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Category: Lounges
Neighborhoods: Civic Center/Tenderloin, Nob HillMon-Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
"Why I love the Tonga Room: * Kitsch, but Original Kitsch I hate those comparisons to the Rain Forest Cafe. This place opened in 1945. So WHO…" read more »
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NOOOOOOO! Crying and stomping feet. Stop this!
So over this. I love/loved Lush Lounge.
...............................
Okay, rumor is they are moving. All right. We shall see. Enough is enough. Stay gold Pony Boy. Or else.
Solid place to grab some drinks, assuming that it's not bursting at the seams with people. The bartenders are generally friendly, and they have a number of frozen alcohol drinks to offer, which are pretty refreshing when it gets packed inside. The drinks are fairly priced and well made, which is a good way to make you feel better while you wait for an opening to sit somewhere.
The crowd is rather eclectic both inside and out - they have a lot of scattered memorabilia and decorations on the walls, and the patrons range from 40-50 year old tourists looking to enjoy the local nightlife to the usual twenty-somethings bar hopping on Polk. You'll even see some Marina folk overflow to the area, as well as patrons from the Castro as well.
Sound, chill place to grab some drinks...but if only someone could explain to me how this isn't a "bar" since there really isn't much space to "lounge"...
The word is out: Lush will be closing down in about a month (I think), and it will certainly be a sad time for us all. It will rain, flags will be at half mast, babies will cry, and old ladies will scream "WHYYY???" towards the heavens.
While all good things must come to an end, they can return, and return Lush will. Right up the block! I don't know the details on the exact date, but it's true. Wandering around like I do I spotted a window front that said "Coming Soon: Lush Lounge!" I've added a local pic if you don't believe me (would I lie to you?)
So yea, as it will be sad to see it go in it's current form, it'll be all reincarnation style a mere block away. Like a caterpillar to a butterfly, or a minnow to a frog, or a tranny going for the surgery. It'll be different, but if it's the same crew all will be well.
Best chill bar on Polk. Yes, I know there are 5 million bars in the vicinity of Polk, but this is… Read more »
AHHH! I love you LUSH LOUNGE!!!!!
so hot so fierrrceeee just like that golden mannequin hanging from the ceiling.
fabulous bellinis, and fabulous bartenders. Interesting crowd too. my guy friend got invited to the bathroom around 10 times by a sauced gentleman. we were also offered a ride on a motorcycle.
it was a good night.
The return of Shatangi finds us with a new "bartender". When asked what kind of non-alcoholic cocktail she could make, she pulls out a non-alcoholic beer. Haha... Oh really? You're serious? You don't have any other beverage without alcohol? Not one? OK fine, I'll just have a cranberry and soda on the cheap. Peace out Lush! At least it used to be a good bar.
Shatangi told you...
Shatangi was totaly crunching on the hunky bartender. Great drinks and trannycam. Who could ask for… Read more »
i've always loved this place for the casual atmosphere, fantastic drinks, and friendly bartenders. the cinematic decor was also a bonus.
NEWS ON THE NEW LOCATION:
i've heard that they're to re-open in late november here - 1221 Polk Street, near Sutter...
thank gawd!
Delicious drinks!
the thing i like about this bar is that they put time, effort, and love into their drinks. and you most likely will get some freshly squeezed juice in a drink too.
I live nearby and this place can sometimes be part of the McTeagues, Hemlock, stagger home.
It's hit or miss. I don't go enough to know the bartenders or anything, but I have met some interesting characters here and have had some good laughs.
Late at night if you're bored, there's always the tranny hooker show going on outside the Post Street window. I hear they are moving so not sure what kind of street entertainment will be happening outside the new place.
All good, and "A-OK", things must come to an end.
Great bar! Tons of random stuff on the walls, really eclectic crowd and the bartenders are cute. Overall, it's kind of hard to explain, you just have to come and experience it for yourself.
What a great little find!
This bar is bright and welcoming. I loved the lights hanging from the ceiling and the various tasty martinis for under $7.
Our faves: cantaloupe martini and "the cable car."
This is where you can find me Friday afternoons. The place is usually empty when we get there around 4 pm for happy hour. It fills up around 5:30 or so and it isn't a huge spot so get there early if you plan on staying for a while.
