Awesome spot to stop by. Menu is curated nicely and staff are very helpful. The bookstore/library theme is very cool and offers a nice enjoyable space during your time there. read more

Really chill lounge bar that's book themed! We went right after dinner on a Friday and were able to get a table with no wait, but they also take reservations. The interior is big, so it feels spacious and not crowded. The vibe is amazing and cozy but also not too quiet. They also have plenty of food options! Their drinks are all book character themed. We got the Aster gray which was light and sweet. They also have punch bowls which are great for a group and selections of beer/wine/non alcoholic. Many bathrooms that are very clean as well. Overall love Novela and will continue to come back! read more

Novela - Aster Grey - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

My husband and I walked in on a Sunday a little after they opened. The interior is super cute and I see why it's a popular spot. I've been on the hunt for a good espresso martini and was excited when I saw one on the menu. We sat at the bar and ordered our martinis. It was perfect and exactly what I'd been looking for. They offer some food options so we decided to try the charcuterie platter. It's massive! Between two people, we didn't finish this. I absolutely would order again. The service was a little slow even though there was almost nobody in there. It felt like the bartenders were trying to avoid us and we were sitting at the bar! On a brighter note, I really liked their playlist. So, if you happen to be craving an espresso martini and small bites, this wouldn't be a bad place to check out. It's perfect for appetizers and post-dinner drinks. read more

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Novela has become a real SF staple after being around for 10+ years, especially impressive since it's one of the few spots downtown that made it through covid still standing. The food and cocktails have stayed consistently solid over the years, and it reliably draws a good, fun crowd--a rarity in this area. Ambience is always on point. read more

Went for just drinks and it wasn't too bad. Early on a Monday so it was pretty chill. For some reason I was underwhelmed by the ambiance...the pictures make it look a lot cooler. Also was carded at 6pm by the bouncer...weird. Espresso cocktail was delicious. My friends had some good cocktails too. All in all not bad for a quick drink stop before dinner. read more

Novela - Mr. Wednesday - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really unique bar in the heart of the city! I've been here a few times and I have always had a great time. The vibe is very cool with all the books on the wall. Not sure if they offer food but the drinks and cocktails are always very good. Service is prompt as well! Highly recommend if you are looking for a unique spot to grab a cocktail in the city read more

I have been wanting to try out this book themed bar for awhile. The decor and vibe was like walking into one's own personal library. There was a mix of cocktails based off characters from various novels. I was able to sample the punch flight which was too sweet for my taste and I settled on the MARY LENNOX that was a mix of tequila, passion fruit tajin, agave, and lime. This cocktail was delicious not too sweet and the spice of the tajin paired well with the flavors in the cocktail. They offer small bites. We had the Brussel sprouts flavorful but a bit salty, the street corn dip with tortilla chips, and the chicken empanadas that were delicious. Unfortunately our food was lukewarm and we arrived at 5 when they opened. They did give us another complimentary plate of Brussels sprouts but they still weren't that much better. I expected my food to be hot not lukewarm. The staff were lovely, and friendly. read more

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I came here around 6:30 on a weekend night. The interior of the bar is really pretty. The lighting is through chandeliers, they have a nicely decorated shelf of alcohol bottles, and actual books on the walls. The name Novella is fitting and all the drinks are named after famous authors. If you come earlier in the night you'll see lots of couples on dates or small groups of friends. You have to make a reservation to get seating at one of the tables. We ordered the punch flight and the artichoke dip, both were delicious but overpriced. I would recommend asking for more bread because there was plenty of dip left over after the first round. read more

Novela - The Punch Package and artichoke dip - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is now my friend's new go-to bar/lounge in the city! The service was excellent and everyone from the person in the front checking IDs, to our server and waitress were extremely nice and friendly. I was blown away by how good the food items were as well, especially the patatas bravas; fried smashed potatoes with salsa brava, garlic aioli, and chives. My friends were all hit in the face with flavor and texture, soft, and chewable, and the aioli sauce was spot on. Absolutely delicious, I would have eaten 3 orders by myself! As for the drinks, they were delicious as well! I got the punch flight which consists of all four flavors of their punch. Mango Rum- super refreshing and very fruity, consists of lemons, clementines, lychee, and mango Vodka white peach- liqueur, cardamom tea, and lemon, this one was interesting and tasted very smooth and soothing Strawberry Mezcal- strawberry, aloe vera, grapefruit and lime, delicious and tasted very tropical House punch- blueberry bourbon, apricot, grapefruit, green tea, and lemon, this one was my favorite, if relaxing was a taste, this would be it. read more

