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Otis
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 2 am
Sat-Sun 8 pm - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
351 reviews for Otis
Review Highlights
"Hip hop lovers who want an artsy space, low key vibe."
(in 45 reviews)
"It's nicely tucked away from the masses."
(in 27 reviews)
"Probably one of my favorite happy hour spots in the city."
(in 35 reviews)
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351 reviews in English
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Review from Harold C.
San Francisco, CA
1/31/2012
Great little spot in downtown for drinks and music. 'Nuff said.
The only thing I dislike is the lock on the men's bathroom is always broken. -1 -
Review from Mai R.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
On my way home after dinner last night I received an invite to someone's birthday event here. I thought, sure... why not? I've never been. When I arrived, I was a little taken aback! This place is SO small. No breathing room. I think given that it was a birthday thing, the music was to that person's specifications, probably. It was all hooooooooood.
It's a pretty chill place, though. It has a young, artsy, hip hop vibe. -
Review from Bhanie C.
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am a fan of this place only when I just want to chill. They played nothing but hip hop and i loved that! We all came here to have a few drinks, it looked like a really nice place, there were art all over the walls, and a really big peacock over the bar. They have an upstairs lounge area where i thought was a dance floor, turns out to be a make out session spot. Cause when i walked up there, there were couples in each corner sucking face. I didn't want to suck face that night, so i went back down and joined the other for more drinks. Drinks were cheap and strong. Good service on the bartenders. Eventually we got too liquored up and wanted to go to another place with a dance floor.
* My friend forgot his card, and we came back after our second location hoping the place would still be open, unfortunately it wasn't. We figured they closed early because there weren't enough people in there. Cause when we returned it was only one am.
Weird, but I would return if i just want to chill and start my night off there. -
Review from Onzo B.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
Dope dope dope....I had a great time !!!! This place goes hard in the paint !!!!
You won't be disappointed ! Quaint and fun.... !!!!! -
Review from Peter R.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Second time to this place and I had another great time. The layout is nice, the tall ceilings and lofty feel are great, but the place is packed and very small. The drink selection is just ok, but the 32 of Red Stripe is pretty fun and the bartenders are very nice.
The thing that really keeps me wanting to come back to Otis though is the music selection/djs they have perform! The best for a hip-hop (not lame and trendy top 40 crap) bar/lounge/club I have ever been to.
So to sum up, not the place to finish your night, but a great place for a start or a middle! Happy hopping!! -
Review from Jasmine F.
Bayview/Hunters Point, San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
I really liked how secretive and hidden this bar was and I liked the mood and the decorations...But I did NOT like the smell of the bar and the music was far too loud, even for a bar, but I had a great time, anyways.
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Review from Cecilia S.
San Francisco, CA
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very small space, but it definitely packs a punch. This is the reason I love the hip and trendy culture of San Francisco. No matter where you go, you'll always find an interesting crowd with an interesting story. Every person I saw that night (no joke) was telling a fabulous story - from the way they dressed to their unspoken body language. Take all of that and add in a beautiful backdrop of art, a peacock, flowers, and a full bar, and you've got yourself one hot lounge.
There's not a lot of sitting room, and there's no dance floor. It's not that kind of place. Come here before you decide to go crazy elsewhere, or stay here and just relax. The upstairs is very intimate - nice spot for a hot date *wink*wink*
If I were to describe this place in one word, it would be ECLECTIC. -
Review from Nathan K.
San Francisco, CA
12/2/2011
Cool, intimate space. Good music. Apparently you can smoke weed upstairs... All pluses.
Went there last night with a group of guys new to the city. We decided to split our order into two for payment reasons... Apparently this is highly irritating to bartenders (that aren't even busy) not sure what the difference is, whether we were a group or separate individuals... Knock two stars for the self righteous hipster bartender with anger management issues. -
Review from Michelle L.
San Francisco, CA
10/22/2011
Otis is definitely a fun, chill spot to go to, but it depends on the night. On some nights that I've gone, there is a cover, which is ridiculous considering how absolutely tiny this place is. On others, there's no cover and a pretty good variety of music, including some local music mixed with jams from the past followed by some top 40 tunes. One night, the DJ played some chill songs by Aaliyah and then 10 minutes later people were booty dancing to Lil' Wayne on the tiny, tiny dance floor.
