service is always consistently rude at this place. It's frustrating because I love the menu between the food and drinks, but it's rare you feel welcome in this place. One thing to fix and this would be a five star! read more

Came here with a group of friends for a few drinks and shareable munchies before hitting the town. Great vibe inside. Clean and comfortable. Defiantly the late 20's -late 30's crowd. We were immediately greeted and offered drink menus by a server as we wandered to one of the back community tables. The server was friendly, professional and offered suggestions. We ordered a round of drinks, carrot hummus, Celery root tots, and fried cauliflower. By far the carrot hummus was our favorite. It was a slightly toasted / grilled toast with carrot hummus spread topped with fried kale and pepitas. We loved this so much we ordered a second. The cauliflower had interesting flavor. It was liked by all but I'm not sure I would order it again. The celery root "tots" were fun and tasty. They came in "steamed" cubes drizzle with a Sriracha sauce and green onions. The first bite I thought it was possibly cubes potato. The texture is soft and smooth like a baked potato and was perfect share appetizer. We ordered a round of drinks- solid pour and nice combination of flavors. My wife had the rum, lemon and raspberry- I have to admit it was tasty. Defiantly will be coming back. read more

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This place was such a disappointment :( My sisters and I decided to go to ABV during our most recent trip to the city - 1) food was meh 2) drinks are TOTALLY overpriced and last but not least the service was awful!!!!! The manager completely disrespected us and ruined our night. There are so many other great places in SF, please do not waste your time, money, or energy coming here. read more

Looking for a cool late night spot with food and drinks?!?! Come here!!!! While checking out the menu, don't overlook the mushrooms. They are hands down one of the BEST things in the house!!! Burgers are pretty big. So if you're really hungry, that should fill you up quite a bit!!! The drink menu is HUGE, however if you're looking for wine, there's only one red and one white lol. Luckily I was happy with what I ordered. Overall, I like this place a whole lot and will be back!!! read more

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