Best Speakeasy Bars In San Francisco Near Me

4worldlovers: You'll experience the ambiance of that time in an actual speakeasy that operated illegally at this location from 1921 to 1933. From 1921-1923 our address is listed in the San Francisco Telephone Directory of the day as "The Ipswitch - A Beverage Parlor". In 1923, an industrious young man by the name of John J. Russell purchased the business as a "going concern" with it's solid base of customers. With his connections to the most notorious bootleggers from Vancouver, BC., he operated his bar under the guise of "JJ Russell's Cigar Shop". He did not sell many cigars. The speakeasy managed to avoid the attention of the governments Prohibition Agents for the remainder of prohibition. History was on JJ Russell's side, as it has been documented that a bar has operated at this Jones Street location since 1867.

We have a set of house rules that everyone is expected to follow to maintain the "Speakeasy". The term comes from a patron's manner of ordering alcohol without raising suspicion - a bartender would tell a patron to be quiet and 'speak easy'.

The origin of the word predates Prohibition by at least 30 years. Samuel Hudson, a newspaperman in the late 19th century, said he heard the term used in Pittsburgh, PA. in the 1880s by an old Irish woman who sold liquor without a license. She told her clients to "spake-aisy" if they wanted to buy some. The Cassell Dictionary of Slang lists the word as coming into usage around 1890. The term "spake-aisy" was used even a century before this, where it referred to smugglers' hideouts.

4worldlovers: Alchemist offers a spacious victorian and steampunk inspired hideaway that is perfect for events up to 200 guests. Our experienced team has produced over 230 events and we would love to help you design the perfect event. Please visit our private events page to learn more

Be the first to experience Members Only, a new Supper Club and Cocktail Lounge located in Lower Nob Hill (1000 Larkin St). You'll find a decadent menu of New American Fusion shared plates and entrees (served late), with cocktails featuring international flavors. Our bi-level space also includes a subterranean cocktail lounge called Finders Keepers.

4worldlovers: Local Edition is more than just a cocktail bar, it is a place to relax with friends after a long day’s work, a live music venue and perhaps most importantly, a connection to the history of San Francisco.

Live every Tuesday exclusively at Local Edition! The Local Edition Jazz Orchestra is a diverse group of long-time friends that have played alongside one another for years. The ensemble ranges from having as little as 8 to as many as 18 participants performing with occasional guest singers such as Billy Valentine, Bud E. Luv (aka Bobby Vickers), and Tom Scott.

“…bring the soul of San Francisco to their music and live show. The band shares an extreme passion for the music of 60’s and 70’s soul, funk and jazz… the classic sounds of Motown, Stax, Daptones and Blue Note Records but with a fresh and original spin. Their fresh approach brings a wide array of infectious dance grooves to their high-energy live show. “Our ultimate goal is to connect with our audience, get you to feel the groove that makes you want to dance,” says band leader Jason Movrich.”

The Odiaga Project features the arrangements of Peruvian-born saxophonist Sebastian Pinillos based on music from his native Peru. Some of the performances also feature songs from Latin America as an ode to his friends and family. The ensemble is composed of Javier Trujillo on guitar and Jackeline Rago on percussion. These songs have been traditionally sung and featured little to no improvisation. Still, with Sebastian's arrangements, these songs feature an instrumental melody and plenty of improvisation creating a nice blend of Latin American Folklore and Jazz!

4worldlovers: The Linden Room celebrates the tradition of the American Craft Cocktail. The bar is first come first serve, no reservations and the offerings is driven by Nightbird’s ward winning Chef Kim’s inspirations, with a focus on balance and a commitment to sourcing from the local markets, which is brought to life by our bar team. Enjoy a cocktail before or after dining with us, or enjoy the Linden Room by itself on a separate occasion.

Please note: The Linden Room does not take reservations, with all seating available on a first-come-first-served basis. However, if there happens to be a wait upon your arrival, the bartenders or door person will take your name and number and call you when seats become available.

4worldlovers: Serving Scotch-centric Cold Drinks, and featuring food from the Eight Tables by George Chen kitchen.

4worldlovers: Since opening its doors in 2009, Smuggler’s Cove has established itself as one of the top rum and exotic cocktail destinations in the world. We offer our guests an innovative new approach to rum by featuring the largest rum selection in the United States, and cocktails from over three centuries of rum history. Our stunning interior features vintage tiki artifacts alongside historic nautical and rum décor, and provides a dramatic and inviting escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The look was brought brilliantly to life by local designer Ignacio “Notch” Gonzalez of Top Notch Kustoms who also recently designed the epic gin bar, Whitechapel.

Experience the award-winning Smuggler’s Cove for yourself! We look forward to sharing our passion for rum and exotic cocktails with you!

The longevity of our crew is a testament to their dedication to our concept, & the pride they take in being part of the great tradition of exotic cocktail bars.

(Select a crew name above to read their bio, or read them all HERE!)

Martin Cate is a rum and exotic cocktail expert and the owner and creator of Smuggler’s Cove. He is also the author of “Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki” (Ten Speed Press, June 2016) with his wife Rebecca Cate. Martin is a passionate rum collector and conducts educational seminars and officiates rum & cocktail competitions across the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. In 2015, along with partners Alex Smith & John Park, Martin opened Whitechapel in San Francisco to bring the same passion for history and craft to the world of gin. He is also the co-owner of Hale Pele in Portland, False Idol in San Diego, and Max’s in Grand Rapids, MI.

Smuggler's Cove now has a book! Whether you’re looking for a new favorite cocktail (over 100 recipes included!), tips on how to trick out your home tiki grotto, help stocking your bar with great rums, or inspiration for your next tiki party, Smuggler’s Cove has everything you need to transform your world into a Polynesian Pop fantasia.

Martin and Rebecca Cate are alchemists—Reyn Spooner–wearing, volcano-bowl-igniting, Polynesian-popping, double-straining, Aku-Aku swilling alchemists. Which is to say, they are the finest kind of alchemists known to walk the earth. Buy this book. It will bring you a little bit closer to paradise.

Featuring over 80 exotic and traditional recipes, both classic and modern, made from premium spirits (including exclusive rums available nowhere else) and liqueurs, house-made ingredients, and 100% fresh citrus juiced in-house daily.

On our menu you’ll discover everything from historic colonial tavern tipples, elegant drinks of Prohibition-Era Havana, the greatest exotic cocktails of the tiki era, traditional Caribbean creations, and contemporary & sophisticated rum libations. Even our most complex 8-12 ingredient exotic cocktails are made fresh to order and never batched.

And, if you think you’re up to the challenge, we will give you a special punch card to track the cocktails you’ve imbibed at Smuggler’s Cove. Drink your way through the whole menu, and you’ll become a Voyager of the Cove and receive an exclusive gift and merit badge!

Click below to view all the drinks you can enjoy at Smuggler’s Cove.

4worldlovers: “If something bad happens you drink in an attempt to forget; if something good happens you drink in order to celebrate; and if nothing happens you drink to make something happen. “