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Rye

4 star rating
based on 692 reviews

Category: Lounges

Neighborhoods: Civic Center/Tenderloin, Nob Hill
688 Geary St
(between Jones St & Leavenworth St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 474-4448
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Hours:

Mon-Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Sat-Sun. 7:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Parking:
Street
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Good for Groups:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Music:
DJ
Best Nights:
Tue, Wed, Thu
Happy Hour:
Yes
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Smoking:
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Coat Check:
No

692 reviews for Rye

Review Highlights   

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"blackberry lemon drop, basil gimlet, apple bomb, etc." (in 111 reviews)
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"What I had was one of the best champagne cocktails ever made." (in 119 reviews)
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"Inventive drinks, great bartenders, and great atmosphere." (in 160 reviews)
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One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?

Photo of Aunny D.

 

1261

400

Aunny D.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
5/20/2008

It's ALL about the Old Cuban at Rye for me. My only complaint is that I don't have the option of ordering the drink in the 32oz size. The drinks are small so you have to sip and savor every moment because they are so effen delicious, but be careful, they creep up on you and pack a punch.

I have been wanting to go to Rye for quite some time now, based on the recommendations of friends in SF. Last week, during one of my many trips to SF from LA, I finally got to experience Rye, and lemme tell you boys and girls, it did NOT disappoint. This, in fact, is the epitome of MY kind of bar; rad art on the walls, low key vibe, great bartenders who are experts in their craft (yes, muddling & mixing the perfect drink, is a craft to me), minimal amount of clutter so there is plenty of standing and sitting room. We were here on a Tuesday night, and it was late, so it wasn't packed but it certainly wasn't empty. I imagine this place does get packed, especially on the weekends and during happy hour. There is an outdoor smoking area (bonus) and clean bathrooms (double bonus).

Funny enough, the day after I visited Rye, I attended a happy hour event put on at the Farmer's Market in SF, to celebrate Cocktail Week and the peeps from Rye just so happened to be there. I ran into one of the bartenders from the night before and she was super sweet. I had to give her props in person because that's just how I do. I will most def be back to visit Rye again and again.

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Photo of Van W.

 

29

62

Van W.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
12/3/2009

I came here on a Thursday and the place was really chill and had seating.  The drinks are a bit pricey but SF reasonable and really tasty. They had some unique drinks which were fun and interesting but took a long time to make.

There were really long waits for the drinks -- but they were worth it.  If the drinks came out faster it would have been a 5 star night for me.  The decor is nice and surprisingly not too loud.  Oh, do NOT order the Pisco Sour.  I enjoyed all their other drinks, but this was piss-co.  Yek.

Bonus is that it's next to Osha's :)

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Photo of Jennifer R.

Elite '09

237

518

Jennifer R.

Oakland, CA

5 star rating
11/30/2009

For mixology and atmosphere, Rye absolutely gets 5 stars.  $10 gets you a specialty cocktail like the "Added Bonus" - bourbon, maple syrup, basil, and whipped with egg whites.  My friends' cocktails were also all delicious - most notable was the kiwi and cucumber number with gin - amazing how those two green plants made such beautiful bedfellows.

It's a subdued atmosphere, good for a date, or a small group of people (lots of tables in the back).  I wouldn't promote it as a great place to meet people, though maybe it is.  The smokers have their own cage inset outside some glass doors - very interesting, especially set upon this part of Geary.

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Photo of Julia G.

Elite '09

605

338

Julia G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
Updated - 11/28/2009

(Cue Britney Spears voice over)

Dimme Dimme More, Dimme More, Dimme Dimme More

Dimme Dimme More, Dimme More, Dimme Dimme More

I think that the specials board advertising for the "Dimme Moore" cocktail was really referencing Demi Moore but I read in to it entirely different because all I could think was GIVE ME MORE. They won't have this drink on the menu but if they remember what it is when you mention it, you'll absolutely love this delightful concoction.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    5/14/2008

    I can't believe that last week was my first time trying this place. Rye is a super-fun-cool-hip bar!… Read more »

Photo of Shannon R.

 

139

359

Shannon R.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/29/2009

I finally went to Rye after years of hearing other peoples' raves about it. When it comes to cocktails, sometimes I'm not the most well-rounded or sophisticated in my preferences so I didn't know if I was going to be able to find something I could handle on their menu .

