What a stuck up bar. It's great that it's open till 2am compared to other bars down the street, but the bartenders have a serious bad attitude. Drinks are not that great anyway. There is plenty of standing room, though, with a roomy area in the back with seats on the side. I guess if you don't have to interact with the bartenders and don't get stepped on or elbowed in the face, it won't be such a terrible experience. read more

Small bustling bar with a good cocktail list (reasonably priced at $11). Plus good selection of wines and beers. Small snack menu. Great atmosphere. read more

Brass Tacks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here for a business meeting. On a Sunday. On a holiday weekend. Weird right? This place was hopping at 4.30 in the afternoon. Everyone was crowded up at the bar area and clamoring for the sunlight that was coming through. So we moved to the back corner where there was lounge seating and plenty of space. As time moved on that got crowded too. Guess I BRING THE PARTAY. bit smaller than I expected as I like the larger space of Churchill that one of the other folks is key in a hear. Ill definitely have to come during a later night where Im not working and imbibe on the many cocktails. read more

All the cocktails are very delicious and the bartenders are extremely friendly. I can't think of a better way to describe this, but the decor feels like a Justin Timberlake album cover. read more

Really love the interior of this place- dark and classy is how I would describe it. Bartenders are friendly. $10 cocktails that are delicious. Bar was actually fairly crowded at 2:30 PM on a Monday (what do ya'll do for a living?!?) but the tables at the back were available and we gladly plopped ourselves down there. If you're trying to live life on the bougie side, I would come through. read more

Best bar in the area. Bartenders are easy on the eyes and super friendly, delicious, well crafted cocktails/wide range of liquor, unpretentious vibe. They have tarragon grapefruit vodka based drink I believe. And me and my friend got pretty high on it... Not sure why but allegedly tarragon has calming and sedative properties if consumed in highly concentrated form- go figure. We don't smoke weed otherwise- thus very sensitive when it comes to anything like that. It did not feel bad though. ^^ When we asked our bartender if anything like that ever happened to anyone he replied that once a girl was freaking out after she had... 7 of those. read more

Solid place for cocktails. I had one with mezcal and jasmine and it was excellent and only $9 during HH ($10 regular price, definitely below SF market rate!) I also sampled my friends' drinks, one of which was a good take on a Negroni, and another which used a brown spirit base, peach, and lemon (too citrusy for my taste). Of note: This place is popular! It was already pretty packed by 6pm on a Friday and can get a bit loud. read more

Heard about this place because one of my favorite bartenders works here! Came by with a bunch of friends on a Thursday night and was surprised to find it packed (but not too packed). Same owners as Bloodhound, it's a really cute place with a great ambiance. All the bartenders seemed really nice too. They would come up to US and ask if we'd been help yet, which usually never happens since bartenders like to be waved and shouted at in order to get their attention. I've only sampled a few of their drinks and they were hit and miss. The first two I had, I didn't like much. The two after weren't too bad though. I'll definitely come back to try their other things though and since it's such a nice, chill spot. read more

The bar menu is alright, the staff is nice an friendly. The interior is very disappointing bc it has NO CHARACTER at all. Very generic and generally meh. Yes Marlena's bathrooms were old but the place was fun. This place is clean and boring. read more

Great Cocktails , I had the Best time with my girl there , the bartenders now what they are doing , he made me amazing drinks for me and my girl all night long , even some drinks that was not on the menu , the bar is super cool , amazing selection and beautiful people ! i love the fact they have a huge windown for the street , if you wamt have fun in Hayes Valley , that is the place to be. THE DRINKS WAS AMAZING , FUCKING AMAZING ! read more

