Loved it here! Drinks were creative and yummy. Service was quick. The inside was so well decorated, I could have stared at it for ages. The vibe was super chill. Kinda loud so definitely not a place you want to be having big conversations. It's a great place for a change of scenery. Will definitely be coming back here to try the other drinks. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very unique cocktails and nice decor. Not too packed. A nice place to bring a friend. read more

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Polkcha feels like it's having an identity crisis. The drinks just aren't good. The only one that had any decent flavor was the one with a whole popsicle in it, and that's saying something. They try to make the drinks sound Asian-inspired, but it's mostly just in the names. The flavors don't really match the theme. The decor is actually pretty nice and the vibes are decent, but that's about it. Nothing memorable or worth coming back for. Maybe worth trying once just to say you did, but I wouldn't expect much. read more

Such a fun and cool bar. I've been to other Pocha K's thinking it was similar, but it's different. This seem to be more of an upscale bar that focus on Asian fusion drinks and they did not seem to offer food, at least none that I noticed. The bartenders were friendly and helpful. I got the Gwangjang, which came with a melon bar ice cream inside my drink. It was nice, light, and refreshing. My friends got the Nishiki and the Night Owl. Of the three, we liked mine the most. We also got a pitcher of beer and some sojus. I recommend coming early as this place gets packed at night. We got there shortly after dinner and was able to find a table after ordering. Once we left, the place was packed and almost hard to walk through. Parking is kind of hard, but you're in SF. Parking is hard everywhere. Only street parking if you're lucky. read more

My friend and I were visiting SF for a K-pop concert over the weekend and decided to check out Polkcha because we were intrigued by their Asian-inspired drinks. Plus, their clever Korean-inspired name pun was really fun! Ambiance: 5/5 Such a cool bar with awesome Asian-style decor that sets a great mood. It's a perfect spot for a date or hanging out with friends. Service: 5/5 Our bartender was incredibly nice and welcoming! We didn't realize they were closing soon, but he was still kind enough to make our drinks and let us take our time enjoying them without any rush. Drinks: - Gwangjang: 5/5 A twist on a Midori with a Melona bar! I rarely love drinks from bars since I don't do well with bitter flavors, but this drink was creamy with a slight kick of carbonation. Super dangerous in the best way--highly recommend! - Kuromon: 4/5 Not my favorite, but the little Polkcha bottle was adorable, and my friend really liked it! We had a great time here and wish we could've tried more drinks. This bar is definitely on our list for the next trip, and we'll be recommending it to friends! read more

Polkcha - kuromon, gwangjang - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really cool vibes, lots of neon signs and banners! Drinks are delicious, especially the one with the melona bar and their yogurt soju pitcher. Will note that all the drinks are very sweet and lower alcohol content. Can get super crowded so would recommend going early if you want to sit. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

An asian themed bar with nice decor, a solid 3/5. We made it over on a sat night and it was pretty busy. Cocktails were decently priced. I want to say the cocktails sound better than they taste, many of them are an asian inspired version of a classic cocktail but I didn't pick up on many of the asian flavors (tasted pretty normal imo). Overall a nice bar for a pit stop while bar hopping. read more

Polkcha - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had a great time at Polkcha on Saturday night. We came around 9pm and it was pretty empty so we grabbed seats at the bar. They have an interesting cocktail menu that's grouped by taste like refreshing and spirit forward so it makes it very easy to find just what you're in the mood for! I went with the Ajumma's choice - I said I liked gin and ended up with an Aviation which had violet and cherry. It was absolutely delicious and I reordered that. The bartender was super knowledgeable and friendly and made superb drinks. The atmosphere is very fun, with good music and the neon pocha decor. read more

I LOVE this place! The vibe is your typical dive bar type scene with a fun little pool table in the back. It's quiet for the most part, homey, feels like the right spot you need to be at! I don't know the name of the bartender (I should ask) but he's always there when we go, and he's SO kind, so amazing, down to earth etc. We always order the False Roselle but always call it "that hibiscus drink" haha. Love coming here with friends after dinner, or if we're in the area. Def a must try bar! read more