I asked the bartender what she recommended in terms of a not-too-strong-tasting drink...she goes, oh that's the whole point of a cocktail... UM okay yes. I know what the POINT of a cocktail is, believe it or not. But some cocktails still TASTE like booze and others don't :)

I decided to go with the hemingway something or another. It had rum and lime and grapefruit flavors. It was intense but not in a way I couldn't tolerate. It definitely made me feel great in about, oh, five minutes! my friend had a margarita which was good too. Other than that, nice decor and crowd...nice smoking patio (even though i don't smoke).

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Photo of Katie S.

 

0

19

Katie S.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
11/30/2009

This bar/lounge is definitely one of the cooler places in SF.  If you're someone that appreciates a well crafted cocktail with super fresh ingredients - go to Rye Bar!  My first time there was around midnight on a Friday for a friend's birthday.  I was pretty bummed when we got  there because there was a line and I abhor super packed bars.   But I was pleasantly surprised that the line moved pretty fast and it wasn't too packed inside (I hate when bars fill the place so that you can't move).  I had a dirty martini and my boyfriend got an old fashioned, both were awesome.

I went again last weekend on a Saturday night around 10 pm.  The place only had a handful of people in it and we were able to enjoy cocktails and play pool in the back.  I had a mint julep - so yummy!  Watching the bartenders make drinks is very cool.  The place isn't cheap, but it's not NYC prices.  

Also, it's true that the the bar is a few blocks from some of the seedier parts of SF, but both times I went I was able to hail a cab quite quickly from right outside the bar. (This is a rare feat in SF).

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Photo of S G.

 

3

129

S G.

Campbell, CA

4 star rating
11/28/2009

The drinks specialty menu was off the hook. They also had fresh ingredients like cucumbers, kiwi, etc for the drinks. They were boiling jalapenos for one of their specialty drinks so the aroma was in the place but nothing bothersome.

However, bourbon, rye, whiskey and that kind of stuff scare me so I stuck with the Flash. And it was gooood. We got here at 8 and left around 9:30. People came and went. Thankfully it wasn't crowded, not sure if it gets packed or anything at night. this place is also across the street from Ambassador.

The guy cleaning the tables and the bartender had a hint of attitude. But will go here again. Also, the bathroom in the adjacent room was lame. It just didn't live up to the rest of the place.

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Photo of brittney g.

Elite '09

86

110

brittney g.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
11/17/2009

The fabulous, vivacious and far-cooler-than-you Beth Spotswood celebrated her Soberversary party at Rye last night (one year drink-free; go Beth!). The party goers raised our liquor-filled glasses to her, and my, what scrumptious cocktails they were.

My Manhattan--followed by a Rock and Rye Manhattan--was exquisite. Hand-stirred by a man who knows what he is doing. They really know how to craft a cocktail in this joint.

The space is great! Pool table gets them bonus points, and there is plenty of room in there. It's dark, slick (but not too slick) and comfortable. There is a smoking cage for your cancer-getting friends, which is a nice thing to have. Keeps the doors free of groups and smoke, and your friends don't feel so ostracized.

Oh, and the staff concocted a special drink just for our now-sober friend: The Beth 2.0. A spirit-less delight, to be sure.

I can't wait to return to Rye. I want that Rock and Rye in my mouth again, pronto.

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4

79

Alex B.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
11/20/2009

Accessible classics. Wonderful touch of vermouth in most of the whiskey cocktails defeats the standard rye-bitters-orange doldrums.

Recommended: "birds of a feather"

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Photo of Rob L.

 

2

129

Rob L.

Bay Area

4 star rating
11/11/2009

HAND-CRAFTED COCKTAILS

We entered through the nondescript entrance not expecting such a modern open and airy interior.  An artist was drawing on a large mural in the back and the bar was completely full.  The comfortable black leather couches make the perfect conversation pit; if you are lucky enough to grab one.  We maneuvered our way to the bar and the friendly bartender suggested we try an old-fashioned with simple syrup that she created.  How could we resist?

Fall-Inspired Old Fashioned
The bartender muddled a slice of orange and brandied cherry with fall-flavored simple syrup.  The bartender told us the simple syrup was made with mulling spices, sliced apples, and cayenne pepper.  Basil Hayden bourbon and ice was added to make this festive drink.  All the flavors worked perfectly; I tasted oranges, apples, and cayenne pepper.

