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Party Earth Review Located on the ground floor of a brick office building and accessed via a narrow alley just off Montgomery Street, John Colins is a popular little club with Happy Hour specials characteristic of a casual neighborhood bar... ... read full review
138 Minna Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
BART: Montgomery
MUNI J, KT, L, M, N Lines: Metro Montgomery Station
415-512-7493
M–F 5pm–2am, Sa 9pm–2am
SoMa, San Francisco –
Located on the ground floor of a brick office building and accessed via a narrow alley just off Montgomery Street, John Colins is a popular little club with Happy Hour specials characteristic of a casual neighborhood bar.
Murals of coastal scenes and mounted surfboards combine with impressionistic cityscapes to create what the owners describe as a “Metropical” environment, while exposed brick and dark brown modern furniture class up the beachy vibe for the white-collared young professionals who pile in after work.
Miniature groves of tropical plants crowd the corners, surrounding an elevated lounge area that caters to the bottle service set, though depending on the night, the cozy dance floor attracts everyone from reggae revelers to hip-hop aficionados.
Indeed, the patrons are a diverse bunch, with some coming for the DJs or bands, others for the lively singles scene, and still others for the solid menu of classic cocktails.
Portraits of pit bulls form the backdrop for the party girls sipping JC Gimlets and Side Cars or shimmying on the dance floor, while mellow hipsters pull on snifters of top shelf whiskey and rum. Local sports fans know the bar broadcasts the Giants on the projection screen, but it could just as easily feature 80s music videos or surfing documentaries.
Regardless, the base of regulars is a devoted one, perhaps because the drinks are strong and the music is ever-changing, or maybe because John Colins is a bar that strives to be hip, but isn’t afraid to be a little weird.
A multifarious mass of prepsters, hipsters, DJ followers, sports fans, young professionals, and college students, early 20s to 30s.
Live DJs nightly spinning mostly hip-hop, soul, Latin, reggae, dancehall, and electronica. Rotating live music on Tuesdays, Fridays, and/or Saturdays. Rotation varies monthly. Check venue website for latest calendar lineup.
Free bar snacks like pretzels and goldfish crackers. Happy Hour M–F 5–7pm. $20 credit card minimum at bar.
Beer $4–$6, wine $6–$12, cocktails $7–$12, whiskey, scotch, tequila, and rum $7–$20, champagne $7–$9/glass or $25–$240/bottle, bottle service $200–$300, advanced table reservations recommended.
Casual but stylish: plaid, button-downs, dark jackets, polos. No baggy jeans, shorts, or sportswear.
Tuesdays for live music, or Fridays and Saturdays after 10pm for the biggest crowds.
Temple Nightclub (540 Howard Street) is a larger club with Asian décor and a very different vibe – from hip-hop to trance – on each of its three dance floors.
John Colins User Reviews