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    Bar Orso

    4.7 (10 reviews)

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    Dominic B.

    I really enjoy dining at Merchant Roots so I definitely had to check at Bar Orso as soon as I could after they opened. The space occupies the bar area of Merchant Roots, noting that Merchant Roots has about 4 distinct dining area (at least from what I've experienced). However, you enter through a secret door on the exterior of the restaurant. Speakeasy vibes as you walk through a moody red hallway and have to find the secret door. - the orso - housemade redwood fernet, redwood needle distillate, wild forage botanical soda - signature drink of the bar that's basically a fernet cola. everything is housemade and, while it sounds simple, the flavors are incredible - clear burrata - buffalo mozzarella milk, genshu sake, lemon, olive oil washed pisco, basil, olive oil, salt rim - such an interesting and refreshing drink with elements of mozz - pacific martini - seaweed ogo, olive oil, vodka, lemon - I don't usually opt for martinis but this one tasted like the ocean but in a good way - smokey get sandy - dark rum, lime, mushroom falernum, lion's mane marshmallow, fire - presentation is insane. Drink is presented in a wooded carved bear and set on fire, with the mushroom on a stick for the guest to torch

    Michelle H.

    Date of Visit: 4/10/2026 We booked the experience at Bar Orso with friends a few weeks ahead of our visit. Overall, we had a nice time, though the pace felt a bit rushed toward the end. In our experience, bars and lounges in the U.S. typically don't create a sense of urgency the way some highly reserved lounges in Asia might. However, during our second round, when the restaurant at the front was nearing closing, we did feel somewhat hurried, as the bartenders had begun cleaning and wrapping up. Orso Old Fasioned $18 Husband ordered the old fashioned with Heaven Hill Kentucky Bourbon, orange peel, and Angostura Bitters. A nice old fashioned but nothing memorable. The Orso $18 I got the house special "The Orso" which is basically a signature Fernet con Coca cocktail. This is a fusion of Italian amaro and American cola in a bear shaped cup. Dutch Queen $18 One of our friend got the Dutch Queen with house carrot kombucha, rye whiskey, caraway aquavit, dill, and ginger. Light and refreshing. Fairy Ring $18 Another friend got the one made with candy cap mushroom, toasted rice gin, jasmine tea infused vermouth, and Cappelletti London fog foam. The Golden State $18 We also ordered a snack to pair with our drinks. The corn fries, with the corn ginger miso, popcorn, and hot agave sauce on the side. Very great light snack to pair with cocktails. Camp Breakfast $18 The second round my husband ordered this visually amazing cocktail. Made with smoked bacon fat-washed bourbon, Amaro Sfumato pancake, and toasted oat maple syrup. This is made to symbolize the breakfast people usually have during camping trip. Smokey Gets Sandy $18 One of my favorite cocktails of the night was made with Blackstrap dark rum, lime, mushroom velvet falernum, and a lion's mane marshmallow. It was presented with a dramatic touch, set on fire right in front of me, and came with an extra marshmallow on a stick to roast. However, the moment felt a bit rushed. I asked the bartender for a second so I could take a quick video before the fire was lit, but my request was overlooked and the drink was ignited anyway. It took away from what could have been a more memorable and interactive experience, and added to the overall sense that things were moving too quickly. Clear Burrata $18 Light and refreshing cocktail with local Petaluma buffalo mozzarella milk, Akashi Tai Ginjo genshu sake, lemon, olive oil-washed pisco basil, olive oil, and salt rim. Rosemary Pomegranate Fog $18 This one is also great with dry ice presentation. Made with Cocchi Ameriano, vodka, muddles pomegranate, citrus, fennel, and rosemary slush on top.

    Tri Tip
    Jennifer L.

