One of Mission District's hidden gems! I used to go there all the time before I moved away. Now I'm moving back and I can't wait to visit again. The bar itself has a very intimate but open feel, with dim lights, high ceilings, and nice natural lighting throughout the day. Although the tapas are great, I recommend you visit this place if you are looking to snack on something while you have a drink, not necessarily for dinner. The 5 stars is definitely based on the local being a bar, not a tapas restaurant. That being said, the food is pretty good. You should definitely try the queso fundido with chorizo and the deviled eggs. And of course, the cocktails are even better. There's also a lot of entertainment options. Not only is there a bar and a high top table area, but there are also couches where you can sit and play board games with your friends. Bookshelves contain a good number options for you to peek at. I remember I spent one night going through a huge Atlas book with my friends. That time was actually a Tuesday night, and they had a DJ playing chill electronic vibes and it was perfect for the room. It is also well to mention that the staff is really nice and even remembered me when I visited after a couple of weeks! All in all, a really nice lounge experience. read more

This is a neat place to have in the neighborhood -- it's a step up in class from JayBee's around the corner with its fancypants cocktails, wood panels, and even a live DJ. The owner is really nice (she was introducing herself, going around tables, and offering everybody brownies). All in all, I really like the ambiance of the bar. Although it hasn't really been discovered yet, it was still pretty hopping (considering its location in the Mission) for a Friday night. Every seat was filled, but you didn't have to deal with any standing crowds, which was nice. A couple of things though -- drinks here are pretttty expensive. A tumbler of neat Jameson was $7 (it's $5 around the corner at JayBee's) and well drinks are $6. Pretty bad for the Mission, especially this far east. The seating arrangement is also kind of awkward. My party lucked out with getting seats at the long table, but I noticed that immediately behind us were wooden benches along the wall. Were people supposed to sit on those, directly behind the tall tables? Bah. All in all though, a pretty pleasant experience. I'd come back. I wish this business good luck and hope it makes it! read more

My absolute favorite spot for a nightcap after work!! I love all the bartenders and Debi is delightful!! The food is off the chain as well. My personal fave is the juicy burger. Juicy meat sandwiched between an English muffin!?!?!?! Goodness, it is heaven on a plate!! I would give ten stars if I could! ^_^ read more

To sum up my review: Asiento rocks! I call it a Spanish-style tapas bar with a California twist in the Mission District. They have good specialty drinks, some good California and Spanish wines, a diverse selection of beers (my favs are Affligem and Estrella), and some good tapas/bar food with a Cali-Mexican influence. They have live, local djs most nights playing European style house music. They also have art on the walls by local SF artists. True to its name, they have plenty of nice places to "take a seat" and relax SF style. They also have lots of old board games and wireless. Taco Tuesdays ($2 tacos) is one of my favorite days to go with live, local djs and a good crowd esp. for Tuesday. The owner, Debi, is friendly and seems to want the bar to be a great place. Bonnie is a good bartender and has some nice art on the walls sometimes. There are many things that I love about living in San Francisco, and places like Asiento is definitely one of them! read more

Love this spot so much that I celebrated my 30th birthday here. They put a specialty drink of my choice on the menu to celebrate (The Hollypeño) and were SO attentive. My friends and I had a fabulous time and really enjoyed the cocktails and bites. The art and music of Asiento also set a relaxed and playful ambiance. read more

Not worth the price. $8. for basic French fries. $13.00 for basic drinks. Literally within 1 minute of sitting we were told we had to place an order. Minutes after we received our drinks we were asked to order refills. We got 3 long winded updates on the mask situation. We were told 6 to a table then 8 to a table. Since 7 were at our table one person had to stand with their mask in. On and on. We finally had enough read more

Yo dead ass the grape leaves are better than my grandmas but like don't tell her ok. Also the basil lemonade is too good but also v strong