Really great ambiance inside the bar. It gets a bit crowded and there is a line to get inside but the drinks were pretty good! Our bartender was working so fast and got everyone's order. He was also super nice and my friends and I really enjoyed this bar to pregame before heading to the Midway! read more

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I will say it's busy for a reason! Wonderful drinks and great service. It does get quite packed so anticipate waiting for a table - but it's definitely group friendly! read more

I love how unique the cocktails here are! We got the gwangjang (melona popsicle) cocktail and the aperol spritz (upside down polkcha glass bottle). Both were pretty strong and slightly bitter, but I appreciate how inventive they are. The ambiance was also great and reminded me of an asian street alley way. Would love to come back to try the ube cocktail! read more

Polkcha - gwangjang and aperol spritz - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Some friends and I went on a Friday night and got really lucky to find lots of seating at such an otherwise crowded bar! Loved their menu and interior -- such creative and tasty drinks inspired by various Asian desserts. I got the Divisoria which had a lovely texture but kinda wish there was no lime haha. Really pretty place that I'll be returning to! read more

Polkcha - Divisoria - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stopped in here before a drink for an event in the area and was pleasantly surprised. They made us some carajillos and they were really damn good. They eventually had some pocky at the bar if you wanted a little snack :) Staff was so nice here and super friendly And the decor was on point Will definitely be back next time I am in town read more

Trade Routes is a friendly, somewhat grungy neighborhood bar on Polk. The photos on yelp make it look like a dimly lit, magical place but it's actually super brightly lit, well worn and not as cool as expected. The round map at the bar is super duper bright and the up-lighting of Grey Goose vodka (of all bottles) and others is a little tired. It looks really great in photos but in person... eek. We had to escape to the back just to chill and get out of the light. My rum drink with golden milk was pretty overpowered by the golden milk. It wasn't a winner. I was really sorry I had pre-dinner birthday drinks here. With a little hipping up, I think this bar could be pretty cool, though. read more

Polkcha - Dumpy slushy machine front and center. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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came here with friends on a late friday night and it wasn't busy at all (plz someone revive sf's nightlife) i liked the gwangjang cocktail with melona (it is pretty sweet) and my friend's ube cocktail was super creamy and yummy! the hua hin cocktail is STRONGG, so if you drink cocktails to mask the taste of alcohol, pick something else LOL. they also make regular drinks -- the margarita was alright & the (non alcoholic) thai tea tastes as you'd expect! also, i feel like i'd like this place way more if the music wasn't just house, especially because the specialty cocktails weren't totally mind blowing. visually, the vibes are cool but it feels lacking in terms of crowd, music, energy, etc. read more

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Great cozy location on Polk Street. Every time I've gone in I've had great service and drinks. The 'Spice exchange' is my favorite *chefs kiss* read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cute Asian theme/inspired bar with a Melona popsicle in their cocktail. A must try! Warm and cozy bar with fun and nice bartenders read more

Polkcha - Bar entrance - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

What a great find !! Such a cute bar with solid cocktails. Very innovative. Great vibes and wonderful bartending team. read more

The drinks are outstanding! We really enjoyed the night owl and kuromon. The space is thoroughly decorated and every corner has something cool to discover. We came on a Friday night and it was packed. We had no issue approaching the bar and ordering but couldn't find an open seat so we enjoyed our drinks standing, there's a shelf/drink rail so it was not uncomfortable to do so. The service was great, everyone at the bar was friendly and professional. read more