Novela - Punch flight - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Novela is my team's tried-and-true spot for happy hours. Located a short walk from our office in FiDi, Novela offers a classy ambiance, robust menu of tasty cocktails, and plenty of seating / standing room, making it an ideal setting for networking events. The literary theme also adds to the charm - many of the drinks are named after book characters, and the walls are lined with bookshelves. The drinks are solid across the board, and on my most recent visit, I really enjoyed the Mango Rum Punch. The menu also offers a variety of light bites such as charcuterie platters and dips. Making a same-day reservation was surprisingly easy and quick, as I was able to book a 2.5-hour time slot through Yelp's reservation tool. I'd definitely recommend Novela for a fun after-work happy hour! read more

Novela - Mango Rum Punch - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Outstanding service and amazing Italian! Everyone at the restaurant was extremely accommodating with my 11 month old. They suggested the spaghetti and served him a half portion. They also brought out a special dessert to complement the delicious dinner! Would highly recommend Cafe Terminus. read more

Cute drinks, fun atmosphere, friendly staff. Bartender Johnny looked out for us 2 girls on a night out :D Didn't try any food though read more

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

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Don't let the pics fool you. The vibes are wack. No disrespect to the servers. They did their best. But the music was too loud and gave off diddy vibes. Absolutely no respect for the yay or good jams in general. Personally I couldn't have an intelligent conversation in a soulless dystopian hellscape. The drinks were both too small and too slow. So this could be the spot for a designated driver to slow the night down, I guess?, because you might get 2 drinks an hour. And really...who serves a mint julep without ice? The sazerac wasn't even a finger thick. It was disrespectful to the value of time. I'd give 1 star, but the staff really puts the effort in when they can. I just think they should work somewhere worth the fruits of their labor. read more

Poor service, I came here with several girlfriends, looking for a place to drink in the Mission Bay and was disappointed to have the bartenders escort me out well before the close of the posted bar close time. Alcohol selection is varied, but the service is extremely limited. read more

Novela SF has become a favorite hangout spot for my coworkers and me whenever we're in San Francisco. Most recently, I brought my cousins along and they loved the vibrant vibe just as much as I do. To ensure you secure a spot, be sure to make a reservation in advance as Novela SF can get quite busy. I recall the weekends at Novela SF with fondness, as DJs often set the mood with their music, adding to the energetic atmosphere. The late closing hours allow for extended enjoyment of their excellent cocktail selection. I appreciate the quick and attentive service that ensures a seamless and enjoyable experience every time. For a lively and dynamic hangout in San Francisco, Novela SF is a must-visit destination that never disappoints. read more

Novela - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ambiance is on point at Novela, and so are the fresh oysters at only $2 a pop during Happy Hour all days but Sunday until 7pm. Dim lighting, chic decor, and a cozy aesthetic blend with old school library vibes. The service is average but fine. This is a perfect spot to bring a date and cozy up together, or dine with a group up to 10 in a comfy booth / seat combo. read more

Novela - Happy Hour date - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Fabulous food, drinks and music.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Loved it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The DJ misterjay played awesome music.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Would go there again. read more

Came on a Thursday evening for post- work drinks and there were so many people! We were able to find a spot at the bar. They serve the drinks pretty quickly and we're pretty attentive on water as well. I love this bar and the vibes here. read more

This is such a a cute and intimate spot for drinks and to enjoy small bites during their happy hour. I stumbled across this bar and I loved the vibe and aesthetic of this place. It is a great spot to get drinks and all of their drinks are all priced extremely fair. Service was also quick and timely. I came on Saturday evening before my dinner and I was a bit shocked it wasn't more packed considering how much of a gem this spot is. If you're looking for well priced drinks, great service & ambiance definitely check this bar out. I absolutely adore this place. read more