Sazerac
Rittenhouse rye, sugar, bitters, absinthe rinse, and a lemon peel were the ingredients for this classic cocktail.  It was not too sweet and disappeared quickly.

I will definitely be back to try more drinks from their inventive menu.

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Photo of J C.

 

3

56

J C.

New York, NY

4 star rating
11/21/2009

Odd that I loved the open, industrial decor of this place more than the drinks on offer.  There was even a special smokers' section, slightly gated off, but visible from the street and open air.  Non-smoker here, but appreciated the attention to others who aren't. The music was low-key, but enhanced the loft-like feel of the place, with its steady electronic hum.

Not overly impressed with the drinks being a non-rye drinker, but the bartender was more than willing to accommodate my request for a Clover Club (no raspberry syrup) by making a muddled strawberry, lemon juice, Tanqueray and egg white drink in a flute that merited the attention it received as a very frou frou pink and fizzy drink.

Crowd was not the best, but the decor more than made up for it.  Would be a great place to throw a party as it's not the typical speakeasy joint with the low-lying ceiling, tables and dark booths.

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Photo of Olivia L.

Elite '09

696

130

Olivia L.

Sacramento, CA

3 star rating
11/3/2009

First two words that come to mind: dark and swanky.

I am regretting not having the Flash as you fine yelpers have raved about, as I had the Basil Gimlet and it was a little too sour for me. I should have known better. Other than that, the joint was fine. I dig the digital design against the brick wall.

Other than this ... it didn't grab me one way or the other. Maybe because it was dead and the bartender seemed to take a while to notice we wanted a drink. Or maybe because it just didn't seem to have a lot of chemistry one way or the other.

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Photo of Katy H.

Elite '09

359

326

Katy H.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
10/25/2009

What a slick spot.

Before I get into any more details.. try the Flash!! (there's a photo of it in the pictures section.)

It's a cucumber/kiwi/gin drink. I'm sure there's magic or fairy dust in there too! It was so tasty! I can't do the description justice.

The bar itself is pretty cool. I went on a weeknight so it wasn't too packed but I imagine on a Friday or Saturday it must be quite crowded. The bartenders were friendly and quick, the drinks (as I mentioned) were amazing, and the atmosphere and fellow-patrons were cool too.

Next time I'm in town I'll be sure to get another Flash!

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Photo of Christina Y.

Elite '09

163

122

Christina Y.

Santa Monica, CA

4 star rating
10/22/2009

"Just one drink and then let's get some sleep."

If you say this sentence to your friends and mean it, don't go to Rye. You'll walk in expecting a quickly gulped drink and an early night in bed. What you'll get is a mind-blowingly delicious cocktail and a friendly bartender, the combination of which will keep you on your barstool much longer than you expected.

The best cocktail my group tried tonight was "The Flash" by far. With gin,muddled kiwi, lemon, cucumber and sugar, it's dangerous. Dudes will be scared to order it because it comes in a pretty little delicate glass, but just suck it up and try it. It's amazing. I ordered the daily special, which included tequila, strawberry, lime and jalepeno and the bartender made sure to check to see that I liked it.

Rye has a regular mixing contest as well, so if you think you can beat this place at its own game head down and show them what you've got.

On Wednesday night, the place was buzzing but not bumping, just the way I like it. I was able to hear the excellent soundtrack playing over the ambient noise (Spoon, Wilco, Modest Mouse, oh yes).

One star docked for the sketchy neighborhood (maybe not a factor to some people but scary for me as a girl who has to walk back to her car/hotel alone), pretty high prices and limited sitting space.

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Elite '09

185

134

Emi H.

Honolulu, HI

4 star rating
10/22/2009

Went to Rye for cocktails with co-workers and when I first walked in I thought in my head "Really? This is it? What's so great about this place?" It seemed like a pretty basic, run of the mill San Francisco bar. Pool table in the back, man and woman getting frisky at the bar, so what's the big deal?

Then I ordered "The Flash." Ah spank me silly and call me grandma because this cocktail blew me out of the water! Gin, kiwi, cucumber, cane sugar syrup and lime = COCKTAIL BLISS. It's like drinking a cloud from heaven and I gulped mine down in 3 minutes. Mmmm!!!

To "The Flash" - I will see you in a few weeks when I come back and will think of you everyday until then...

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Photo of Daniel H.