Polkcha - Night Owl and Kuromon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Come here if you'd like to see temu skrillex make you a bomb cocktail. The service and drinks are amazing. Vibes 10/10 Particularly loved the back bay, sesame washed; and the nishiki, pandan, green chartreuse. It's quiet on the weekdays but bustling on the weekends. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was sad when Trade Routes closed, but I was pleasantly surprised when it was re-opened and re-imagined as Polkcha! The decor is fun and colorful, and the menu is great. The bartenders always know their way around a bar and make excellent drinks and are super friendly to boot. I've been to several Thursday Trivia Nights, and the place gets packed and is a ton of fun. (That said, I'd avoid if you don't want to play trivia - there are other great places on Polk that will be less crowded.) There's no dance floor, so if a night on the town is in your plans, pop into Polkcha to pregame, or if you're looking for a more casual vibe. read more

This is a super cool bar on Polk! I like that this is a play on night markets in Asia. The decor is pretty cool, however it is a pretty small place. I went on a Saturday night and it was suuuuuper packed in there. It did get less crowded as time went by, but I was shocked at how many people fit in there when I initially got there. It did take some time to get drinks at the bar, but once we did get them they were very much worth it. I really enjoyed the Gwangjang which had a melona bar in it!! The drink was bitter at first but once the bar melted the drink was so creamy and refreshing. Definitely recommend that one, and to drink it once you're able to mix in the Popsicle. The Kuromon was also a really tasty drink, was basically like an Aperol spritz. My boyfriend tried the Nishiki and enjoyed that as well. A friend tried the night owl but thought that one was okay. I definitely want to come back, but try to enjoy it at a less crowded time. read more

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Drinks were just average, but the main reason the one star is how shady this place is. I had tipped 15% and clearly checked the box on the receipt, and days later, I found that I was actually charged for the 20% tip amount. This is completely unacceptable and ridiculous for an establishment to do this. Luckily, I was able to dispute this with my bank and provided them with the receipts for confirmation. It's not just a matter of a few dollars or cents but the shady and unethical practices that say a lot about the workers and owners. All I can say is keep your receipts and double-check your bank statements after visiting. Review of the drinks - I came with 2 other friends for the lunar new year event and we got the white rabbit, baba mama, jinju, and serenity. Jinju was by far our favorite, it tasted just like juice. Baba mama was pretty good, I liked the floral hints of the drink. Serenity tasted like herbal medicine and the white rabbit was underwhelming with no white rabbit flavor whatsoever. They have a small selection of small bites, but you have to go over to the restaurant next door to order and bring it back into the bar. This would have been a 3 star for me, but just the pure shadiness, I would have given a 0 star if I could. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Polkcha just opened on Polk street and it's become a huge point of interest for people. My friends & I got there around 9:30PM and there was a line. We were able to get in after about 30 minutes or so. It was super crowded but I thought they did a great job at servicing the big groups with only 1 or 2 servers. My friends & I got a variety of drinks to try. All of them have some type of Korean or Asian theme to them. I tried to Hoi An which is the Vietnamese cold brew one but it was a bit salty/sour. I also tried the ube one & it had an interesting after taste. I personally thought the cocktails were ok. However they do have a late night menu after 10pm like big beers / sake / soju for big groups. I thought the pricing is super fair for that. I think I would go here for casual drinking & pregame before a night out! read more

Went here last night with my cousins and I loved the new vibe that the former Trade Routes gives off. Asian themed. Neon lights. Loved it. Drinks were also pretty good. Beautifully made and pretty damn tasty. Now getting that out of the way. My gripe with this place is the service. You guys can rebrand all you want but if you're going to keep the same rude staff, you're going to go nowhere quick. The bartender who was making our drinks was clearly drinking and forgot our order. He took forever to make our drinks because he was taking shots with patrons in between making drinks. A Temu version of Skrillex claiming to be the owner of the bar. Then back pedaled and said he worked for the bar came up to our group and kept talking to us which I did flat out say, "hey stop wasting our time. If you want to keep bothering us then you can buy us a drink". He was taken back by my forwardness and still kept talking to us. At some point he went to the bar and "ordered drinks" only to get called over by the bar staff to take a shot. At that point we left as it was nearing 2am. Another bartender (he looked like the character Mario) said as we left the establishment, "the guy did order you shots but now that you left, you can't come back. BYE" and closed the door on us. The only shots I saw was shorty shooting his shot and embarrassed that he wasn't getting anywhere quick. I know what the response to this is going to be, "we have no affiliation with Temu Skrillex". And my response is, you guys know him enough to support his harassment of me and my cousins and continue to serve him alcohol and drink with him. That's more than enough affiliation. read more

