Whether you’re exploring San Francisco’s Financial District as a visitor or as a member of its robust population of workers, grabbing a drink at the end of the day is a great way to unwind while getting to experience a taste of the city’s nightlife. Not sure where to go? We’ve found the best bars in and around the Financial District for your convenience.
Feature Photo: Credit Galdones Photography
550 Washington St, San Francisco
Under the red lacquered ceiling at Verjus, pre-dinner drinks might just turn into dinner, might just turn into a nightcap — and at that point, why not some pain perdu? This wine bar reopened in December 2024 after four years of closure, and owners Michael and Lindsay Tusk are embracing French drink and dining in its new chapter.
1 Sansome St, San Francisco
It’s a luxe experience at Holbrook House, where servers wheel martini carts and make drinks tableside. In the striking One Sansome Center, fronted with Doric columns and tall windows, the Holbrook House is poised for service from morning coffee to evening libations. For extra indulgence, try the deviled eggs with caviar before hitting the Champagne button.
2 Embarcadero Ctr 3rd floor, San Francisco
Run by four Irish sisters, this homey American gastropub is a stop in the Embarcadero serving an expansive menu of salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos and plenty of other pub staples. Come in search of your favorite American comfort food made flavorful, or stop by for happy hour to sip on a cocktail, beer or wine after a busy day.
714 Montgomery St, San Francisco
Good for groups, Barbarossa Lounge has ample seating and two bars, with a theme that emphasizes SF history and the building’s past as a 19th-century jailhouse. The cocktail menu is based around 11 drinks that change seasonally. Visitors can also count on local beers on tap, whiskey or agave spirits flights and solid menus for Champagne and Scotch.
415 Sansome St, San Francisco
Here you can choose between the Barrel Room, a modern dining room bar, or Circa 1905, an underground speakeasy. Their selection is distinctly American, emphasizing domestic wines from uncommon appellations and cocktails that highlight interesting history (including an SF-themed cocktail program at the speakeasy).
One Maritime Plaza, #100, San Francisco
Stylish and built to help you escape the hustle and bustle of FiDi, Bar Sprezzatura transports guests to coastal Italy through elegant aperitivi, pasta and cicchetti (savory small bites). Beyond the Negronis and spritzes, an exhaustive wine and spirits menu shares rare bottles from Italy, and their N/A drinks are thoughtful and many.
125 Vallejo St, San Francisco
Downtown’s love affair with Grumpy’s is back on. After a pandemic-era shuttering, the classic casual bar finally reopened early this year. Check it out for happy hour or a juicy burger and a pint. Smack in the middle of “Media Gulch” — where many San Francisco television news stations are located — the pub’s clientele sometimes includes local media personalities.
500 Sacramento St, San Francisco
This pub is best lived out during an afternoon soccer match with a pint of Guinness. As expected, the Irish Times has tasteful green accents and football gear for decor, and it’s a solid pick for any big game. And with two rooms and plenty of TVs, there’s not a bad seat in the place.
298 Pacific Ave, San Francisco
One of the oldest watering holes in San Francisco, the Old Ship Saloon was built in 1851 out of, you guessed it, an old ship. Today, it’s a brick bar built atop that wreckage, serving up all-day pub grub and reasonably priced drinks with friendly service.
301 Sacramento St, San Francisco
With 40 beers on tap and a pretty long happy hour (2–6 p.m.), Royal Exchange is a good choice for a simple lunch and fun game day. Look out for the block parties on St. Patrick’s Day weekend, which are centered around Royal Exchange and surrounding bars.
408 Merchant St, San Francisco
A classy destination with an international selection, this wine bar welcomes visitors with plush leather lounge seating, low lighting and bocce. Their tasting flights’ names read like abandoned New Year’s resolutions (“Get Finances in Order,” “Be a Better Lover”), but the curation is unforgettable.
200 Bush St #101, San Francisco
The after-work crowd flocks to the Treasury for expert cocktails best enjoyed at its dramatic, curving black bar. Cordoned off in a lobby of a 100-year-old building, the bar’s design plays off of the surrounding Beaux Arts architecture, with geometric chandeliers and regal curtains adding that flair to make you feel like we’re living in the new Roaring ’20s.
1754 Polk St, San Francisco
After years in Polk Gulch, owners and Frenchmen Samie Didda and Certified Sommelier Germain Michel credit their success to a regularly updated wine list and food program which is all-in on France. Ok, ok, there is the occasional malbec from Argentina or trebbiano from Italy but really, it’s all about France’s many wine regions, accompanied by a French-influenced menu of small plates (escargot, oven-baked Camembert), flatbreads and grands (beef tartare, gratin de Ravioles du Royans).
2512 Mission St, San Francisco
If you’re looking to explore the Mission neighborhood, start off at Arcana for a glass of wine. They go all in on the “natural” aspect of “natural wines,” with a forest of indoor plants lining the walls and floor, and DJs and jazz bands liven up the place many evenings out of the week. From here you can launch into some of the other bars nearby, like rooftop spot El Techo, Casements Bar for a chill back patio vibe and True Laurel or Trick Dog for cocktails.
1905 Union St, San Francisco
San Francisco’s Cow Hollow/Marina neighborhoods are filled with stylish bars, restaurants and shopping, but Left Door is a standout for its distinct aesthetic and speakeasy-style lounge. From the street, find the unmarked door by Bus Stop Saloon, and the bouncer will let you upstairs. Cocktails and spirits should be your go-to (espresso martinis are the unofficial drink of the neighborhood, thanks to nearby Balboa Cafe). Try to make a reservation before showing up, as the place fills up.
255 Columbus Ave, San Francisco
Locals take out-of-towners to Vesuvio to show them, “This is San Francisco.” Baked with decades of history and poetry, this is the spot for a chill beer, best paired with a side of lively conversation. With two levels of seating plus an outdoor area (framed by a muraled alleyway and adjacent to City Lights Bookstore), you should be able to find a cozy spot to sit and ponder the art which covers every inch of wall. Angle to get some pizza or pasta after — the stellar Il Casaro is just up Columbus Avenue.