 

12

53

Daniel H.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/1/2009

It's hard to balance a sophisticated atmosphere with a casual vibe in San Francisco where you can wear jeans and t-shirt pretty much everywhere.  Most bars attempting to do it are a sad knock off of New York or LA.  But Rye does it well.

I love the exposed brick, thoughtful interiors, great selection of drinks, and overall look of this place.  The music isn't way too loud and its a great place to meet up with friends where you can actually talk and have a great drink.  Their cocktail choices are interesting and STRONG!  This bar is two blocks from my house and I often suggest it for meeting up and catching up with friends and people visiting from out of town.

The one very minor complaint I have is that their bar staff are SLOW.  There could be two of you and you'll wait 10 minutes for a drink.  If it's busy, grab some popcorn!  That said, they totally know what they're doing and many of their drinks are complicated.  Once I get the drink I usually forgive them, but my one suggestion would be that their bar staff step it up a bit.

The drinks are also expensive, but not ridiculous.  They are worth it, but I couldn't afford to come here frequently.

If you have friends coming in from out of town and want a cute, non-pretentious, but very sophisticated cocktail experience then I would definitely suggest Rye.

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Photo of Justin B.

Elite '09

21

86

Justin B.

Tulsa, OK

5 star rating
11/17/2009

Style and class.  Our waitress and bartender were great.  The drinks and atmosphere were exceptional.  Good place to grab a drink and chat.

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Photo of Nick E.

 

2

13

Nick E.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
Updated - 11/6/2009

I came back here recently on a Friday around happy hour. The prices were better ($28 for 4 specialty drinks).  I had their basil gimlet and HOT DAMN that thing is good!

I love gin and the GF hates it but even she was impressed. These people come up with some weird drinks but they are worth trying (probably not in the same night unless your piggy bank is really full).

One issue I have run into the 2 times I was here is the service. Everyone is very nice but they seem to be understaffed. They work hard and as fast as they can but when some of the drinks require a significant amount of manual labor the drink orders start to stack up.  They seem to put the effort into their drinks, which is awesome, but they need an extra set of hands.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    2/9/2009

    This place has great drinks... hard to say if they are worth the $$$ but on the other hand it IS in… Read more »

Photo of Yelena K.

 

3

16

Yelena K.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
11/4/2009

Despite my total disaappoinitment, I will actually review this place. Yelpers, you SHOULD WRITE BETTER!!!!!

The drinks WERE great. But then again I confused myself with Never Never Land. NEVERMIND!!! I think Peter Pan might be barely be satisfied!

I felt back like I was at my old tea party where we PRETENDED to DRINK! But, comparing the level of consumption, I will TAKE THAT BACK: Tinkerbell might barely be satisfied. Imagine a champagne glass that is literally half full.

To add an insult, I DID go to Swig afterwords and had a BEYOND a fabulous time. RECONSIDER!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, no table service. It's like huntin for your own meat!

As good as the taste of the drinks was, the Prohibition was still pouring DIRTY CRAZY, and I KNOW I KNOW it's the quality, not the quantity, but when you leave a bar more parched than after crossing the SAHARA, one HAS TO RECONSIDER!

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Photo of matthew r.

Elite '09

146

459

matthew r.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/5/2009

They've got whiskey, nice bartenders, and forward-thinking design sense. And it's more or less on my way home. This is all I really ask for in a bar. And there's an enclosed smoking patio. If I were a smoker I'd probably ask for that too.

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Photo of Justin B.

 

9

7

Justin B.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/30/2009

Atmosphere-chill schnazzy, intimate with the crowd.

Drinks-Strong and unique mixes.  Check the chalkboard for the special!

Price-$9-upper teens.

Crowd-good-lookin' ladies and gents, seemed friendly.

Area-Not nearly as bad as it's made out to be.

Overall-great place to lounge with a small crew or meet some chill people, try a new drink, or look good!

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Photo of Kat F.

Elite '09

516

606

Kat F.

Toronto, ON

Canada

5 star rating
9/2/2009

Newsflash: I'm moving in! This bar has just about everything a girl could ask for: leering men in disbelief of your pre-1988 D.O.B., bowls of M&Ms and Chex mix and a lovely cocktail menu spilling over with things you want to pour down your gullet.

My mojito was pricey ($9) but substantial, and the mint leaves within it came from a bag stashed behind the bar that was the size of the entire state of Texas.

