America turns 250 years old on July 4th. San Francisco turns 250 years old but it's on June 29th. Growing up in the Mission I was always intrigued on all the tour buses passing by as a kid which usually landed on Dolores & 16th street. This is because the area is where San Francisco was founded in 1776 and San Francisco got its name from the establishment of the Mission San Francisco de Asis but founded by Juan Bautista de Anza ( also founded the Presidio) and Francisco Palou. Growing up a block it was a privilege to see history being well persevered. There is a place where I literally lived next to a bar growing up which was established in 1858. It's the second oldest bar still operating in San Francisco and it's a block away from where San Francisco was founded. It's the place to get your favorite elixir and it's at Elixir. On a San Franjcisco historical stroll in my old childhood stomping grounds on 16th street and Guerrero I landed at Elixir. Inside it feels like I stepped in a vintage bar. They have hella whiskeys available like Whiskey sours like some in SF. They also have drinks with scotch like the Rusty Nails and Morning Glory Fizz similar to the ones on my social media feed. They also have hella types of drinks like the Old Speckled Hen. One type of drink which the Elixir bar also specializes in is the Classic Sherry serves like the 19th century saloon classic Sherry Cobbler. I tried their Frozen Irish Coffee and it was refreshing and tasty and a kick to it. Next time I will order the Angeline Pinot Noir for Don Juan Pinot Noir. This is a historic place in San Francisco to enjoy a drink. This building will always be my home The drinks here kick harder than the late "Chuck Norris "especially the way the bartender " pour us " so I have to carry mouthwash like Listerine and "Lavoris" and Elixir is on the corner of 16th and Guerrero streets a block from the historical "Mission Dolores" Drinks here can be sour like a hand lemon lime "twister" some like drinking sweeter drinks in the sun in the Spring like a " Aperol Spritzer "some like whiskey on the rocks and some like the sound of the "cocktail mixer"and Don Juan Pinot Noir likes Angeline Pinot Noir on tap at the historical bar since 1858 called "Elixir" read more

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Let me be clear, I love this bar and have been many many times. They dropped the ball on a Sunday (understand this is a down day for bars), during FIFA World Cup. Elixir advertised $2 off pints for the game, and did not follow thru (bummer but not detrimental). The game was shown (Mex vs. Eng) but TV volume was pretty low. They have a QR code for menu and the prices shown online via the QR code do not reflect the actual prices on the POS system. Had the bartender find the whiskey I wanted and it was 3x the price. Bartender did not know the 2 bourbon/whiskey flights (this is a whiskey bar) available and could not find the whiskey asked for. It was strike after strike after strike, and to end it all - the drinks were just ok. I will be back, I love this bar - they definitely dropped the ball tonight. read more

As a history lover, the story of this bar is awesome. Must go to those who love San Francisco and its history. Originally built in 1848 during the gold rush it burned down in 1906, and they rebuilt it. This is original from 1906! Second oldest bar in San Francisco. My husband got a beer and I got a dirty martini. I was surprised how much I liked it. However the bar tender was so kind he threw in some cider for us to try since I told him it smelled so good ! There were old photos with annotations everywhere and it was very cool to learn about the place. The vibes were great. The menu had attributions to other great bars of San Francisco ( Buena vista Abv etc) would recommend ! read more

Elixir - Original 1906 bar top - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been here a couple of times now and have to admit I enjoy the convivial vibe in what is apparently one of the oldest bars in the city. However, it doesn't feel like an antiquated watering hole with antiquated barflies. Elixir is well known as a well-stocked whiskey bar, but what has really lured me back are their $17 signature cocktails. I've had more than one Espresso Martini here, which are truly seductive libations (Photo 8). The real scene stealer though is the Frozen Irish, a terrific riff on an Irish coffee slushie with Teeling Small Batch Irish whisky, Grand Coffee cold brew, Mr. Black coffee liqueur, and Amaro di Angostura (Photo 7). That's a definite get when it's available. COCKTAILS - 4 stars...the coffee cocktails stand out AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...old school but in a good way SERVICE - 4 stars...always patient and friendly TOTAL - 4 stars...one Frozen Irish for me and a whiskey for my horse RELATED - Exploring the Mission? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/XP875GMuFJ read more