While some people bemoan the loss of Marlena's, it's better to look forward and give the team behind Brass Tacks a big thumbs up in turning a less approachable bar in Hayes into a popular spot on any night. The bartenders are friendly, the owner is always around helping out or chilling, I think it's always a good time to catch a drink at Brass Tacks. Drinks are priced right, thus placing Brass Tacks in the same competing neighborhood bar category as Place Pigalle down the block. Although Pigalle boasts a better craft beer selection, Brass Tacks has all the liquor options & cocktail concoctions. But I'm all for having more libation options in Hayes, every bar has their purpose! Get the window seats if you come by daytime, you get a direct view of Patricia's Green to people watch while the sun is shining in. You can plan your next move from here, whether to get some ice cream from Smitten, or perhaps a healthy juice from Juice Shop, or onwards to Biergarten for some more day drinking! That glass chandelier centerpiece is pretty badass too. read more

Get the Beetlejuice. I want to be drinking that at all times of the day no matter where I am. It's delicious. Other than that? Great location in Hayes Valley. I get a cool vibe from the people that come here. No creepers or party girls or douche bags. Only 4 stars though because my roommate asked a bartender for a napkin because he had spilled some beer on our table and he wanted to clean it up and she said no. read more

With bars aplenty in the area, Brass Tacks is a decent spot to head down to after work to meet up with friends or co-workers. It's not a big bar but large enough if you go with less than 4 people at once. The music isn't so loud and the service with the bartenders is surprisingly quick with getting my drink considering how busy they were (which means they must be pretty good). I do wish there was more seating here but real estate being more valuable than gold out here in SF, I can understand that they have to make use of the space the best way possible, which means more people standing than sitting taking up space. I did wish they had a larger stout selection. Price: $6+ Wait: None read more

Maybe I'm jaded... I haven't written a review in ages, and at the end of the day, my excitement about Brass Tacks, is based on the question "Where can I get a drink after work, without a schtick?" Working near Hayes Valley there are plenty of places to get an afterwork but there's always a schtick. Only beer or wine... Mostly food... Incredibly pricey... It's outdoors and too cold to hang out... Theme bar with only 20ish seats... Whatever the heck is going on at Sugar. Remembering Brass Tacks had just opened after a new teammate completed their first full week on the job was incredibly helpful as we could certainly not all fit in the space left at a certain pirate bar was a huge win. I know that a lot of reviews have remarked how underwhelming the decor is, but who cares when all you want after work is a stiff drink and somewhere to enjoy it?! Joking aside- inside the bar is certainly nice, and I have no complaints- then again that was not a concern on my first visit. Bartenders are incredibly nice and make sure everyone gets taken care of with stiff delicious libations. What more do you really need? Excited to go back and try more of the specialty cocktails. read more

The red headed bar tender is very rude. Additionally, the Bloody Mary's were gross and hardly had any alcohol. Hire staff that can handle crowds and aren't mean to their customers. Feels like the Death of San Francisco inside read more

Stopped in here with my guy and a friend before dinner nearby. Bartender was friendly, even though he was slammed. We al l had different drinks, some being better than others. I appreciated the amount of seating and that thee bathrooms were relatively clean:) If I were nearby, I'd stop in, but wouldn't go out of my way for. Boozing in this neighborhood is stiff competition! read more

Nice bar. Great place to watch a game - they have 3 TVs. I came to watch the World Cup and they have lots of enthusiasm - even flags for all of the countries are hanging on the wall. They also have the spiciest Bloody Mary I've ever had. There are definitely minced peppers in it. I'll be coming back for sure! read more

I just got a job in the area and just needed a drink after a long shift. The bartender here was very nice and it seems like a lot of people stop in just to have a couple drinks and just chill. I look forward to stopping here a lot of times after work to see how the crowd is. read more

Ask for a shot of Jameson and it will be watered down. Not just a little where you start wondering in the back of your mind, but very obviously watered down. read more

If you need a beer in a pinch, Brass Tacks is for you. But, if you like bubbles in your beer, steer clear, cause these fuckin guys haven't heard of carbonation. That said, cocktails - delish. Crowd - bros in tucked in polos. Decent spot to watch a game in the afternoon. Don't bother coming at night - it's a shitshow. RIP Marlena's. read more

