A great spot. I ducked in for a few drinks ahead of a dinner with friends down the street. It was a cozy spot to have some reprieve. Kai was a great bartender and sociable. There was a unique vegan menu for happy hour food that I would have tried if I wasn't already heading to a vegan spot for dinner. read more

Phonobar - bottles of alcohol on shelves above a bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The 4 stars are for the fun tiny bar, cocktails and small dance floor combo. A friendly, tiny dance spot (weekend late night) slash neighborhood bar in Hayes Valley with very friendly waitstaff and without out any cover. Catch up with friends, have an adult beverage, bump elbows in this tiny spot (please try to stay healthy!) and get your grove on. We didn't try the food. Their menu consists of vegan bar food (vegan wings,etc.) read more

The drinks are good, but my review is simply because there was a waitress there who was unnecessarily rude to my group and I. We were really only there for like 30 minutes to have a drink after dinner and when I asked to close out, she gave us attitude. Kinda ruined the experience. I ended up giving a cash tip to the bartender who poured my drink directly because it was a good drink, but I didn't feel comfortable giving her a cut of that because the only 10 minutes I spent interacting with her left me feeling uncomfortable. read more

Had a lovely solo night at phono bar Sat night. Dropped by for one on my way home from the Makeout room. Stayed for several. Friendly crowd, just the right amount of people to make it social and possible to chat to strangers. Lots of interesting people and the DJ was spinning some lovely old school eclectic tracks that kept me close to the dance floor. Is that your resident DJ or a monthly night? It was very good. read more

The ambience here is excellent; the back room has really romantic lighting and plenty of space but the main bar area is much more relaxed and casual. The bartender is incredibly friendly and quick, even with large orders of cocktails. I really appreciate their commitment to having quality affordable mocktails as well. The food pop up here Om Sabor is one of the best vegan destinations in the bay but the bar itself is notable enough to warrant its own positive review. read more

Phonobar - Truffle Mac - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Terrible experience. Staff is extremely rude and not to mention dishonest.. come here if you like to be verbally assaulted. Not entirely sure how this place is still in business. Reeks of stinky cheese and a bitter chef/manager. read more

It's a solid semi-fancy bar. And I say semi-fancy because while the prices are not low, it's not like some buttoned-up place on a friday night. There's still a DJ and a small dance floor and the place gets pretty packed. A large part of the southern wall of this place is just windows which gives it an airier feel than the shotgun type layout normally would. read more

This upscale place nestled in the heart of SF is the very epitome of the epicurious meets the adventurous- their menu is a tasty blend of traditional and modern flavors served with zesty flare. Each staff member was delightfully proud to present and part of a team, from the server to the busboy to the bar back - everyone made eye contact in an engaging and unassuming way. I was thrilled that they had mocktails on the menu, and I ordered several, and they were delivered in fine style. I could relax and enjoy myself and NOT drink, which was a welcome change from other establishments. I have spent years imbibing those alcohol in beverage's and in that capacity their bar excels. They put so much care and craft into their drinks. On the food tip, whoever the chef is is pretty awesome, I snuck a peek at other's plates and even though I had just eaten, I got hungry all over again! The searing on the food, and the presentation looked perfect. I must say however, what brings me here is the music. Excellent music equipment is installed in the back room, and that is what makes this place SO special, it's is an audiophile's delight! I have quite sensitive hearing and this place caters to my ear's sense of spacial relationships in soundscapes - and I can laugh, chat, and dance, all within the same space time continuum as my good friends. All in all a wonderful place to eat and drink. read more

Phonobar - Disco ball - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a very fun cocktail lounge with a fantastic DJ booth for spinning vinyl. Very fun spot.

