The Orbit room is one of my favorite bars in SF. As a non drinker I get tired of diet coke after diet coke when I'm out with my friends. Amy makes one hell of a non boozey drink and it usually has mint and/or ginger in it. Hooray! Seriously, I recommend not ordering anything specific and just asking her to make you something non alcoholic and see what kind of magic she comes up with. Also, i'm sure the drinks are great with booze in them too, as my friends seem to enjoy them, i just can't speak to that personally. Lets not forget the pizza! Delicious! Yum! Go get some. All this talk of deliciousness has made me hungry. I might have to make my way over there later. read more

I love this place. You'll see a lot of polarizing reviews here and it makes sense. This is not the place to get piss drunk and pick up chicks. Service is slow, because each drink is painstakingly made, so you should think about it more like ordering a liquid appetizer. They have tons of fresh ingredients and they blend them carefully. But on the plus side the drink prices are way low when you consider what you get. (At Milk and Honey in NYC you're looking at prices of $12-16/drink for the same quality, ) The atmosphere is great from the stamped deco ceilings, to the downtempo music, to the old airline memorabilia littering the bar. Overall this may now be my favorite bar in SF. If nothing else it's a great date place. read more

Cool & quirky art deco-style bar, with intriguing tables that look neat until you realize they're made of concrete when you bang your knees into them. The list of specialty drinks is extensive, fascinating, and always changing. The bartenders pick out what looks good at the market in the morning, and develop a daily cocktail list based on what they get. This is cool, because the ingredients are always fresh, and the drinks are (almost) always really good and interesting. Unfortunately, it also means that they can run out of things if they become popular. But then they'll just make something up which works well. The bartenders are also amazingly detail oriented - you won't get a poorly made drink! Always garnished, always shaken, always perfect. It's a chill, relaxed place, and a great place to get drinks. read more

Birthday Happy Hour - April 23rd @ 6PM onwards. GOOD drinks and a central location played a role in selecting the Orbit Room. I invited about 20 people or so to join me for a causal but fun gathering. Luke M's review says it all. But, here is mine... Here is where Orbit Room can improve if they so choose to read this review and make some small changes. # 1. Be nice gosh darn it! A smile won't kill ya. People are willing to wait for a drink if it's freakin good and if you aren't shelling out uber attitude. We work all day for our hard earned bucks and the last thing we need is a bartender who is rude and obnoxious. # 2. When someone warns you at like 6PM that there could be a crowd of people for a birthday gathering don't get all snippy and say "Yeah, we get those a lot and then complain an hour later that we should have said something about a possible crowd" ...we warned you. # 3. We ordered some cheese breads and two sandwiches and that took about 45 minutes to prep. Seriously? # 4. Orbit Room should consider changing it's name to "Slow Room", just saying.... All that said, I had a FABULOUS time on my birthday. The place did not damper my birthday spirit and we headed off to other places to continue the festivities. I will likely be back to give Orbit Room another try but, I will come prepared to wait 45 minutes for my drink and I will order at least two at a time! read more

Great place to grab food and drinks. Tables are first come first serve so you may have to wait a couple minutes and lurk if its a busy night. We ordered some drinks (Kentucky Manhattan, Bourbon in Bed, Debonair and Ask Me Again). All of the drinks were good and could be classified as craft cocktails. The Bourbon in Bed said it was bacon washed bourbon but I had a hard time tasting the bacon. For food we ordered a margherita pizza and garlic tater tots. They had so many tater tots varieties it was hard to pick! The tots were excellent but the garlic itself was a little overpowering. Don't expect anything too fancy, all silverware and tableware is paper and plastic! The bartender and our waitress were very friendly and helpful as well! read more

The Orbit Room is in a nice corner location off on Market Street and inside it has a nice vibe and atmosphere to it. I came on a random weeknight to try out some Bloody Marys around the area and supposedly The Orbit Room had one of the best in the city. I met up with my friends a bit late due to work and coming from the South Bay, but I was there long enough to have a drink at least. And when I said I was there long enough for a drink, I mean I was there long enough for them to make my drink. The service was pretty slow that after telling the bartender for 2 Bloody Marys, it took at least 20 minutes before I got it and all my friends that have been there earlier than I were having grumbling stomachs. At least the highlight of the story was that their Bloody Marys were pretty good. It had a slice of a cucumber, olive, and celery in it and accommodating it were plenty of black pepper and tobasco sauce for that kick. Overall a good Bloody Mary, but it's questionable whether the wait for it is really worth it. I don't know how the wait was for other drinks, but that wait for the Bloody Mary was quite disappointing and if you're wondering whether I ordered it at a bad time, well, the bar wasn't even full and my friends were getting the same treatment throughout the night. read more