The decor is surprisingly pretty cute once you actually walk inside after finding this place, which can be a challenge. It's tucked away on Maiden Lane and there isn't any sign outside. Otis is a tiny but fun lounge. It's definitely hit or miss for me, bust mostly a hit! -
Review from Inigo M.
San Francisco, CA
11/13/2011
Cozy, perfect for chilling with a date when not crowded.
Napkin-sized second-level dance floor a good transition to sweaty bump-and-grind from that chill date. -
Review from Angela L.
10/13/2011
ATMOSPHERE:
I like the Maiden Lane! It's cute! The decor is great. Love it. Smallish, has an upstairs.
Tues night very chill ... Probably bc it was raining out that night.. and bc it's only beginning of the workweek.
Fri/Sat Night small cramped, casual dress -
Review from Mayra L.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I stumbled upon this place this friends and i had such a great experience. I want to keep this place a secret tucked away for when you want a romantic first date or want to bring a small group of friends out to celebrate.
Tucked away quietly on Maiden Lane, I never would have expected what was inside. I was expecting a pitch black lounge and instead I got a tastefully decorated bar, with the perfect mix of modern and sensual.
The music they were playing was a mix of hella old school and good hip hop and rap and they have Soul Train playing in the background. I have a feeling Otis will become a new favorite of mine... -
Review from Carol T.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2011
Music - hip-hop on this particular Saturday
Space - tiny, this place gets packed soo tight. They seem to reach capcity pretty early so you might end up having to wait outside for a bit.
Crowd - pretty mixed
There was a cover, 10 I think? not really worth it for such a small place. -
Review from diana r.
San Francisco, CA
10/10/2011
I love Otis. I always get a seat (is it luck? Cuz this place is tiny!), a glass of deadly and delicious sangria is only $5, and the bartenders I've had have always been Hot Men. So what if thats one of my top reasons to come here. My girls aren't complaining!
The chill out, laid back, and welcoming vibe makes this a great spot to bring ANYONE. I can have a normal conversation without shouting, the crowd is bday party get togethers, after work happy hour-ers, and fun people who just want to relax and sit back in a cool place with great music. :) -
Review from Latrice W.
South San Francisco, CA
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
On Friday nights my girl's boyfriend DJs. And he is the business. He mixes some real good RnB and Hip Hop. It's small inside but cozy and comfortable. Def try a Friday night and check out DJ Kevvy Kev...
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Review from Nick H.
Petaluma, CA
7/9/2011
I would probably give this place two stars, but then my review wouldn't have enough weight to bring down the average rating to what it should be. Even with one star, I am not bringing this rating close enough to it's current reality. Seriously, this place sucks.
There wasn't a cover on Friday night, as there shouldn't have been because there is only enough space to drink or sit on some scuzzy, flattened couches. I could do the same for much less at my Aunt Marge's trailer. This place is postage stamp tiny. I didn't even go upstairs, it looked like Liberace's rancid red-light room.
The people in the bar we're probably mostly friends / family of the people working there or the owners because they seemed to be more interested in looking at me when I walked in than whatever they should have been doing, socializing or simply drinking their "cocktails"... which is the genesis of my chief complaint .
The litmus I apply to any bar is one of three drinks. I either order an old fashioned or sazerac depending on level of chic, or a vodka martini the way I like. Given the rather poncy nature of this place I figured the vodka based libation would give them a challenge they could knock out of the park.
I order: Kettle One vodka martini, up and lil dirty. This is not difficult. Especially because the need for fostering intricate balances and alchemy is pretty much negated by the addition of "lil dirty" at the end. Yet, somehow Prof. Isuckatcocktails manages to make kettle one taste like shit and not dirty at all. Top it all of with having chunks of ice in the "up" martini and you FAIL. After he pours the "martini" into the glass which looked like a little guppie fish bowl thing, it took like like 4 minutes to get one olive into the glass and serve me the drink. Before I even taste the libation, he throws me into myocardioinFARKshun with the $10 price tag. Against my better judgement I told him to keep the tab open which made for what should have been an awkward moment later on when I would have to ask to close my one drink tab.
But it wasn't awkward. I was mad. Angry. Even a little disillusioned with what constitutes a lounge in San Francisco. Maybe it is my northern exposure that expects things to be sorted and done right in a city known for having refined and evolved things to perfection. Once getting the bartenders attention, I demanded he close my tab which he did with little fuss. Then I left a $0 tip and smiley face and get the hell out of dodge. I felt a little bad with my chum still inside making horrid conversation with friends of a friend's friend.