The drinks are sorta pricey, especially for happy hour. But you cant go wrong with their Blueberry Cosmo or Melontini....I believe they make them both with real fruit...maybe that is the reason for the higher priced drinks...nnooo can't be the beers are even on the expensive side....and they don't take credit card... cash only.
Either way I still like the place. It's right across from the Hemlock so if you are looking for a much quieter, friendlier and more convenient spot then Lush Lounge is your place .
I just had the best experience at this bar a couple of nights ago! Not only were my drinks delicious, the bartender gave me a few for freeeee!!! Plus he was extremely friendly and sociable. We were also able to seat 4 of us easily at the bar. I seriously love this place. I can't get over how little they charge for such delicious drinks.
I have to recommend their mojitos. Just give it a try. You won't be disappointed!!!
This must be named the Girly Drink Mecca of San Francisco by someone... SF Weekly? No?
When I first…
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Lush Lounge is a place we can all get down.
I wouldn't make a destination of this place, but some of my best nights in SF have been at Lush Lounge. There is something so warm and comforting about the decor and when you're at the bar drinking a bellini being treated like gold by the bartenders and listening to LCD soundsystem and Debbie Gibson's "only in my dreams" comes on you realize you're in a special place.
Crowd tends to be an eclectic fun mix of gays, polk gulch regulars, russian hill peeps, and then there's always a couple people from the marina out there slumming it.
Big downside is there is one regular bathroom and it's hot as hell in there and there's always people hogging doing god knows what.
The drinks are deeelicious.
The crowd immediately outside the bar is not so savory.
Go here, cross over to Blur, and head down to 800 larkin and you got yourself a night my friend.
What a cute little spot in the midst of a moderately sketch hood. It's a "lush" haven, literally. It's full of plants and greenery and .... liquor. Their cocktail list looked amazing with all sorts of delicious sounding martini's and specialty cocktails. I was boring and ordered a beer. In my defense it was a Sunday night. I couldn't justify the hard liquor when I had to wake up at 6am. I'll be back to do some taste testing.
I should have written this review years ago. I LOVE THIS BAR! I've been frequenting Lush since Wellington was the bartender. Sammy is the main guy now and he's great. Always smiling and never put out by having to make the insanely complicated cocktails they offer. Lush seems to hire based primarily on excruciating good looks and unflappability in the face of a diverse crowd all wanting mojitos or screwdrivers made with freshly squeezed OJ.
In seven years I have been here, what, 100 times? Dates with CL freakshows, birthdays with 50 of my closest friends, naughty behavior in the ridiculously spacious bathroom (the red lighting just screams "do bad things"), and the occasional chill meeting of a few friends. Most recently I discovered the jalapeno infused tequila shots. Don't. Just don't. You. Will. Pay.
The key is getting there early or being catlike in your ability to snag a table/barstool once another patron exits because Lush can get super crowded. It's small but so, so, so cute. The signage always proves entertaining since I usually get so wasted I can never remember what they all say time after time.
They also have drunk food available right across the street at Hank's. Fried, heavy, good on your roller-coaster stomach that's full of aforementioned jalapeno tequila shots.
Oh, and the 38 runs nearby which is perfect. If you are a Lush, don't drive!
Fun stop on your night out along Polk gulch. Bring cash, cause that's what they take. Can't go wrong with a tangerine martini! Lots of plants and kitchy decor. Bar tender was friendly. Easy crowd. Looks like they're moving though...
Where to start for St. Patrick's day? Polk street is always a safe bet since you can just make your way from bar to bar in either direction. Lucky for us it was 6:30pm so we were able to take full advantage of Lush's happy hour:
- $2 PBR's
-$4.50 glasses of yellow tail champagne served with blueberries (cute touch)
-$5 frozen martinis
The place is small and the hanging plants are interesting and abundant. The decor is a little off kilter from the red and black signage outside to the wacky oval mirrors in the restrooms. Large cocktail menu with pretty much every martini you can think of. The bartenders are nice and once Happy Hour sadly ends you can still get a wonderful glass of Watermelon Sangria for only $4.50. Popcorn is provided at the bar...yummy salt.
