On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Financial DistrictMon-Fri. 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
"Surprisingly nice staff, $3 pints of Sierra (and other beers I think) during happy hour as well as free bar munchies. It has a great bar…" read more »
I don't smoke anything and this is by far my favorite bar in San Francisco.
Any night of the week is a good night. Jake, Jack, & James are all entertaining. The usuals are great to hang out with - you can even catch a game or two of dice cups (liar's dice). This is a great place to bring a friend or go by yourself. I always meet the most interesting people.
I have the bar on speed dial and consider many of the people that I've met at The Occidental over the years good friends.
Oh, and if you are hungry, all of the restaurants in the alley deliver to the bar.
Based on the reviews, I was REALLY looking forward to enjoying some contraband at this cigar bar - good reviews, and only two blocks from where we were staying in SF.
We got there at the end of a Giants game, so understandably, it was jam-packed. The crowd quickly died off, however, and we were able to get a seat at the bar and looking around whilst I smoked said bone.
Impressions - a very "Norm!" kinda neighborhood bar. Small selection of smokes for those who didn't bring their own, and a good selection of wine and liquor. Also a good choice of draft beers (Stella on tap...that was a star right there).
Ended up cutting the bone short, however (and MAN do I hate that)...for good reason. This, unfortunately, is a bar that allows cigars...NOT a cigar bar (a HUGE difference!). More than one completely soused idiot were present...and as one became more and more belligerent, it became obvious that he really wasn't going to calm down anytime soon...and rather by a bystander at a bar fight, we chose to go.
Still on a quest for a real cigar bar in SF. Knickerbockers remains the Bay Area standard is really the bottom line.
Went there for the first time and was treated very, VERY WELL. It is a good bar.....no make that a GREAT bar, the Bartender, Lance, was just about the best I have seen in a long, long time.....it was so good I returned after my meal out the next evening and was treated even better than the evening before, like I was an old friend.....It is very hard to find these kind of places any longer. GO!
This is my favorite place to puff when I visit San Fran. I always try to stop by at least once each visit and hang out with the staff. Very friendly staff as well as patrons. Small space by enough room to enjoy a good stick and a quality scotch.
If a drink in the middle of a hectic busy work day..well more towards the end of the day...will help you re-energize...this place hits the spot...
My other overworked friend brought me here, because were still on the clock i just ordered coffee, he got his mild cocktails. Its cozy place to chill to relax your mind a bit again in the middle of a madcrazybusy day.
Bartenders are cool and have dry sense of humor.
It doesnt hurt to stop by this place. Go check it out.
It's a sausage party but hey, it's a bar you can actually smoke in. Now if they could only get some women in there.
This is what a cigar bar should be. Not pretentious, intimate, dark wood, relaxed music and great regular patrons. This is the perfect place to satisfy your occasional nicotine craving, even if you aren't a smoker. I enjoy meeting an old friend here to chat calmly about life, recent trips, business ideas and recent disappointments.
We take so much fun out of life sometimes, trying to purify everything (water, sugar, bread, organic, blah, blah). Sometimes we just need to pollute our lungs with the deep rich smoke of a cigar and a whisky and relax.
Highly recommend this place. See you there!
We were visiting San Francisco and were very excited about checking this place out....it had such high review on Yelp. It was 12.30am on a weekday... we even call before we headed over to make sure they were open.... there were 5 of us (3 guys and 2 ladies), we walked from our hotel to The Occidental Cigar Club, no, it was NOT a long walk, less then 10 minutes....
As soon as we walked up the front door, the owner said that the place was closed for private guests.... private members only. Which he could have EASILY told us on the phone. I just couldn't help to feel that we were being discriminated because of our race and age. (We are all professionals in our early 30's but look 20's)
Will not recommend this place to anyone and will not return. There are plenty of friendlier places in the city.
Great place to come relax with a few friends. Beautiful bar, intimate atmosphere, and for an indoor cigar bar, this place is pretty well ventilated. They pour a generous glass of wine, and offer a large selection of whiskies.
Nice Scotch selection, though they don't have my favorite (Bruichladdich). I had the Oban 14 year (neat, with a tiny splash of water) instead--less peaty and spicy, but nice flavor and smooth.
Cigar selection is a bit scant, but not bad.
This spot is the rules -- also known as what my fantasy home-bar/cigar room would be. Old-timey mahogany bar and decor, dimly lit, huge whiskey and scotch selection, foghat on the jams, wicked friendly staff -- all whilst getting your smokes on. A couple of TVs for the game complement the room, but nothing flat-screen or fancy, which honestly wouldn't feel right anyways. The prices are definitely higher-than-average given the location and suit-clad clientele that they normally serve (picture Gordon Gekko, except much nicer fellas), but this won't be keeping me away. Also good to know they have a humidor with a small cigar selection, in case you forget to bring your own. It is definitely a good thing I don't work downtown, or else I'd be here every day. Much love.
