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    The Pawn Shop

    4.5 (976 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    The Pawn Shop Photos

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    THE PAWN SHOP ATMOSPHERE

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    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
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    Recommended Reviews - The Pawn Shop

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    Reviews With Photos

    Jessie H.

    Amazing experience and food! The dinner we had Friday was delicious and creative. I wasn't sure what to expect but its a fun lil spot that has some yummy tapa- ish dishes! I honestly loved everything we ordered even tho everything has a hint of tomato I didn't mind it. The one dish that I thought could be improved was the shrimp more garlic& butter was needed...one photo is missing along with our drinks. The service and decore were both good / charming more of a bar vibe.

    Gambas al Ajillo
    Camilla M.

    Curios about this place, I went for dinner with my husband a few weeks ago. Before going inside, you have a funny experience with the lady who allows you to enter. Remember to bring something for her! We had de dinner upstairs because downstairs there was a party when we arrived. We ordered the patatas bravas (very good), the tortilla espanola (I didn't try it but my husband liked it) and the gambas for me that were very delicious. We enjoyed the dinner with a glass of wine. Overall it was a nice experience and I'm curios to see also the other secret areas of the place.

    Alaskan Halibut
    Claudia M.

    From the outside, it looks like an actual pawn shop, and to get into the restaurant you have to "barter" an item. It's a fun experience and definitely makes for a memorable night out. The staff at the front really set the tone. They were friendly, had great personalities, and made the whole experience feel more lively and interactive. Inside, the space has a dark, cozy ambiance that works well for a date night or a night out with friends. We ordered the Tortilla Española and the Carne a la Plancha, and both were delicious. The food was well executed and definitely the highlight of the meal. My only real feedback is that I wish there were more options on the menu. There wasn't a huge selection, and I found myself wanting a few more choices. That said, what they do offer is done well. Overall, it's a fun spot with a unique concept, good food, and great energy. I'd come back again, especially if they expand the menu a bit in the future.

    Mary M.

    How do you even begin to describe a place this unique? The Pawn Shop is not just a restaurant, it's an experience. A completely unconventional, almost theatrical concept in the heart of SOMA, where you don't just walk in... you earn your way in. The idea is simple but unforgettable: you must bring an item to leave behind. Something personal, something with a story. From the moment you arrive, the staff welcomes you warmly and shares the history behind the objects left by previous guests, each one adding to the soul of the space. There's a small "entry ritual" before you're allowed in, which makes everything feel even more special and exclusive. Once inside, the ambiance is incredibly cozy and intimate with dark tones, warm lighting, and a vibe that feels like a hidden Spanish tavern. Perfect for dates, birthdays, or any occasion that deserves something different. And the food? Absolutely delicious. * The Spanish tortilla is rich and comforting * The grilled octopus is perfectly cooked * The steak is flavorful and satisfying * The crispy cauliflower is a must * The garlic shrimp are juicy and full of flavor * And the sangria? Beautifully balanced and refreshing This is the kind of place you don't just visit once you return to.

    Alyson C.

    Love this place's concept; you go in to pawn something (always bring a little thing!) and enjoy the pre-drinks entertainment. Once you step inside though, it's not a janky pawn shop at all. It's a dimly-lit, swanky bar with character and great drinks. We ordered quite a few dishes, including the octopus -- which was excellent. Also has patatas bravas which brought me back to Spain, and delicious churros with chocolate sauce! I was so full I couldn't finish it all, but man I wish I could go back. Erm, I mean, I will be going back!

    Danielle Y.

    Unique speakeasy where you bring items to trade for the entrance into the bar from the pawn shop. We brought matchboxes and were given a pin as a trade and entry inside. We came right after opening with no reservation and no wait. It was pretty slow and our server was great and knowledgeable. We didn't realize they didn't serve liquor but the drinks were still pretty good. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to grab any bites but that would be on my list to try if I came back.

    Kimberly A.