So here it is, we could have left it with you failing to make a simple cocktail and my not tipping ... but no. I had to go on Yelp and attempt to slaughter any credibility this place looks like it may have had eons ago. $10 for a martini is CRIMINAL in the face of a place like Rickhouse's expertly created drinks just a block away.
The only thing that was sort of funny was the soultrain playing synced up to some current rap sounds. But that was only funny for a couple of minutes and then attention focused back on the suck. -
Review from Jerico P.
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
thursday with talib kweli -
between POST and Geary in one of San Francisco's short streets- Otis lounge is tucked away on Maiden Lane.
small venue yes. charming yes. chill place to come to after working downtown YES! hit up the happy hour and then on a special night like last thursday- stick around for a few more drinks, skip out on the cover and line forming outside to catch a live performance. usually they have awesome DJ's spinning- last thursday it was none other than Talbi Kweli.
just fyi- the bar downstairs is considerably cooler (temperature wise) than the loft's small dance floor above. that night it was REALLY packed because of Talib spinning and special guest appearance by Mos Def.
AMAZING night!
i heard sundays here are pretty good too. i'll swing by again and see what's up.
until next time
cheers! -
Review from Elliott J.
San Francisco, CA
9/3/2011
PSA,
"Otis is one of my favorite bars in SF. I know all of the bartenders, most on a first name basis, and think that Aidan C's review is bogus.
If you are uptight and/or pretentious Otis is not for you, there are bars and lounges in the Marina for you and your friends Aidan C "
Now back to regularly scheduled programming! -
Review from Rachel G.
East Bay, CA
$5 Cover charge. Where the heck did this place come from? I say this because I would never guess this would be here. It's down an alley near Union Square on Maiden Lane. According to our tour guide way back in the day this place you to be a prostitute place. Where the most expensive girl got paid $1 (can you guess what nationality???) the rest of the women got .50. OH how times have change. LOL.
Anyways back to Otis Club...The DJ rocked it!!! There are two levels. The bar is downstairs with some couches and upstairs they have a SMALL dance floor and seating/tables. This place would be much better if they can add a little bit more lighting upstairs. It's a little too dark that you can hardly see the person you are talking to.
All three stars go to the DJ and the decor. -
Review from dan a.
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
a little good bad and ugly on this review.
good - the music (live dj) was awesome. a lot of 90's hip hop (they just don't make it like they used to!). drinks were relatively cheap too. also couches along the wall and tables upstairs for a loungey-type feel.
bad - the place is kinda small. i'm pretty sure my sf apartment is bigger in terms of square footage, and that's not saying much. and the funky-smelling body heat upstairs wasn't too pleasant
ugly - COVER! seriously?! i know you gotta cover your dj, but c'mon! the place is the size of a closet and not that poppin. it ain't freakin vegas man, so not too sure what my cover is getting me. if you need a dj that bad, my ipod ain't half bad. just sayin.
verdict: not coming back unless its no cover! -
Review from Jennifer G.
Dublin, CA
6/16/2011
never again. NEVER AGAIN!
Like this club cuz of the music & the fact that it stayed open past 2 am...
Other than that, ridiculous prices on drinks - $55.00 for 2 glasses of champagne, a grey goose shot & a well vodka soda. Are u seirous?! thats over $12.00 per drink not including tip.
To top it all off the bartender was a JOKE. He was SO rude. then when I didnt tip him because he was such a dick (& I was a server for 6 years, I know the importance of tipping & Im not cheap & rarely do I not tip at all), he charged a tip for himself anyways on my credit card.....seriously dude?! $5 meant that much to you?!
overall it was a fun night. but arent all nights fun after 110 drinks? haha :)
I reported it as fraud & will not be returning. EFF THIS SHIT HOLE!!! :) -
Review from Blooregard K.
San Francisco, CA
12/31/2011
Terrible atmosphere, weak drinks, clueless owners. There are much better places in the city to relax and enjoy a cocktail.
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Review from Erin S.
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Otis...a cool lounge hidden on Maiden Lane with only a sandwich board to show its existence. You walk inside & immediately exclaim "Nice!". It was pleasantly uncrowded on a Wednesday evening & the patrons seemed to be enjoying their drinks while relaxing on white leather (faux leather?) couches. I spotted the huge jar of sangria & knew that would be my drink of choice for the night. We got our drinks from the friendly bartender & headed upstairs to secure a spot for our somewhat large group.
