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- Hours:
Mon 5 pm - 2 am
Tue-Fri 3 pm - 2 am
Sat 6 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Ying F. said: "One of my favorite causal bars in the haight. Actually, there is nothing super fancy in the haight. Everything here is pretty relax and causal. It's nice for me to break out of the financial/soma/marina yuppy scene once in a while…" read more »
839 reviews for Rickhouse
Review Highlights
"Another great Bourbon & Branch / Future Bars design."
(in 92 reviews)
"Holy heck, those punch bowls rock."
(in 74 reviews)
"The Kentucky Buck is especially tasty."
(in 28 reviews)
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838 reviews in English
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Review from Chrissy L.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
What's your favorite spirit?
Do you like ginger? Lime? Something on the sour side or a bit of spice?
Fresh muddled fruit or a true classic cocktail?
Rickhouse takes cocktail crafting seriously. If I'm not sure what I want, they ask me a couple questions and voila! something delicious just for me. -
Review from Shirley L.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
Personally I enjoy dive bars, but Rickhouse changed my perception and I now appreciate the finer bars in life. I can totally see why this bar is a fav for many others around the neighborhood with vintage swank, barrels, live music every Saturday, and delicious libations, why not?
there is a nice mixture of locals and fi-di folks at the bar, going from classy to hipster ass-y. It feels like a nice speakeasy/prohibition bar with style so yes the bartenders do have mustaches and suspenders but they make really good cocktails (gin/vodka w tonic: $7-8). Went last Saturday for a friends birthday and I had a grand time chilling and dancing to live country music and watched my drunken friend literally swapping his sweater with the guitarist's rose designed black collared shirt in front of me (yes there were man nips). I would come again next time to check out the mezzanine upstairs and of course the whiskey!
tip: come early on Saturday because it sucks to wait out in the cold line for 30 so ish minutes -
Review from Samuel H.
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Quite possibly my favorite bar so far in SF. A lot of grad students from our school recommended this place and I can see why. The drinks here are fantastic! I had a strawberry infused bourbon that tasted like juice but hit HARD FAST, which is exactly what I like in a drink. Also the bouncer was really nice to me and even congratulated me for turning 21. (There's something about being carded that I find very rewarding, I don't know why). The bar has two stories and has sort of classic western-style, and the bartenders even dress up to fit the part!
If you want to end your Friday night at a bar, do it here. You'll have a great time. -
Review from Flor D.
2/2/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Rickhouse, you are a fun house. The wood, the dim lit corners, the limited seating, you don' t play around. Well, maybe. You tease with hopes of a mellow evening, but the hustle and bustle quickly smacks it's clients in the face when trying to order a drink and get inside.
I like all the wood, and not just within the architecture of the bar. Good people watching, and if you can find a seat, take it. Three areas to mingle, see and be seen. The bottom floor offers two bars and sliding door bathrooms. On busy nights, they can get funky and should not be used for relations. Seriously.
Drinks are a plenty, and i'll let you peruse the extensive menu and see for yourself. Lots of sugar drinks for the ladies and whiskey for those men who like to beat their chests.
Casual attire recommended, and ladies...there is good eye candy. -
Review from Don W.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2012
Excellent bar, awesome drinks, cozy decor. Only downside is there isn't much seating after 7pm.
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Review from Joy A.
1/28/2012
Jokes.
The big wooden doors in the front don't open. They have been put there to fool you. Enter through the side and have your drivers license ready to get in.
Dark.
My eyes failed me. It was so dark, my eyes required the proper amount of focusing.
Strong.
Try their customer fave- the Kentucky Buck ($9). A lovely and wise mix of ginger beer, bourbon, strawberries, lemon juice, & bitters. What a way to start the end of a work day.
Bottom line:
Rickhouse is a great go-to spot for drinks in good old FIDI! I can't wait to go back and try their famous punch bowl ($23) which is another customer fave, but can be shared between 2-3 people.
Tips:
-Get there early; fills up quickly
-Another bar located in the back
-Located 5minutes away from Bart -
Review from Rubal K.
Fairfield, CA
2/2/2012
OMG I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet.. having been here a bazillion times.