**Note: if you're hunger grab one of the yellow Hanks menu, call in an order of tacos, wraps, sandwiches, fries, etc from across the street and you are more then welcome to munch while you cocktail.
There are very few things in life that make me truly happy. Bubbly is always going to put a smile on my face. Now when you add the Bubbly with fermented peaches (yes they have been soaking in alcohol...I'm not sure what kind) and Cointreau you have Lush's Bellini. It was delicious. I was able to enjoy this divine little concoction, two in fact, with one of my best friends on a quiet afternoon. As the sun hit our backs through the large glass windows we were able to catch up on life before she had to catch her plane home. Lush's Bellini and quality BFF time when you haven't seen the girl in months when for one the bar has yet to turn rowdy are the little things that make me appreciate my life.
And I have to mention that the bartender who served us was back from a hiatus / life elsewhere. He was funny and charming and boy did he have a fan club. Clearly he had at one point been a regular bartender because the happy hour crew of business men were so excited to see him I thought they were going to wet their pants. His girlfriend better watch out! Men in suits? That's some heavy competition right there. Yes he mentioned to the happy hour crew he had a girlfriend. I'm not a stalker, unless you want me to be. *pulls out safety scissors*
The happy hour options, however, weren't that great: Blended margaritas from a machine for $5. At happy hour, they should at least have happy hour specials like at Blur. And I imagine this place gets packed at night, but that I will have to check out at a later date.
Dark, low key, sensual, sultry, $4.50 fernet shots, small up and close tables make it more of a intimate date spot than a place for 6 of the fellas for an after work happy hour.
*Mental Note*, add Lush Lounge to the repertoire.
Lushalicious
Well considering I'm still tired from my visit here last night, I'd say I had a good time. I've passed by this place a lot and never went inside. I'm glad I finally did, as they have a nice happy hour, a good atmosphere inside and really nice bartenders. I enjoyed the frozen strawberry Martini and the "award wining" Lemon Drop Martinis (maybe a little too much, should have tried more food than just the popcorn perhaps, haha).
I would definitely go here again!
Medium size hole in the wall kind of chill out place. Pass by lush very often but never found the occasion to step in. 1 minute after stepping into it, realized that one doesn't really need a special reason to enter.
Very cozy environment, love the setting and lighting. Mixture of fake and potted plants. Ideal place if you want to chill with friends.
My favorite drink was the chocolate martini and frozen martinis. They are awesomE! Reasonable prized too.
Staff are friendly and honest. Very responsive to your needs.. enjoyed my night.
I pass by Lush every time im on the 4 going home. I swear it use to be something else before it was Lush Lounge? Anyway, cool bar that's convenient to hit up on the way home or to stop by when you're in the TL for a quick drink. The night i was here i met a dude who i swear was wearing the same jacket in the Thriller video and an irishman who complimented me on my taste for good whisky saying he's never met an american girl who knows her stuff. Tell me something i dont know buddy....*polishes finger nails* Pretty cool crowd.
Lush is definitely one of my favorite places to start off the night. What more convincing does a girl need than tasty drinks with names of the like of oatmeal cookie, apple pie, and peppermint patty (Not to add that the prices are not bad at all at about $7-$8 per cocktail)? And after you get a pretty good buzz on, you can either hop next door to Vertigo and dance the night away...or because of its central location in the city, take a short cab ride to a multitude of other places!
In terms of drinks: Despite all of the unique drinks Lush has to offer, I have to say that my favorite is still their lemon drop...but it is my favorite lemon drop in the entire city. Something about that fresh squeezed lemon!
Stopped in last night for the 1st time for a margarita. What a beautiful margarita it was. It was beyond tasty and worth having two! The bartenders were great and the other patrons were definitely hokey. I look forward to visiting the new location when they move. If you have time before they close this location ask for Sam to make you a margarita in a margarita glass and not a pint glass - you won't regret it!
Someone described this bar as "The Girly Drink Mecca of San Francisco" so I guess I was in touch with my inner girly self the evening I went to this place. If you're up for a strangely wonderful happy hour, get your butt over to Lush Lounge. This place is small but so cool and friendly. It's DIVERSE with a capital D. What a great people-watching bar. I was with two friends who hadn't been there before, and the woman in our group went a little ga-ga for Sammy the bartender. He's middle-eastern and Italian and a lot of fun. Also fast and smart with a big smile and good vibes. We were feeling pretty fubu as I said above so we all had the watermelon frozen martini. Wowsa, what a tasty drink. Thanks to the Lush Lounge and Sammy. It's a cool place for sure.
