I have to preface my review by stating I absolutely adore Catholic art, antiques, relics and such, so this definitely influenced my decision to check this place out; but I am beyond happy that my curiosity led me here. The ambiance was perfect for a nightcap. I visited Holy Water with relatives who live in the area but hadn't visited the place themselves before. Drinks we ordered include: * Mexican Firing Squad - Our favorite of all. We are classic paloma cocktail lovers, and this drink provided everything we enjoy in a paloma and more. Tart, smooth, and all-around divine. * Southern Exposure - The celery in this really awakens the senses. Very refreshing. * Zombie - Boldest drink we've tried yet. Haunted us the remainder of the night (in a good way). * Poinsettia - Wish this wasn't just a holiday menu item. It's fabulous. * Caribbean Snow Day - The playful kid's cup this came served in had us fooled. This eggnog sure packed a punch. Can't wait to be back and check out what other rotating or seasonal drinks they provide. Lastly, major shout out to the hard-working bartender last night who provided kind, prompt and attentive service on top of greeting all patrons coming in, taking orders and bussing tables. You rock! read more

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I've been here a few times and most say Bernal Heights rarely disappoints on their restaurant and bar scene. This place is a nice craft cocktail bar that is always busy on the weekends. It's also a fantastic spot to catch a happy hour drink before the sun goes down. The bartenders are amicable and the bar is dark and moody - perfect for a drink to unwind and catch up with friends or colleagues. read more

Amazing cocktails and liquor selection in general! Vibes are good and the decor makes me feel like I am home. It's a proper bar where adults go to drink. read more

Holy Water - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Headline: I found Jesus in the bar tonight and it was good. No it was not some long haired patron but instead this awesome themed bar in San Francisco. This place had a nice chill vibe despite being crazy busy. We were still able to find some decent seats and bask in the glow of good old JC. The place almost had a hall in the wall vibe with the twinkle lights but still boasted an impressive selection of drinks. Despite how busy it was, the staff was super friendly and bartenders were moving fast through the requests. Sometime at a bar you can feel ignored but it was not like that here. Cellphone signal is not great but they have wifi inside as well. read more

Nice neighborhood bar. I haven't been a Catholic since I was 13 years old, but I still dig all the crazy iconography. I even like the incense. The service was great. I thought it would take forever to get served (or even acknowledged) across the crowded bar. But the blond bartender dude was super nice and got me set up right away. read more

This place is a Jesus themed bar. The drinks are also themed. I really liked the many cool options in the menu. I ended up going with a holiday cocktail which was amazing! Will definitely be back to try more of these concoctions! read more

Holy Water - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ah, the ancient craft of monks finds its sanctuary here at the Holy Water with a bit of imbibable alchemy. We had the fruit lambic and the chocolate stout (I think?). They were on opposite ends of the spectrum and were both good! The fruit lambic was a nice tangy sour, and the stout tasted straight up like a chocolate bar - so good, yet so sinfullly delish. Like elmer fudge if they changed gears into mixology. Hmm. The vibes? It was packed and hustling and bustling! Everyone was cool; the bartenders were very nice! I met some cool people too! We were talking about the prices - FiDi pricing but well worth every drop of the elixir. read more

Holy Water - Drinks and potions! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Myself, my partner, and my friends went here on April 4th 2026 to celebrate my partner's birthday and our drinks were amazing! I got the Matriarch, my partner got Midas Touch, one of my friends got Sacred Valley, and my other friend got Immortal. I thought my friend's drink, Immortal, was disgusting - it was so bitter, but that's just my taste! Midas Touch is very banana-y and sweet, and mine was very lemon-like. My friend's drink, Sacred Valley, was the sweetest at our table. I loved the experience here, but service was a tad bit slow due to how many people were there. The ambience was perfect too, I loved the decorations on the walls! read more

Holy Water - The bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I enjoyed the pina colada and nautical mile. Decor really fit the theme and name of the place. It was a cool spot to grab a drink.

