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Mon-Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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I don't say this about many things, so don't take it lightly, but this place makes me want to quit smoking. i mean, any experience that drives me to take a drunk shower at 2am that doesn't involve a naked man is going to mess with my head a bit. i woke up this morning ALONE with the craziest hair i've ever had, naked, with a towel next to me and needless to say i was pretty confused.
the bartender, peter, was fantastic, although the drinks are a bit on the pricey side. they had some pretty sweet art on the walls and the ambiance of the place can really only be described as "classy frat." oh, and they played "anything anything" by dramarama.
I went on a Monday around happy hour time.
The appeal of this place is that they allow smoking and dogs.
Mixed crowd including one crazy hippie girl who gave me a flower. There were a neat array of original cocktails. Not a great beer selection. The bartender with bettie page bangs was not super nice or helpful. The furniture is like your grandparent's basement: Its old and smells like smoke.
If you're a smoker who wants to drink with your dog, I guess this is the perfect place.
I wish I could clone Amber and open a second, identical non-smoking version next door. I do LOVE the feel of this bar -- it's like a hip version of your trashy friend from childhood's livingroom, where your mom always felt uncomfortable letting you sleepover at... but with booze! Unfortunately, I've never managed to stay beyond one drink (and yes, one cigarette) before I just have to take off and get some air.
It's great for a short and sweet post-work wind down, but I don't recommend Amber during peak party hours (weekend nights) unless you want to wake up the next morning feeling like your lungs were trampled by a herd of baby dinosaurs.
SMOKING. INSIDE. 'NUFF SAID......y'all are just bitches.
To clarify, it's 3.5 stars. Food is good, but also pricy. Enjoyed their happy hour menu, and happy hour drinks were decent too. Weird thing is that I tried their drinks at dinner (different drink) once and it sucked badly.
Lunch buffet is $20 (~$25 with tax/tips). Great selection, fresh food, good naan, good service. Though expensive, I wouldn't mind going occasionally when in the mood. There are simply other more affordable yet awesome Indian choices in the area.
(Update): The bartender put out a cigarette in someone's eye because he spilled a bit of beer on his girlfriend's pleather boot...and the owner did nothing...I saw the whole thing from across the couch.
This used to be my favorite bar, but after witnessing such horrible unwarranted macho chauvinism, it goes from a 5 to a 1. Sorry guys, the party's movin' over to Blackbird.
(Pre Assault by bartender review):
This has to be my favorite bar in the city. If you're a smoker and…
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They smoke inside there.
He smoked while serving us drinks.
Couches, tables - smells.
Date & Time: WEEKS AGO LOL
Company: mY FrIEnD lol
Crowd: not crowded
Vibe: annoying, hip
Music: bleh, dumb
Decor: ding
Service: not great
Imbibe: nothing this place sucks
Devour: LOLZ
Total: nada lolz
----------------------------
this place is like sitting in someone's chain-smoke, tailpipe-fume-filled garage on dingy scummy couches with hipsters and crap paintings on the wall. why do it?
I walked in without getting hassled at the door. Big plus. I went to get a PBR and waited only seconds before a cigar-smoking bartender with a rockabilly haircut gladly grabbed me one. I sat down and watched Terminator 2 on some couches with random hipsters who started talking to me. Very cool and friendly vibe.
Also, I appreciate a bar that manages to get around the "no smoking" commonplace and allow their patrons to just enjoy that beer with a cig. I will be back.
If I wanted to sit on a sagging couch while inhaling second hand smoke I would spend some quality time with my chain-smoking Grandmother.
Your experience here can either be the worst bar experience or the best. Friday night seems to be the night when rude hipster @ssholes take over the place which sucks. So if you're fortunate enough to not fall into this category of people, Saturday night would be a better bet, as it draws a more mixed crowd of people.
Also, the line for the bathroom is always so ridiculously long here. There's only two unisex bathrooms but still, it shouldn't be as bad as it is....kind of makes you wonder what else is going on in there :-o
I guess the reason I like this place is because of how comfortable it is. I don't know of any other bar in the city that is made up of nothing but comfy (albeit dirty!) couches.
Amber is the bar I wish I could transplant into Orange.
I miss walking into a bar and smelling smoke. Being a second hand smoker, I actually appreciate bars that (silently) allow smoking inside. I also miss walking into a bar and having someone's random dog greet me with kiss to my hand or a high five while perched on top of a barstool. I miss loads of cozy couches, I miss nice, efficient bartenders, a good selection of beer and liquor, and enough space for a large group of friends to relax on worn in couches and all have a conversation at once. I also miss getting hammered and running back and forth between Amber and the convenience store next door to buy scratchers and spending our winnings on more beer for the table. I miss how comfy and welcomed I felt at Amber, especially being a new girl in the city.
