Absinthe Brasserie & Bar Bar / Brasserie

Hayes Valley, San Francisco –

Consistently ranked one of the best restaurants in town by both local and national publications, Absinthe Brasserie & Bar features an acclaimed menu of craft cocktails, an extensive wine list, and of course the namesake hallucinogenic drink.

Situated on a trendy stretch of Hayes Street, the venue benefits from its proximity to the Performing Arts District, with dapper symphony-goers and proper ballet buffs dominating the dinner crowd on performance nights. The front room exudes a traditional French café vibe, with dark red walls, pressed-tin ceilings, and dozens of obscure liquor bottles shimmering on the window shelves.

Hip cocktail connoisseurs belly up to the dark mahogany bar near a sparkling mirrored pole for rounds of Gold Miners (absinthe and figs) and Sacred Hearts (absinthe and pomegranate-infused tequila), pairing their drinks with bar menu items like oyster shooters and cheese plates.

Those looking for a bigger meal head to the café space, where patrons range from casual foodies and nerdy tech workers in jeans and V-necks to society types in Jean Paul Gaultier, most of whom have been wise enough to make reservations. The back dining area, meanwhile, is plush and quiet even on busy weekends, as romantic couples cuddle around linen-topped tables for intricate Mediterranean- and French-inspired meals of potato-crusted char, coq au vin, and heirloom squash.

Cozy yet refined, and creative without being pretentious, Absinthe Brasserie & Bar is undeniably a place of substance – hallucinogenic and otherwise.