Orbit Room Cafe Bar / Café / Lounge

Hayes Valley, San Francisco –

The Orbit Room Cafe combines the ambiance of a swanky cocktail lounge with the friendly familiarity of a pizza joint, which makes it an ideal place to sip a Sazerac or just nosh on a slice.

Metallic gold patterns on the walls, space-age chandeliers, and faded maps and globes make the high-ceilinged room look like a steampunk interpretation of Jules Verne’s high school geography class.

The early-evening crowd trends casual, with a mix of young professionals peeling off the accoutrements of their business attire and college kids donning whatever’s not tumbling in the adjoining Laundromat, though the relaxed nature of the clientele belies the intricacy of the drinks menu.

Service isn’t quick, but calculated touches – like strawberry ice in the Mint Hill Punch – draw in the classic connoisseurs, while artisan pizzas quell the munchies that inevitably follow. Crafted libations are certainly the biggest draw, both for the older neighborhood residents and the younger weekend gang of budding cocktail enthusiasts who’ve just discovered the joys of handmade elixirs.

Floor-to-ceiling windows provide for great people-watching, while a sidewalk patio waylays the crush of trendier groups that spill in on their way to rowdier hubs in the neighboring Castro and Mission.

No matter what the time, though, the Orbit Room Cafe tends to be a down-tempo place where visitors spend hours in relaxed conversation or grab a “quick” quality beverage before starting the night.