Polkcha - Nishiki was delish. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

A really cute bar with nice decor - we went on a Sunday night and it was not super packed which was great! Loved the detail in the decor and really cute drinks. We got the gwangjang, nishiki, and kuromon. I really enjoyed the Nishiki drink which was a sake and gin drink with shiso flavor, as well as the Kuromon. The gwangjang was very cute and aesthetically pleasing but if you let the melona popsicle melt in there, it makes the drink too sweet! But overall a lovely vibe and experience and I hope they change up their menu now and then because it is quite limited! read more

After seeing new about this new spot, I wanted to check it out with a few buddies. First off, the whole vibe is very fun. You feel like you're not in SF anymore. The drinks themselves are very good. The Gwanjang and Nishiki were both very good but it seems like you really can't go wrong. Plus the staff were all super nice and helpful. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My new favorite bar on Polk street! I love the Asian inspired drinks. The drinks are super cute too. Each speciality cocktail is named after a market. My favorite drink was definitely the Gwangjan. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came in to see the holiday decorations and grab some holiday drinks. The inside was fully decorated to put you in a Christmas mood. They had different types of holiday drinks. The cookie shots were our favorite. The bartender was super friendly and attentive. For a Wednesday night it was not super packed but still had a few groups. Great place to catch up with friends. read more

Polkcha - Inside with holiday decorations - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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New drinks only bar that opened up in the russian hill area! Everything is asian inspired, and I love that there's drinks from almost every asian country. Everyone had the melona bar drink so we just had to try it out, and it was delicious! Light and refreshing. We also got a baijiu cocktail and a coconut tequila cocktail that were a bit more spirit heavy but super unique. Bartenders were very busy as the bar was pretty packed, but were still fantastic and treated everyone kindly. read more

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Located in Nob Hill, this Asian street market-inspired bar features vibrant decor and a lively atmosphere. The space is cozy and can get quite packed, especially on weekends. My friends and I visited on a Friday night, and it was quite busy! I feel like this would be a good place to chill with friends when it's not crowded and a good pre-game spot on the weekends. Street parking is available but can be challenging to find during busy hours. The service was fantastic, with staff checking in on us frequently. The bar offers a variety of craft cocktails inspired by Asian flavors such as pandan, yuzu, and lychee. I tried the Gwangjang, a fizzy and refreshing drink featuring a Melona ice pop, although it wasn't sweet enough for my taste which to be fair I like my drinks very sweet. I preferred my friend's drink, Ajumma's Choice, which was ube-flavored and didn't taste like alcohol at all! I also tried the Divisoria, a ube and coconut-flavored cocktail, but found the alcohol aftertaste a bit strong. The Hua Hin had a similar alcohol profile as well. I would go back for the vibes and get Ajumma's Choice noting that I like it very sweet. P.S. They host trivia nights on Thursdays at 7:30 pm :) Follow @michellehan.guide on Instagram for more! read more

Polkcha - Ajumma's Choice, Hua Hin, Gwangjang, Divisoria - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Randomly saw this bar on Yelp and we decided to check it out. We loved the Asian flavored drinks and it was a great experience! The staff were super friendly and it's a perfect for a chill night getting drinks with friends. Highly recommend getting the ajummas choice and telling the bartender the flavors you like! We'll definitely be back in the future! read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ooooh always a fan of an Asian bar with fun cocktails!! I saw the melona cocktail and I WAS INSTANTLY SOLD. The drinks were soooo delicious! The ambience was also fantastic. All the decor is so cute and reminiscent of Asia. I also went on a Thursday, which is their weekly trivia night and it was sooooo fun! The host did a great job leading the event, and the themes were really great! Plus the prizes/punishments were amazing! Def want to become a regular here! read more