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Photo of Khanh T.

 

4

58

Khanh T.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
10/6/2009

Oh. My. Gawww.....

The strongest LONG ISLAND OF MY LIFE. I LOVE YOUUUUUUUU RYEE~~~ ahhahaha.

This place is CROWDED!!! But I can see why! The bartenders certainly know how to make their drinks, and their drinks are delicious! The atmosphere and the music was so-so, but the bartenders are so friendly and look so dedicated to making the best drinks for their customers. I'm definitely coming back here, I can't wait!

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Photo of ChiYan T.

Elite '09

108

84

ChiYan T.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/29/2009

Rye's grown and waned on me over the years. It's really hard being here on a Friday or Saturday evening when the crowd around the bar is over 3 people thick and everyone's packed like sardines against each other. But on the more lax evenings it's a great place to park myself on a stool and ask their friendly and expert bartenders to whip me up something on the fly.

They also have great community events. Recently, thanks to a tequila sponsor, they had invited many well known bartenders from across the city to compete on making the best mixed drink. Everyone was of good cheer as competitors egged each other on, stole equipment from each other, chatted up their neighbors and snuck sips from their rivals. Their creativity was amazing, as their concoctions held everything from hand-mashed watermelon, cinnamon, chili, fizzy baby tomatoes, mint, and the like. As a customer who happened to pick the right night to stop by, we got to sample all these amazing drinks and vote on our favorite.

In fact, I had SUCH a good time sampling oh so many drinks, I wobbled home and promptly passed out for the night, completely forgetting to close out my card from the beer I had pre-event.  

They still have my card (it's probably assumed reported lost and cut up by now). This was maybe 3 weeks ago.

Yes, beware the good times to be had at this place.

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Photo of Tiffany C.

 

15

73

Tiffany C.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
9/29/2009

Nice, small-ish bar.  Nothing to write home about unless you're a smoker.  They had the outdoor vented metal cage just for those that wanted to be at/near a bar and get to smoke at the same time.  
Drinks were good, about $10 a cocktail.  The main reason I docked a star was the really long wait.  I think there were one or two bar tenders and about 50 thirsty patrons.  I'd go back on occasion, but definitely not my favorite place.  Try the new bar - Eve - in SOMA if you're looking for similar cocktails without the wait.

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Photo of John M.

 

292

102

John M.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
9/7/2009 2 photos

Two nights ago JB and JM did some good philosophizing before rolling to Rye to check out the scene.  I've been to this bar several times before and have always had a great time.  The lounge on Geary has an unpretentious urban hipster feel and attracts a cool SF crowd this is looking for a good chill spot, but also a place where you can people watch.

For some reason I always order a French Connection here and am generally not disappointed.  For those who like their Hennessy or Grand Marnier this is a great spot to enjoy it.  

JB pointed out that Rye was showing various pics of nudes in a slideshow on the exposed brick wall.  This subtle visual stimulus ads an artsy flair to the place.  The smokers lounge outside also allows patrons to add some nicotine to their night without feeling the need to leave or be isolated from the action.  

I like the versatility of Rye and plan on coming back soon.

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Photo of Mike T.

Elite '09

21

138

Mike T.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
9/15/2009

Very chill place to get a cocktail in the TL. The dark and sexy decor with it's simple exposed brick, caged wine racks, and Upper Playground-ish art make for confortable lounging with friends.

Whiskey is the libation of choice, but they also have a creative cocktail menu mixing classics (sazerac, manhattan, and sidecars) with more contemporary drinks mixing fresh juices with the likes of absinthe, red bull, and basil.

Extra points for being right next to OSHA Thai for those after drinking noodles, always a good idea at th time, but will kill you in the morning!

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Photo of Ryan K.

 

0

4

Ryan K.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/10/2009

We went in and ordered gin and tonics and ended up sampling 5 concoctions that one of the bartenders was working on for a competition that ends tonight.  They were going down smooth with no mixers.  Woohoo!  
Now I have the hiccups probably cause I just wolfed down the cannoli from Angel Cafe across the street.

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Photo of Steve C.

Elite '09

35

94

Steve C.