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Pretty extensive whiskey list. Awesome for trying all kinds of fun things. Then pricing is also pretty decent. read more

Elixir - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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When I travel, I always try find a local bourbon and/or speakeasy bar. I happen to find this place while I was downtown San Francisco. Elixir definitely has the rustic but rich bar interior. They have bourbon, whiskey, and other elixirs throughout the bar area. I sampled and tried many new versions of Bourbon and whiskey. They were all great. I can't say I had a favorite but many of them I would try again, especially Jefferson Oceans and the Nikka Whiskey collections. The bartenders where great and very knowledgeable of the spirits that had available. While this bar does not serve food, you are allowed to bring in food. I look forward to my next visit. read more

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Definitely the bar to be at during the holidays (or all year round as a matter of fact!) They have an amazing holiday cocktail selection. I wanted to try every single thing on the menu! The Pumpkin Killer and the Aged Eggnog were the highlights for me. Unfortunately, the Tom & Jerry was not available. Apparently, it takes quite a bit of time to make and the staff were quite busy on a Friday night. The only thing I could potentially dock a star for was the inconsistency of the drinks. My friend and I had ordered two different drinks from one of the bartenders, and both our drinks tasted a bit strange/unbalanced (too much mint syrup in the Mistletoe Sour and too much sherry liqueur in the Añogo). Another one of our group members ordered the Mistletoe Sour and it tasted vastly different. Aside from that, loved the ambiance and the drinks! read more

Was looking for a place to grab drinks and we found Elixir just off yelp. Had decent stars, and honest reviews. They live true to the name. One thing to note though, it's mainly a whiskey bar. They were kind enough to make me an off the menu mezcal because I honestly prefer Tequila lol. Very kind staff and the ambiance was like a cove feel. would definitely go back again read more

Elixir - Off the Menu Mezcal - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Elixir, second oldest bar in SF. Good cocktails and chill place to kick it. Small space to get cozy. One bartender for a Friday night but he came around eventually. Another solid bar in SF. read more

Absolutely shocked by how rude the bartender was here. She was rushing us for drink orders and being extremely rude and rolling her eyes. We abandoned our drinks and left! read more

If you want to feel COMPLETELY ignored for a solid 30" this is your place! I even have the time to bet which group would be ignore the most! the bartender was uninvited and mean to people ...after my group left ...another group of people also left... literally we all being IGNORED AT THE SAME TIME read more

Very skilled and professional female bartender on 4/30/25. She was very kind good energy and my cocktails were very well balanced with a harmonius blend of flavours and beautifully presented.. I used to drink Ramos Fizz with gin at the Cliff House back in the day and so I really enjoyed the whiskey version. read more

Elixir - Whiskey Ramos Fizz - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great cocktails and great service. upscale cocktails in a neighborhood bar. Been going here for years. Never had a bad experience. read more

Came here for a mixology class on a Saturday afternoon! We made 4 cocktails over 2.5 hours. I highly recommend this class -could be a fun date idea, fun with friends, or was fun for me even alone. This bar is the second oldest bar in SF and supposedly has very good whiskey. Ambiance is quite nice. I'll be coming back to try the whiskies! read more

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Great spot for drinks on the fringe of the Mission! We came here with some friends last weekend and had a great time. The vibe inside is fairly casual and intimate. They have your standard drinks and the bartenders provided great service. This place is right by my apartment and there are always people inside. There is also an outdoor seating area as well that's great on nice days. I recommend if you are thristy for some alcohol and are in the area! read more

The vibes are definitely homey. The frozen Irish coffee was delicious and for my first time what can I say worth the wait. The service took a while; walked in with just three people in the bar. Took them about 10 minutes and a extra 10+ people that walked in after id been seated for 3 minutes. This is one of the few bars I've been in and cocktail list has high volume of traditional and far out house cocktails. I will say a must visit when in the misión. read more