There's a lot I miss about San Francisco, and Amber is way up there on the list.
I love this place! Reasonably priced drinks, friendly staff and YOU CAN SMOKE INSIDE!! No having to go outside in the cold SF night to slowly kill yourself. You can sit inside and smoke while drinking. I wonder if anyone has ever tried to smoke a joint in here.. I wonder if it is possible. The air is so thick with cigg smoke that maybe the smell of marajuana wouldn't penetrate it.
Wasabi is cool too!
Sunday:
Meet such great guys at the Lookout then stumbled my way down to Amber.
First time here, was so intrigued with the fact that you can smoke inside, that is cool for all the smokers out there.
great crowd, young trendy and very social people, will definitely come back here.
oh yeah
Amber is like being at one of your college friend's first apartment. Furnished with those comfy, hand me down sofas from your parent's house. The random selection of art on the walls. The old school TV. And the pet dog running around. With a good drink in hand, this is a nice, casual spot to catch up with friends and chat about whatever.
Amber = most likely the color of your teeth if you're a regular
*hint: indoor smoking
Came here on a Friday night, it was kinda hipster douchebag central. I was here with four female friends and one guy friend, once our guy friend left, it was like non-stop leering eyes and bad pick-ups from all the straight dudes, and there were a ton of them from what I could tell.
I have to say, aside from the crowd, I like the decor and set-up of the bar. If I come back, it probably won't be on the weekend.
Inside smoking bar. That is the appeal, yo. But I have never set foot in this place sober, so I am sure my opinion is a bit skewed. Or skewered.
Hey...I have a question?
Why is it that no one ever mentioned this place to me?
Honestly...LOOOOVVVEE this place.
You got the hipsters chatting with the "pretty girls" who walked in with the rap-stars. They're all sitting on couches and sharing a table together with the emo kids and the mo's. This place rocks.
And furthermore...smoke indoors? Yeah...that sounds good to me!
The vibe is amazingly sweet and mellow, and you get along with everyone there. And even if you don't want to talk to someone, it's fine. Everyone here knows that it's just a laid-back vibe and everyone is there to hang and relax.
Plus, my favorite part of this place is that it reminds me of hanging out with my friends in high school in their garage - just has that comfy, "what-the-fuck-ever" vibe to it, ya know?
Definitely check it out. :)
I'm a little biased because I'm a non-smoker and going to this place makes me smell like an ash tray or a week-old pile of garbage on a hot sunday morning but it really is okay. I love the comfy couches everywhere; it's kind of like being in in a really smokey living room. The art on the wall is also really beautiful.
semi-cheap drinks (-) hard-to-get bartender's attention (+) nice chairs (+) interesting people (=) okay
Plus, my sister met her boyfriend here and they've been together going on three years now so it can't be ALL bad.
As my lovely boob - I mean FRIEND, dammit, FRIEND - Pilar D said below....The good folks at Amber were a little less than punctual upon opening on a Saturday evening. Look, bitches, when I wanna drink, I don't wanna wait for it. When it comes to drinking, I am a little bit like a teenage boy on prom night. I will tear a bitch apart if I am not given what I need! Do you understand me, Amber? Are we clear?
When the bar did open, I delighted in walking through the doors whilst puffing on a delicious cancer stick. Then I got drunk off of gin & tonics.
Oh my god, like...so my friend totally told me to go to this bar, right? He told me that people… Read more »
It's true, I've somehow suddenly morphed into my mother. Good thing my mom kicks ass.
I used to *love* Amber. Now, I can't wait to find the nearest emergency exit because I'm 100% convinced I am slowly suffocating to death from the cigarette smoke. I'm an ex-smoker, we're the very worst kind of anti-smoking a*holes. If someone is walking down the street in front of me smoking a cigarette, I wave my hands like a maniac so as to not inhale. As I said, I have become my mother.
Still, I'm so glad that smokers have one bar where they can still indulge. Three stars for that.
Okay, the best part of this place is that folks at the bar are in their 30's, therefore not forcing… Read more »
I'll admit.
My pulmonary system was hesitant to venture into this nicotine den at first. A step indoors and I could already see the dusk light gleaming off the ashtrays. It was a cave full of flat and crystalline insect eyes, and I do *not* like crawly things.
But I gave in. Ordered Amber's signature "Amber Cocktail." Loosened up. Lit up. Lightened up.
Like Whiskey Thieves and others, there's something about the shadowy smoker bar that can't help but romance your bra down to your hips. I was content on a couch that would normally have me Wiki-ing "scabies," and I was smoking one of the few cigarettes I'd accepted since quitting caffeine. And it was... like being home. Click, click ruby slippers.