Novela - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Loved the book-themed cocktails here! I came with a friend for drinks on a Wednesday evening around 6 pm. It was pretty easy to make the reservation a couple days beforehand via Yelp, and I'm glad we did, as it was pretty hopping when we got here. It's a large space, with a variety of seating, including bar, high tops, regular tables, and sofas. Menus can be viewed by scanning the QR code. They have a limited food menu (think charcuterie boards and some tapas dishes), but I don't think most people come here for the food. For drinks, they had fun cocktails (all $15) such as Espeross Patronum, Fangorn Forest, and Stormlight. I'm a huge Sanderson fan, so I had to get the Stormlight, which had gin, lillet, lavender, and lemon. It tasted exactly like a lavender lemonade and was very refreshing. We only grabbed one drink here, but I definitely want to come back and try some of the other drinks!! read more

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Great ambience with live music and covers of pop songs on the weekend. The drinks are nice too! read more

Novela - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Interesting interior decor, but the drinks are not very strong, and service is lackluster. The venue can get very crowded and has a lot of noise bleed, so you may have a very hard time hearing your drinks partner over the sound of talking and music. Service is quite slow, and our waiter made some weird jokes to me and my drinks partner that made us feel strange and leave soon after. My slushee drink was blended well, but not very strong. My friend's drink was sweet and light! Overall, good but light drinks, fun atmosphere still. read more

Novela - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Novela is a literary-themed bar so all the drinks are named after book characters or authors. The place is also beautifully decorated with books. My sister was able to make a reservation for 9:30pm on Sunday night for 5 people. Even though it was pretty empty, it took awhile to be seated. They sat us at a table right by a framed cover of "The Catcher in the Rye." Unbeknownst to us, it was happy hour all day! I sampled the punch flight for only $15 (plus tax and tip)! There were four different kinds...Vodka White Peach, Strawberry Mezcal, Mango Rum and Blueberry Bourbon. They were all tasty, but my fave was definitely the Blueberry Bourbon. Just note that the punches are not made from scratch, but come out of a tap. Friends in my party tried the seasonal cocktails and everyone was pleased with their drinks! read more

Novela - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Really like this spot for either a date night or happy hour with colleagues. The atmosphere is classy but relaxing and the drinks are great. So is the service from the door to the bar and table. I've been recommending Novela to people quite a lot. read more

Trendy bar with a great vibe. I was here on a night when not much around was open so this turned out to be a blessing. The drinks are delicious and strong, very well thought out, and executed. Love the atmosphere here, not super crowded but busy enough. The couches are spacious and seating ample, and the bookshelf is gorgeous. read more

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Came here on a date last week, it was cute and the drink I had was good. I'm deducting points for service. When I arrived, there were two waters and a beer in front of my date. I ordered a cocktail and later asked for a glass of water. The waitress wasn't the kindest. She said I already had a water on the table and my date said "oh yeah, this is your water" and I made a face expressing dissatisfaction. Like girl, I don't know if he put something in that water! I politely asked for another and she never brought me the water. I'm still angry about it. Like this place does not care if you get drugged at their establishment. Is it really that much trouble to bring a customer another water? I'm really upset about this and feel the waitstaff needs some training on how to protect their patrons. I won't be back! The waitress was an Asian woman, in case management is reading this. read more

It's a fun location with a pretty ambiance. Good for group visits and dates. They have good food and drinks. However they're always crowded and as a result it gets pretty loud. They could be a little less unnecessarily uptight about their clothing policy read more