    What a total experience! From walking thru an eerie hall and finding the secret entryway to entering a whimsical, dark forest-like world. Intimate setting with only a few seats and two seatings per night. Reservations is a must, at least for now as they don't seem to take walk ins. Once seated, we were immediately greeted. The whole experience was truly unique and all the chefs and bartenders were beyond friendly, helpful, and generous! They all made it fun with their expertise and personality. Got the a la carte option, but there is a meal tasting option upon reservation. On to our redwood treats - - Fairy Ring - gin based, surprisingly refreshing and can taste the jasmine! Had a fun glass sugar covering that I got to break up into my drink! - Holy Water - another light and refreshing speciality cocktail with mezcal and cilantro! Can taste the clean, natural flavors. - Pomegranate Rosemary Fog - what a unique drink and spectacle! Just try it! - The Orso - wow, a must try!! You may think, yuck, Fernet! But don't judge too soon! This will shock your taste buds with the natural, botanical, redwood magic! - Specialty drink - oyster infused gin served in a shell with a fresh citrus juice in an apothecary glass. Such a creative setup and tasting! Every drink was uniquely served in a creative way! Redwood forest themed with dark art nouveau vibes. Loved it all! Even got to try a mini pinecone! A legit forest sweet treat! - Tri Tip - so flavorful and tender! Served with toasted bread, sandwich style. If you're hungry, get this! - Fish with Fresh Citrus - refreshing and interesting. Not what you think, very delicate piece of fish paired with sweet blood orange slices. A delight! - Corn Fries - a must get!! A whole new way to enjoy fries and makes this greasy food feel healthy! You can really taste the natural corn. Fried well. Just try it! - Sweet Tamale - this was surprisingly good! A nice sweet treat to end the night. A great experience! I appreciate all the bartenders / chefs recommendations and fun talks! Highly recommend this unique cocktail experience! Would love to return to try Merchant Roots! Only advice is wanting the venue setting to be more decorated to match the theme and vibes. Just felt like it was an existing space that turned into a bar. So thinking like entering a forest fairy world with tall redwoods, twinkling lights and gilded gold accents, with a bit of whimsy, etc. Perhaps the next theme :) Last notes: Make sure to check out the restroom - an art nouveau garden setting! And the side room that has strawberry bubble madness!

    Menu
    Vy T.

    This creative bar experience is going to pop off! I just know it, but they should refine a few things first. The good: + one of the few SF bars that give you a little show for some of the drinks! So cool! My favorite show was the Rosemary drink and the bear fire drink that our neighbor got lol (we tried to order but got the smaller version). + omg the bar food was so good, which makes sense because they are from Merchant Roots + loved the speakeasy experience getting into the bar and all the cool little rooms they included. You can tell it's set up for influencers down the line, so very intentional. + personal favorites are the Pacific martini (the forgot to put in a seaweed garnish I saw other people have...) and Rosemary drink because they were the most interesting! The meh: - we ordered 8 drinks between the 4 of us (we are all hardcore speakeasy lovers) and all agreed that the most of the drinks were one dimensional despite an impressive list of items. For example, - the clear burrata just tasted like the sake listed on the drink and when I asked about the salt rim listed, they said their dehydrator wasn't working so no salt? Lol - they mixed up the mocktail and the cocktail version of the duchess drink for my friend... which could have been really bad if my friend wasn't chill about it. Overall, it was a great experience and they're just starting out so will likely be tweaking their program for the better!!! Excited to come back!!!

    Saul P.

    Super cool spot with amazing drinks to match. Don't skip out on trying the food. The sandwich was great and we really enjoyed how interactive the drinks were. Our bartender was fun and had great recommendations. The strawberry bubble room was also a strange but fun addition to the place.

    Get this.
    Mike C.

    This is what is great about San Francisco. So weird, and so cool. Mocktails with liquid nitrogen, bears with homade fernet. Yes please. I'll have 2.

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    Review Highlights - Bar Orso

    I really enjoy dining at Merchant Roots so I definitely had to check at Bar Orso as soon as I could after they opened.

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    Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room - Matcha Redbean, A5 Wagyu & Truffle

    Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room

    4.5(103 reviews)
    1.1 miMission

    What a cozy bar! If you like intimate, chill, and cozy places with board games and unique drinks…read morethis is the place to go! My party and I didn't get the chance to experience the escape room but would love to try it out the next time we come back. The staff are amazing, especially Chloe. Such a sweetheart. Loved her energy! Highly recommend the Mango Sago and Crab Rangoon Nachos!

    Really unique, immersive speakeasy. Came for a birthday and opted for their escape room, which is…read morealso a really cool feature for a speakeasy bar. The escape room is Alice In Wonderland themed and includes three drinks as part of the experience. Arrived on time for our reservation but were held in a waiting room for about 30 min before we could start. Didn't seem like anyone else was doing the escape room but it was also the week of their biz anniversary so maybe they were just super busy. Phoenix led our escape room and was such a delight. Friendly, great banter, helpful throughout the escape. The escape game is split across multiple rooms with a good diversity of puzzles. Don't want to spoil too much here but they were good challenges. Drinks we incorporated throughout and presented like test tubes that were drinkable in a gulp, kind of like a cocktail shot. Personally, I found the first two drinks to be a bit too sweet, but I liked the third, which was coconut forward. The price is definitely a bit more costly. It was $100/person for a party of five. I understand that it was an escape room + the staff + the cocktails. If you max out the party size, it's about $85-ish per person which I think is pretty solid. Still very unique and fun and glad I got to try it

    Photos
    Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room - Cool Middle Earth themed room with lots of seating! Plenty of board games available to play as well

    Cool Middle Earth themed room with lots of seating! Plenty of board games available to play as well

    Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room - Our Pineapple Cake cocktail is an ode to Taiwan.