MAYBE I was just confused, but I went to the men's bathroom and it was really dark and I didn't see a lightswitch and also there was only a urinal inside. I was pretty confused. Maybe I just missed the light switch and the toilet door. It's a really good thing I was a) pretty sober and b) not full of burrito, or there could have been some major problems last night.
Anyway, it seemed a little fancy, a little pricey, and a little too crowded. Not so much my scene, but if you want 9.25 oz frozen margaritas and other artisan cocktails and stuff, maybe it's worth your while?
Warm nights always put me in the mood for an icy drink. And Sunday was of course, quite the balmy evening. So, what better excuse do I have then to head over to one of my favorite places to consume a few drinks on a "school" night?
My friend and I met up and sipped on Watermelon and Mango frozen martinis while chatting the night away- just what the doctor ordered. The bartender definitely made our night that much better when he doled out some popcorn for us and offered us a glass of red wine on the house (some girl had ordered it only to discover that she would be getting the boot for being under 21! meh, more for us. haha!).
Still love ya, Lush!
Alcoholic? Nah. Lush? YES!
Lush Lounge makes it easy to transform into quite the Lush! They have…
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When I'd recommend "Lush Lounge" to friends, they'd automatically assumed this was a douchey, Marina-esque bar. But don't let the name fool you. Lush is not your typical bar. It's a bar that's over-the-top everything. From their hanging plants, vinyl records and framed pictures that cover the walls (let's not mention a flying mannequin!?) to their unique drink concoctions, Lush Lounge is a one of a kind find. It's also a bar that attracts the most interesting crowd: college students from USF, senior citizens, dogs?, trannies from the TL and Polk street bar dwellers. So if you're that easily distracted / entertained, people watcher type of drunk, Lush Lounge is a MUST to get lush at.
Fabulous happy hour.
I dream about the frozen, cinnamon sugar rimmed martinis. A lot.
The only downside of Lush is that it doesn't appeal to the male folk (even with $2 PBR at happy hour), but keeps its 5 star rating as it's perfect for girls' happy hour!
Alright Lush- since I've seen more of you in the past week than I have in the years I've lived here, here's an extra star for the best bloody mary in town!
If you are like me and yack at tomato-ey bloody marys, but droool over kickass spicy ones, Jack at Lush mixes the best I've had- and I've had a lot.
Initially I considered this bar another "chick bar," yet have been won over by the interesting people, bartenders, decor, beverages, restroom, and never-ending-ticker (Above door to bathroom, check it out).
Will deeefinitely be back for many, many more lush experiences,
When in a new bar with exciting drinks, I do not like to be pressured and rushed in selecting my… Read more »
This is a nice little neighborhood spot. A lot of people end up here on weekends because vertigo gets too crowded and you can actually move at this bar and chat with people. The drinks are good and they have great deals. Going there for happy hour around 4 to 5 PM is a little weird since you see a bunch of dirty old man there looking at you and winking at you.
The bartenders are nice too but one time I went there and I bought a bottle of water. I wanted to leave after that but they would let me leave for some reason. I argued a bit but didn't want to go over board since I would still come back to this place. I found that very awkward.
I do like the frozen martinis/margaritas/sangrias they have and I will continue to come here because it's a pretty chill neighborhood dive bar.
I'm the kind of person who can't even take Robitussin without a chaser. That is not to say that I like those sugared up and overly girly drinks either. But i must say that i am absolutely in LOVE, IN LOVE with the lemon drops at Lush. That alone warrants the place 5 stars. For the first time in my life, I did not babysit my drink for 2 hrs, but downed the fresh squeezed lemon juice and sugar rimmed goodness.