Long Beach, CA

5 star rating
Updated - 10/30/2009

Went back. Ordered two Sazeracs, one after the other, as they wouldn't allow me to drink double-fisted (my only complaint). Artisan bartenders but no attitude, just great skill. Drinks so good I wanted to cry. I think I may have, thus the strange looks. That's ok, though, they were tears of joy...but I was careful not to water down the work of art in my hand. And staying at Hotel Frank, Rye is only about four blocks away by foot. Happy. Hour.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    8/1/2009

    Best drink in San Francisco if you like rye. And if you don't, try it anyway.

    Friends discovered Rye… Read more »

Photo of Angela B.

Elite '09

35

136

Angela B.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/15/2009

Another excellent spot for delicious old- and new-world cocktails and friendly, creative bar tenders who love a challenge.  The bar is fairly small, but really chic & cozy--all dark wood, brick, & black metal--& there's a separate ventilated area for smokers who wish to stay indoors.  I wish now that I could remember everything I tried -- we went early enough to have the bartender almost entirely to ourselves, & everything she made us was fantastic.  I do remember that the mint julep was particularly good & I think had some kind of twist on it; we also really enjoyed the blueberry lemon drop (which included fresh smashed blueberries) & the basil gimlet (I'm now making these at home, I liked it so much).  Most of the cocktails on the menu are whiskey-based, but like I said, the bartenders are great & usually willing (if it's not too crowded) to make you something off-menu (ie, "Gimme your tastiest tequila drink.").

Cocktails run ~$10 each, par for the course for good ones in SF, and these are absolutely worth it.  Definitely need to go back & see what's on their most recent menu.  (And bonus - once you're all cocktailed out & ready for hard liquor, Whiskey Thieves is just down the block! :)

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Photo of Anne k.

 

1

63

Anne k.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/19/2009

I've always really liked the layout of this bar, and the bartenders are decent. There's an outdoor kind of "caged-in" area, which has tables where you can sit with your drink and enjoy the fresh air or smoke. There's a pool table in the back, and it's free! My only gripe is that their happy hour is kind of puny and it's a bit over priced. Overall, it's great for a kind of special evening out.

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Photo of Jenny L.

Elite '09

326

568

Jenny L.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
7/16/2009 1 photo

Stopped in after a giant dinner for a drink and some games of pool.

The basil gimlet is AMAZING.  The bartender definitely has mixing skills.

Free games of pool!  Granted, the pool sticks are half broken, and the eight ball is the red stripe ball colored in.  And, I got schooled with trick shots.  Not fair!

Ladies, the sink was totally there to trick me!  I didn't know how to turn it on for a good 20 seconds.  The key is to push the gadget on the right up.  Got it?  Good.  Wish I knew that beforehand.

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Photo of James C.

Elite '09

88

140

James C.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
8/8/2009

Came here on Friday night, and the Basil Gimlet is indeed good.  But the line outside and the cramped space and the slow bartenders really brought the rating down.  I'd definitely come back here for drinks, but maybe not on a weekend night.  

I did like the personality of one bartender there though.  When I asked for 6 gimlets, she responded with a look of incredulity and, "You serious?"  I smiled at her and when she finished making the drinks, I told her, "Actually, 10 more gimlets," and she flicked me off.  Haha... Funny girl.

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Photo of Carol L.

Elite '09

35

191

Carol L.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
9/5/2009

Had the basil gimlet at Rye - delicious! They threw in a couple leaves of basil, squeezed in fresh lime juice, tons of gin = yummy with no taste of alcohol!

Rye was quite dark and small, with a pool table tucked in the back. They seem to use a lot of basil in their drink specials; one i saw on the board last night was lime, basil, watermelon and vodka!! inventive and refreshing!

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Photo of Laura B.

Elite '09

46

167

Laura B.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
9/27/2009

This place is hot.  Both in terms of popularity and temperature.

I didn't get a chance to look at the menu because the bar was stacked 3-4 deep and, well, we got thirsty.  The drinks on the chalkboard caught our eyes so we had both of those!  First off was the Green Thumb, a mix of cuke vodka (love!!), muddled watermelon, fresh-squeezed lemon and basil.  This was pink in the glass, so maybe they should try another name... I was expecting green, obviously.  The watermelon-cuke-basil flavor was excellent.  Sweet and cool.  Next we tried the Widow's Walk - made with rye, du bonnet, strawberries, lemon and something else.  This was a very interesting drink and smelled like fermentation.  Very yeasty.  But I finished mine and half of my friend's.  She went back for another green thumb.  YUM.  Both of these were $10 each so it's not cheap, but each cocktail is so expertly made and tastes so wonderful that it's worth it.  I'll try the gimlets that everyone is talking about next time.