    Ahhh I have been wanting to try this place out for so long ! Glad I finally went. So if you aren't familiar with this place u should bring an item or momento to get in and if you bring a book they swap it for different one. How cute! The grill working the front is amazing love that she was very enthusiastic when we arrived. Will say it's best to do a reservation if u plan to eat here. We only did drinks at the bar and they did not disappoint ! It's only a wine bar but the cocktails that are made with them are so good. And it's pretty cozy inside as well. We also got the papas bravas and they were tender and good not actually spicy like others I've had. Great vibes will definitely come back again.

    Jaimie L.

    Update! It had been a little over a year since I had been here because I had surgery. Now there's a security guard in the front, and the line outside is way more organized. I recommend making a reservation because it books fast, and you can wait for a while as a walk-in. The food is reasonably more expensive than compared to 18 months ago, but the food is just as good. They don't have the dancing bartenders anymore, so it's a bit more of a relaxed but still super fun vibe. The fabulous guy, who I think is the owner and used to always be the greeter, wasn't there this time. There was a woman, who was just as hilarious and entertaining in showing us the way into the Pawn shop. I told her about my surgery and how I had looked forward to being back, and she gave us the best table in the house! I like to bring little trinkets of offering because they collect and display some of them. I brought a little figurine this time, and a building block set for the pawn master. She was so appreciative and enthusiastic. That's just the beginning! The food is sooooo good. If you like tapas, this is your place. It's so reasonably priced for the experience and location, and the sauce on the shrimp is sooooo savory and indulgent. The hanger steak is my favorite, and I personally think a hidden gem in the neighborhood. The fried potatoes are perfectly crisp but fluffy and steamy on the inside. The tapas are filling but not too heavy, and the drinks are beautiful. Now they have electronic receipts, which is new since last time I was here. I actually think they have really improved operations with the new changes while keeping alive the spirit of the place when it originally opened. Thank you Pawn Shop!

    What I traded
    John P.

    I'd been hearing about this place for a while, so I was super excited to finally check it out. I managed to snag a dinner reservation for six just a few days beforehand, which was a nice surprise. When we arrived, the security guard gave us the rundown on how it all works: to get in, you have to bring something to trade. It can be anything small or random, like a pen or keychain. I brought a cute little blue fluffy vampire pendant plush (see photo) and traded it for a hilarious figurine of a woman with big breasts (see other photo). I loved my trade! Such a fun and quirky touch! If you forget to bring something, you can still get in by singing, dancing, or telling a joke, which adds to the charm. Once inside, we were seated right away. Before 7pm, the staff told us that anyone who comes in after 7 gets a cheer from everyone and sure enough, it made the whole experience feel lively and communal. Watching people's reactions as we all cheered for them was hilarious. The food definitely lived up to the hype. We ordered nearly every tapa on the menu, and everything was delicious. My personal favorite was the Gambas al Ajillo. The shrimp was perfectly seasoned, and the bread was spot-on. You really can't go wrong with any of their tapas; each dish had great flavor and presentation. Another cool touch: there's a hidden door that connects to Monarch, which we used when leaving! Such a fun surprise to end the night. Overall, I'd absolutely come back. The whole experience felt unique and interactive, and the food was genuinely good. My only drawback is that it can get a bit pricey for larger groups since most tapas are around $20 and the portions are on the smaller side. I think it's best suited for a date night or a smaller group outing where you can really soak in the vibe.

    Dong H.

    Super cool hidden tapa restaurant perfect for a night out with friends or a date. Make sure to bring a trinket to barter! The vibes and service are amazing and it really feels like you just entered a hidden world. There's a lot of different unique cocktails to try and their menu has some nice small dishes to munch on while drinking. Wouldn't recommend as a pure dinner place and more a drinking and eating type place.

    Front entrance
    Alston F.