Drinks were average, but the bartender (short white bald dude with arm tattoos) was just incredibly rude. Come 1:50, he announced that all drinks have to be finished. I had just a small bit of my drink left so I jokingly mentioned "still got at least 5 minutes, man" and the bartender looks straight at me then his co-worker and says "look at this guy being a bitch" and then proceeds to berate me for apparently stating that. Both me and my buddy were totally taken aback having been perfectly decent guests the whole evening and strongly regretting the tip I gave earlier. Drinks were ok, but would absolutely never return here. Came here on the recommendation of the the super friendly bartender at Smuggler's cove which is a much better place to spend your money. read more

Great for people watching out the big front windows on a nice evening. I ordered too many Birthday Ponies and decided to make up a whole song and dance routine in its honor. The boyfriend had fun talking to the bartender about expensive whiskey while I worked through the creative process. They've got something for everyone. read more

Update: During a rowdy session of day drinking a couple weeks ago, I left my purse at Brass Tacks. Yes, my entire purse-- including my wallet, cell phone, etc. A million thanks to Brass Tacks' staff for their kindness and integrity. They returned my belongings to me the next day, and everything was intact. I'm from NY so seriously, their honesty was truly unfathomable to me. THANKS AGAIN BRASS TACKS! read more

4.5 Stars $10 All Craft Cocktails +1 Beautiful ambiance +1 Drinks are well made, stiff with a good balance of sweetness, acidity and flavors are true to their descriptions Overall Thoughts Brass Tacks will certainly be on my list of return visits read more

Love, loved Brass Tacks. Bae and I went to celebrate for happy hour on a Friday. It wasn't too crowded at 5pm. We were able to get seats, but by 7 it started getting packed, but not in a 'I can't breathe here' sort of way. Fun vibe. The bartenders were actually awesome. You catch eye contact without waiting very long and they're really fast with their orders. The cocktails are amazing. I ordered the Velouria. I'm a huge fan of savory cocktails and it was so delicious. Kind of hard not to throw back everything at once! That's the problem with bomb cocktails - I want a huge jug of it. Two of them had me nice and tipsy and ready for a pizza dinner. I've been delightfully surprised with cocktails in this city. They don't cost an arm and a leg, they're super creative and tasty. Theirs run for $10 each, but we got for $9 for HH. That's a steal! Perfect place for our date night. It'll be on my bookmarks for future funtimes. read more

Brass Tacks, you get an A+ in my book! We stopped by around 9pm on a weeknight and had an awesome time here. We joked with the bouncer who was checking our IDs and said something about my best friend and I having nice, warm scarves in the cold weather. We said that he should open up a scarf check to stay warm before letting people in ;) (hey, at least I thought it was funny after a couple drinks!) The bartender was nice and attentive, no attitude at all. He made my gin gimlet (made w/ St. George Terroir) perfectly and asked me if I approved - is it just me or does no one do this anymore? I appreciated it! My best friend enjoyed her whiskey cocktail and we had a great time ogling the collection of Santa's proudly on display for the holidays. A fun place to meet up with friends with no pretension. read more

A nice bar that doesn't take too long to get drinks even when it's crowded. The layout is like a hammer -- narrow through the handle with a couple tables in the back. I recommend against coming here with more than a few of your people. Edit: oh yeah they have a bunch of tasteful cocktails. Fun place to go with a date -- you can play the naming game. read more

If you are looking for a packed bar to stand around whilst you're sweating bullets, this is mayhaps the bar for you. You have to be in that particular type of mood, y'know? read more

Good drinks, always packed. There is a $20 minimum on credit cards but I guess that is how most bars are these days. This is a great place to grab a drink before going out to your destination or a good place to just drop in if you need a drink. Haven't ever spent more than an hour or so there. It can get a little claustrophobic. Bartenders know how to make a drink that will please any palate so if you are having trouble deciding what to get, they can help you out. That being said, their menu always has great inventive cocktails made with unusual but tasty ingredients. read more