I went there last night and am already seriously thinking of going back to the bar tomorrow to a) try all the other special drinks and b) go get a lemon drop by myself after work on a Monday.
well, i like this place. Very chill bar, no loud music, easy to meet people. Especially for a bisexual man. Mix crowd gay bi straight and i lov it. Drinks r little bit expensive (maybe im cheap) 5$ for a draft beer!!!!!. Besides thats, its very kewl. Will try again
YES! the best bar in San Francisco! Freshest, sweetest most amazing fun tasting cocktails ever! I'm a nerd for old movies, so double lucky for me! Always something to feast your eyes on, be it the crazies passing by on Polk st. to the decor on the wall or my drink. I love you chocolate martini. You are happiness! Wow, I swear I'm not a lush....;-)
Headed over here after a show at the Shooting Gallery (which I do recommend you checking out if in the hood). Had dinner at Thai house which was excellent BTW!.
We managed to score the corner booth in the window at Lush and that is what kept us there. However the drinks were horrible!!! I first ordered a mango margarita - Aye disgusting - tasted like watered down peach schnaps - ugh. they did switch it our for me (I have NEVER) returned a drink before BTW. I got a seabreeze and again it was terrible - didnt bother with a third try.
The frozen martinis looked good but didn't have the strength to try after that. Maybe I'm getting old and just can't drink mixed drinks or cheap alcohol. bar had good vibe but wouldn't go there again unless I already had some drinks in me.
I know it's a good night when I step outside for a breath of fresh air (gets toasty inside), immediately get involved in a conversation with a cross-dresser named Alicia who, for some reason, keeps calling me Twiggy & asking if she can borrow my boobs for 20 minutes, during which time she swears she'll earn my rent and hers. [Breathe] Of course she follows me back inside where I introduce her to my friends, like we're the best of friends. We drink more of the fabulous cocktails they serve here, but as usual, I can't remember most of what I tried because, well, the drinks are *really* good. I do recall the lychee martini being excellent: not too sweet as I expected, but with a tart aftertaste. [Insert dirty pun about cross-dressers here.]
Drinks are pricey, but delicious and strong. Space is narrow and can get crowded. Bathrooms smell like urine, but are otherwise decent. Local eccentrics are friendly and gropey.
Hey Alicia! Where's my rent $$? You didn't borrow my boobs, but you did grab mine and my friend's. Dunno what the going rate for that is, but it should be good for at least another drink for us to share!
Since I'm a lush and also enjoy lounging, it was no surprise that I found myself at Lush Lounge over the weekend. I met up with a new friend with amazing hair, and bros with popped collars were so impressed that they actually made him that pictures with them. Aah, the results of too many shots of tequila. Hilarity.
Anyway, Lush Lounge is a nice stop on the entirely too popular strip of Polk. It's not like the other bars (Lush Lounge is way more fun), and they make a stiff drink. Also, it's easier than you think to actually score a seat at the bar on the weekend. That's like, unheard of on Polk on a weekend.
Isn't it strange that the bartender doesn't know they have a particular single malt whisky, and so says to the patron after the patron asks for it, "We don't have that", to which the patron replies, "Yes, you do", and proceeds to walk around to the other end of the bar to point it out to the bartender? Huh. Isn't it also strange that the patron feels he was overcharged for his selection?
But, hey. They've got great hanging stuff in there which made for some cool photos...
AWESOME ASS DRINKS!!!!!!!!!!!
FRIENDLY BARTENDERS~~
but i have NO idea why it's called "lounge" there isn't much place to sit....doesn't really make sense cuz the place is called lush LOUNGE.
but always a fun crowd...i never feel like i need to get ALL DRESSED UP to go here and have fun. parking sucks ass....but always end up having fun when i go =)
*SKURRRRRR*
just realized...it says "dance club" under yelp's categories....no room to dance.....just room to stand arond with your drink and get shitfaced.
my friends rang me and told me to come to the lush for happy hour as they heard that they were closing, and were going to find out the scoop. this was our frequent happy hour spot, and upon their call i rushed the bf and myself out of our racquetball game to head to the lush.
my friends gave me the lowdown when i arrived, and apparently they are moving up the road to a swankier location -- fireplace, mezzanine and the whole lot!
phew! i was sad when i thought they were closing, and am now relieved to hear the news of the new venue.
i can't wait to see the new location!
my gay friend took me here, go figure.
some nights they have live singing w/the piano player in the…
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Happy Hour in J-Town!
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Daily Happy Hour 4-7
Neighborhood: Mission
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
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