With San Francisco's numerous high quality bars and cocktail lounges that feature whiskey, you can guarantee many of them keep a fine stock of the best kinds.
Here are our picks for the best bars in the city that offer the most refined and top-notch whiskeys, either as specials, in an inventive cocktail, or just served neat.
See also: Your Ultimate San Francisco Mezcal Guide
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246 Kearny St / Website
Rickhouse is our first choice in the FiDi due to their expansive shelf of high quality whiskeys, relaxed and inviting lounge, and creatively delicious cocktails. We recommend stopping to imbibe their "Cask-Strength" Mint Juleps and Negronis, or their "Special Reserve" Field Of Fire with perfectly balanced highland park 12 year laphroaig quarter cask, strega, nocino, and orange bitters.
They also offer many punch selections perfect for sharing with a group!
See also: San Francisco's Best Authentic Mint Julep Is At This Password-Required Speakeasy
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1166 Geneva Ave / Website
This landmark in the Crocker-Amazon neighborhood offers over 200 different types of whiskeys, so you know you will find something premium here. Their menu features an expansive global selection from Japanese and Scottish, to New Zealand and Belgium made whiskeys. They also provide amazing food to pair with your high-quality choice, ensuring you feel comfortable and at home in their cozy venue.
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628 20th St / Website
Third Rail has an amazing interior designed as a vintage train station, instantly transporting you to the wild west, especially with their wide whiskey inventory! Come into this popular Dogpatch station and sit in one of their old rail cars to truly feel like a pioneer while indulging in their smoky scotch, bourbon, and pepper "Nighthawks at the Diner" concoction.
This whimsical bar is also notorious for their equally vast and artisanal jerky selection, with considerate vegan options as well.
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3200 16th St / Website
Mission District's Elixir is the second oldest bar in the city, first opening as a saloon in 1858! Step into history here and sample their exceptional whiskeys among their retained vintage decor. They also offer Whiskey Wednesday specials for those who enjoy sampling their selections' note complexities, as well as intricate cocktails such as the "Cameron's Kick" with orgeat, Bushmill's Red Bush Irish, Deward's Blended Scotch, and more.
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101 California St / Website
PABU is a highly-coveted Japanese restaurant by the legendary Chef Michael Mina and Chef Ken Tominaga, so you know you will receive star quality in both their service and drinks. PABU offers signature flights of their diverse Japanese whiskey selection, and for a cocktail, we highly recommend their "Classic Lolita" with Mars Iwai Japanese whisky, bitters, and traditional Okinawa sugar.
View this post on Instagram
12 Fourth St / Website
Dirty Habit is an exclusive and opulent rooftop bar in the heart of the Museum District that takes exquisite liquors and utilizes them to reimagine traditional Asian flavors. They offer popular whiskeys from Ireland and Japan, as well as more hidden-gem Taiwanese and French selections.
We recommend sampling their expansive and innovative cocktail menu, such as the "Tokidoki" with Suntory Toki Whisky, Choya Yuzu Liqueur, lemon, and egg white, or their "A Gentleman's Dignity" with Benjamin Chapman 7yr Rye, mezcal, aperol, elderflower, and more.
With these proper whiskey bars you are sure to discover your next favorite whiskey, either on its own, or perfectly balanced in a creative concoction!
See also: Hang Out & Cool Off Here At San Francisco's Best Beer Gardens
Photography by: Ambitious Creative Co Rick Barrett/Unsplash
With San Francisco's numerous high quality bars and cocktail lounges that feature whiskey, you can guarantee many of them keep a fine stock of the best kinds.
Here are our picks for the best bars in the city that offer the most refined and top-notch whiskeys, either as specials, in an inventive cocktail, or just served neat.
See also: Your Ultimate San Francisco Mezcal Guide
View this post on Instagram
246 Kearny St / Website
Rickhouse is our first choice in the FiDi due to their expansive shelf of high quality whiskeys, relaxed and inviting lounge, and creatively delicious cocktails. We recommend stopping to imbibe their "Cask-Strength" Mint Juleps and Negronis, or their "Special Reserve" Field Of Fire with perfectly balanced highland park 12 year laphroaig quarter cask, strega, nocino, and orange bitters.
They also offer many punch selections perfect for sharing with a group!
See also: San Francisco's Best Authentic Mint Julep Is At This Password-Required Speakeasy
View this post on Instagram
1166 Geneva Ave / Website
This landmark in the Crocker-Amazon neighborhood offers over 200 different types of whiskeys, so you know you will find something premium here. Their menu features an expansive global selection from Japanese and Scottish, to New Zealand and Belgium made whiskeys. They also provide amazing food to pair with your high-quality choice, ensuring you feel comfortable and at home in their cozy venue.
View this post on Instagram
628 20th St / Website
Third Rail has an amazing interior designed as a vintage train station, instantly transporting you to the wild west, especially with their wide whiskey inventory! Come into this popular Dogpatch station and sit in one of their old rail cars to truly feel like a pioneer while indulging in their smoky scotch, bourbon, and pepper "Nighthawks at the Diner" concoction.
This whimsical bar is also notorious for their equally vast and artisanal jerky selection, with considerate vegan options as well.
View this post on Instagram
3200 16th St / Website
Mission District's Elixir is the second oldest bar in the city, first opening as a saloon in 1858! Step into history here and sample their exceptional whiskeys among their retained vintage decor. They also offer Whiskey Wednesday specials for those who enjoy sampling their selections' note complexities, as well as intricate cocktails such as the "Cameron's Kick" with orgeat, Bushmill's Red Bush Irish, Deward's Blended Scotch, and more.
View this post on Instagram
101 California St / Website
PABU is a highly-coveted Japanese restaurant by the legendary Chef Michael Mina and Chef Ken Tominaga, so you know you will receive star quality in both their service and drinks. PABU offers signature flights of their diverse Japanese whiskey selection, and for a cocktail, we highly recommend their "Classic Lolita" with Mars Iwai Japanese whisky, bitters, and traditional Okinawa sugar.
View this post on Instagram
12 Fourth St / Website
Dirty Habit is an exclusive and opulent rooftop bar in the heart of the Museum District that takes exquisite liquors and utilizes them to reimagine traditional Asian flavors. They offer popular whiskeys from Ireland and Japan, as well as more hidden-gem Taiwanese and French selections.
We recommend sampling their expansive and innovative cocktail menu, such as the "Tokidoki" with Suntory Toki Whisky, Choya Yuzu Liqueur, lemon, and egg white, or their "A Gentleman's Dignity" with Benjamin Chapman 7yr Rye, mezcal, aperol, elderflower, and more.
With these proper whiskey bars you are sure to discover your next favorite whiskey, either on its own, or perfectly balanced in a creative concoction!
See also: Hang Out & Cool Off Here At San Francisco's Best Beer Gardens
Photography by: Ambitious Creative Co Rick Barrett/Unsplash