    Super cool! To enter you need to bring something to trade into the pawnshop. There is a whole elaborate code that is done to get entrance into the bar. It's a tapas bar with a new cocktail menu. I was able to sit at the bar. On the way to the bathroom, I saw a hidden trap door into another secret space is a nightclub on certain nights. It wasn't open when I was there unfortunately. Drinks Uno Rivera - the only drink from original menu. It was light, refreshing and sweet. Pablo picuatro - their take on a red sangria. It was sweet and delish. Food: Gambas al ajillo - very traditional Spanish tapas. It was small but carb load! ensalada de bruselas - so different and it was shaved brussel sprouts as the lettuce. It was huge and definitely meant to be shared. I couldn't finish it. I loved the experience of the pawn shop.

    Toan D.

    This isn't your typical pawn shop. In fact, it's not really a pawn shop at all. Behind a pawn shop facade and some cluttered shelves filled dusty odds and ends lies a secret speakeasy and the only way in is to "pawn" a gag item to the gatekeeper. The young woman guarding the front was hilarious, charming, and totally committed to her character as the "gatekeeper". An absolute natural performer. Speakeasy vibe and hush-hush ambiance aside, the real star here is the food!!! The menu leans heavily Spanish flavors, with tapas-style dishes that punch far above their weight as bar food. Gambas al Ajillo Poached shrimp swimming in garlicky chili oil, infused with smoky paprika and sizzling garlic. The garlicky chili oil was slurp worthy. The shrimp cooked to a perfect tender while retaining a meaty snap. The grilled bread served alongside was basically a garlic sponge that saved me the awkwardness of having to slurp from a dish. Pulpo a la Plancha Tender, charred octopus with crisped potatoes, Romanesco sauce, Tokyo turnips, and a whisper of Aleppo chile. This was one of the tastiest octopus I've ever had. Super tender with a wonderful smoky flavor. I would venture back just for this. We swung by at 4:30 for a quick pre-dinner bite before heading to another spot..Despite being packed on a Wednesday night, the service was excellent. We were greeted almost instantly , and food and drinks arrived timely without ever feeling rushed. Highly recommend making a reservation. We had one for 4:30 and noticed only two empty tables when we were seated. The only downside and why it didn't get 5 stars is the neighborhood. It's definitely on the rougher and sketchier side, so we'd recommend taking an Uber and skipping the nighttime stroll. We will definitely come back but will leave before the streetlights come on. Happy Eating.

    Special menu
    Lena M.

    I can't believe I'm late on writing a review for this incredible restaurant. If you're a lover of speakeasies, this is the place for you. Behind this "pawn" shop is a restaurant!! In order to enter, you have to give an item to the pawn shop. We were a group of nine. We gave things like pens, scarves, postcards, and other goodies. Our hostess was a skilled improver. She had unique replies and stories to each of our items. When I gave her a pen and told her I wrote a love letter to my fiancé she gave me "something blue" as a gift for my upcoming wedding. She then entered a magic password to open the door to the restaurant. It was fun watching her tap a bunch of random objects. We were then led to our big table. We had a special menu filled with tapas for us to share. We were there as a work group and had an absolute blast. Each dish was so delicious. I remember really loving the octopus and steak dishes. We were seated at a high top rectangular table. They have gender neutral single stall restrooms here. My manager was super kind and told the restaurant that it was my birthday. They came out with a special cider porron for me as a unique birthday treat. My team and I had a blast here. I highly recommend getting a meal here.

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    The Pawn Shop Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Pawn Shop

    If we just want to grab drinks do we need reservations?

    No! Just show up and patronize this wonderful establishment

    We have reservations next month? Where's the closest parking garage?

    Most likely, it's the Fifth and Mission Street/Yerba Buena Garage. It's owned and operated by the city of San Francisco. There may be other private lots closer to The Pawn Shop, but I don't know about those. The Fifth and Mission Garage very large,… Read more

    How loud is the restaurant? Does it cater to younger people....e.g. under 50?

    The restaurant is quiet, making it easy to have a conversation. From what I saw, all the seating consists of primarily high-top tables. I’m not sure about the typical age range of guests, but the atmosphere seems comfortable for a variety of people.