3.5 Stars! If you love board games, you must come here! This bar has cabinets filled with board games, which makes it a great destination for get togethers. They have games like Jenga, Spot It, Catch Phrase, etc. I had a great time! :) However, the bartenders are very slow when it comes to ordering drinks and tapas. Drinks are decently priced, and it's only $6 if you check in on Yelp - but the mojito was NOT good. BF loved the long island though. The food was decent, but pricey for what it is. The bartender actually gave the food I ordered to another table, and I had to approach her to ask why it was taking so long... Overall, would definitely come again! read more

Tacos we're so great, but 3.50 for one piece of shrimp not so much. Also the waitress was not so nice, and as much as I tried to smile back. But, maybe she was just having a bad day or her delivery to us was meant to be kind but came out rudely? Good music and good crowd. read more

Get the spinach burger! It's the bomb! This place was hopping at like 5:30pm which is a good sign. I had some Templeton Rye then moved to the Basil Lemonade which is sweet drink. They have cool games there and music. My buddy and I had food and even though there was a communication problem regarding the guacamole chips (we got some salad instead) they were very friendly to us and let us have the salad for free and quickly brought out the missing guacamole chips right away. We are all human and mistakes happen...its how you resolve those mistakes that make you a 5 star bar. read more

Wow, can't believe I didn't review this place sooner. First went on April 16th, went back the next day for brunch. Great food (tapas), great cocktails, great service, and a very nice wine selection (just enough really good choices, not overwhelming). Very mellow local atmosphere (at least so far). Plenty of space, and cozy. At brunch we had a nice chat with the owner, she was a riot. My only complaint about this place is so minor it's almost not worth mentioning: they don't have any dessert! Otherwise, my favorite local hangout - until it gets too popular and crowded. Which will be soon, I suspect. Go now, while you can enjoy the calm. read more

I come here about once a month for a friend's DJ brunch (Check it out! The third Sunday of every month), so this is a review of the Recovery Brunch only. I will have to make an effort to come here on a weeknight, though now that I no longer live in the neighborhood, there's less chance of that happening. Anyway, this is a great place to have a relaxing and very tasty brunch on the weekends. I've been here when it's packed and I've been here when it's fairly empty (minus our group) but I've always had an enjoyable experience. I must recommend the breakfast burrito (I get mine sans bacon) - they are seriously delicious. AND they come with tater tots. TOTS! I had forgotten how much I love them until I was kindly reminded by Asiento. I usually try to stay away from alcohol at brunch, however $5 mimosas are hard to pass up. They come in a variety of flavors, too. Great food and drink. Great tunes and vibe. Great friends. Great service. And to top it all off - board games. What more is there to ask? read more

My friend was too hungry to work out so I forced him to do 15 minutes with me on the stairmaster at Mission Cliffs and off to Asiento we went. I had never even heard of this place but it is super cute! I think we went on trivia night and there were quite a bit of people there. I really love the ambiance. Its dark and nice while being warm and homey all at the same time. Its hard to pull that off! We didn't get any drinks although the cocktail menu looked fantastic. I rarely get carded at bars so I thought it was really weird they carded me especially since I was only ordering the food. Oh well! I got the shrimp rolls and my friend got the burger. I think the price point is wayyy too high for the food portions. My shrimp roll was pretty disappointing but his burger smelled really good, although it was pretty small. I would definitely come back here and give the tapas another chance. The menu just sounds so good and I love tapas! All the other reviews regarding the tapas are really warding me off though. Come on you guys, take the constructive criticism!!! read more

I went to Asiento for the first time tonight. I saw it from afar...how could you miss such a cool looking building? The inside was just as nice. Cozy, great music with a dj, nice enticing menu. I have just moved to the Mission and I felt like, "Hey, this could be my go-to neighborhood bar." Nope, ain't going to happen. Let me tell you why: I scanned Foursquare to check in and check out tips for eating and I was pleasantly surprised to see they had two specials for 1st timer check-ins. The bartender was very confused and said it was a deal another company made for them via Foursquare and that he could not honor it. He also badly explained that I needed to pay $20 dollars to get $10 dollars off when the deal clearly states, "Spend $15, get $10 dollars off." In fact there were two deals for Asiento on Foursquare and he couldn't explain either of them. I'm sorry but deals don't magically appear on Foursquare, and you can add terms of usage to them in the description. How many people might see that little orange bar and be like, "Yeaaah totally going to check that out with such a cool special." to only be disappointed with a vague explanation and a very definite no. First-timers count guys. read more