The book lover in me was so excited to see that a bar like Novela exists. Books, cocktails, and a great happy hour?! Yes. I was in the city for work and wanted to meet up with a friend for happy hour on a Thursday night. I'm a book lover, my friend is an author - it's like Novela was made for folks like us. She got there around 5 and was seated quickly. She even got to do some work real quick before I met her at 5:15. (Though she did mention they don't have Wi-Fi to encourage people to really *be* with each other). Upon arrival, they'll check your ID at the door. They've got some seating outside but on this late afternoon, everyone was inside. The vibes are vibin' at Novela with its walls of lit up books (or book-like decor). I love that they even have quotes on the ceiling. Once seated, they have a QR code to their menu at the table. They've got a pretty good happy hour Monday - Friday until 7 PM with bites at $6 ea and drinks at a discount. Here's what we got: + Chicken empanadas ($6): the order came with 3 empanadas. Super flaky and buttery crust. The filling was delicious, though, I wish there was more. The empanada itself was pretty bread heavy. + Seasoned fries ($6): solid fries. Had some spices added onto it (maybe paprika/chili powder though there wasn't too much of a kick). Great to share and enough for 2 people. + Tacos de carnitas ($6): available only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Came with 2 tacos. Great! Not too greasy and overall, pretty easy to eat without being too messy. Lots of greens and thick cut onions. + Bartenders special ($12): I love going for whatever the bartender recommends so it was cool to see this on the menu. On the day I went, it was a mango vodka cocktail that was definitely sweet/fruit forward, almost like a juice aka very good and probably very dangerous (gets you drunk without you realizing it because it tastes so good). Service was good too though it was a bit slow when we were wanting to pay. As we sat there, the bar got a lot more full with more people getting off work so the staff got busier. I'm not sure if we had a dedicated server as we were helped by a few different people. Still, we weren't in a rush so it wasn't a big deal. They also had a DJ going by the time we left, which was fun! Just be prepared to speak a little louder to each other haha. Restrooms were pretty clean too! Shared sink space for all genders and they've got the private closet type stalls for the toilets. Great vibes, great bar, great drinks. Can't wait to come back again! read more

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We stopped by the other evening as I had misread our dinner reservations and we had an hour! This was a fun place to spend it! The vibe is wonderful. If ever there were a place where you'd except the bookcase wall would open onto a secret speakeasy when you pulled the special book, this would be that place. Hmm maybe we needed to try pulling more books. Obviously we haven't been the only one with that idea, some of the books had messages left by other patrons. The drinks were a mixed bag. Not super expensive for SF, which was great! Labeled by booziness, helpful! My very boozy cocktail on the rocks (iirc the Pilgrim?) was nicely strong but a wee small. My wife got something more fruity, but it was very fruity, maybe too fruity :) But a great place to chat and sip before dinner. read more

they charge $5 for soda water. why? it should be free. i don't understand. we ordered 3 other tequila sodas.

Great food and drinks. Friendly staff and fun environment. I would definitely come back. Very pretty interior as well! read more

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I celebrated my 30th birthday at Barbarossa Lounge 10 years ago, and for my big 40th with my girlfriends, we decided to run it back one time and came out to Novela for table service and a good time! Novela did not disappoint! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The DJ played all the songs that our middle aged knees and backs had muscle memory for. It was such a good time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The Novela vibes were excellent![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is clean, popular, crowded but not super crowded.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It was "crackin" but comfortable if you know what I mean. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The lighting made everyone look like a model.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The table service was impeccable. The hosts were so so nice, attentive and accommodating. As the size of our party grew, they allowed us to take over more and more tables. The bottles and cocktails kept rolling out with flashing lights and good, fun energy :) Needless to say, we all had a great time, our inner 20's came out of retirement. I even lied and told some random people we just turned 21. Good times!! :)) read more

Novela is a library-themed cocktail bar and is a book lover's paradise. This is the perfect place to go to when you and your buddies want a nice place to chill, drink, and eat some appetizers. The decor of this bar is so unique and clean, and the layout is spacious enough to have all the customers comfortable and not crammed. The bartenders and servers were very friendly, attentive, and helpful throughout my whole dining experience. There is also of street and garage parking in the area which is a bonus. I ordered the Charcuterie board which presentation and taste was average and basic 7/10, burger sliders (favorite part of the menus) 9/10, mini churros was really good 9/10, and bread-pudding fulfilled my sweet cravings 8/10. Even though the food wasn't a 10/10, the cocktails were my favorite part of the experience. If you are looking to get a little tipsy, this place makes some great cocktails. And the foods and drinks are inexpensive and reasonably priced. I highly recommend you check out Novela. read more