    How long does a meal here typically take?

    Service was attentive and quick!

    What type of things do people bring for the pawn master I'm coming from out of town?

    Any small throw away trinket you can find would work. Matchboxes from other bars, old toys from cereal boxes, things like that. Or you can bring stuff that is really nice and luxurious, that's up to you

    I didn't see menu prices. Is it prixe fixe? How much?

    Not price fixe. Great appetizers and small bites. All very tasty and great service. My beautiful wife and I had an awesome time. 10 to 20 dollars for each appetizer/item. We highly recommend it for the experience. Speakeasy bar with great ambiance.… Read more

    It's been a while since I've dined there, do you offer chairs with back rests?

    Yes!

    Can you just come for drinks at the bar your do you have to have dinner?

    Just drinks is fine but regardless you might need a reservation or be added to the waitlist

    Are kids allowed (age 5)? Update. We spoke to the hostess and she said it would be fine. We had a…

    It depends on how well behaved your child is and if he's a picky eater. I brought my 7 year old son and he loved everything we ate. He had a great time.

    Do they take walk in?

    Yes, I went on Friday (party of 2) and they were able to seat us after a short wait

    What do they do with all the little items that get pawned every day? How do they decide what stays in the shop?

    It's a Speak Easy, so they just keep trading stuff

    Is this place closed? I called many times and it goes straight to voicemail and couldn't locate this place

    They were open a few weeks ago when I went

    Hello! I really want to make resi for this eve around 5:30pm. Could you please help with it? Alisa

    I would just go and you can probably get a table. We did this at the same time two Fridays ago.

    Hello, did happy hour ever come back?

    Hi Harim, we are not currently offering happy hour. Thanks for checking!

    Are happy hours still on? If so, what days and times?

    Hi there! We are currently not offering happy hour, but we are taking walk-ups and reservations beginning as early as 5pm Wednesday-Saturday.

    Do you accept negative Covid tests vs vaccination proof?

    Hi there, Pawn Shop require vaccines for entry. Please bring your vaccination card or a photo of it, and your ID with the matching name. Thanks!

    Hi, are vaccines required because I lost my card?

    Yes. Source: their website and I was there yesterday, 9/1. You can show a photo of the card or your QR code if you don't have the physical card

    Has anyone heard when they will re-open?

    Scheduled to reopen on June 24, 2021!

    How to get in?

    Front door, neon sign says "Money Loaned" you don't need a password but bring something fun to pawn ;)

    Are underage people allowed inside? Two people in our group will be underage when we go. Will they be carded if we purchase alcohol?

    Yes & Yes.

    View All 33 Questions

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    If you love plants you'll adore Arcana in San Francisco because it's a beautiful sanctuary of…read moreplants and cool vibes. Located in the legendary Mission District of San Francisco, this wine bar is a great spot to catch up with friends and enjoy small bites and yummy crafted cocktails. Their decor is very chic and I especially loved all of the hardware, glasses, tables, and benches. This place was styled by a great design artist. Even though the place was pretty packed and can be kind of noisy, I still felt very calm amongst all the healthy plants and loved the sophisticated 70s inspired glassware. Another great feature of this place is that you can buy most of the plants because they have some for sale so after a couple of cocktails, I was ready to redecorate my whole house with all the plants. I ordered a yummy Rose blend that was super crisp. Also enjoyed the Truffle Fungi! A delicious Shiitake and oyster mushrooms with parmesan and arugula on toasted bread. Their Spanish inspired potatoes were delicious with their dipping sauce. They have lots of gatherings there and DJ sets on the weekends. Lastly, a photographer would die to take pictures here. There is no bad shot as the design artist made sure every section of this cute wine bar was picture perfect. Loved all my photos and videos. I look forward to returning to this exquisite wine bar!