Upstairs is a different story. Low ceilings, almost nonexistent lighting (adding "ambiance", I guess), hard carpeted seats with a few stained pillows, fold out chairs, dank smell. It felt like we left Otis & arrived at a dive bar. There was lots of room so we found our spot & sipped our drinks while waiting for the rest of our party to arrive.
As the evening went on, more & more people crowded into the space upstairs & it got really LOUD. To the point where I could only speak to my friends on either side of me. There were whole conversations going on at the end of the table that I missed out on. We were sitting right under a speaker (nice mix of music, I must say) but it wasn't too loud compared to the cheerfully drunk folks at the other table.
We had a good time nonetheless. I enjoyed my sangria & although they tasted watered down to me, I felt quite buzzed after just 2. Holly B. & I enjoyed the guys at the table by the window who kept showing each other pictures of butts & dicks on their phones. Yeah, we saw you!Listed in: Happy Hour
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Review from Jeff M.
San Francisco, CA
10/25/2011
I really enjoy coming here since they play good hip hop, there's no dress code, and usually no cover. When I go out, I look for these things as I just wanna kick back and have a chill time drinking with my friends. It's not ghetto and the vibe is laid back. A bit on the small side, but they do their best with what they have.
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Review from Erin M.
San Francisco, CA
11/7/2011
Beware...
owner/bartender = shady scammer.
why?
my lady and I walked in Sunday night, my love ordered two shots of fernet, she gave him a $20, shots were quoted at $6 each. He proceeded to "forget" her $8 change. She politely reminded him.
Shady.
I later approached and asked the same bartender for 2 fernets, neat. He proceeds to unveil 2 shot glasses and I politely correct him to make them neat as I had asked. He poured, and quoted me $18 for the two. "Really?" I asked, reminding him of the $6 shots he had poured earlier. He then fumbled and asked for $14 instead. I then asked the rationale as to why they were more than $6, as one knows that whether you order a drink as a shot or neat, it's always 2 oz. He said because he poured 2.5 oz.s. The pours looked shallow, so I asked him to pour the neat shot into a shot glass, and lo and behold... the pour was 2oz. no more, no less.
BUSTED
The contained anger and embarassment on this man's face was channeled into a toast of complimentary shots for he and I at his generous offering.
So if you choose to take a libation at this place, pay attention to who tends to you, and the interaction you have.
Hey owner man, might wanna rethink how you operate, shady shit, brother.!.
Weeeeeeerrrrrddddd. -
Review from Torrey R.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2011
I loved this scene... Everything about my night was fantastic. Last bar, got there around midnight, total blast...
Until I was up-charged $10/drink for three well drinks. My judgement of the hip atmosphere may be skewed because someone important (respected bartender, owner..) was celebrating their 30th birthday and had a slew of friends there. -
Review from Margaret N.
Daly City, CA
3/19/2011
My friends and I went here for St. Patrick's Day, meaning it was obviously way overcrowded. It was my first time here and I liked the ambiance as well as the fact that it's a small little spot down Maiden Lane, making it a lot more low-key than the typical clubs/bars in SF. The music was really good - a dope mix of hip hop songs. The crowd was extremely diverse ranging from hipsters to the sophisticated business type. The upstairs was EXTREMELY small.. I didn't even understand why people were up there in the first place. It was basically a hallway.
The reason why I'm rating this place so low even though I liked the venue - is because of the jerk-off bartenders. On a night like St. Patrick's Day all I wanted was an Irish Car Bomb!! I waited at the bar for 30 minutes as the bartenders continuously ignored me to take shots with their friends and tall blonde chicks (well, I guess I can't blame them for that one). Seems like they were partying more than working! Then they had the nerve to tell my friend "I asked you if you wanted to keep your tab open and you said no so I'm not going to fucking serve you". A little unprofessional if you ask me. I'd go back if the same bartenders weren't working. I left the spot sober and angry, I don't think that's how St. Patrick's day is supposed to be celebrated! -
Review from Al C.
5/1/2011
Cool atmosphere and not touristy despite its proximity to Union Square. It's quite cozy inside and not something I'd ever expected to find right on there on Maiden Lane. It was a little too dark to see what was going on upstairs, but still pretty cool nonetheless. Music was a bit loud for the small space, but perhaps that's just my age speaking.