Food and drinks were just okay; I only really liked the dessert. Should've been a 3 star review but the manager is oddly defensive and tried to gaslight me after my waitress asked me if there was a problem with the service when she saw I only selected a 15% tip. There was a problem, but not a major one. It was just a little hard to get a hold of anyone. I wasn't upset about it until she and the manager got so oddly defensive and confrontational about it. Will never come back. In hindsight, I really shouldn't have been surprised by the manager's behavior and I should've actually expected it because during my meal he loudly swore at a customer whom he told to leave. It was surprising but at the time I assumed he was just speaking to an unusually rude customer, but perhaps that exchange was more indicative of the manager's behavior rather than the customer's. read more

Good cocktails with fun decor. There is outside seating, by the bar section seating, and a back room area. On a Sunday afternoon, the back room was completely empty with dim lights and comfy couches/seats with funky music playing into your senses. Drinks are about 13 dollars each, honestly not too bad for a SF bar. Bonus points: bathrooms are fairly clean, music wasn't too loud where your convos are screaming match, and they serve you water throughout. read more

Phonobar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Incredible food, ambiance, and service. I'm not vegan but I would eat here everyday and never miss meat or cheese. So delicious! The clam chowder is incredible. Also had the tostones, the civiche, and the scalloped potatoes. All phenomenal! Highly recommend. read more

I wish I had listened to the other Yelp reviews complaining of terrible service. However, I was in the area for a performance and was dining with a friend who eats vegan, so I gave it a try--this was a huge mistake. Let's get this out of the way: The food is fine, even very good. But it does not make up for the horrible service, which is the worst I have experienced anywhere. It was a busy night, so we were initially sat at a ledge near the door. This was okay, though chilly and people kept mistaking us for hosts. We also had to flag someone down to order. When a table opened up, we asked if we could move and the servers helped us. I had to ask for a spoon for my soup, but that was fine. This is--really, truly--all no big deal and I wouldn't mention it all, except it's relevant to the rest of this saga. Now at the new table, our service basically slides to a halt. We had to ask three times for the rest of our items to arrive. The first time we had to ask was understandable--we'd moved tables and it was a busy night. The server asked what we'd ordered and we told her. Then we had to ask again--and, again, she asked what we'd ordered. The third time we checked in with the server, we almost canceled the order, but she assured us the food was coming out shortly. By the time the last of our items hit the table, we were way behind schedule and asked for the check. The server presented us with the bill, which my friend quickly glanced at, paid, and signed. We finished our food and left in a rush to make our event. We were a block down the road when someone runs up behind us. It was the host, who waved his iPad in our faces and said, "Hi, yeah, you didn't pay your bill." My friend and I assumed this was a misunderstanding and told him that we had, indeed, paid. "No, you didn't," he said angrily, again gesturing at the iPad. At this point, other pedestrians are staring. He's making a scene. We keep telling him that this is a mistake because we paid--he keeps saying "no" and rolling his eyes, getting more and more indignant. We explained to him again that we had paid the server when our food hit the table. "Which server did you pay?" His tone was FULL of accusation. We described the server to him. He demanded that we go back to the restaurant to sort this out. At this point, my friend and I are beyond frustrated. The performance's doors close at 7:30 and we aren't sure if we'll make it now. On our way back, my friend explained this and said that, honestly, we hadn't been happy with the service the whole evening. Instead of asking us why, he said aggressively, "I know you weren't happy with your first table, but it was a busy night." The initial table wasn't the problem, and it was so weird for him to assume that. We said that the table was fine, but that the food took a very long time, we'd had to ask for our items multiple times, and that now we were being chased down for a bill we'd already paid. Back at the restaurant, I encouraged my friend to pull up her bank statement. There was a charge from the restaurant. This was for the bill we'd paid, which was about $20 less than the bill he claimed we skipped out on. Clearly, his server had made a mistake with the transaction. My friend showed him this charge. Instead of taking the amount off our tab, he told her that he would charge her for the second bill and then cancel that first charge. We got no apology, despite this being THEIR mistake--though he did say, "Hey, if you want to come back after the show, you can each have a drink on me." Uhhh, there is no way I'm going to come back after that! Also why not offer to take some drinks off of the tab he insisted on us paying? Or why not just let the $20 difference between bills go and admit a mistake? We should have asked him to deduct the original payment from our tab--because, reader, are you surprised to learn that, a week later, both charges remain on my friend's card? If I could give negative stars, I would. Do yourself a favor: Trust the reviews and don't eat here. read more

This place is such a vibe! We dropped by here to try the vegan options by Om Sabor and was thoroughly impressed. Also their cocktails are delicious!!! My favorite drink is The Last Word which has a gin base. Their menu changes but the last time I was there everything I tried was great, I think my favorite was the scalloped potatoes gratin where they used this vegan cheese that taste just as good as cow cheese if not even better!!! Great place to go out looking cute for a date or to meet up with friends. read more