My bestie's boyfriend took me here for the first time the other night when she was out of town. I have made it my goal to bring my own boyfriend back. Tonight we achieved my goal. And what a great achievement it was. Down tempo music. Killer couch and bar seating. Not too loud. Great system if it were. The proprietor, Debbie, made me the best martini of my life. Which is saying a lot, considering I used to vet potential 'tenders with one test: the ability to make a great martini. Before this evening I considered myself a stellar martini maker. After this evening I have been bested. A word of advice - order a slightly dirty vodka martini straight up. If not for the booze, then for the homemade olives, juice, and hint of garlic and rosemary. There are no words. CON: My only gripe is the fact that they have no straws. I had fairly invasive mouth surgery recently, and anything cold or hot against my teeth hurts like a mofo. Okay, okay I get it: they want to help the environment one straw at a time. But man, this is actually a pretty big con for me, which would be understandable if only you could be my mouth for a minute. Summation: Asiento is a great little not-to-divey bar in an area that needs more not-too-divey bars. I'm a big fan of dive bars, but as I get older it's kinda nice to hear something other than Motorhead and Pantera when I sit down to sip not-too-divey-martini. read more

Ended up here for our 3rd drink of the night before heading home, a bar hoping night in the Mish if you will. GREAT BAR! The owner or manager was very friendly and talkative. The speciallty drinks we ordered were both Ah-Maze-Ing.... I got the Cucumber Rosemary drink and my honey got the "A good Idea" and they were both amazing. I am looking forward to trying brunch here. So glad I can walk here easily and enjoy a great drink, a glass of wine, or some tapas. Great find in the Mish read more

brunch is excellent, there are few places in the mission where your can enjoy a drink and the afternoon sun. This is one of them. Great cocktails,friendly staff. Get wine by the bottle, it;s a great deal read more

I had a lady date last night with Paula T at Asiento, and I really, really like this little bar. It's just a few blocks from my house, and I've walked by it a million times without going in. So glad that's been rectified. It's cozy while still having lots of room to move about. It feels warm and inviting, and I can see coming in here on a cold day to warm up and play some board games. The bartender working last night was friendly and attentive, and mixed us up some super tasty cocktails. Paula and I both had the Basil Lemonade (which was absolutely delightful) and I tried the Tannenbaum, because I'm a sucker for elderflower. Paula also had a drink with cucumber and rosemary in it, and I feel like I'll be getting that one the next time I'm in, as it was freaking delicious. We didn't venture too much into food territory, but we did have some really tasty guacamole. I knocked one star off because there was a TV above the bar playing sports, which, well, I hate. Otherwise, go here. Have a really good cocktail. Rejoice. read more

Love this bar! One of the few bars I've found in the city with good food. Friendly for carnivores and vegetarians, with even vegan and gluten-free options. As a vegetarian, I can't even sit next to the juicy burger, it smells so good. I love the guac and queso when I'm feeling indulgent. Cocktail menu is great and large wine selection. Barteders and owner are very friendly and attentive. Atmosphere is wonderfully cozy. Come for trivia on Monday, game night on Wednesday (or any time really), and brunch on Sunday is sooo yummy. It's a really great place on a sunny day with the big windows. DJs and other events are often happening, then other times it's the perfect quiet atmosphere to have a meeting or conversation. read more

This is a really lovely little space - I think probably best for a cocktail - never mind the food, however they have a "specialty cocktail" list - for $8.50 each yet their Manhattans are made with Evan Williams (lower shelf bourbon) - not so specialty. Their "tapas" should not be called tapas because tapas are Spanish - and suddenly places are calling any small bites, tapas. The meat and cheese plate was totally amateur - slices of standard salami, cheap crackers and the cheeses were basis mild yellow cheddar, boring brie and MUENSTER. Really? Not even a manchego? Not to mention there was a dog in there - why are dogs suddenly allowed everywhere? Go here after work for a drink - and then go to Universal for dinner. read more