Honestly disappointed after visiting this place, it had so many good reviews; my friends and I stopped by and we're cut off since the security felt that one of our friends was being "too much". Does not make any sense since the waitress and the security told us two different stories. The waitress stated that security was complaining about our friend, yet security told us it was the waitress that didn't want to continue serving us. Just seems very confusing and that their stories did not align on why they wanted to cut us off. I would not recommend this bar to anyone wanting to enjoy drinks or food, the chips that we received with the dip were stale. read more

Novela - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Novela is a nice bar a little tucked away in soma/fidi. The ambiance and decorations are very nice and it just generally has a little upscale fun vibe. I do think they have a bit of a dress code for at least being smart casual so keep that in mind. I feel like have seen and been rejected at the door for my apparel being to casual. The drinks are very interesting and delicious. They mainly are rotating but they do have a few that seem to carry over each time. I have yet to try their food but they do have a small menu of some items that seem to always catch my eye. It is definitely on the pricier end but do think will continue to come back sporadically after work when feeling like a fancier post work happy hour. read more

Novela is a literary themed bar in SF that has an old world charm to it that puts you at ease. Went on a Saturday in a party of two and there was no wait. We got the flight of punch and the corn dip with tortilla chips. The flight had four kinds of punch -- House punch - blueberry bourbon: not my favourite, it tasted a little like the blueberry but somehow more like almond extract and it just didn't come together. Vodka white peach: this was a surprisingly fun one and I quite enjoyed it despite the fact that I'm not a fan of vodka or vodka based cocktails generally. Strawberry mezcal: this was very strawberry and sweet and came together well. Mango rum: this was my favourite as well as my partners. It was spicy, tangy, and so so fun to drink! The corn dip was really good too. The corn provided the right amount of sweetness while the cheese provided it a certain level of saltiness, and the spice mix on top provided it a little kick. It went really well with the tortilla chips too. It was a great experience overall, but the service wasn't the best. The place wasn't crowded but they were still inattentive. Overall a fun experience. read more

We celebrated my friend's 24th birthday here in December. I got vodka white peach and it was delicious. It's super cute and decorated nicely inside. All the staff were kind and friendly. Special shoutout to Jasmine for being amazing!!! read more

Novela - Strawberry Mezcal, Vodka White Peach, and Espresso Patronum (or martini) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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this place is so cute and the drinks were amazing. I ordered the vodka white peach punch and it really tasted just like punch! Not sure if it was just really good or if there wasn't much vodka, but either way I was happy :) I tried the bread and the meatballs. I would skip on the bread because it is a tiny portion and was pretty chewy and hard, but the meatballs were amazing! Overall love the vibe, the service is great, and it's a great spot! read more

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What a vibe. Novela is this super cool bar in the heart of SF's financial district near Embarcadero. Ambiance is literally what the name of the restaurant alludes too - bar is library themed so you see a mountain of books scattered throughout to recreate this scholarly vibe. I think it really works! The drinks are also no pushover. Named after characters from various fictional books, We got the Leopold Bloom and the Mary Lennox, each at $14. Both were fantastically made. Mary Lennox is a tequila based drink made with passionate fruit tajin, agave, and lime. Great flavors and zesty. Lepolod bloom was on the sweeter side as it had pineapple in it, but it pairs well with the mint and gin it was made with. Charcuterie board at $20 was pretty delicious as well. Lots of slices of salami, smoked ham, and prosciutto with a dab of mustard and slices of crispy bruschetta bread. Absolutely, absolutely, and absolutely a spot to impress. read more

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The ambiance here is so nice. I love the wall of books, it's so beautiful and the ambiance is just so romantic and stylish. It's in a nice part of the city, but there isn't any parking that I'm aware of so either you'll need to walk or taxi in. The drinks were good, but I loved the fried brussel sprouts. The dressing they used was so garlicky and delicious. The service was ok, but they forgot to put our order in until the very end. Then they told us that one dish was on the house since they never put it in. read more