    Our Pineapple Cake cocktail is an ode to Taiwan.

    Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room - Borscht: Gin, beets, apple, citrus, dill, egg white ($20) + Korean Cold Noodles w/ brandy, pear, pineapples, cucumber, sesame ($19)

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    Borscht: Gin, beets, apple, citrus, dill, egg white ($20) + Korean Cold Noodles w/ brandy, pear, pineapples, cucumber, sesame ($19)

    The Beehive - Beauty Mark

    The Beehive

    4.3(457 reviews)
    1.4 miMission
    $$

    This is by far my favorite bar in SF. I used to drive up here weekly with my coworkers for Friday…read morenights almost 4 years ago. This place has not changed much (in a good way.) The atmosphere is so lovely, there's good music that gradually turned into old school hiphop as the night grew longer. The servers were so kind and came by all the time to refill water and make sure everyone was happy. Little shoutout to the server that took care of us all night Kimberly! She was so amazing and had the best service. (: It may be a bar but the food is so good, we got a little of everything to share. As a regular of lounge-style bars, this place has good lighting if you like taking pictures of your drinks, a good surprise! I really appreciate all the staff for being so kind and attentive on a busy Saturday night. We had a party of 12 that took up a little two-couch area with no issues at all! If I can make a recommendation for anyone that reads this, get the Thunderbird!

    Cool bar with bites in the Mission District. We got there shortly after it opened at 4pm on Friday…read moreafternoon. I was craving a refreshing craft cocktail and got one with the Green Emmanuelle. I liked the cardamom in the Beauty Mark as well that my partner ordered. We ordered shishito peppers and mushroom bahn mi sliders. The mushroom bahn mi sliders were amazing - the quality fillings and taste of the soft bun - I was unexpectedly hit with a bite of spice from maybe jalapeño seeds left but didn't sour my experience. The shishito peppers ended up being extremely spicy as well, those are usually just a few spicy and not the majority. The roasted lemon and salt was a wonderful combo but just too spicy to eat. However, the server very kindly removed it from our bill without us asking. We order the crostini because we were still hungry and that was an absolute hit. Delicious med-soft crostini with luscious berries and sweet honey. I didn't care my hands got sticky as it was soooo good! Great experience, I would be weary if the peppers as I'm a bit spice-intolerant but everything else was spot-on.

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    The Beehive
    The Beehive - Cocktail Menu

    Cocktail Menu

    The Beehive - Cocktail Menu

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    Cocktail Menu

    Blind Pig Speakeasy Lounge - Hot & Sour: Tanqueray Gin w/ lichiko shochu, aloe, rose, hot pot paste, basil, citrus, peychaud's ($18)

    Blind Pig Speakeasy Lounge

    4.7(203 reviews)
    0.7 miLower Nob Hill
    $$

    Omg, first of all, I love bars that are innovative, ESPECIALLY if it's Asian themed drinks! The…read moreBlind Pig is If not more! Our bartender, Andrew, The Wild Pig's Flights is very cheerful and is one of the best bartender I've ever met! ADHD on steroids, in a good way! Love the decor with all the monkey king and piggies! My first drink was The Sticky Rice (secret menu #3) and it has Whiskey in it and I'm not a whiskey gal but it was delicious! The pandan flavors were a surprising finish! I almost just finish the finish the Hi-Chew for pig (secret menu #6) was very very refreshing! Slightly creamy in a good way (giggity) For someone who hates Gin, it was flavorful and easy to drink! Piggy - light, easy to drink. You get the dill taste first then the cucumber and a small hint of bitter melon at the end. It really stimulates my adhd brain Pineapple bun - a little sweet and citrusy. The coconut whipped cream on top was a perfect topper! I never thought I would taste these type of flavors in a cocktail! Definitely a must when coming to SF every time now!