Cocktails! AMAZING cocktails! If you love cocktails you'll love the Rickhouse :)
The ambiance is dim and really chill.. people enjoying their drinks and the company of friends as well as strangers. There is a second bar in the back, dividing up the place in two rather great spaces AND there is a little balcony-like space upstairs with tables and more seating. From here, the view will include both of the bars and their respective scenes..(I kinda love people watching from up top.. creepy but enjoyable). If you come with a big group of friends, don't forget to indulge in the delicious punch bowls. If you come with only a few people, I don't see why you still can't enjoy an entire punch bowl (but the Old Fashioneds are amazing too!)
XXO -
Review from Angela X.
Fremont, CA
Rickhouse appears to target a market segment as niche-like as the inside of the bar itself. It reminded me of 83 Proof in a lot of ways, most of them bad: a dark, crowded, and loud interior, and what seems like a fiendish conspiracy to ensure that no more than five people in the entire bar are able to find a seat at any given time. Having a conversation here is nearly impossible; I wouldn't attempt coming here with a group of more than four people (and two is probably ideal). That being said, the Kentucky Buck and the whiskey sour that I sampled here were expertly crafted.
If your primary goal is an artisanal cocktail and you can forgo material comforts (such as a seat, a place to put your drink, or the ability to hold a conversation with your drinking partner), it could be your new favorite watering hole. Myself, I'll get my drink on elsewhere. -
Review from Betty N.
1/25/2012
**FABULOUS COCKTAILS AND HAPPY ATMOSPHERE BAR**
Friendly and lively ambiance.
Hipsters abound.
Best bartenders around.
Tasty, well-made, and reasonably-priced (around $8) cocktails.
I had two and I was buzzing hard.
I had four and I could not remember my name.
There was also a back room with another bar with lounge couches and an upstairs area.
Difficult space to maneuver if one was drunk.
Bathroom was *interesting* with a sliding door. But hey, it was clean.
One of my favorite bars in the city.
Stay thirsty, my friends.
RECOMMEND.Listed in: LIVER DAMAGE: SAN FRANCISCO!
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Review from Anne D.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
Fun, busy bar that prides itself on classic cocktails. I've come here a few times and it's packed with the happy hour crowd, the post-happy hour crowd and well, anyone who appreciates a bar with character.
That said, I've had two G&T's on separate occasions that were remarkably inconsistent. But I've had a good Aviator from them so it all depends on who you get. -
Review from Brian C.
Arcata, CA
2/2/2012
Awesome.
It was a while back that I made it here, but this place deserves another 5 star review.
Went here with a big group of friends to celebrate my sister's 21st birthday. The bartender really made our experience. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, quick, efficient, charming, and charismatic. At one point, a drop of a cocktail he was making got into another cocktail he had just finished. He dumped the contaminated beverage and started over. Some will cry alcohol abuse, but I appreciate that level of attention to detail. I wish I got his name so I could tell you to go during his shifts.
The drinks were a nice balance of classic and innovative, the prices were reasonable, and the ambiance was wonderful.
I will be returning, though I wish it was closer to my normal SF haunts. -
Review from E-dough R.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 2/7/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Alright, so I came here on a Saturday night (was previously here on Monday) and they had another great band! This place absolutely rocks. Good drinks, well put together crowd and overall great ambiance. Now, if only this place was closer to my house.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/22/2011
Great place on a Monday night. They have this excellent folk rock band with these three girls and… Read more »
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Review from Erica T.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012 1 photo
Hard to find seating at Rickhouse cause it is just so popular! But if you don't mind standing, there is plenty of space for that.
A friend of mine planned a girls night out and she chose this place after dinner. We were all having a hard time deciding on what to get and so the bartender (a girl) ended up recommending the punch bowl for 7 to 8 girls, and each girl ended up getting two cups. The punch bowl was about $40 bucks. Totally worth it! -
Review from Anita i.
1/19/2012
A solid 5 stars all the way. From the ambiance to the rustic decor to the meticulous creation of your drink, Rickhouse has def got it goin on! Yes, your drink may take a while, but its oh so worth it. We snagged a seat in the back room which had great views of the entire place. This is a great place to chill out and grab drinks pre and post dinner (yes both)! Dress up, dress down, it's your choice, but we like to keep it classy right?
I wish I knew about Rickhouse sooner.. actually I did, I just never made it out here because I didn't know how awesome it would be. Shame on me!
w h a t i d i g
This mentality: the drink must be made perfect or I'm starting all over again. -
Review from duke c.
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
A few friends picked me up after I arrived at SFO and Rickhouse was the first spot we went to.