I was super excited when this bar got a make-over. Walking distance from my house, fancy cocktails, snacks, and a game night! So why two stars? 1. over-priced not very good at all food. $8 for chips and a lil' thingy of guac? C'mon, son. 2. a particular bartender, a lady with short red hair, who gives me shit every time I order anything. She is rude and pretentious, and not in a "oh, that's the thing with this bar" cool way either. Whether it's lecturing me on the environment when I ask for a straw or informing me of the (WRONG) way to make my favorite drink, it's to the point where I don't want to order a thing from her, because I don't want a hard time. I just want a drink, lady. *I should add that I bartended or years, and usually make the extra effort when ordering and give benefit of the doubt for industry folks. But this chick sucks. read more

Hi, Asiento. You are super close to my apartment and workplace, so you are naturally of interest to me--who doesn't want to find a great place for food and drink near their home and work? Highlights? The owner/manager is present a lot, and is great with customers. The tapas, limited though they are, are well done and very tasty. Drinks are perhaps a bit stingily poured (draft beer in a small glass, not a pint), but the house cocktails are creative and they use good ingredients (Blue Coat gin!). Really nice interior that is casual and well designed at once. Ways I would like to see Asiento grow: Please be consistent! As a neighbor, I walk by all the time...sometimes you are open, sometimes you aren't, but there is little consistency. I've checked the sign several times, promising delicious service at the very hour i stand there, but to no avail. It would be rough to set a time to be there with others, since the open hours seem to change a lot. Also, the brunch scene seems to be improving in terms of food service (i love the $2 for several items, "build your own" breakfast). Big downside of brunch: you call it a "recovery brunch," but you're pumping obnoxious techno music at full volume throughout the space. Please play music that helps people feel like they can recover! My main thought is that Asiento needs to find its center, so that it can fulfill the promise it has. Love you guys. read more

Met up with a friend for after-work drinks and a light bite. There were only two people sitting at the bar, so we wandered up and ordered some beers and two appetizer plates: crab cakes (pretty good!) and thai spring rolls (OH MY GOD so zesty and delicious!) After that, we were still hungry so we ordered albondigas (serious yum) and another tray of the spring rolls, which we wolfed down. At this point, we were feeling downright gluttonous, so we got the spinach burger and yet another tray of spring rolls. I cannot stress how delicious those things were. I want them all the time. The place filled up slowly throughout our leisurely meal, but service did not falter. We went up to the bar to order more and everything was brought right to our table and the empty plates were whisked away at just the right moment. The ambiance is super chill. Chairs are mismatched, tables are glorified wooden crates. It was dark inside because they had a blackout curtain over the door. It worked, though, because my friend had just got her pupils dilated at the doctor so this way she didn't have to wear sunglasses in the bar like some punk. We left at 8:15, totally oblivious to the fact that Monday night trivia starts at 8:30! Guess this means I'll have to go back. And have those spring rolls again oh my god. read more

Food good (what gets them a 2nd star). They enforce a bullshit dress code to appease the crowd. I will choose to drop a couple hundred dollars elsewhere (let alone the $2k+ my group of 15 spent) where I can wear whatever I feel. I sat in this place for hours before my appearance was noted and brought to my attention. I am beyond well paid (meaning not a neighborhood drunk if it's a gentrification issue) but I refuse to dress up. I have been made to feel like I don't belong here. Bar tenders WILL question you if you tip low on credit card transactions despite tipping cash. Very tacky. Debi C, say what you will, we simply won't do business again. read more

Awesome Neighborhood Bar! This isn't a trendy or upscale destination, it IS a chill neighborhood bar with good cocktails, a wide variety of tasty plates, and nightly entertainment with DJs, trivia, and board games. With several vegetarians and a vegan in our group, everyone was able to find a couple of plates - not your typical pub grub! read more

Perhaps best known for innovative mixed drinks and tacos, but the chicks really know how to party, even if they have an attitude read more

Asiento - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - San Francisco, California

I Loved the place. Food is very good and authentic. It is loud though. I am definitely planning on going back however not for a meeting.