Had a wonderful experience here last night. Sound system so amazing and the staff are all super chill and friendly. I hope to go back soon! Thank you to the staff and management. I don't get a lot of fun nights out so was appreciativr of the good times read more

Great drinks, great snacks, wonderful service. I will absolutely be coming back to Phonobar. We were met with such attentive and friendly service, who explained all the drink and food options. Highly recommend the sparkly cosmo drink and truffle fries. Although this spot is a bit removed from the fun of Hayes Street, don't count out Phonobar! read more

Phonobar - Inside - bar seating - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Phonobar is a delightful little place next to the Opera district in Hayes Valley. I was the designated driver, and fortunately they had a selection of mocktails. I chose the "Dia de Los Muertos Punch. Its a sweet drink with lots of fresh cinnamon. I would order it again. Note. I wasn't able to give 5-stars because this place is LOUD. The rooms are small and the crowds pile in, even on weeknights. So this is not the place for a first date or romantic evening. This is where you go to drink. I'd describe the decor as trendy. They do have some music playing sometimes. And even a very intimate dance floor. read more

First things first, the food being served up by Om Sabor at Phonobar is absolutely incredible. They were definitely the reason for our visit and did not disappoint! We ordered: Furikake Jackfruit Crab Cakes ($13 for two) // perfectly crispy and seasoned "crab" cakes with a slightly smoky aioli underneath and a beautiful little balsamic-dressed salad. The flavors came together beautifully and this was just such an amazing dish! Our favorite for sure. Inari a la Mexicana ($9 for two) // I absolutely love inari pockets so I was excited to try this fusion spin and it was delicious! They had jackfruit, pico de gallo and a teriyaki glaze on top of sushi rice all wrapped in inari with some wasabi to add that Japanese heat. Cheese Board ($19) // We loved the fondue, nut & seed salsa, hibiscus jam and escabeche! The creamy cheese with mushroom tapenade was good but not our favorite, although it was great for a change of texture! We felt similarly about the sliced cheese under the salsa, it was good but not a wow factor. I think those cheeses specifically are the only two elements on the board not made in house by the chefs which could be why they didn't blow us away, since everything else absolutely did! Chef Dhani brought out our first plates herself and checked in later to see how everything was, which was a very nice touch and appreciated. All of the flavors and dishes Dhani and Luis of Om Sabor create are always spectacular. They make amazing fusion food using authentic spices and ingredients from their home towns in Mexico and their dedication to their craft shines through in everything they present! I love how much they use hibiscus and all of the Mexican influences on their menus. As for drinks and service from Phonobar itself, they left a little to be desired if I'm honest. The cocktails were okay but not amazing with pretty lazy garnishes. The service was odd, just generally not very friendly or helpful, even a little curt at times. Wine list is interesting. Overall I will definitely be back for more of Om Sabor's food, but that's easily the main draw! read more

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I'm absolutely thrilled to see that OmSabor has taken over the kitchen at Phonobar!! I've been here several times before the pandemic lockdown...and was happy to be there on their re-opening last week. Such a nice relaxing space with a cool vibe...now that I can get food from OmSabor, I will be back often!! We tried the beautiful & tasty Beet Tower, the savory stuffed empanadas & the incredible curry veggie bowl. Thank you to Chef Dhani, Chef Luis and their team, for an inspired menu & service!! read more

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Ordered couple of drinks (see attached pictures) - both me and my wife didn't like both :( Not our kind of place. read more

Phonobar - Left: Lime in the coconut Right: Through the Fire - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Loved the vibe here. Super moody and the drinks were delicious. I had a couple mocktails. I'm curious about the food and will have to try it next time I go. read more

Come here for the vibes! Bar leads to a more private room in the back where a dj preforms and there are tables. Perfect date spot. It's a little loud and warm though. The food is all vegan which is cool, even though the nachos weren't my favorite. read more

Phonobar - Cocktail, vegan nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Shared some apps and drinks before heading to dinner around the corner. Adorable spot with unique options and great mocktail choices! Will definitely be back! Very friendly staff. read more