Great neighborhood bar with inventive drink list...a must if your in Hayes. Bartenders were the friendliest we came across on our trip and the juke box is stellar...they even gave me a couple free credits (The Stooges, The Devil Makes Three and Cash). Their take on an Old Fashioned is a pure intoxicating delight! The light fixture over the bar really sets the scene here. read more

Brass Tacks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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It's hard to believe that quite some years ago, this area was kind of sketch. Parking here might not have been recommended due to probable break ins or theft. Fast forward to 2013 and now, Hayes Valley is a great place to go to enjoy the outdoor urban market on a warm day and the biergarten with friends on a chilly fall night. Brass Tacks is what I feel fits the area currently. There are friendly and informative bartenders, a list of cocktails with interesting names (The Spanish Prisoner, for instance) and a relatively lively crowd. Signage is subtle on the exterior and interior, the decor is not elaborate. Awesome place to stop for a drink, although, it can be relatively pricey. read more

Came to check out this bar with some friends. I'm happy to have another bar in Hayes Valley. I'll definitely be back. DRINKS: I'd say so-so. I tried The Conversation and The Secret Service. My biggest problem was that I felt they were unbalance. The Conversation tasted like drinking only rye. The Secret Service was a bit more toned down and I really liked it. But all the rest of the drinks I tasted - overly sweet, or tangy or just something that would be hard after a couple sips. ENVIRONEMNT: On a Saturday night, packed and loud. Shouting to be heard loud over the other patrons and music. There's some seating in the back. Overall decor-wise, it was pretty yuppie standard. Drinks get mixed in lab beakers (which I dislike as it gives a weird feeling of your bartenders not being able to measure correctly). SERVICE: I'd say the bartenders seemed on top of their game. My friends did the ordering so I can't personally speak to it. But was told they were really friendly. We also had a second bartender ask if we'd been helped (yay for good service). Pretty good about getting empty glasses cleared from tables too. read more

On my last trip home to SF we moseyed over to Brass Tacks for afternoon drinks. Really fun atmosphere and good cocktails. The Rose we ordered was really good, not too sweet and came in a very convenient carafe size to share among us ladies. While it's a small establishment, the wall counter worked perfectly for our party of five. Love the location and the fact that the bartenders are willing and able to concoct the perfect cocktail for your alcohol preference and mood. Recommend for day drinking and happy hour and looking forward to visiting again on my trip home. read more

The hipster bartenders here are extremely rude. They really don't know how to run a bar at all.

I came here for the first time last week and forgot to post about it but brass tacks is a great spot with tasty balanced cocktails and a good local bar feel, the bar staff was friendly and knows their stuff about all the spirits behind the bar(and there's a lot of them) That's why I'm giving them 5 stars Knowledgeable Friendly Reasonably priced This place has it all! read more

Some of the best cocktails I've had anywhere and the decor is gorgeous without ever feeling over the top. The bartenders are knowledgeable and fun and Matty even went so far as tracking down a hard to find gin at a store downtown so my wife and I could impress friends back in Germany. Short of getting rid of the tv's I can't think of a single thing you'd want to change. As near to perfect you could get in the real world. Bravo Brass Tacks! read more

Great atmosphere & the mixed drinks were incredible. I had the Mosquito Coast and it was just the right amount of everything. I highly recommend! read more

Cool little bar in Hayes valley with a relaxed dark atmosphere. It's not that large and seating is limited, so I would get there before 10pm most nights. It gets too packed after that unfortunately. Good selection of drinks and in a great location. read more

Came here after work for a quick drink before dinner. The drinks were unique, strong, and delicious. The bar is pretty small/narrow, and it gets pretty crowded even on a weeknight, so might not be the best for groups. read more

The type of bartenders who could care less... outstanding customer service was not on their radar.