Bonus points for the bear of a dog and his gruff-looking master, who let an inebriant girl in heels feed bits of bacon(?) to the beast. I could smell dog mouth and peach schnapps for the rest of the evening, even over the smoke.
It was lovely.
Amber is the best thing San Francisco has going. The owners (who all work there) are personable and friendly, the drinks are high quality and affordable, the atmosphere is casual and fun and the crowd is always good. Bonus for smokers, it is a smoking bar. I hesitate to write this because I don't want too many people knowing my favorite bar and crowding it up, but I can't help but tell everyone about the Greatness of Amber.
Super comfortable seating, nice lighting, friendly bartenders, good drinks, almost-but-not-equite stumbling distance from my house - really my only gripe about Amber is the smoke - the smoke - all the smoke.
My clothes smell like smoke, and than makes me unhappy - although I suppose I really ought to wash them once in a while anyway . . .
One would think that growing up in Reno and working in a casino would give me the strength to handle the smoke. Not so, but as I tend to stalk Matt H. and his girlfriend wherever they go, if this is where he wants DYL, so I will go.
When I arrived after my bartending shift of slinging drinks at the geriatric crowd, there were only a select few left, lounging on one of the many couches provided. Which is good, because that means there were less witnesses to what was to come.
I was given a Hawaiian Iced Tea, and immediately after that first delicious sip, the games began. Some people might get upset by what happened next, so if you're a prude, quit reading. If you're a sad little lame guy who just sits at home on Fridays watching porn, the rest of this may be arousing to you, but that is to gross for me to think about.
Lets see...I molested, I got molested (although I don't know if it's true molestation if you are a willing participant) and I gave a quasi lap dance to several people at one time on the couch when I took off my bra under my shirt. Except the shirt had to get rearranged to be able to pull it off. Use your imagination.
All in all, a great place to hang out with the hot DYLers...but I will only go to this mass of smoke for Matt H. And he alone. Actually, I lied. I'd go for his gf Kate too.
i appreciate any variation of stickin' it to the man. finding a loophole to the 'no smoking in bars/restaurants' law deserves a round of applause. i'm not sure, however, it makes up for $8 well drinks, a severe lack of seating and a slightly annoying crowd.
i've been told that the weekend brings a bit of a different vibe than the weekdays provide, so i'm sure it'd be worth coming back on say a tuesday night. the music was good and i liked the 70's basement feel, so its probably worth a second try.
You're probably noticing a common theme: people who don't smoke still like it here.
Sure you have to wash the smoke out of your clothes, but you just might have to invest in a smoking jacket because this place is happenin'. I come by here every so often to hang out with friends and enjoy some bourbon or beer and maybe a cigarette or two. Or three. Er, quit judging me.
Sofas galore, fake vintage TV. Hip crowd and not too loud. Friendly doggy who shits on the ground.
I haven't been to Amber in a couple of months, but I am not sure why... It's in a convenient location, has fairly cheap drinks, a comfortable atmo, and sometimes even a door dog. You can smoke inside, which doesn't matter to me but can be a +. I am not a smoker, but sometimes I smoke in there just cause I can. I prefer it on weeknights, but I prefer most SF bars on weeknights.
I'm not a smoker but I still enjoy hanging out at Amber. You just have to accept the fact that whatever you wear here will reek of smoke. The staff isn't exactly friendly, but they are by no means rude, they get you drinks and move on. They allow dogs here so there is normally a big friendly dog posted up by the door pseudo greeting you as you walk in. I personally wouldn't bring my dog here though... way too smoky.
Amber is normally packed on the weekends but Monday night has a good crowd too.
I think I just got the black lung hanging out here.
I give it an extra star, only because If I was an avid smoker this place would be quite ideal for me, especially since smoking is allowed inside.
Comfy couches and drinks just like your living room at home. The decor is fairly nice, and I enjoyed the artwork on the walls. Service wasn't bad at all, and I got helped right away.
So once again, if I smoked like a chimney this would be my second home.
Hanging out at Amber is like hanging out at just about anyone's shitty apartment except there's no PS2.
There are many reasons to come to Amber. I'll consider a few here:
1) It's comfortable and usually not too crowded.
Everytime I've been here I've been able to find a place to sit on a couch somewhere. Old speakers are used as surfaces to put your drinks on. There are two gender-neutral bathrooms that are colorfully decorated. The lighting and dim and there is nice-enough art (all for sale) on the walls, including a nice series of stencils. I'd like the one of Woody Allen, but it's overpriced.
2) Cigarrettes are allowed inside.
I'm not sure why this is. But for many this is certainly a good thing. I quit smoking a while ago but I always feel like I should light up when I'm in Amber because everyone else is doing it.
3) They don't card.