A pretty decent local spot close to my house. It's definitely a huge step over the Monkey club that was here previously that was a terrible bridge and tunnel type of bar. I went here for dinner and had the Albondigas/meatballs, the Bocadillos and a Virgin mojito. Overall I found the food to be decent but a little on the greasy/filling side. I think the place would be great for a date since it's very loungey. The strange thing was that I was sitting at the bar and I couldn't just open a tab, I had to give a credit card. Like they don't trust that you're going to walk out? When I got there there was a TV on that was really loud since people were watching a game. Strange because it's not a sports bar. I'd definitely go back to try some of their specialty drinks and try some different dishes again as well. read more

Cute neighborhood bar that lets you pass the time away with board games that are spread around the tables and sofa areas. Came here on a Wednesday before the holidays and it was decently busy. My friend and I seated ourselves at the bar and had a couple of their signature cocktails. Drinks were written down on pieces of cardboard which were spread across the bar. Sort of a cool concept and recycling and reusing, but I guess it just didn't work for me. The drinks themselves were pretty sweet but not too bad. Definitely a nice little bar to visit if you're in the neighborhood. read more

Asiento is my favorite non-dive bar in the Mission. The prices are mid-range, the food is way above standard bar fare and the vibe is damn good. Details Below... One: Asiento fits this perfect middle spot between the excruciatingly expensive, trendy night spots that give that "you're not hip or rich enough to be standing nuts to butts in here" and the full-on, yelling-prone halls of shit-shot-and-a-beer chaos. Let me say, however, so you know where I'm coming from, that I'm the kind of guy who prefers the loud, drunk dive over the mixologist bullshit every time I'm not with a beautiful woman, which is to say almost every time. I'd normally lean towards the grungier crowd but this place is great in so many ways that I find myself here often. Two: They have real food. One of my favorite burgers in the city is their Juicy Burger. It's small size and few ingredients are assets rather than drawbacks; the thing is just good in savory, salty and creamy (the mayo makes it) ways. The Queso Fundido is as rich and deadly as it is in Mexico, the guacamole is better than average, and their assorted tapas plates are great for sharing. Three: I've had nothing but good experiences with the staff here. From coming by myself for dinner and a drink to bringing a cadre of friends for a full night of food, drink, dancing and revelry, the bartenders and especially the owner Debi have made my experience overwhelmingly positive. Being a regular here has also translated into privileges and personal treatment (remembering my drink, foods, and even bar hopping with them after closing some nights). Miscellaneous appreciation: They accept Debit (not Credit) cards so it's a step above cash only. Here There Be Burners - it's not central to the bar but there's a real radical inclusion feel to this place. Local talent. Art shows on the walls / Bay Area DJs / board game and trivia location. Makes for a cool visual/auditory environment. Less hard rock and more soul. Sometimes lighter electronic music. Extra large open windows provide a view of Bryant St and allow natural light to flood bar during the day. Decent brunch options although it is a bar brunch not restaurant brunch with mimosas thrown on. The few times I've done brunch that's exactly what I wanted: full-bar-brunch really shakes things up. Burbon and bacon! Many vegetarian options, a gluten-free bread option. I've seen lots of events here and attended two. One issue: Pricing is very reasonable for most items although once in a while you can feel like you're paying too much for something. Guacamole and chips for $9 is kind of steep given that you can get one of the best burgers in five neighborhoods for $8. Once you know what the best things are you'll do great (get that damn burger and you won't care for a second). Come in and don't be shy. I'm the guy writing at the bar with the red sangria. read more