Phonobar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ok so a few things here: my first time here I just had drinks and had a waitress and service was fine. This place has some pretty awesome vibes too, or did at least. But this time, the second time, was an absolute travesty. Continue reading on for why this was a terrible experience..... so my partner and I sat at the bar. Now, the Guatemalan gentleman (I know that bc I heard him say he was from there) took what seemed like 15mins to even assist us; no one else tried to either except the GM Sam gave us waters (more about how I know who that is in a moment). When the gentleman eventually asked what we wanted, our drinks came out quick and were good. However the real issue came when my partner asked for the Clam Chowder. Now, we didn't bother reading the ingredients bc it's clam chowder, you think its all similar across the board. However when she received it, there were mushrooms in it and she's allergic to them. I kept asking him what mushrooms are these and he kept repeating they're in the soup (I think there was a language barrier playing into the not fully understanding my ask). So we let it sit and then a couple minutes later he comes back and we asked if we could swap it for fish and chips, and we took time to read the ingredients. He, with an irritated attitude, said he would just take it off and then "talked down" to my partner like she was dumb, saying "you know there's no fish in this right? No fish." We were fine with it until he spoke to her like that, she immediately responded with her not liking his new attitude towards us and asked for the check. Once received, we paid and left and had the door guy get the GM (Sam!). After speaking with him, he apologized profusely and said the next time we come back (if we return) the experience is on him/them. Sam is great but that other gentleman bartending needs to find a new line of work if he's unable to maintain a friendly attitude toward patrons. Ridiculous we went through this & this whole experience is why the 2-stars.... If Sam wouldn't have addressed our concerns this would have been a 0 star experience. read more

Phonobar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

First time coming to Phonobar and will definitely be back. I had no idea the menu was all vegetarian but I was pleasantly surprised at the flavor of the food. The loaded baked potato had carne asada (soy wheat substitute) , avocado, pickled onion, pinto beans, crema, pico de gallo, and celantro. It was so buttery and soft and generally all you could ask for in a loaded baked potato. [Nut Free] The OM Cheeseboard has Oyster Tapenade Chia Cheese, Garlic Confit Cashew Fondue, OM Nut Seed Salsa (SO GOOD), Seasonal Mezcal Escabeche, Cult crackers, Chile Pasilla Hibiscus Jam, and Sesame seeds. [Soy Free, Gluten Free) Our drinks: Imagination Nation - pictured with the loaded potato Fruity, subtle hints of Rosemary. Gin] Mexican Lager - with Cheeseboard. read more

Phonobar - Carne Asada (Soy) Loaded Baked Potato - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My first time here and if you get only one thing let it be the hibiscus tacos because THE HIBISCUS TACOS. The cocktails were obviously very good and I wanted to try the last word which wasn't on the menu any more and they were happy to make it (said they always would!). I very much appreciate that their menu tells you what is gluten, soy, and nut free and they have so many seating options: bar, outside, tables in the back for groups. They got everything right! read more

Phonobar - Red headed stepchild - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cool venue and location and great friendly staff. However, for the cocktails, it wasn't bad but for $15 a cocktail, I prefer mine to be not premixed with hand flavor ice cube. read more

My friends and I went to Phonobar since it was close to the SF ballet and we wanted to get some drinks and food after the show. We ordered some appetizers and my favorite ones were the fries and tostadas. This place only has vegan food! They have live music/djs at night and you can sit close to the dj stand to enjoy some drinks with friends. We had to wait a little to get a table since the place is small (went on a Thursday night). The service and vibes were great too, and the dance floor feels private since it's at the back of the restaurant! read more

Phonobar - fries with ketchup - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here on a 1st date with my now boyfriend of nearly one year. It was a great 1st date place--nice ambiance (you can hear yourself talk to each other), I remember the cocktails being really good, and it had a nice selection of food to share. Location was also great. I would highly recommend this place--you never know, you might just find your long-term person! =P read more

Mean, disrespectful and rude. Did not check up on our group, raised our hand asking to order and was confronted by a snarky "why did you raise your hand". Come here if you want expensive drinks and jerks. read more

Phonobar is back and better than ever! I have been wanting to go to this spot for quite some time and finally did last week. I was so excited to see Om Sabor take over Phonobar's kitchen with an all vegan menu. This pairs well with the delicious drinks that they have. We stopped by for some after dinner drinks and sat at the bar. The bar staff was incredibly friendly, including the manager Sam. We appreciated that he was ensuring all the patrons wore a mask unless they were eating or drinking. We ordered the spicy margarita that they had on tap. It was with the Ghost Tequila which is amazing, I highly recommend you get that when you go! Will be back to Phonobar in the near future! read more