We live in a world of endangered pleasures. I mean, am I the only person who thinks a 3 martin lunch is a good idea? And what about this whole thing with wearing seat belts. Well, maybe that is a good idea.
While I don't regularly smoke anything, there are certain occasions where a fresh cigar is not just called for, but should be mandatory. I'm talking bachelor parties, high stakes poker, and the birth of a baby boy.
Considering the latter just happened for me, a few of my close pals and I went over to the Occidental to enjoy a few choice smokes.
The bar isn't that big but you can count on every single customer to be smoking cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, even a pipe or two. You can bring your own, but they also stock some good ones (albeit at a noticeable mark-up).
With a full bar, consisting of an excellent array of wines and scotches that fit the cigar aficionado lifestyle and Sinatra on permanent play, here's where the casual decadence of the good life can be found, if only as a temporary respite from the day to day responsibilities of your normal life.
Special Note for my single friends: Girls who hang out at cigar bars are crazy and bold!
Fine place to enjoy an after-work or lunchtime cigar. The Occidental carries a short but sweet stock of cigars and an impressive liquor list to match. Scotch and cigars were born to wed and the gents behind the bar do a fine job to make sure you'll enjoy a happy marriage.
Don't plan impressing anyone with your scent after leaving here, it's straight to drycleaners.
This place is wonderful....everything a cigar club should be. And it's even better now that they have wireless internet access!
The atmosphere is perfect, all dark wood and nostalgia, the owners/bartenders are great, and the clientle are very interesting to talk to. There is something about cigars that just makes people want to talk with strangers.
The other plus is the great selection of music that they always seems to be playing. Very heavy on classic rock, but always something good.
My only complaint is the very very small selection of cigars, although this is offset by the fact that each one of their selections seems to be a great choice. My favorite so far is the Padron.
I don't smoke. I don't like cigarettes, much less cigars; but this place has a certain je nais c'est quois... I met 2 of the 3 owners, Jake and James, and they are very kind and funny people. They indulged me when I said I wasn't sure I wanted a full pint of Guinness (I had a couple already; instead, they poured the Half Pint (me) a half pint of my favorite stout. They over indulged me when I asked if I could have A cigar box, in which to store some of the matchbooks I've collected over the years; they gave me some beautiful boxes, which I brought home. They asked me to at least make a purse out of one of them... I think it's my turn to indulge them.
Knowing you'll leave their bar smelling like cigars/smoke, Jake keeps a stock of Febreeze on hand. He Febreezed me before I left the bar; it's an interesting process... You should ask him about it when you visit to save your significant other from the pungent scent of the cigars.
The bar feels like Cheers. All the patrons know each other and they're very welcoming to the newbies. After I told them I just lost my job, they were all so willing to help me find a new one. One of the regulars, a wine broker, even offered to give me a nice bottle of wine next time I decide to hang out.
NORM!
I absolutely love this bar! So what if I'm usually the youngest person, or only female in there when I go, and go alone I go! I don't really have female friends that smoke cigars. I know, going alone...strange, but this is the kind of place where you can go alone and sip on a martini while smoking your cigar. Besides, it's small enough that people sitting at the bar, start speaking to you and what not.
Thought there'd be more cigar bars in S.F. but I've only come across a few.
I really like this place. I was introduced to Occidental Bar during the cigar boom in the early 90's. After the boom the crowds thinned which was nice. Now it is frequented by regulars mostly from the financial district. It is a great crowd and the bartenders are friendly and attentive. I usually bring my own cigars but they have some in a humidor for sale. OK selection of cigars but not great. That this is one of the very few places that allow smoking inside is huge. We have spent many rainy happy hours here relaxing with a cigar and scotch watching people running by soaked and miserable. After a cigar or two and twice that many drinks, it could have been snowing and we didn't care.
This is a great smoking bar but most of all it is a great bar. It never gets too smoky I would guess because they have a ventilation system that does the job. For smokers, it's a must. You won't regret it. Quality booze and good crowd.
I smoke (though not cigars) but the three Js and Bubba along with a supporting cast of real characters (and its proximity to my work) are what keep me coming back here all the time.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em. And if you don't you have 'em can get 'em at the Occidental.
I've been going to the Occidental for years - since when they used to serve food. I like going here when I finish work early and don't quite want to go home. They have a pretty good selection of cigars in a humidor and the drinks are never weak. The bartenders are pretty cool.