I'd have to say that I'd frequent Otis more often, but since I don't drink much and don't get into the city as much as I used to, it'll have to go down in the books as a place where my alter ego in a parallel universe would spend some more time. -
Review from Ross K.
San Francisco, CA
7/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cover... Boo :( but I guess they gotta
Control the space in the smallest dance bar I've ever seen. This spot is tiny.
It's cool though. Good music.
The best part... They played Soul Train the whole time on tv and it was played in sync with the music. If you know soul train, it was like the people were dancing to modern songs. surprisingly enjoyable -
Review from Lesly S.
1/27/2011 7 Check-ins Here
"You could never find something like this in downtown XX."
Said last night by a good friend in town for business, expressing his surprise that we could find such a great bar so close to Union Square. Filled with locals and good music, the vibe is nothing like a tourist trap, much more like hanging out at a cool friend-of-a-friend's house, who has great taste in music, a bartender, and a kick-ass decorator.
Drinks are 2 for 1 during happy hour, which runs from 5-8pm. We arrived just after 7pm, and by 8pm we had the place to ourselves. The bartender was all into my request for a little St. Germain in my gin and tonic, complimenting its flavor (try it, trust me), and quite nice in general. We had fun. We'll be back. -
Review from Autumn K.
1/11/2011
At first I thought I lost $60 out of the $120 I had in my purse. Then I realized that no, I had just spent it on 3 drinks. This makes me sad. However, friends DJ here so we don't have to pay a cover and the bartenders are, empirically, some of the hottest bartenders in town. It doesn't hurt that on nights when I'm there the crowd is diverse and unpretentious for a joint that should, honestly, be filled with douchebags and pin-thin hungry drunk bitches.
In short, I like the place, but once again would probably not be likely to recommend it unless friends were spinning and the party's going strong. I always plan to bring my own bottle of whiskey in my bag to save a little cash (I am a Jew after all, and therefore tend to be thrifty regardless of income or bank account) but really: what kind of self-respecting girl does something like that (ahem...)?
Not a BAD place by any means, just not a place I would be likely frequent without good reason and motivation. -
Review from Don W.
Oakland, CA
11/22/2010
I like Otis, but it's not without its flaws. I wish I could add a half star on to the rating, because 3 stars seems low, but 4 would definitely be too much.
I'll start off with the negatives: You get a mixed bag with the bartenders. Some of them are way cool. Friendly, down to earth, responsive. Just good people. But a few of them are total douchebags. Hipster dufuses with major attitude. The type who'll arbitrarily decide to serve everyone else but you for as long as it suits them. The type who will charge you more for the same drink you just bought off the other bartender.
The other drawback is that the space is super tiny, so on busy nights it's next to impossible to get to the bar to order a drink, or even make it to the bathroom for that matter.
But there are a lot of things to like about Otis. For one, if you work in the area like I do, it's convenient. The happy hour crowd seems to be made up of workers from all of the surrounding retail shops. The fact that it's kind of hidden, tucked away on Maiden lane, gives it an underground kind of feel. And when it's not overly crowded, the small space gives Otis a cozy, comfortable feeling.
Other pros include interesting original artwork on the walls, a big screen TV if you want to catch a game, and live DJ performances on certain nights. There's also a secluded space with more tables and seating upstairs if you want to escape from the chaos that you'll sometimes find by the bar. And I believe you can reserve the upstairs area for private parties if you work it out with them in advance.
I'd recommend checking Otis out if you work in the area or want to try something with an underground vibe and you don't mind dealing with a jerkface that you just might find working behind the bar. -
Review from Kelly N.
Concord, CA
10/2/2011
Otis lounge is the shiiiz. Great atmosphere, cool decor, good drink deals, and good people.
Friday night hip hop with DJ kevvy kev are the nights to go. It can get crowded but this is the real deal and totally fun and worth going. I understand they have other nights but I've never been to any. This place is way cool and tucked into a little corner in the busy downtown -
Review from Anonymous V.
San Mateo, CA
12/10/2011
why haven't i been here until now!? the music is the shit!
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Review from Ojay E.
Fremont, CA
12/17/2010
This place is so incredibly fresh.
I lost my ID a couple months ago & only JUST got it back. Anyways, long story short, I haven't been out in a while. So I got my new ID in the mail the other day & a group of friends & I decided to head here for another friends birthday. As we were picking people up, we realized we had no idea where we were going. The birthday girl texted us the address. Otis? What kind of name for a lounge is that?