Phonobar - Spicy margarita - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Should have read the reviews before coming here... my mistake. Everything the reviews say about unhelpful, rude, and passive aggressive staff is true. I saw them berating a girl in the bar for asking for the DJ to play a song. The staff followed her around, glaring at her and mocking her repeatedly. So many other bars in SF with good drinks and fun time. Steer clear of this place. read more

Was at a show at the symphony on a Tuesday and stopped in while we waited for a cab. The bartender said last call and I asked for a water. My lady was thirsty. He got upset and explained she just said they were closing. I get it. But there's a party raging in the back room and we weren't asking for a cocktail. Just some fuc*ing water while we wait for the cab and then we will be gone. Not the kind of friendly hood service I expect. I get you are off soon but for fuc*s sake. Water. read more

I wouldn't have ordered the clam chowder if left to my own devices, but I'm so glad it happened. It was rich without being overly heavy and chock-full of diced veggies and tender mushrooms. read more

Food was very tasty and came out quickly. Our hostess was very nice. We were three and we all shared the dishes we selected. Will try to go back soon. read more

This place has a nice relaxing atmosphere, that's great to grab a drink with friends and lounge around for a bit. You have to go up to the bar to order as I don't think they take orders at your table, but that's not really an issue for me. I ended up getting the Bittermoon which was pretty well made. It tasted a bit like a margarita because of the tequila and citrus parts, but overall had a really pleasant taste that elevated the drink a bit more than that. It's a little bit easy to miss because of the location though, and the white phonobar sign is kind of small, but it is to the left side (if you're facing the garage part) of the building. read more

Phonobar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cocktails are fine, but the food is awful. I love a good vegan place but come on folks, everything tastes like cardboard at best. I've been several times, trying different dishes each visit. The desserts taste like you dipped your fork in a tub of shortening, only you'll pay 10x more. You might hear "but the crab cakes are good" probably because they are the only remotely edible thing on the menu. The good reviews here are for the drinks and the fact that it's an upscale place that is in an area that sorely needs one. The folks coming out of the symphony are looking to grab a drink and a snack and review this place as such. As for the music, Phonobar is talked about in the SF underground dance scene as a high-fidelity audiophiles' dream. Unfortunately, none of this checks out. Last time I played there, the rotary mixer was in poor shape, many knobs were broken and the master/cue will give you hearing damage if you're not careful. One channel is quiet, the other is deafening loud so if you don't turn your volume down to the lowest setting when switching between the two, you will be sorry. Looks like they invested in some neat looking gear but don't actually bother to maintain anything. When I poked around, all the cables were generic, so under the hood, it's nothing special. I tried to support this place both as a patron and a DJ. I had poor experiences each time and won't be going back. Did I mention the owner ran up on me with cokehead energy and yelled at me on the decks? Apparently this is not the first time he's done that to a DJ, but even without that experience, the food and equipment is a joke. read more

As a local, this place brings me so much joy because it reminds me of how SF used to be when I was in college. Friendly staff, local DJ's and brings in a mixed crowd including a lot of artists. The food is incredibly thoughtful, delicious and perfect if you want a small bite or share plates with friends. It's become one of my favorite spots in the city and now people who aren't vegan ask to come here since everything is so unique. If you're looking for a quiet spot with meat options, this isn't the place for you. But if you're looking for a hidden gem with awesome music and food, I highly recommend it :) read more

Love this spot!! Great vibe, drinks, food and music!! Service and staff are exceptional!! read more

Hey I just wanted to share my experience yesterday at your bar. I went with my friend which is Argentinian and we had a bad experience since the beginning. The guy that was at the door checking IDs was completely rude, not only with us, It was with everybody. He was doing xenophobic comments on every single person that was showing the ID depending on their origin. The girls in front of us where Philippians and he was saying rude things about their names. Then it was our turn and when we asked my friend where is he from and realizing he was Argentinian he replied "fuck you, Argentinians are nazis" We didn't know what to do about it but we definitely felt uncomfortable and I don't think is fair to have that type of racist and xenophobic comments. Letting you know because we were not the only ones harassed by this guy. read more