    Came here on a Saturday night after dinner for a girls night out. There is a cool photo booth…read moreoutside, which was high-quality and even gave you a video of your session. I love the decor of this space! It is definitely intentionally and tastefully decorated. Loved the lighting and plants. They had Lord of the Rings playing on the wall. The vibe is artsy, warm, a little dark, and overall a cool place to mingle. The bathrooms and tables were kept clean. I liked it that the DJ was live mixing. Getting a drink was fast and easy. The high top tables were a bit wobbly, so we spilled half a drink on there. The drinks are strong. I recommend going upstairs to sit instead if you want to hear your friends better. The tables are bigger up there too. The rooftop was closed off but I'd like to check it out sometime.

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    Downstairs
    Downstairs
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    Waystone

    Waystone

    4.8
    (93 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Lovely little wine bar for a night out! Super busy and loud but a great ambiance. Small indoor and…read moresmall outdoor seating. The wine was pretty good, and the tapas were amazing! I loved the poke. It's a bit sweeter but a great taste. Also a cute dog roaming around. Definitely will be back!

    We believe in second chances. And by we I mean me, my friends, and Tom…read more We showed up last night and immediately the atmosphere was different. Every single table was full and bustling. The people were laughing, the drinks were flowing. It smelled really good, which we would later find out was from the food especially that Mac and cheese. We started off with different wines, some that Tom recommended based on what we told him we didn't like or did like. He apologized for our previous experience and was genuinely a nice guy. Honestly it's very admirable for a business owner to take feedback to heart and want to incorporate it. Plus he's a really cool guy when you get to know him. The staff was busy running around but still made time to come check on us. Our final verdict is we came on a bad day. This time we got the actual Waystone experience. We finally got to try the chicken bites with a creamy aioli, fries with yogurt sauce, and the star of the show was the Mac and cheese. Tik tok did live up to the hype and we will have to come back for one of their jazz nights. Be warned this place gets busy! But it's worth it.

    Photos
    Ribs and Mac and cheese
    Ribs and Mac and cheese
    Fries
    Fries
    Bar area

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    Bar area
    El Chato

    El Chato

    4.6
    (59 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    I work around this bar and thought it was the cutest thing so finally got to come try for a…read morefriend's bday. It's super chill inside, we also got a charcuterie and cheese plate and everything was amazing! Had really great options of Spanish wine which I don't typically get to try that often and just great vibes all around. Workers were very nice too and gave me great recommendations. Will have to come back!

    Visited on a Thursday around 7pm with 3 other friends, wine bar was quite busy most seats and…read moretables were taken both inside and outside. We were able to snag a seat at the bar after waiting a few minutes. Drinks: A nice selection of wines, vermouth cocktails and some beer and non alcoholic options availible. We ordered chilled bottles of sparkling red wine which was served in a bucket with ice which was a nice touch to keep it cool. Food: Tinned monkfish liver - nice and creamy, rich with mild flavor served with bread, crackers, potato chips and pickled peppers Tinned stuffed squid - very tasty, squid were cut into smaller pieces making it easy to pass around also served with the same bread, crackers, and potato chips Tortilla - a nice piece of egg and potato tortilla served warm on a slice of ciabatta, this was well seasoned and a generous portion size, was surprised it was served like an open faced sandwich made it a little bit difficult to cut up and share but tasty regardless Jamon con brie - similar to the tortilla served in a warm open faced sandwich, ham and brie were nice, a little greasy and salty Service was fine, walk up to the bar and place your order, they'll provide you with a number for food delivery to your seat. Water we grabbed a filled our glasses as needed. Plates were cleared relatively quickly when we were finished. Overall enjoyed El Chato, there happened to be some live music that evening which was fun but made for a pretty loud space. Food was solid nothing outstanding but a nice array of tin fish and tapas, liked the wine and vermouth options. A fun spot for girls night expect a crowd if you go earlier in the evening.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Rose vermouth they have
    Rose vermouth they have
    Vermouth

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    Vermouth

    The Pawn Shop - speakeasies - Updated July 2026

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