Amazing hidden bar find in SF's Bernal Heights. 4.5 stars Highlights: - Amazing lively yet chill vibe - Impressive religious decor: Jesus pics, and related memorabilia. My friend said it was one of the few places that had more than his grandparents' old house. - Small with little lights strung up - Bar stools, few barrels to stand by, and high tables toward the back. - Good cocktails: from citrusy bourbon to pina colada weee solid quality versions. - Enjoyed the sweeter after red gold rush but the recoil was my favorite. - Beer: large selection of craft beer - Lots of whiskey and bourbons - Website says happy hour every day - Tv in case you want to catch a game - Mixed crowd of kids older and bit younger - Decent street parking Lowlights: - Gets crowded and hard to get bartender's attention - Website is out of date: I asked for one that was listed, but the bartender said it was old and they don't make it anymore. Enjoyed our pre-dinner stop here and will be back. read more

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Unique bar with cool tavern-like vibes and a plethora of cocktail options! Went with coworkers on a weekday afternoon so it wasn't too busy. Got the Southern Exposure (asked for non-alcoholic), and it was great. read more

Holy Water - southern exposure - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Super interesting theme, warm lighting inside, and Stellar customer service. We had no problems ordering our drinks, grabbing a table, and yapping amongst the girls. The ambiance was perfect for socialising and our neighbors table had a dog which we were all excited to meet. Overall, would recommend this business ! Thank you! read more

Holy Water - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cool local bar in the SF Bernal Heights area. Nice, active neighborhood that is a place to hang out. Just happen to find this bar since I was in the area killing some time. The bar has a religious theme to it with lots of statues and decor. It has a warm friendly feel and people are nice. Just had a beer but will check this place out again! read more

Holy Water - IPA - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Holy Water is one of the best bars in San Francisco. The cocktails are top tier, the craft beer is carefully curated and the ambiance is spectacular. The space is beautifully decorated, low lit & intimate, perfect for drinks w/ a date but also fantastic for beers w/ the squad. While Holy Water appears to be a "cocktail bar," I'd argue that their offering is well balanced for all. They also do an amazing job participating in the annual SF Beer Week festivities, pouring surprising beers from out of the typical market and creating exciting events / traditions. I am not in this neighborhood too frequently, but I always look forward to a stop at Holy Water. read more

Holy Water was my next stop, after getting pizza in the Mission. I needed to kill time, and was recommended this place. It's quite a show inside, with Catholic iconography absolutely everywhere. Look behind the bottles on the bar shelves, and you'll see a crucifix. Anyway, I ordered a dirty vodka martini, which was shaken, unfortunately. Then I ordered something from their cocktail menu. It was all very well done, and since I was there alone, there was plenty to look at, including the remarkable ceiling. But it was quite packed on a Thursday night, with many people arriving in groups. A very friendly atmosphere, and I didn't feel awkward, not being from the neighborhood. read more

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This place rocks. Been here now a few times and it's the holiest of watering holes. Pun intended! They have superb cocktails and a list of beers and spirits that is hard to beat. When you're inside this little neighborhood gem it feels like you are literally under the stars. It's whimsical and the lighting is lovely. It's the perfect place to go for a cocktail before or after dinner, a beer after work, or just to have a nightcap. It can serve so many different occasions. Service was nice. Prices seemed reasonable for SF which means it's not cheap but it's fair. You definitely get what you pay for which in my book makes it worth it. Beware if you come on a busy night it does get loud and it can get packed so if that's not the vibe you're looking for then try this place on a slower night. read more

Holy Water - Divine.. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Pina colada was delicious, sweet, and strong Nautical Mile was also really refreshing and sweet!! Good vibes and good drinks

We live down the road in Glen Park and we love this place. Highly recommend an off menu corpse reviver. Also big shout to the bartender on Dec 23rd 2024 who had a packed bar and rocked it by himself. The cocktails were phenomenal and the vibes were immaculate. Love the holiday decor! And it's so nice that it's dog friendly. read more

Holy Water - Corpse Reviver and Southern Exposure - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Another very interesting bar in SF. This place has a good mix of drinks and is most notably known for its religious decorations throughout the bar. Service was good and the vibe was pretty casual and somewhat dark inside. I got the Zombie drink which was pretty good. There are several high tables available, which is good for groups, as well as stools at the bar. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a cool bar with good drinks! read more

This place has a full bar and makes really good cocktails. The decor is rustic and there are several high-top tables, so not loungy but comfortable setting. It's a bit noisy with talking resonance but I was still able to carry a conversation. read more

I had a family reunion here and we all loved the cocktails. We continue to go back time to time. Love the location on Cortland near all the restaurants and shops. Great place to hang with friends. read more

I've been here several times so it must mean I like this place! I came here recently for my birthday crawl (that included Evil Eye and Royal Cuckoo - highly recommend this). I love that they can shake a good martini and have a selection of beer for my aficianado beer drinking friends. Great and inviting service and I love the decor although a friend raised in a strict Catholic home, was spooked. read more

The bartender working Sunday evening was so incredibly rude. Even the other customers noticed and felt bad. Won't be returning.