Updated 2016. After closing and re-opening, I'm super happy this place is alive again. There are some changes -- no longer is the bar a garden in disguise (which was a pretty amazing), we now have a straightforward bar with a superb selection. Killer. Rad. Whatever you want to say, the Manhattans, Negronis, Americanos, Margaritas are very well assembled. And there are excellent straight shot choices, like Fortaleza Tequila, and you can get an amazing martini with local and beautiful herbal gin from Oakland. The room is mostly art deco, with a silent film running in the background for those moments when you want to absorb something different. They get extra points for putting the Giants game on, in my book...and the TV is up high, not obtrusive if you don't want to see it. Lighting is great, beautiful at night. Nice mixed clientele, not a pickup atmosphere, but easy to talk to folks. And the pizza is magnificent. A little chilly on a cold night, as there is lots of glass and a tile floor, so you might want to bring a layer in winter, which includes summer in SF, read more

MMMMmmmmm...just thinking about this place makes me thirsty. I live in the east bay so this is a bit of a trek for me but totes worth it. I understand the frustruations of those who want a quick, cheap drink but all I can say is "Go somewhere else." I can't say I have a favorite drink because pretty much everytime I go I just ask them to make me something with vodka. I've found that's the best way to order. I've never had a drink here that wasn't worth the wait or the cost. In fact, I took my friend her last week for her first visit and we must have tried 10 different cocktails...each more delish than the one before it. Yummy!! If I had to make one recommendation, it would be to go during the summer when all the best fruits are in season...nectarines, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries...that way the bartender has more options to play with. Winter is great for citrus and I do LOVE me some citrus but it has fewer options. I have yet to try their bloody mary's but I heard their great. That may be the next stop on the quest. 3 sidenotes: 1. Great music everytime-Chill and at a perfect conversational volume. 2. Hot bartender. Fun to look at while he mixes up the fantasic drinks! 3. Go on a weeknight. Way less crowded and much easier to get a drink. Also, you want to sit at the bar so you can watch the magic happen. read more

My husband and I were 30 minutes early to an Open House. While asking each other what we should do we realized we were standing right outside of a bar! Problem solved :-D We went in for a pint and they had Guinness on tap. (my husband is Irish... imported and all) so trying to be cheeky he asks the bartender if he knew how to pour a Guinness properly and whether or not it's been tapped yet. Well our bartender was the owner and he knew everything there was to know about drinking! Very impressed, my husband bought a pint of Guinness. (Do you know what that means when an Irishman trusts and American to pour his Guinness?? LOL) Anyways I got some local brew don't remember the name but it was really good. What impressed me was the couple next to me ordered a Dark and Stormy (one of my favs) and the bartender took the time to make it with fresh ginger AND took a slice of the ginger, put brown sugar on in, laid it on the metal shaker and took out a torch and began to caramelize the sugar on the ginger... Like WOW!! and then he artistically laid it into the dark and stormy he had gingerly prepared. So I made a mental note that I'll be coming back. Sure enough we did a few weeks later with some friends. Got hammered so I don't remember a thing that can contribute to this review. Except I had a good time ;-D read more

Pricey drinks? Yes. But worth it? Definitely. These aren't just drinks, they're artful concoctions. There's something for everyone. I wouldn't go on a busy night but mid week for sure. The bartenders were super friendly too... But I went on a quiet night--when they're busy, I'm sure it's a muuuch longer wait. That's kind of saying a lot because it took up to 10 mins to make one drink on a slower night. But I can appreciate that kind of attention to detail... as long as I'm not like, fifth in line. And the pizza is tasty too! read more

I've had two semi-disastrous dates that began or ended at the Orbit Room. It wasn't the site's fault -- I actually think they have a very cool, lounge vibe and the drinks are tasty if a little expensive ($10, cash only). And now I have two slightly hilarious memories. I'll have to take my future wife there for the laughs -- whoever she is... on second thought, just to be safe, maybe not. read more

My boyfriend and I went there Saturday night and were very much "wowed!" We retreated to the Orbit Room after the reccomendation of our waiter at a restaurant down the road. Noticing the bartender, Ron, whipping up some odd concotions we inquired about what to get. He told us to pick the type of liquor and then if we wanted our drink sweet, bitter, or sour, or some variation. After a few minutes of waiting, he placed what was to become the best cocktails we ever had down in front of us. One was a fresh peach and cilantro concoction and the other a basil and strawberry cocktail. Both were heaven and we continued on to another round with drinks made from grapefruit and other fresh ingredients. It was a wonderful reccomendation by a waiter who was probably dreaming he could be right there with us. read more