The mixed drinks are GREAT - The basil lemonade and cinnamon rum drink were delicious. The food is very good, but the portions are a bit small (it is a tapas place..- so I guess I just love food). This is a really good spot to have a drink and a bite with a friend you've been meaning to catch up with because - wow- you can actually talk in this bar! You can sit in a real leather chair without having to scout out for 30 min! Its not the most happening spot, it's low-key, but great for locals who want to have a drink but don't want something as divey as Pop's or Dirty Thieves. And another plus.. BOARD GAMES! read more

Love this local hangout a for a a happy hour cocktail after work! The owner is super friendly, music is always great, and never too over crowded to hang comfortably with a group of friends. read more

Take a seat. At the bar. Order some tapas. Have a drink. Stay a while. Don't miss the lemon hummus. Served with eight slices of warm bread. Dip away. Choose the chicken bocadillos. Three are served. They won't last long. Delicious. Save some hummus for bonus dipping. Passed on a cocktail. But they looked excellent. You can also take a seat (translation of the name) at one of the dimly lit tables. Perfect way to get lost in the intimate yet welcoming atmosphere. Will be back for that drink. read more

I love Asiento!! My sister and I go there for brunch and often blow off the rest of our plans for the day because really, why leave? and then I had my birthday party there. Asiento is definitely all about enabling a good party!! I was pretty stoked on my birthday drink special:) Deb, the owner, rocks. Shes fun and gets things done! also, the food is yum. read more

This is my friend Debi Cohn's bar- she's an old friend from college. As I have always loved bars/restaurants in the Mission, when she told me she had opened Asiento, I was excited to check it out. A friend had just returned from working overseas and I suggested we meet there. What a great choice! It was really comfortable, a casual ambiance, yummy cocktails (I recommend the basil lemonade vodka drinks), and a wide assortment of tapas, including $2.00 tacos (small but delicious). I didn't know it was cash only but they kindly let me use my debit card. Since it was a Wednesday, it was not packed but I imagine it gets that way on a weekend. It's a perfect chillout place for a weekday though! read more

Grabbed a bite and drinks here with a friend after work. Dark, taverny flair with a bit of a lounge feel. Took a seat at the bar and was greeted by the bartender. Ordered a snakebite (1/2 cider 1/2 stout for those who do not know) and gambas, crab cakes.. and honestly I forgot what else but they were so good!! Very casual place to catch up over drinks and small bites. Would recommend. read more

Came here on Monday night @ 8 for their weekly trivia for the first time. I ordered one of the 3 beers available on draft, came out to a whopping $8 which was the average price among the beer. The tapas we had (beet salad, hummus, something else I can't remember) were pretty good but not worth all the $$$ we paid for them. Good ambience though overall, with comfy seats and fun trivia. read more

I was scrambling to find a bar with trivia on Mondays, which lead me to Asiento. I had never noticed this place before, even though I passed it many times on the way to Mission Cliffs, but I'm glad I found it. Trivia starts at 8:30, and we were done before 11. I get bored waiting between rounds, so I was happy that everything moved at a good pace. The ceviche, guacamole, cheese dip and bocadillos were all pretty good, and a nice change from all fried bar foods. Portion sizes are small for the price, but not outrageous. No one was particularly happy with their cocktails, and the beer that my friend ordered was not cold, but I'm game to try other drinks. read more

Really chillin bar if you're looking for a relaxing time or a party, this is the place you want to be! Good variety of food, drinks, music and people. The tostadas are off the chainwax! read more

Asiento - #Estrella #Asiento #Goodtimes - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - San Francisco, California

After work for drinks led me here. Funny, that all I wanted to find at Asiento was an 'asiento', real bad. Limited seating--for those of you who don't "eh-speak eh-Spanish". Inside this small place were what looked like mostly regulars sitting around. Bar was nicely stocked and I agree with a few other reviewers that drinks sure did take a while to get made (and they're kinda small for almost $9). Dj was playing some cool retro music for a while (which made up for lack of seating). THEN techno/mix person took over the music booth. I downed my Manhattan and split. **props to the mixologist, the drinks were tasty...! I tasted their hummingbird and Manhattan (spelled funny, made with a twist). read more