Anyways, we made our way there, found parking right around the corner & headed over. The first thing I noticed upon walking in, was the music. It was flawless. I dabble in mixing & DJing, & most lounges or clubs don't have very good DJs, in my opinion. This guy was the exact opposite. He knew exactly what he was doing. He seamlessly mixed REALLY good hip hop with REALLY good house music. He even threw on a latin house track that got EVERYONE dancing. (Seriously, everyone was dancing at this point.)
Anyways, back to the basics. The bartenders were dope. They were so professional. They always acknowledged me, letting me know I they would take my order in a minute. What was really cool about them, is that they had STYLE. Very well dressed & incredibly hip. The drinks were normal. I mean, let's face it, booze is booze, there's not a whole lot to it.
Granted, the place is a little small, but it's still incredibly awesome. I actually like how small it is. It makes it a little more exclusive.
The ONLY problem I had with this place, is that the lock on the bathroom door was busted, so you had to push a little stand against the door to keep it closed. I'm sure they'll have this fixed at some point, then I'll give them a full 5 stars. Otherwise, I definitely recommend this spot to anyone that loves atmosphere, substance & good times.
It's a really chill spot where you can chill, dance, groove & have a great time with the ones you love. -
Review from Miss B.
Westchester, CA
9/19/2011
They don't make them like this anymore...fell in love with hip hop...soulful sultry eyes this place has....the music is on point, ppl are super cool, not too crowded but just crowded enough...good drinks, dancing upstairs, a little snug, but cool if you prefer more private intimate spots vs commercial clubs...if you're the easy going type this is the place 4u.
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Review from Chris W.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2011
Love. Excellent and clever selection in drinks. Fantastic swanky but relaxed atmosphere with a really cool upstairs. I just moved to town, and told the bartender I was trying to drink on the cheap until I got my first paycheck from my new job, so she served me 2 cheap drinks and a free bonus shot. They got a customer for life. Thank you Morgan! Greatly appreciated. Also, amazing music selection, classic soul and funk. Well done all around!
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Review from Christine B.
Berkeley, CA
10/24/2010
No cover fee, great hidden little stop (actually took us a while to find, someone had to help us) but that made it even better.
It's a pretty small, unpretentious place. People say Union Square = tourist trap but Otis is definitely not in that category of tourist trap-ism. The dance floor is pretty sad and pathetic (2x2 foot space right in front of the DJ) but it was nonetheless entertaining watching people dance. If you're coming here to chill w/ friends, GREAT place. If you're coming to meet new people ... go elsewhere.
They didn't have bud light (shutup beer snobs) so I got a Chamay instead (upgrade!) -
Review from Gregor G.
San Francisco, CA
5/13/2011
You've all been on this alley -- be it using the backdoor to Gump's or (literally) hearing the fat lady sing for tourists, but you probably didn't notice the unassuming Otis unless you were specifically looking for it. If you're like me and a big fan of having personal space, you need to come early on a weeknight. Otherwise, all bets are off and you'll likely be miserable since it's not a very large bar to begin with and gets super-duper crowded. Its eclectic decor and recently updated drinks menu are worthy of your attention, however, so drop by and check it out. Also, their gorgeous bartender recently went out of her way by calling my friends to alert me after I'd left my phone there one evening, so SHE gets five stars!
Listed in: Hidden Hooch
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Review from Aaron M.
San Francisco, CA
7/9/2010
I went to Otis last night for an event, and I was reminded why I both love and hate the place; the layout!
Otis has a two-story floorplan, and while the upstairs is very cool (darker, intimate, overlooks the rest of the place) it gets HOT when there are tons of people in the place! Admittedly, this is rare - Otis is in a weird spot on Maiden Lane, down the street from Vessel at the very end where Mdn Ln hits Kearney. Not terrible, just not ideal.
The bottom floor is nice, there are a few loungey couches to sit on, the decor is great (check out the peacock above the bar), and I find myself reminded of a smaller, less-intense version of Harlot.
The crowd is generally a mix of after-work FiDi/SOMA/tech people, so while you may find a bit of attitude, everyone is pretty chill. Drinks are priced OK (2 vodka sodas, 1 martini = $18), and, given the area, you could do far worse. Even with a packed bar it only took a few minutes to get a drink which was great.
This is not a place to spend/end the whole night, but works well as either a starting point or stop in-between (Press Club to Otis to Cantina anyone?).
Check it out if you have the time, but its not worth going out of your way for
