The Alembic Bar / Restaurant

The Haight, San Francisco –

People don’t go to The Alembic for Jägermeister and Red Bull, DJs and dancing, or cheap beer and bar food. Nobody plays flip-cup on the suede stools that line the mustard-colored walls, gyrates on the rustic tables, or catches the game on the non-existent TVs. Instead, this cozy little slice of hipster heaven attracts its patrons with a wide selection of craft and classic cocktails, specialty brews, and standout small plates from an ever-changing menu like spiced duck hearts and pickled quail eggs.

Couples in matching vests and horn-rimmed glasses grab a spot at the wooden bar, squinting through the dim light cast by dangling bare bulbs at a chalkboard covered with beverage options. Window-facing tables near the front provide a great spot to eyeball the never-boring Haight Street, while the larger rear dining area floods with foodies scarfing down artisan cheese plates before moving on to the beef tongue sliders – or sipping ever-popular Vice Grips, which combine liquor, wine, coffee, and beer into a single cocktail.

Since the place is always packed by 10pm, erstwhile romantics may have to wait to get a table, but thankfully a proper Old Fashioned goes down just as easily when it’s drunk standing up.

Although The Alembic’s name refers to a beaker used long ago by Greek alchemists, the venue won’t turn anything into gold – but its food and drinks do turn many visitors into regulars.