    Out of all the speakeasy's, this one is my favorite. If you're looking for bar to lay low, relax,…read moreand slow down a bit to unwind, this is the spot right here. Embarrassingly enough, we didn't realize that this was speakeasy so we tried opening the door.. left but still curious so did more research while we were at another bar. The code is on instagram! Returned and it was the best decision because now we're looking forward to go back! Sat at the bar, had some recommendations from the bartender and the drinks were spot on. A very unique cocktail menu you cannot find anywhere else so it's really worth checking out! My favorite was the Hot & Sour and probably favorite drink ever. I could order that a thousand times over. I'm not exactly sure how busy the weekend gets but going on a Thursday night was chill. A little too chill.. we started getting tired.. a drink, dim lights, slow music.. it was fitting for a weekday night actually. It was a good experience. Can't wait to try the rest of their cocktail menu!

    Photos
    Blind Pig Speakeasy Lounge - Festive Cocktails

    Festive Cocktails

    Blind Pig Speakeasy Lounge - Christmas special

    Christmas special

    Blind Pig Speakeasy Lounge - Monkey King

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    Monkey King

    Pacific Cocktail Haven - AAPI Cocktail Week 2026

    Pacific Cocktail Haven

    4.5(776 reviews)
    0.8 miUnion Square
    $$

    Can see why this bar gets so much praise and love how it focuses and utilizes asian ingredients…read more They have a great outdoor space with tables and the setup inside maximizes how many people could sit + stand. Thats how I know asians own this place lol. Appreciate this level of intention. Made it feel more intimate and cozy. Everyone was very friendly and attentive. Immediately when you walk in the staff is on it. There was a handful of pandan drinks and our server explained each one perfectly and gave his recommendation. I forgot what I got but it was delicious. My cousin got a matcha one which was interesting and strong! Their menu was refreshing (no pun intended) and the type I love to see that are actually creative and culturally inspired. Got lucky with standing seats then moved over to the bar. It wasnt that packed on a Saturday evening assuming bc it was OSL weekend. They were playing great music at a good volume. But golly hella expensive. 2 drinks with the service charge and tip was over $60. Guess thats SF. Would definitely return but for a special occasion.

    Pacific Cocktail Haven (PCH) is an absolute must for anyone who appreciates creative, exceptionally…read morecrafted cocktails! We stopped in for drinks and Tina started us off with outstanding customer service. She was incredibly welcoming and made the experience great from the very beginning. We made our way through an impressive lineup of cocktails, including Get Him to the Fenugreek, Extra Fancy, Apple Bottom Beets (one of my favorites!), Barley and Me, Tropical Gangsta, Que Pop Limon Hunters, Mo Mole, Mo Problems, and more. Every drink was unique, beautifully crafted, and absolutely outstanding. Apple Bottom Beets was definitely a standout for me, but there honestly wasn't a bad cocktail in the bunch. We ended the night with Laura closing us out, and her service was just as exceptional. From the moment we walked in until the moment we left, everything was 10/10. If you're looking for superb cocktails, creative flavors, and fantastic service, PCH is definitely a place you need to check out!

    Photos
    Pacific Cocktail Haven - Silk Street: Song Gin, amaro, jackfruit-coconut cream, sudachi, longan, pandan - Perfectly balanced, not too sweet

    Silk Street: Song Gin, amaro, jackfruit-coconut cream, sudachi, longan, pandan - Perfectly balanced, not too sweet

    Pacific Cocktail Haven - Envy in bloom

    Envy in bloom

    Pacific Cocktail Haven - Full moon

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    Full moon

    Holy Water - Drinks and holy decor

    Holy Water

    4.4(332 reviews)
    2.7 miBernal Heights
    $$

    Super cute bar in SF! Went here at night with friends. The decor is kinda crazy but fits with the…read morename of the restaurant. Was really impressed with the design of the menu! There's plenty of tables and seats inside! All the drinks were great and strong. We tried the Sacred Valley which was fun! Definitely had a fruity taste, followed by a strong vodka aftertaste. They provided water and lemonade for those of us who didn't want to drink. They also had special branded cups, which was a nice touch!

    On a visit to San Francisco after an evening at a brewery nearby, we weren't ready to let the night…read moreend so we walked to Holy Water. This is a gorgeous spot; the detail from the welcoming greens sign, to the cozy lighting, tasteful religious kitsch, and well thought out style, we had a wonderful visit. The decor made us explore the bar before we sat down; they have tables and different seating areas around, but it seemed like the bar was the place to be. They have a full selection of liquor, plus a cocktail menu, and killer tap list of mostly local draft beer. I absolutely loved their glassware too! The bartender was very friendly; I failed to notice the tap list above the bar was different from the menu so I was glad that was pointed out for my second beer. Prices are reasonable for the experience of being here. The other clientele at the bar were also friendly, it has a neighborhood vibe but is welcoming to all.

