Bar 821

Bar 821 used to be a secret bar with rules and only three little blue light bulbs to tell patrons where they were. Now, the rules are the same but they have a sign. Guess the secret part was too tough for the masses. They're owned by a group who also owns Cafe Abir on the corner, Tsunami around the corner, and Nihon, a whisky lounge/Japanese food place across town.

Regardless, Bar 821 is still a great neighborhood bar, even though they don't have hard alcohol (which, IMHO makes or breaks a decent bar). Chimay on tap? Champagne with lychees? Faux-jitos? Happy hour from 5-7 where all drinks are $3? Great bartender named Joey (with photos of his cute daughter!) who will not only let you and your friends eat pizza from Little Star Pizza but will go over to Cafe Abir and bring back paper plates and napkins? Yes, please.

Get there before they lock the door at 11pm (even though they stay open till midnight).

Bar 821
821 Divisadero St.
www.bar821.com

World's Best Bars?

World's Best Bars in San Francisco, brought to you by Jameson Irish Whiskey (think they only chose bars that serve Jameson?).

Anu

Bambuddha- heard from friends that's it's beautiful and makes you feel like you'reback in Thailand (the latter was said by a friend who has traveled extensivelyin Thailand). I've only been there when it was still Backflip.
Drink I'd get: Lychee-tini

Beauty Bar- sorry, but nail clippings flying through the air and the smell of nailpolish make me nauseous. One-trick bar that has outlasted its hipness. Bartendersaren't that good. Much better bars in the Mission that don't cost as much.Beauty Bar in NYC isn't much better.
Drink I'd get if I have to go again: something with an umbrella to keep clippings out

Bix- fantastic, old-school bar. Knowledgeable bartenders, great martinis (they'llgive you the extra in the pint glass from which it was made), usually a threepiece trio playing. Don't travel across town for the bar; it's more of a"happy hour with the Financial District set (what do you expect from itslocation?)" bar or "waiting to eat the even more fantastic food" bar, thoughI have seen some diners eat at the bar. Late 30's crowd.
Drink I get: dirty vodka martini

Bliss- trendy, flashy bar for the "baby stroller and dog" crowd of Noe Valley.Nothing else like it on 24th St (Valley Tavern, Dubliner and Noe's are friendlypubs; Bliss is a *bar*). Inventive drinks, usually a dj playing downbeat,owner who bartends the early weekday shift shows great service and friendliness.Japanese rice crackers on the bar for nibblers. Back room available for privateparties. Only flaw - the toilet seat covers in the ladies is right underthe paper towel dispenser. When you wash your hands and reach for a papertowel, the seat covers get wet. Have you heard of a more ridiculous designflaw?
Drink I get: vodka and Red Bull

Bubble Lounge- hit or miss. Specialty, as the name implies, is champage... strong listof selections, some appetizers (oysters, chocolate covered strawberries),almost all pricey. Good for happy hour, bad on weekend nights (more of ameat market crowd).
Drink I get: Bellini or flute of Veuve Clicquot

Fluid Ultra Lounge

Loft 11- do not go to this bar. It's horrible. Bouncers were nice (gave me and mygirls a price cut). After going inside, we found out why. DJ was all overthe board - MJ, followed by Chemical Brothers, followed by some hip hop...I can mix better than that. Sparse crowd (though it was a Friday night)and the people that were there were old leering men (50+), sleazy 25-30+yr old frat boy rejects with gold chains, and women that looked like hookers.Now, if that's your kind of scene, go for it.
Drink I'd get if forced at gunpoint to go again: shots of tequila to forget I'm there

Martuni's - known for their cabaret singer/piano playing and huge martinis. Mainly gay crowd. Dim lighting. Good place to meet to start a night of drinking (right on Market St).
Drink I get: Cosmo


Matrix - I know it by its correct name, Matrix Fillmore. Filled with Marina chicks (see description of them here)and slick men, you should know what to expect when you come here. Clean lines,central fireplace, small booths hidden behind curtains for some privacy divideits two rooms. Strong drinks but you pay for that (specialty cocktails arearound 8 clams). The bartenders are good at getting to your order quickly,even when they're jammed. Second bar in the back opens up late night butthe front/main room is where all the action is. Food served till 11:30 pm.Giant tv screen usually shows cartoons though once they were playing The Cotton Club. Good for when you want to be one of the beautiful people.
Drink I get: Stoli peach and soda


Mecca- only went once for drinks, though they serve food. Big circular bar dominates,with side booths/tables. It's an okay place, but nothing spectacular (whichis what you'd expect for their prices!). No place to bow down to.
Drink I'd get if really thirsty and Mecca was right there: Mangomosa (champers, mango, orange)

Ozumo Lounge
Sub Lounge
Suite one8one

The Redwood Room- some people long for its old glory days, where you'd expect F. Scott Fitzgeraldto walk in. Bar built from the wood one of lone redwood tree. Older gentstending bar. But inside the "now-Ian-Schrager" Clift, the Redwood Room lookslike it's caught between two worlds. Same redwood, but now they've drilledplasma screens into them (!) showing artwork of Klimt (good) and portraitsof Renaissance folks who's eyes follow you (creepy). As if the patrons don'tdo that alone. The lines used to be crushing to get into this bar... nowanyone can walk in (good). It's a hotel bar, but a nice one. Filled mostlywith hotel guests and people who long for the swinging nights here beforethe dot com bust.
Drink I get: vodka and soda with lemon... everything else is too expensive

Top of the Mark

Tosca Cafe- feels like a Little Italy bar with its high ceilings, bartenders in crispwhite coats, and mismatched tables/chairs. My friend once followed Sean Penninto its back VIP room, feeling a connection to him at once (since my friendclaimed he was Spicoli in high school).
Drink I get: Irish coffe which line the bar, prepped with fresh cream for the many orders of their signature drink

Wish

XYZ Bar- another hotel bar. There's actually two XYZ bars: the one in the lobbyright by the main entrance of the W hotel, the other up the stairs from thefirst. Personally, I think the downstairs one is more fun. More things tosee and friendlier bartenders. Both serve food (overpriced for what you getso you're better off going to Chevy's across the street). Another bar thatused to be packed in the 90's; now, usually filled with Moscone exhibitorsand hotel guests.
Drink I get: apple martini... the first place I ever tried/heard of it