A good place for meeting with friends since it's located at the intersection of Castro/Mission/Hayes/Civic Center. Never too packed, never empty. It's not a dive bar but it's far from trendy. Just a great place to have drinks and conversation. Cash only. Get one of the awesome specialty drinks - the Sazerac kicks some butt - even if it does take 10 mins to make each one. read more

LOOOOOOOOVE this place! Oh, how I wish I were the only patron there! It takes time to make quality fancy cocktails, so I don't recommend coming here when you're like, "I need to be shitty ASAP." Not the right place for that kind of night. If you're like, "I want a fancy pretty drink that requires 7 ingredients and a blowtorch to make," this is a great place. I've been here for many occasions, including my birthday this past year. They're quite a nice place for small fancy gatherings. I've also come here on random weeknights and had a hit-or-miss experience. It all depends on how many other people are here, if they are ordering fancy drinks or just beers, and if you're in the mood to pace. You will have to wait for your beverage, and you will be happy when it arrives. Good times to come here: weekend afternoons. Early evenings. Sunday nights. Nights when you need an external force (like a long wait) to pace your drinking. Not so good times to come here: most nights. Unless you like simple beverages, in which case you will get your drink on much faster. Also, beware sitting at the tall tables when you are drunk. Because, um, they don't really work for a drunk center of gravity. As I discovered last night. Ahem. read more

If you like fresh fruit muddled with alcohol, then this is the place. You must be patient, mixing drinks like this is an art, and it takes time. The place has nice lighting and good music, you can feel the ambiance, and still see and hear your friends. Watch out for the bloody marys, the are H-O-T. read more

Very cool place to grab a drink and a pizza. Two different counters - one for the food and another one for the cocktails. I ordered my usual: gin soda and mint, but my friends went for fancy cocktails and were very happy with the bartender's mastery. read more

Oh Orbit Room! It's been over four years now and my heart still skips a beat whenever I walk in the door. I've stuck with you through some of your recent lows, and it's great to see the changes you've made since the start of the year. The pizzas are awesome, but bring Mark back DAMNIT! read more

This is a great bar to hang out with friend's. The staff is friendly and inviting. It's off market. It's close to Castro and the mission district. read more

I have lived in the Bay Area for nigh on 10 years, and in The Castro for over a year, and in all that time I never realized The Orbit Room was there. It was kind of like those dreams where you open a door to a room in your house you've never seen before. Only this room serves alcohol. The decor is really cool- all gold, stamped tin ceilings, and a giant chandelier that looks exactly like a frighteningly large version of a Christmas tree ornament of Sputnik that my grandma had when I was little. It's not a cozy place, but it is warm. The drinks are interesting concoctions and very tasty with a lot of fresh fruit, interesting herbs and creative mixes. However, and here is why I only rated this place two stars, there didn't seem to be an overwhelming amount of actual alcohol in my drinks. Even with a tolerance of steel, I generally feel the punch a little after two cocktails, and after two cocktails at the Orbit Room I only felt the tiniest hint of booze around the edges of my brain. At $8 a pop, I want cocktails that kill at least some of my brain cells. I can go to a juice bar and get a much cheaper smoothie if I just want fruity refreshment. read more

Went here on a whim to try something new in Hayes Valley. My friend and I liked the place right away. It's got a cool retro vibe and the bar tender took his craft very seriously. Had a couple of great drinks - the best I've had in SF. It wasn't crowded and was a good spot for a Thursday night. read more

The Orbit Room has several of the tastiest and best crafted drinks in San Francisco. Be patient, enjoy the mid-century architecture, and watch quirky bartenders prepare happiness in a glass. read more

Orbit Room - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Nice place to chill when you actually want to drink *and* talk to your friends. Never dead, never packed, just right.

Note: This review is based SOLELY on their Bloody Mary. OMFGBBQ! The Bloody Mary here is satisfectellent! While we were waiting 2 hours to be seated at Sushi Zone *shakes fist* we decided to head here for a couple drinks. I'm not sure what possessed me to order a Bloody Mary at 5:30pm but when the mood strikes you just gotta go with it. It's well seasoned, has enough of a kick to satisfy my spicy requirement, and i love the jalapeno and green bean garnish that comes with it. Surprsingly enough, I didnt even miss my Old Bay (I'm from MD, you gotta have Old Bay in a Bloody Mary... usually....). The only Bloody Mary that's better than this one is from Balthazar in NYC. I consider myself a Bloody Mary aficionado so this is saying a lot. So if you're jonesing for a Bloody Mary or find yourself waiting three hours for a table at Sushi Zone get thee to Orbit Room. read more