I've been known to be a cradle-robber, yes, and when I'm going around with my under-21 friends we always come to Amber because they never card.
4) People are nice.
This includes the staff and, in my experience, the clientle. People will often strike up conversations with you, and they are usually pleasant. This place attracts a lot of loners--see them reading a novel to themselves quietly in a corner--they're desperate for attention and usually recieve it.
Lots of queer people, lots of straight people.
5) The price is right.
There are enough beer options and the prices are right.
There are other reasons too. You should just go check it out.
Strangely, this place is pretty fun if you have some chairs/ a couch to lounge on and a good crew going.
They have random fruity cocktails and you can smoke inside, if that's something you're interested in (not really my cup of tea but I'm all for freedom of choice).
A couple of lady friends got hit on repeatedly by cavemen bros, so that kept the entertainment level up.
I guess with special friends/lovers, any place can be warm and fun.
What a great hangout! Visited Amber a few years ago with some friends and thought it was kinda cool that I found yet another of the rare bars that you can still smoke inside of. Now that I live even closer, Amber has become one of my favorite places to chill...thanks Emily X.
As one reviewers wrote, the atmosphere is like "your parent's basement," filled with some cool kids that might be up to no good. Because of the ample couch seating--accompanied by awesome coffee tables made of vintage loudspeakers--and lack of juke box (house-provided music) the mood remains relaxed, for the most part. If you're lucky and get there early enough to stake out a seat on the comfy front corner couch, you're in luck.
Minus a star for how dingy this place really is. The furniture smells like an ashtray, and so will you after sitting on it smoking and drinking for hours. The bathroom walls are covered in a dense pattern of graffiti and other random pen strewn scribbles and notes; didn't that go out of style years ago?
Basically a great place to start the night, which I will likely do this very weekend. Well, Amber, I'll see you soon.
This one time I took a box of yogurt and two pound cakes home from work because it was about to expire, and I figured with all the homeless folks in my neighborhood I could try to give it away.
So I'm walking up Sanchez and then around to Belcher St. with all this yogurt and pound cake and I could not for the life of me find any takers. Even accordion guy did not want my goodies. Finally, I rounded the corner onto 14th and as I was passing Amber, this homeless guy goes, "Hey, miss, do you have some spare change?" And I'm like really excited cause this guy's talkin to me and I go, "No, but I have some pound cake!" And he looks down at it, then back up at me and he taps me on the shoulder and he goes, "Nah, I'm stayin away from carbs." And leaves me standing there, in front of Amber, the smell of sticky, alcohol-soaked pleather and cheap cigarette smoke billowing out in waves from the bar, holding a flat of 24 Dannon yogurts and 2 Sarah Lee pound cakes, wondering why everyone is on the South Beach diet now except me.
P.S. They have PBR here. Also, come here if you need to get some booty. It's very dimly lit. And watch where you sit down, because one time I got a mystery stain on my pants from the pleather seats and it took three washings to get out. Mystery stains are baaaaad.
I have a secret... this was my underage spot for a VERY long time. I'm pretty sure they check id's now but I've been coming here since I was 19. That's history. And I got my first mojito... still the best in the city.
As for the crowd: i have no fucking clue. one minute it's yuppies, the next hipsters, the next old men and young whores. I usually come with a crew to kick back drinks and people watch.
If San Francisco were high school, this would be my "The Max" but without that annoying magician waiter.
Two words: Smoking Indoors.
:D :D :D :D :D
Oh yeah and its fuckin SEXY in there. The bathroom is also cool.
Then again I don't remember much, since by that time things were doing mostly spinn-y stuff.
[pic added]
i used to come here a lot. basically, this place is for people who are new smokers who still think they can stop. over the years, my admission to my own nasty nicotine addiction has metamorphosed from a bragging-jovial "yeah, man-- i smoke like a fucking chimney! har-har" to a self-loathing violent "AHHHHHHHH! i need to stop! i hate myself! i'm so weak!"
so shit, okay- i'm a smoker. but for some reason, i hate secondhand smoke. the smell of secondhand smoke makes me light up my own in order for it not to bother me. weird, huh? in any case, amber is thick with smoke and super chill. last time i went, it was a cash only bar (which sucks if you drink like a fish, too). the place is smallish and is configured to maximize space. which means that you should be prepared to talk to strangers. so get your pop culture index cards ready, if you're uncomfortable mingling. :P
This place made my boyfriend start smoking again, so I hate it. And once, this girl kept giving us dirty looks because we "took" the couch that was "hers." Then, another time, this creep kept looking at me from across the way. One time, we were really bored and tried to go here, but someone was having a private party, and they just looked out the window and laughed and laughed at us because we weren't invited.
But I do like that television set that sits low to the ground. And there was a big dog in there once - just walking around, not drinking or anything.
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