I like the feel of this bar and it is designed to make it feel like you are back in time, during the glory days of alcohol and the art of cocktail was still alive. Very rustic decor. However it was very dark and we had to use our cell phones to read the menu. Not a big deal really. The place has a bar area at the front with tables in the back and upstairs. I can see it being really packed on a weekend but we just stayed at the bar since it wasn't that packed on a Thursday and we started to order drinks.
I started the night with a Monte Carlo. It is definitely a drink for the whiskey lovers. Drinks took awhile since the bartenders actually take the time to make each cocktail. I really don't remember what drinks I tried that night but I do remember a drink with basil in it and that was very tasty, but I pretty much stuck with the Monte Carlo for my next 2 drinks.
They have beer on tap here as well, like Guinness, but really, come here for the cocktails! Can't wait to go back next time and try to remember what I drank :P -
Review from Frank W.
San Bruno, CA
1/29/2012
Bust out your fedoras and a button up people this is one of those kinds of places where you might feel a little awkward if you walked in with just blue jeans and a t-shirt.
The place has got a pretty good feel to it and it's relatively spacious compared to a lot of other bars in the city. Just a fair warning though, it does get busy quick.
They have a bar in the front and the back which is great because it doesn't get too packed in just one area.
I hear their punch bowl is delicious but I stupidly passed up the opportunity to try it the last time I went to I'll have to go back for that.
It's a nice classy place with friendly people, cool bartenders, and great drinks. It's worth the visit! -
Review from Tamar F.
2/4/2012
A little louder than I like (sorry, I hate having a hoarse voice the morning after) and a bit tough to find a place to sit. But other than those two qualms, I enjoyed this bar. I liked the upstairs area as it was a little less rowdy for an old (erm, 27-year-old) gal like me. The service was really friendly. And while I don't ordinarily drink booze of any kind, these cocktails were good enough that I had not one, but two, of 'em. I had selected what I wanted, but another in my group let the server choose her favorite poisons, and he seemed very pleased with what he wound up with. Cocktails are about $9-10 a pop - not cheap but definitely reasonable for their quality.
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Review from Michael D.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Bad hipster bar, bad! It's like being tea bagged in a log cabin, and the tea bag has a beard. OH, and there's a line to get tea bagged.
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Review from Shawn V.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012
The Rickhouse is a trip to prohibition days, combined with the drinks of the future.
Everything about this place screams speakeasy. From the big, heavy wooden doors that greet you, to the setup of the bar, to how strong they make your drinks.
The atmosphere here is chic and cool. The bartenders wear Fedoras, cool suspenders, and play the part. The crowd plays along by coming semi-dressed up.
Great place to mingle if you're single. Great place for a date, and a great place to bring a small group of friends.
I gave it 4 stars because the bartenders can be very slow to take an order (I know they're busy making drinks. Staff more bartenders when its busier). Also because they let too many people in sometimes and it gets overcrowded quite often. -
Review from Patrick S.
Oakland, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wood encrusted cocktail den, with an open and airy upstairs. If Disney made a Bourbon ride, this would be it. And I meant that in a good way.
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Review from EdwardF A.
Hollywood, FL
2/5/2012
AWESOME place to go!
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Review from Hannah A.
1/5/2012
Not my favorite bar in the city but....
There is always a but.
If you order a mixed punch bowl it comes in a literal bowl loaded with fruits and you sip out of dainty white tea cups. A girl can get really hyped/smashed based soley on the fact that the idea is cute. Yes, that is an admission of guilt. I get the same "aweee I want oneeee" feeling when I buy little erasers that I don't need from the Japanese store because it looks like miniature sushi.
I have a specific group of friends I drink here with. It's not for everyone. Put it on rotation with Bourbon & Branch, The Owl Tree, Tunnel Top and topics like vodka loving co-workers. Diversity is not one of the major selling points. -
Review from Shawn G.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2012
Simply bad ass! The bartenders are a wealth of knowledge and TRUE mixologists. You won't find trigger sodas here, or anything but fresh squeezed juices. These drinks are hand crafted to your taste.
If you haven't been, GO! -
Review from Daniel L.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012
Friend: "Come out for a drink!"
Me: "No, but where are you?"
Friend: "Rickhouse"
Me: "Be there in 15."
One of my favorite bars around town. The wooden decor is great, the bartenders are awesome and friendly, and of course, make ridic drinks. The drinks are on the more expensive side, but a great value when you know they're using top quality stuff (you know it's good when they open a fresh fever tree tonic bottle for your order).
