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Sun / Mar 7
Party Earth Review 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... ... read full review
1725 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
MUNI N Line: Carl Street & Cole Street
415-666-0822
Daily noon–2am
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.
Neighborhood hipsters, foodies, cocktail connoisseurs, date night couples, and older professionals, late 20s to 40s.
Ambient music.
Constantly changing menu of esoteric American cuisine like beef tongue sliders, pickled quail eggs, lamb shoulder, and bone marrow. Happy Hour M–F 5–7pm.
Appetizers $2–$5, cheese plates $4–$15, entrées $12–$23, desserts $8. Beer $6–$35, cocktails $11, wine $8–$12/glass or $22–$52+/bottle, hard liquor $7–$20+. Prices may change slightly due to ever-changing menu items.
Casual to stylish: t-shirts, ripped jeans, dresses, blazers, vests, plaid, lots of sweaters.
Fridays and Saturdays after 10pm for a loud – though not rowdy – crowd, weekends during the day for a more relaxing atmosphere to sip a few mint juleps, or earlier in the week for a romantic date.
Club Deluxe (1511 Haight Street) offers a respite from obscure cocktails in the form of jumping ‘n’ jiving live jazz and delectable thin-crust pizza.
The Alembic User Reviews