Went here on a Sunday night and while it was kinda empty I liked the decor and overall vibe of the place. They offer a unique drink menu and I had a hard time picking out what I wanted to get. In the end I stuck on the safe side and got a Mojito and told my friend to get a Moscow Mule only because I liked the name of the drink (I was too lazy to read the description of what was actually in it). They took forever to make the drinks, especially considering that the place was so empty. The bartender added a lot of fancy, but un-necessary garnishes, and while they may add aesthetic value...I just wanted my drink already! The wait was worth it though...for the Mojito at least. It was one of the of yummiest alcoholic drinks I've had. Didn't really care for the Moscow Mule too much...but only because it wasn't sweet and girly tasting like the Mojito. All in all, it's a chill place...good for catching up w/friends. read more

Needing a place to get a drink while waiting for dinner, my sister and i spent an hour here over Thanksgiving weekend. I cannot remember the exact names of our drinks, but mine involved champagne over a bitter-soaked sugar cube. Amazing!! My sister's also included bitters and was off their menu, but I have no idea what was in it. Basically, they serve very tasty cocktails that are STRONG. I appreciated the atmosphere - low lighting, mood music in the background, delightful chatter from fellow drinkers. I am in agreement that this is a perfect place to start off a night on the town! read more

Whatever kind of cocktail you may dream up, the bartenders here can concoct it. Always ask about the special fruits they have on any given day. I've had drinks made with pears, peaches, watermelon, raspberry... Try to snag a drink made by Alberta, she's adorable and makes some of the most delicious cocktails I've ever tasted. The vibe in here is perfect. It's not too noisy, so it's great for an intimate date or a decent-sized group. Truly one of SF's best-kept secrets! read more

This place has good drinks, hot bartenders and good music. It wasn't crowded at all when I went (ahem, a Tuesday evening), and we got excellent service. I ordered a Coquette, which was delicious -- it tasted like lavender and rosewater. (I'm allowed a girly drink every once in a while, right?) The prices were kind of high -- around $8 or $9 for a cocktail -- but tasty and damn strong. They sell beer too, but something tells me that ordering it would be frowned upon. read more

I've only been here once, but I really enjoyed the cocktail that I had when I was here. I've never had a better Dark and Stormy and although I went there over a month ago, I'm still thinking about it. I mean, they put slices of ginger in my Dark and Stormy...but yet the drink wasn't overwhelmingly gingery either....pure perfection. My friend ordered some cocktail that involved cucumbers and it was fantastic as well. Overall, delicious cocktails that makes me appreciate it. Sure, it's like $10 a cocktail, but I'd rather pay that for a quality drink than pay less for something I regret. read more

If I have one bar to take an out-of-towner to, this is it. As far as I know, they don't make mixed drinks like this in other cities. They are unique and fabulous. The crowd is unpretentious. The music is usually terrific. Some reviewers accurately noted that the bar service can be slow, especially if it's busy. That's true, but the specialty cocktails are complex. They actually muddle here, and the drinks are better for it. Love to Alberta and Ron! read more

I've been here a few different times and the hand-crafted cocktails are totally worth the wait! I've had three or four of the cocktails on their menu, all equally as good. The two nights I've visited were not very busy (some other reviews complained it might take as long as half an hour to get a drink), so I can't comment on what happens when it's packed. If this a concern, try going on a week night! read more

I am not going to say anything new, or take a different angle that someone hasn't written a 800 word thesis on already. What I will do is simply say: This place has great drinks. Not good, great--They are different, interesting, and overall very tasty. You absolutely cannot come in looking to get quick service or a "drunk fix" with your buddies or gal pals before the start of a weekend bender. The best bet is to take a date here for a first drink and lazy conversation, and then move to a more attentive establishment for your particular needs. Pick a Tuesday, pick a Monday, pick a night when everyone else won't be looking to make the bar scene and relax. read more

Its my favorite bar - the best cocktails you can find on the planet, cool vibe, always a good time. I love the bartenders who are always happy to see me! I just tell them what I'm itchin for - you know, something not too sweet, plenty of vodka/booze, cucumber and a sort of pink to make me feel happy. If you are in a rush for that drink - don't bother to go though... these are hand crafted drinks and take time. read more

Best drinks I've ever had- try the Pearody.... Mmmmm. Atmosphere- not so exciting. Kind of cold and sterile. But once you try the drinks, it doesn't seem so bad : 0 Great place to meet for after work or before dinner drinks. read more