I left my cc at the bar after closing it, and the bartender went out of his way to make sure I got it before I left. I tip my hat to thee, awesome bartender that cares to give a crap about his customers. -
Review from L C.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2012
Favorite bar in the city.
The trick is to get there as soon as they open for a low-key ambiance. Fridays @ 3pm is my preferred day/time.
Order the Pims berry punch bowl or if undecided by their cocktails menu, ask the bartender to surprise you. I seem to have ridiculous standards, but the bartender never fails to please. -
Review from Aki N.
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great bar for cocktails and whiskey. I loved the touches for the decor - ceiling panels and light fixtures made from old barrels
I had a Tennessee rye old fashioned, well done.
It was packed on a Thursday night and we weren't able to find a spot anywhere in the bar. It would be nice to be there on an off night.Listed in: SF Cocktails
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Review from Kevin W.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
Went here for my birthday....Really cool place. Best themed bar I've seen in SF
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Review from Robert P.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2011
I've enjoyed some quality cocktails here.
Most recent experience rather odd. Eve of a major holiday, and the bar was really quite. Rather than attentive service from the three person bar team. I sat there with an empty glass of water, and an empty cocktail watching the staff play with there phones.
Again my cocktail was great. We would have ordered another round had we been served.
Door man was really nice. Bar staff seemed like they were already on Holiday. -
Review from Shirleyanne Z.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have been here a few times and I really like the drinks even though they are a bit pricey. We enjoy the speak easy vibe of this place. If you're going to do a lot of drinking, I suggest you get the punch bowl because you get more drinks for your money. The drinks here are well made and I would say it is up to par with Bourbon and Branch. The great thing about this place is that you don't need a reservation unlike B&B. The place is kinda small and can get really crowded on busy nights. The decorations are pretty cool. It is dark and intimate and the upstairs area is a prime spot to hang out and have a few drinks with a date (it's also a great place to people watch). The bartenders make the drinks fast and are really nice. They also have cocktail servers that take your order if you're lucky to snag a table for your group.
My only complaint: the bathroom was so filthy. They need someone to check the bathroom regularly and make sure it is in usable condition. It's really hard to hover when you're slightly tipsy. -
Review from Chris L.
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is cozy and friendly. It's not pretentious and the bartenders are friendly. They climb up on the whiskey wall to grab bottles of alcohol ordered. It was kinda cool. It's all wood inside, a bit of a fire hazard, but has a newsies type of feel to it (news boy caps, overalls, etc.). The bartender made a really cute, fruity drink to replace the cranberry/vodka I originally ordered since they don't carry cranberry. There were quite a few people with backpacks who came after work.
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Review from Kalah W.
San Francisco, CA
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
I can't say enough about Rickhouse. The drinks are tasty, the vibe is great and the staff is super friendly.
If your up for a cocktail, you def. need to order one off their menu... (my fav includes ginger bear and strawberries). They all come with fresh fruit and a fresh lemon/orange/etc peal. You can smell the aroma of all the fresh fruit while waiting for your drinks! p.s. their bowls for groups are super delish too!
The vibe is dressy/casual and usually is pack with late 20's, early 30's professionals. The decor has a rustic vibe with nice wood on the walls, wood columns and a 2nd level "balcony" with a wooden railing.
The bartenders are very friendly and helpful. They are also quick, even with making so many complicated drinks.
While I've only been on the weekends, I saw it advertised somewhere (on their website I think?) that they have live music Monday nights. That's pretty awesome - I can't say I know of any other good spots to go to particularly on a Monday. While this is hear say.. I've also heard its a great spot for a company party. My friend had their company's holiday party there and said it was a blast!
Enjoy your trip & your cocktails! -
Review from Jean c. M.
Laguna Beach, CA
This is a great place!
I have to say, I would choose this place over Bourbon & Branch any time. It's just a better layout and more comfortable. But you can't go wrong with either of them.
They have great Prohibition Era cocktails paired with great service. A really vast selection of classics and twists on classic cocktails. If you're coming here have a bourbon cocktail and stick around for the live music. -
Review from Elaine Y.
12/24/2011
Came to this b(Rickhouse) with a group of friends and it was delightfully nice. I work a few blocks away so I've always seen this place, and now I finally got the chance to check it out.