I like that you can reserve tables/benches too.  Nice vibe here.  I was looking forward to the bowls of M&Ms and Chex mix that someone else mentioned, but the fat kid in me was disappointed.

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Photo of Cameron B.

Elite '09

57

146

Cameron B.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
7/28/2009 1 photo

Rye was one of my highlights of my evening in S.F

After mentioning I was a big fan of the Manhattan, my gf's buddy recommended that we go here. It was spot on.

When we got there I ordered the Dogpatch - Pikesville Supreme Rye, Averna, Noilly Prat Rougue, Regan's Bitters. Spot on again.

Throughout the evening I ordered many more drinks that were recommended by the bartender. The fifth star is for her knowing Murrary and the famous Zig Zag Cafe in my hometown of Seattle!

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Photo of doreen d.

 

7

102

doreen d.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/22/2009

Great drinks.  Great bartenders.  Like it.

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Photo of Anh H.

Elite '09

155

275

Anh H.

Cupertino, CA

4 star rating
7/1/2009

Infamous basil gimlet!
I LOVED IT. I love mojitos and this tastes like one, but with basil instead of mint. Very refreshing and tasty. There are other innovative drinks and I definitely want to come back and try them!

This seems like a great place to go if you want a chill night to talk w/ friends & sip on some yummy drinks, but more than your average neighborhood bar.

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Photo of Alita M.

Elite '09

99

315

Alita M.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
8/15/2009

I heart your basil gimlets.

Twice so far and have never had my experience be short of good fun with the bartenders. This time, I had to hit on the bartender, John, for an SF Food Street Challenge:

"What's the difference between a hamburger and a blowjob?"

......"hmmm, the buns?"

(OMG, he was supposed to not guess!)

"Good point, but why don't we do lunch and figure it out?"

I won my drink, the classic The Last Word made with Chartreuse.

Dear John,
I will be back again for more!

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Photo of Janice C.

Elite '09

390

413

Janice C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
6/18/2009 1 photo

I just worked eight days straight and I needed a stiff one.

*get your mind out of the gutter....I was talking about a drink!!! *

And being the multi-tasker that I am, I decided to get something checked off on my Big Eats SF List at the same time:

# 98 Basil Gimlet at Rye

My bf, being the ever nice guy that he is, indulged me on my whim.  I ordered two basil gimlets for us.   Minutes after I walked into this bar, I was watching the bartender put together a cocktail made of muddled basil, simple syrup and gin.  Shaken vigorously over ice.  Poured into short wine glasses. Topped off with torn basil.

Sprawled on one of their black leather sofas, I was content sipping my first oh-so-refreshing basil gimlet of the night. Oh my.  I should've read my horoscope last night, because it would have said something like: "your stars are aligned tonight and Mercury is NOT in retrograde"

Ten minutes later, I meander back to the bar to ask for another basil gimlet.  My bartender was nowhere to be found.  A nice gentleman was hanging around next to me and asked, "what are you having?"  I murmured, "one of those amazing Basil Gimlets".  He walked over to the other side of the bar and was immediately chatting it up with the other bartender.

Given it's already past one, and Rye closes at 2 am on a Wednesday night, my bartender came back and said, "well, I'm already off the clock but sure I'll make this for you".  Another perfect glass of Basil Gimlet.  Mind you, she only charged me for the first two drinks, for a cost of $22.  Whoa! I was slightly tipsy, but did I just get a drink for FREE?!  I gave her a generous tip.

I went back to the sofa where my bf was and we bitched more about work.  Five minutes later, the kind gentleman who asked me about my drink earlier at the bar, delivered another basil gimlet.  

I rubbed my eyes, smearing my eyeliner and all.  Is this for REAL? did I just get another free drink???

Turns out he's a regular over there and his name is Ernie. A really nice man. I mentioned to him that it was my first time at the bar and how nice the bartenders are.  He replies with a "oh yeah, the brunette one is Jen and the blonde is Julia. Come back next time."  

OMG.  Of course I will!!!  Stiff drinks, generous people and amazing bf to help me celebrate my 8 days of suffering at work???

Damn.  I should work more O.T. next time!

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