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    Holy Water - IPA

    IPA

    Holy Water
    Holy Water - Inside view of bar

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    Inside view of bar

    Third Rail - Inside

    Third Rail

    4.5(258 reviews)
    1.8 miDogpatch, Potrero Hill
    $$

    We stumbled upon Third Rail after watching a basketball game at Chase Center, and it ended up being…read moresuch a gem! The atmosphere was great. It was busy on a Saturday night without feeling overwhelming and the whole place had a really fun relaxed energy to it. The staff was also fantastic and super helpful with all of our questions. We tried an Old Fashioned and the Third Rail cocktail, which was similar to a sour, and both were phenomenal. Seriously some amazing drinks. We didn't get a chance to try any of their jerky this time around, but we'll definitely be back for it!

    Girl dinner: cocktails and jerky. What's not to love? We…read moreordered: - The yuzu cute cocktail: perfectly refreshing and tart, not too sweet from the pineapple - A mango coconut horchata cocktail: good but a bit sweet and bland. Needed a kick - The jerk jerky: goddam this was spicy! From someone with a medium spice tolerance! Good thing I had the cocktail to wash it down haha. The parts that weren't tongue burning spicy were so flavorful though - The red eye: the espresso rub was subtle but a fun contrast - The thicc Jim: better than any slim Jim or chomp stick you'll ever eat. Fresh pork and that hot honey garlic essence Logistics: - Indoor and outdoor seating - Limited street parking nearby but right next to the light rail and buses along third street and the bay bike trail - Non alcoholic options available

    Photos
    Third Rail
    Third Rail
    Third Rail - Third rail shot

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    Third rail shot

    Shoji - Cheese fries

    Shoji

    4.2(580 reviews)
    0.9 miFinancial District, SoMa
    $

    Cool place for drinks! I wish I had dressed better since the decor is so classy. It was a little…read morewarmer than anticipated inside but it may have been just that day. Service was really friendly and explained everything they brought out. I would probably only do drinks here next time, or food with a smaller group. The burger is definitely worth trying!

    I have been wanting to try Shoji for a while now, but haven't had a chance to as the buzz when they…read morefirst opened was crazy with long lines. I finally got to try it and walked in on a Saturday right at opening for a party of 2. We waited probably about 15 minutes and were sat in the back patio. The interior space was beautifully done and looked very elevated. The back patio also looked nice, but definitely gave off a different vibe. The service was great, no complaints there. Everybody was super nice and attentive. The food also came out fairly quickly. What we ordered: - Donburi ($53) - 5/5 - Pork Jowl ($28) - 4/5 - Akazu Fries ($10) - 3/5 - NA Cold noodle mocktail ($18) - 4/5 - NA Dashi Apple mocktail ($15) - 5/5 - Shoji Burger ($28) - 4/5 - Ceviche ($25) - 4/5 Total after tax/tip - $236.50 Objectively, the food and drinks were pretty good. Our favorites were the donburi (of course) and the dashi apple mocktail. Some cons: - how expensive it was for the amount of food. Some reviews mentioned the donburi was tiny (which it was) - no bigger than my hand. - Almost all the dishes we got were finger foods but kind of hard to eat. The ceviche with the nori chips would fall apart. The dark nori seasoning got all over our hands and was difficult to get off with just the cloth napkin. The shoji burger was covered in cheese which we assumed was finger food since they didn't offer any knives. The donburi was filled to the top in this bowl which was small so you have to be very careful scooping out. In addition, the seasoning from the seaweed was a bit oily as well. Maybe offering a wet wipe or napkin at the end of the meal would be a nice touch. I guess it was a bit confusing given the elevated / upscale vibe it was giving off but could improve in the small details. Not sure if I can say I recommend or not but would be willing to give it another chance. Perhaps try the experience inside instead.

    Photos
    Shoji - Instagram: TianTianEats

    Instagram: TianTianEats

    Shoji - Matcha einspanner

    Matcha einspanner

    Shoji - Uni Amaebi Don: Soy marinaded raw sweet shrimp, santa barbara uni, ikura, soy marinated yolk ($44 +$3 nori)

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    Uni Amaebi Don: Soy marinaded raw sweet shrimp, santa barbara uni, ikura, soy marinated yolk ($44 +$3 nori)

    Bar Orso - cocktailbars - Updated September 2026

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