What a vibe this place is. Feels very holy. Got an espresso martini ($16) and it was nice and strong. Followed it with a glass of house red. They do $3 off wine and $1 off beer during Happy Hour. Place was starting to fill up around 5. I saw a guy just leave his beer then come back with a delicious looking sandwich, so you can bring in some snacks to go with your beverage. The bartender was great and it wasn't hard to get his attention. I'll be back! read more

Holy Water - Espresso martini ($16) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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(++++) dog-friendly (+) good for groups (many high tables available) or stools at the bar (+) comfortable setting with 2 clean bathrooms in the back, music isn't loud so u can easily have a conversation with anyone (+) decent rotating beer selection (+) service is fast and friendly Not sure if they still have Happy Hour? I've been there at 5:30pm and it was full priced beer, another time after 4pm. read more

Holy Water - After the park, he got his water and I got my "water" - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I loved the vibe - dimly lit, not too loud but not dead, great decor, and good drinks. I got the Nautical Mile which was one of the tastiest cocktails I've ever had. It wasn't too acidic or too sweet. For my second drink, I was gravitating towards the Zombie, which there's a limit of 2 for. My boyfriend said no - so naturally I had to get it. And it was tasty and strong without tasting like it. Will definitely be back! read more

Holy Water - Zombie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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If you're a techie you'll love it. Rude service . Soulless atmosphere despite all the religious decor. Please see all the condescending responses to other one star yelp reviews for reference. Big techie vibes in there. To the owner's gassy response: Resorting to semantics does not clever make. And yes techies suck. You deny your soulless bar has a techie vibe "far from it", and then you circle back around to "what to do you have against techies?" It's the sort of place a techie would go to pretend they are cool in. Because they know nothing about anything that is actually cool. It's the kind of establishment that I was dragged to last night, and I had no idea why . You know you're the dorks on the block and you're extremely butt hurt about it. Have fun serving techies syrupy Shirley Temples with aftershave in them you boring gas bag . read more

We liked this spot in Bernal Heights - your classic neighborhood bar. It's in a great location on Cortland Ave which has several bars, restaurants, cafes, and a brewery down the street. But the street is hilly, so beware of a steep hike up the road if you plan on walking. The ambiance was intimate with the mood lighting and string lights. But it was also pretty casual. Perfect for date night or hanging out with friends. I'm not religious but I loved how they incorporated the theme into the decor and the menu. No issues finding a table/seating on a Friday night in June. I'm assuming that's because Bernal Heights is a little out of the way, so it doesn't get too busy. The staff were nice and efficient - nothing that particularly stood out in terms of service. If you like tequila/mezcal, you won't find a lot of cocktail options on the menu. I got the Infante which tasted like a pretty basic margarita - nothing special. But my friend got the Espresso Martini which also had tequila in it. It was delicious! Tasted like straight up coffee. I believe espresso martinis are typically made with vodka so this was a nice surprise! This didn't impact my rating, but the one con was that it was crazy loud inside. Not sure why everyone felt the need to *scream* at each other while talking in such an intimate bar lol. But that's not really the bar's fault. Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but if you're in the area, stop by! read more

Holy Water - Infante - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Love the ambience! Not super busy with a good amount of tables. Would be a good vibe for a date or hanging with some friends. Drinks range around $14-$16. I ordered an espresso martini which was really tasty. read more

Holy Water - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Super cool bar in the area! Highly recommend checking this place out. There's plenty of seating area from tables, the bar, and barrels to stand by. When I went in on a Thursday night it was pretty packed. It was impossible to get a spot at the bar and had to wait a while to find somewhere to sit. Even though the bar was packed, the bartender helped us out quickly and got us our drinks. I really appreciate that! Great drinks and would love to come back and try out more of their cocktails! read more