Elixir - The Frozen Irish Coffee - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was at the Roxie for the anniversary party today...the Oscars were about to start, but I decided to poke around my wandering history trials..I stumbled upon the second oldest saloon in San Francisco..so where is the first one..in North Beach maybe..I saw 5 or 6 people in the bar..there was a non-alcoholic drink menu and a low alcohol list..I got two non-alcoholic cocktails..tiki martini with cold brew and the southern I forget .."southern mocktail" Except this is not southern..it's northern california rep rep..hahah..so I was so fascinated by the ephemera and photos on the wall at this bar Elixir..there were other bar owners and this one has been here for 20 years..I had not been here..there are events..I have not met somebody here..it's a fun historic "saloon." It says Amsterdam 1548 haha..It says Scots whiskey...it had a photo of a baseball league..it was more fascinating then the first hour of the Oscars. read more

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Had a great time getting drinks at Elixir -- good vibes inside the bar, plenty of outdoor seating, and the atmosphere is really cool due to the history of the building. Got drinks at Elixir with a friend after dinner a few weeks ago, and it was just a great experience overall. All of the staff (from the bouncer to the bartenders) seem genuinely nice and happy to have a quick conversation with you. Because of the history of the building, the interior is very classy and is a solid spot for having an intimate drink on a date as well. Lots of good options on the menu! I got the Tokijito and it was prepared well, but next time I'll probably something new (my friend had the Whatamelon #2 and it was fantastic) -- prices aren't bad so no major complaints there. Overall I'd recommend Elixir! It's a cool spot and I'll definitely be back. read more

Elixir - Tokijito - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Got a few drinks with a friend after the Sweet 16 here. It was a good experience. The atmosphere is good, very classy. They have a pretty long list of whiskies. My only suggestion is that their lists could use some work, things are get some maitenance. If you are into whiskies, you will see that things are in the wrong categories (specifically they could combine the Scotch into heading, some whiskies are in the wrong categories, etc.) read more

Elixir - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Friday 6/14/24 * We've patronized your bar multiple times and I have to say after tonight, we will NEVER come back. Whoever your doorman was tonight was completely out of line (large, African American man with an SF Giants hat). He claimed he was having a 20 minute conversation with my wife, repeatedly telling her that she was "too drunk to enter the bar." FALSE. She had barely arrived and within two minutes he refused her entry. She was wearing a ball gown (after coming from a gala) and holding up her train in one hand and three large, heavy bags in the other, while wearing 5 inch heels, so of course her balance would be off. And then he laid hands on her to physically push her out. For context, she's 5'1" and TINY. And he decided to berate her and continue to try and lay hands and her. At that point, I stepped in to intervene and calm things down, and then he told me "You know what? You can get the f*ck out of here too." He was out of line and rude to the both of us, in front of the entire group. She was the one who organized an outing at your establishment for our entire local theatre group who have been patronizing the establishment for years. Well, after today, we will NEVER be setting foot in the bar again. And we will be sure to let our entire theatre community and friends known how poorly you treated loyal customers. Shame on you and your establishment. PS - I had open tab, and I only drank less than half my drink before our mass exodus of us, and 20 of our friends. If this is how you treat local, loyal customers, then we will gladly go somewhere else. read more

Super cute and cozy saloon style bar. They had a super cool deal on Valentine's Day where if you buy a drink, you get a free bouquet of flowers, a half shot of makers mark, and photos at their Photo Booth. Definitely coming back read more

Came here with a large group of maybe 10 for a dirty 30 the other weekend. They were thankfully pretty open (all parklets were available at 5 p.m. on a Saturday) and we all squeezed into two parklets. I got a spicy marg that was not spicy, but nice and strong, and a Pimm's. The Pimm's was nice and refreshing. BF also got a marg and an Old Fashioned. They allow dogs on the parklets. The bartenders in the evening hours (particularly the 29-year-old guy with glasses) were kind and funny. Old-fashioned and eclectic vibe inside. One thing to note - the women's bathroom is tiny and narrow but that's SF! Prices were reasonable for SF. read more

It was just my luck that I found one of my favorite San Francisco bars long after I moved out of Fog City. Elixir is located in the thick of the Mission near a lot of other bars, but from what I remember during my past visits (pre-COVID), there's a vibe and character to this place that makes it standout. During my initial visits, one aspect that made me want to return was the friendly service. I found the bartenders to be very knowledgeable about the various spirits they offer (especially whisky), but they also were down-to-earth. The cocktails were uniformly excellent, and I enjoyed being in a bar that had so much history (which is a given since it was established in 1858). The dark wood also gave Elixir a cozy ambience that made it inviting. I'm hoping that I will have the good fortune to visit Elixir again in the future! read more