It's not a huge place, when you walk in, you go through a narrow bar with shelves and shelves of alcohol from floor to ceiling. I saw one of the bartender climbing the shelf just to get a bottle from the top shelf! The whole place has a cabin feel to it, you get all these wooden decor and furniture with a brick wall on one side. There's a small fireplace at the corner which made it specially cozy during the cold weather recently.
There's a small attic space that has about 3 tables, but this place doesn't hold too many seats so expect to stand. I think it's a really cozy place to have a few drinks with your friends. My friend liked her lemon drop so much, she wouldn't even let the sugar off the rim go to waste. -
Review from Jennifer K.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2012
I went into the Rickhouse about 2 weeks ago on a Monday night. I ordered a drink from the main bar and then moved to the back area. Myself and a friend sat at the back bar which seats about five people. The female bartender with blonde hair, slender took a SIP/GULP OUT OF EVERY DRINK SHE MADE. HEALTH CODE ALERT!! Teach your bartenders to straw test or a poor sample into a smaller glass.
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Review from Kristine Kris C.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I LOVE this bar! Great Whiskey drinks, creative cocktails, knowledgeable bartenders. Blues/Rock music. Mixed interesting crowd. And, the location is easily accessible to all manner of transportation. Cool nooks where you can tuck away or sit at the bar - this place is cool.
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Review from Jennifer W.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2011
Great watering hole in the financial district. It is dimly lit with great exposed brick and aged wood, which makes for a great post work atmosphere. It gets crowded quickly, but you can usually find a small side table or nook to catch up with friends.
The drink menu is awesome. Creative and delicious concoctions. The mixologists definitely know how to craft a refreshing libation. -
Review from Anna T.
12/17/2011
I really really love the drinks at Rickhouse. The bartenders are mixologists, not just bartenders, so they will listen to you when you describe the type of drink you want to have.
Pim's punch bowl is amazing and filled with delicious fruit. It tastes like juice but if you drink enough of it, you'll definitely get sloshed by the end of the night. Lesson learned. haha.
It's always really crowded inside, meaning you're unlikely to get a seat/table if people lounge there for hours. The last couple times I went, I noticed that the clientele was kind of... yuppie and stuck up. Everyone glared at me and my friends as though we were trying to steal their seats or cut them in line. They just need to calm down and chill out forrrrrrrrreal.
Definitely worth trying this place and their Pim's Punch Bowls! Also ask the bartender to make you a mildly sweet cucumber flavored drink. Whatever they made me was delicious! -
Review from Brittany H.
San Francisco, CA
12/16/2011
I have been here both when it was very empty and when it was very busy. Both times were quite enjoyable. On my first visit, I simply ordered Eagle Rare bourbon neat, so I didn't feel as though I had much to review other than the atmosphere (which is interesting and comfortable, if you're upstairs like we were).
My second visit was just a few weeks ago and I had a couple of rye manhattans on an extremely busy Friday night. They were made perfectly, with the perfect amount of sweet vermouth. The brandy cherry is always an excellent finisher for such an amazing cocktail.
I will definitely be coming back whenever I am in the neighborhood! -
Review from Angela K.
12/16/2011
I love their concoction of different ingredients in their beverages as well as their beer selection. Very non-standard types of drinks. They have a huge punch bowl that people usually get too, a bit on the sweet side for me though.
Bear in mind that if you come here after work hours, it will be jam-packed with warm bodies. I always find myself having a difficult time maneuvering my way back to the bar, but I think it's worth the hassle if you've never tried their mixed drinks before. Not sure if they have a HH menu, but on the menu they are ~$8 a pop. -
Review from Rick B.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012
This is one of my favorite bars ever, no doubt.
For starters, the interior is finished in warm wood paneling and kept just dark enough for casual intimacy with both your friends and your drink. They've really created the best atmosphere, I think, for enjoying a finely-crafted cocktail. And make no mistake, they are finely-crafted, indeed; don't visit unless you're in the mood to pay for the experience of a nice drink rather than simply a drink itself. As others have noted, it is a bit pricey, but more than worth it for my money--the bartenders are committed to getting your beverage right, right down to the egg whites in the sours.
You'll appreciate this place most if you're a fan of whisky (or in the mood for it), but I've also had a number of great gin-based drinks here, as well. The menu is particularly impressive for sporting explanations of (and history behind) the many cocktails they offer.
The attention paid to detail here is evident from the ambiance to the drinks themselves. The only caveat is that it's usually quite crowded, but if you're lucky enough to go at a time when you can snag some of the low seating near the bar or on the upstairs loft you're in for a real treat.
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