Holy Water - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I loved the string lights hanging all across the ceiling. That type of decor could be really tacky but they managed to do it in a really cute way. The walls are covered in photos of Jesus & biblical characters, crucifixes and rosaries, which was a wee bit for this Catholic girlie. But ultimately the vibes were great and fun and I would come back. Loved my gimlet and my date got the zombie which was massive and strong (in a good way). I still don't know what kind of alcohol was in it would get both again. It was crowded, but the bartenders seemed to work pretty quickly. read more

Holy Water - They had real marigolds in little vases all over! They smelled fantastic and added a lovely touch. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stopped in for a night cap after a local recommended it at our previous spot. We were so happy that we went. Cozy little spot with spectacular drinks and fantastic staff. We loved it! read more

Stopped for a last minute cleanse before our flight back home (thanks Jessica S. for the clever joke)! Holy Water is located in a quaint neighborhood with other smaller restaurants and bars. We found street parking easily. There was plenty of seating 5:30PM on a Saturday. We chose to sit at the bar and marvel at the extensive line of liquor! I enjoyed that their cocktail menu had bourbon, rum, gin, vodka, scotch- you name it! I couldn't resist ordering the Pina Colada ($13) and bf was sold on the Zombie ($16) because there is a 2 drink limit on it! Although the Pina wasn't blended, it was aesthetically presented with an umbrella and the good, expensive maraschino cherries; not the bright red ones! Bf's zombie was served in a much larger class with orange slices and more maraschino cherries! The Pina definitely had all the flavors of the beloved blended drink, pineapple and coconut cream, but in a real, less artificial taste than pina colada mix. It blended perfectly with the rum! The zombie was as described, citrus, tropical, and strong but still well balanced. It's a shame we only found this cocktail bar on the way out because I would have loved to stay to try the other cocktails, or order another Pina! read more

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Interesting bar that is like church/religious themed. I didn't really know how to feel going into it if is was blasphemous or not but it's definitely an aesthetic/vibe. It's decorated with lots of church statues, pictures, candles, and the drinks are kind of themed. They have a full bar and their drinks are pretty strong. It's really clean and chill, after a while it didnt feel like I was in a church setting. We got a couple of the cocktails, the fruity ones, and they came with a lot of ice. Service was good, there was one bartender working on a Monday night and it was pretty busy for a weeknight. Parking was also fairly easy in Bernal heights. They have a little place for your dogs to drink water too. read more

Holy Water - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Been here a couple times just to explore their extensive whiskey collection. There's definitely a lot on there she it's pretty reasonably priced. I've usually visited this place in a Saturday or Sunday and there's been no trouble with finding a seat by the bar. Not crowded at all. The Weller's Full Proof is probably the best thing to get here since it's their personal single barrel pick. Be careful though, it's deceptively strong and can get you hammered faster than you know it. The glassware is pretty nice and just lately they've been selling their personal branded glasses. The cocktails looks pretty creative, speakeasy quality. You can usually check out their latest creations on Instagram. I'll have to try some of those out for sure once I'm all through with the whiskey offerings. read more

Aesthetic Clean Great service Cool images and decorations Drinks were refreshing Near bare bottle brewing in sf read more

Holy Water - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Holy water is a great local bar. When you walk in, you could feel the holiness the decorations are amazing and the drinks and wine and beer are delicious. read more

Looking for a vibey cocktail bar that's perfect for all occasions? Check out Holy Water! They don't have an Instagram account so you'll have to just find them in Bernal Heights on Cortland Street. I have been coming to this bar for years and you really get a sense that this is where the locals go. They offer a creative menu of delicious cocktails. The interior is dark and intimate making it the ideal location if you're looking to have a chill evening drink or ready to kick off the night right! Check them out! The service is great! read more

I found this place randomly but it sure is a gem in Bernal Heights. Love: + The decor is cool being different and religious but not at the same time. I'm completely enamored with the ceiling and loved the hanging lights. + Good drinks. I ordered from the menu but I just have a feeling the bartenders could whip you something special to your preferences should that be the case. + Spacious so you never have to worry about getting in or getting a seat If you're not the church going kind, you can easily come here and get your Holy Water instead. Get blessed with a nice cocktail, you know?! read more

What a cool place. I live in Redwood City and have come to the city JUST to go to this place. Great drinks. Especially the beer menu (Untappd verified venue),but the best part is the very cool vibe with hundreds of religious decorations and cloistered monk ambiance. Is it religious or sacrilegious..? You be the judge. read more