This bar caught my attention when I was looking for a place to try good whiskeys. Its mixed drinks are also noteworthy and worth some recognition. The bar staff is usually friendly and can offer good choices. You can find their more exhaustive menu on the qr code website. The ambience is really casual and friendly and skews older but still worth checking out especially if you like to have a good drink in your hands. The bar itself has a lot of events during the week like their cocktail club, trivia, and whiskey tastings. Holiday season here has really good nog and cider and it really hits different on a cold rainy day. I will definitely be coming back for more. read more

Elixir - Hot cider, eggnog, and tom and jerry. (Winter specials) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've been coming here for years- I especially look forward to the 10 days in December they begin making the Tom and Jerry. I usually pop in a few times to enjoy this specialty cocktail every year they make it. Drank the best one I've ever had made by Noah tonight, he totally nailed it. It was deliciously frothy and unique, my favorite holiday nightcap- will be coming in and requesting for the rest of the holiday season, and special requesting Noah to prepare it if he's here. He took great care of me. This spot is an establishment and must-try for anyone throughout the year though, delicious drinks and chill vibes. Love, love, love it! read more

Definitely of a saloon with an old time charm. I liked the theme and I feel like I'm stepping into a new era. This was a great spot for people watching, chatting and having a delicious cocktail. There was only one worker when we came serving everyone so I can tell this guy knew his drunks! I'd recommend and would come back! read more

Elixir - Festive cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I adore all professions that are part of the fabric of life - the jobs that keep people happy, enhancing life experience, becoming part of a memory. And bartenders are a glorious profession in that tradition! I popped into Elixir on a sunny Saturday to borrow a little bit of that glory for myself. A couple days prior, I signed up online through Eventbrite for their Intro to Mixology course - around $90 with fees for an in-bar 2 hour cocktail tutorial. I wasn't surprised to be the only one attending solo (looks like a great day date activity!), and luckily attending alone wasn't an issue - I received all the same supplies (and didn't have to share, woohoo!) and was able to talk to our bartender instructors who were so marvelously gracious - more on that later! Bartender instructors Nick and Sarah took us through 4 cocktails, covering all what I would consider the main spirits excluding gin. We started off making a Moscow Mule with vodka - Nick told us about technique, compositions of different vodkas, and great step by step assembly of the cocktail while still allowing for a bit of fun and freedom. Nick is a great instructor because he really told us why all the different steps are taken - yes we garnish with a lime but it isn't just aesthetics, there's real purpose and thought behind the fruit, the way it's cut, etc. We of course enjoyed the cocktails we made without pressure, and there was a bit of downtime between each drink to chat, listen to music, or just quietly sip and enjoy. We rounded out our day making a Manhattan, a Margarita and finally a Mojito. The vibe was chill, the class was cool, the attendees were tipsy, and all was right with the world! To my delight, I was also able to pick up an 8 piece home bartending set, so now I can make everything we made at home, not to mention the cocktails I'll learn in the intermediate course! This class was set up exactly as I feel is perfect - there was no issue for someone like me attending alone, no need to find a partner or make any compromises, which I truly appreciate. Nick was so gracious, answering all my questions and showing me various aspects of the bar. Though it was such a fun and chill afternoon, I really absorbed so much knowledge and good vibes. I cannot wait to return to Elixir, for more classes and to simply have a cocktail in the 2nd oldest bar in San Francisco. All are welcome here, and you feel it the moment you walk in the door. read more

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Definitely the place to come to if you're looking for a festive drink! My friends and I are not the biggest of drinkers, so the drinks seemed a little strong to us but the service was quick and the ambiance was on point! If you're going to get anything here at all, get their 100 day aged egg nog! read more

Elixir - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Friendly bartenders and delicious craft cocktails. Highly recommended if you're looking to try some unique cocktails. read more