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Came to try the Chinese New Year cocktail menu in February. Walked in on a Wednesday around 6:30pm, seating is first come first serve. Not too busy when I visited, found space at the long communal table in the back. Drinks: White Rabbit Slushy - a bit boozy and unbalanced, odd flavor that didn't quite mesh for me, also didn't remind me of the flavor of white rabbit candy, would skip this. Jinju juice - pretty good, fruity with great citrus notes, a bit heavy on the ice but a tasty drink overall, nice and refreshing, great one to start the night. Seeds of serenity - smokey with a hint of fruity sweetness, a bit too smokey for me, but if you like mezcal this one is for you. The atmosphere was so fun, awesome to see a bar decked out in Chinese New Year decor. Overall drinks are hit or miss, the beverages lean towards the boozy end and seemed a bit unbalanced. read more

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Super vibey modern bar with Asian-inspired cocktails! At first the neon signs and the cool decor inside caught my eye, and then I started hearing about their Gwangjang cocktail that has a Melona ice cream bar in it, so I was so excited to try it, and it lived up to the hype! - Gwangjang: my favorite! It was sweet, fruity, and fizzy, and mixing in the Melona bar added a little bit of creaminess. Super light and refreshing. - Kuromon: their other refreshing cocktail offering. Tasted pretty similar to an Aperol spritz, but I liked the Gwangjang so much that I didn't remember much about this one - Divisoria: I was so intrigued by this ube and coconut flavored cocktail, and the flavors worked well together! It was just a bit too thick and the alcohol aftertaste too strong for my taste The staff were incredibly friendly, and helped us find seating for a group of 8 even after we had closed our tab. They were also playing throwback songs so it was fun to sing along to! Loved my experience here :) read more

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ok this place is pretty cool. we've been going to Polk st for years and saw it change throughout the years, but this spot hits. It does get pretty busy on a Friday night. Their cocktail menu had a variety. Nice asian atmosphere. Service was good. Nice spot to chill and hang out on a Friday night. read more

A cute place for a date night! I was able to snag seats at the bar at around 7:30 pm on a Saturday, but it filled up quickly after. We ordered 3 drinks and loved all of them. The ube drink was my personal favorite! The bartenders were friendly and efficient as well. I could see myself coming back here with friends for a quick drink before dinner! read more

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beautiful space, great vibes, and memorable holiday cocktails! recs: holiday drinks (ask your bartender, they don't seem to be on the menu?), st elaine price: ~$14/cocktail This place deserves more traffic -- their drinks are so good! Our bartender came up with super creative off-menu holiday drinks that we were obsessed with. - Candy Cane: This was like a creamy, minty cotton candy drink. I'm still thinking about this. A definite group favorite. - Orange Cranberry Spice: Sweet, slightly tart, and exactly what the name describes. Will 100% be back to try their other drinks. Shout-out to the creative bartenders here! read more

Polkcha - Candy Cane and Orange Cranberry Spice - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love this bar! I come here on Thursdays for their trivia nights at 7:30 which is always a blast, although I do miss some of their old hosts back in the Trade Route days. (Their new rotation of hosts are cool too though!) Seating is pretty limited, so be sure to arrive early to get a table or a space at the bar. The decor is really cool, and the music they play is always killer. Huge shoutout to their crew too! The Thursday night trivia crowd of Samir, McKenna, and Millen are so incredible. They're always so friendly and welcoming, and make a great night even better! Drinks are always a hit! Hard to go wrong with anything on the menu, and you're in great hands with their crew if you need help deciding. No real food here, though there's plenty on Polk St that stay open late to quell any post-trivia cravings. Would love to see some more fun mocktails on their menu in the future! read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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