This is the only public establishment where you can drink and smoke at the bar!! Not sure how the new SF ordinance is going to impact Occidental, but this is a great intimate place to have a drink and a smoke. Adjacent to the financial district, it can be crowded (after work hours), but wide open during the weekends. Cigar selection is decent, nothing to rave about, but you can bring your own smokes there too. Drink selections are good and the service is great. A must-stop for any cigar aficionado!
There is excellent Scotch available here (try the 14 year old Oban), and Bob, the owner, is very willing to help out with the Cigar collection (even for the uninitiated).This place is totally a haven for men in San Francisco, and thank god for that. For you Punjabi men out there, here's a place where you can pretend you are in the old country and drink fine scotch to your hearts content (accompanied if you are willing, with a fine cigar).
so my friend was tired of smoking outside and i was tired of shivering while i wait for her to finish and stub it out so we decided to give it a go.
the place looks like it's frequented by regulars. i ordered a drink and made a beeline to the seat by the window since she was running late from a meal in the mission.
i brought my own cigars but they have a selection to choose from. personally i prefer the bauzas petit corona or sometimes for a quickie, eileen's or kahlua petite cigars. i got used to puffin' on the smaller cigars since i hate shivering outside without a drink in my hand by myself.
ok, back to the bar. guess the other reviews liked the atmosphere - it's like a pub nothing fancy. it's small, you can smoke, you can buy smokes, friendly folk. end of story.
The Occidental is my favorite hangout to have a really good cigar and drink. Jake and Jack are wonderful, they pour good drinks have an excellent selection of single malts, rums, cognacs, armagnacs and even calvados! The cigar selection is always top choice and the ambiance is perfect. It's even a great place to relax after dinner at Belden Place. Visit this bar as often as you can and make sure to say hello to Jake and Jack for me.
Stumble upon this small, intimate smoking bar complete with an owner for a bartender, generous with the drinks. This cigar club meets all your relaxation expectations: sit back, have a drink and a smoke, a little conversation, a whole lot of great atmosphere. You can't go wrong at the Occidental.
The Occidental has a great selection of whiskeys and cigars. Even if you're just an occasionally smoker like me, it's an enjoyable place to go. Every time I've been there I've met some great people, usually even someone who will buy me a cigar out of the kindness of their heart.
This place is great. You can have a cigar and a scotch on the rocks inside! This is a wonderful place for friends to hang out and chill. The owner is super friendly and really knowledgeable with regards to cigars. First time having a cigar and he taught me a lot about cigars and what things mean. I will definitely go there again and know what is going on a lot more.
this place is damn awesome. a plethora of choices for fine, classy drinks (college student - very classy). wasn't sporting the largest selection of cigars, which seemed a bit pricey, but what else do you expect?? the place is old fashioned & classy as hell. i love the whole look of the place from the witty signs to the various corner kick it spots and oversized ashtrays EVERYWHERE. the music is the perfect volume so you can speak with the person next to you and have good ass convos.
everyone i met was awesome here. there needs to be more places like this on mother earth.
I like the fact that you still can smoke in a bar in the city. Only discovered the Occidental after it was a clue in this year's Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt. This hangout is next to Belden Place, so after your drinks and nibbles, you can skirt around the corner and puff on a cigar or ciggie. Quite a few dudes dressed like the Rat Pack, but there are regular folk kicking back as well. Nice place to hang.
I brought my own cigars, but their humidor has a number of interesting choices, and they have a pretty good selection of scotch. Other than at the bar, seating is at a number of small tables with high-backed barstools. It's smaller than I expected, but it's quiet and well ventilated
One of my favorite place to play liar's dice, drink, talk smack, and smoke up in the Financial District.
I love this place. Not a large selection of cigars but I've enjoyed a few memorable smokes there over the last year and a half. They have a wonderful selection of dark rum as well - possibly the best rum I've found in San Francisco. Their whiskey selection is, of course, exquisite as well. The best part of this place is the fact that you can join the "club" and they will give you a private humidor. The second best part of this club is the fact that it's the only place I know (other than my home or any of the venerable private golf institutions in the city) where I can play liar's dice, smoke a cigar, drink and watch golf at the same time.
love it.
not a cigar smoker. i am usually with friends who like cigars and i dont like them so i dont really know whats so great about this spot. expensive drinx and old dudes talking about their business trips.
you can enjoy a cigar inside, 'nuff said.
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Tobacco Shops
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Mill Valley, CA
Category: Tobacco Shops
I spent 10 years in the Bay Area, so I've got a…
A list of the top 5 places to play Liar's Dice in…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Loading...