Elixir - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Been coming here for years and decided to swing by and check out what's going on during these difficult times I grabbed a 16oz Smokey Spicy margarita to go and it is so good! I had to fight my wife off once she tried it I also grabbed a bottle of the single malt for later... my wife was less thrilled about that pick though :) Worth a drive by! read more

i came here on a friday night around midnight. i came with a group of 10 and this place is definitely not meant to accommodate that large of a group, as the tables are very small (meant for 2-3). if i came again it would be with a smaller group. i really liked the drink i got (murphy sour)! however, there was no freely available water. read more

Elixir - murphy sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Well i've been coming here for years now and this is easily one of my favorite bars in SF. They have old speckled hen, which is one of my favs, and an extraordinary whisky selection. The new outdoor seating only adds to your options. I have nothing bad to say about Elixir. Elixir forever. read more

I love a good whiskey bar, and this place definitely delivered. One of my biggest deal breakers is a big ice cube in my old fashioned and they have it standard. On top of that, it was a smoked old fashioned, which is a goto of mine whenever I see it. Looking forward to coming back here again! read more

Elixir - Smoked old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Made the mistake of ordering cocktails at a divey bar. Unfortunately was one of the worst cocktails I've had in the city. Might have been a bad day -- the bartender at the time did say he was subbing in and it was his first time making it? Seems like a good spot to grab a beer or round of shots instead! Decent crowd on a Thursday night. read more

Ah, love this place. Big whiskey drinker and they've got an amazing selection here. Will usually try a couple I want to try and then do a bartender recommendation. If you want something up on the rafters you might have to make a "reservation" to get that but otherwise they've got a big selection. I've bought yellow dot before but had all the other colors here (great Irish whiskey). Had some others I liked a lot (and a couple I thought were average). But when we're hanging out in the City, we try to come here, one of my favorite bars. read more

This place is great! Every Monday at 4 I meet up with my pool league friends to grab drinks. They have a wide variety; most include alcohol. I have been stuck on the hot totties but recently found I enjoy their hot cider. Kara is awesome! read more

The bar is overall a nice place to chill. Just make sure never to open a tab. We got over charged over $60, and the bartenders refused to correct the bill. We didn't want to get into an argument so ended up paying and leaving. Will not be coming back. read more

We were celebrating a friend's birthday. Wanting to pick a bar close to their house, we decided to check out Elixir. My group of four stopped by on Friday, September 22nd around 11:30pm. It was pretty packed, but we managed to find a couple seats up front. *Pisco Sour: 2oz barsol pisco quebranta, 1oz lime juice, 1oz simple syrup and .75oz egg white; shaken and served up with angostura bitters drops ($10) x2 *Blackbeard: a funky blackberry mojito w/rhum jm agricole blanc, appleton estate gold, blackberry puree, mint, lime, soda, tall and over ($14) I got the pisco sour. I thought it was okay. Not as tart as I normally like. A girlfriend got the blackbeard. She likes lighter drinks, so we thought this would be up her alley. Unfortunately, she didn't really like this cocktail. I think it may have been a little too strong and not fruity enough? The birthday boy isn't a huge drinker, so we got him a hendrick's gin and tonic. This bar is a little more bustling than I would like. It's crowded and you have to fight people to order a drink at the bar. In my old age, I prefer more low key bars. I don't want to deal with crowds. The atmosphere is dark. I find the name fitting as it could seem like you are going to an apothecary. Nice bar, but a little too busy for me. Maybe we ordered the wrong things, but I wasn't impressed with their cocktails. read more

Elixir - Blackbeard ($14), Pisco Sour ($10) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you enjoy a bar with a cozy atmosphere and bartenders who put effort into making good drinks, then you'll definitely like this place. I like that they had a few holiday themed drinks, and I definitely enjoyed a few of the whiskey-based concoctions. The atmosphere is nice... kinda dark and cozy in a way. That's not for everyone but I liked it. Stay Cheerful ;) read more

Elixir - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I honestly only hopped in here to watch the end of the World Cup match, and celebrate Italy's victory (more like England's defeat) with a bunch of strangers, and that was a fine time. Turns out this is one of the older bars in SF. Classier than a pure dive, but completely unpretentious. This is a perfect neighborhood bar, even if the neighborhood is an awkward intersection of the Mission. Good cocktails, good prices, low key service. Next time I'm heading to Super7, would gladly pop back in for a drink. read more