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The Red Room Cocktail Lounge - CLOSED
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
139 reviews for The Red Room Cocktail Lounge
Review Highlights
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"I quickly met the bartenders and they were great." In 19 reviews -
"cool people cool neighborhood cool vibes cool bartenders." In 4 reviews -
"...those gorgeous bartenders make drinks strong so you always..." In 6 reviews
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139 reviews in English
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Review from Jane A.
6/9/2008
CROWDED, POSH, BUT LOVELY!
We had a girlfriends night out and we all came to the Red Room. It was my first time here and not sure what to expect. It was kind of crowded but the crowd was nice. The place and music was pretty cool. I liked the decorations, the painting on the walls starring down at yah! and the big chair that can fit four people. I know the place just closed and I will miss this place. -
Review from Drue C.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2007
I like red. I like lots of things that come in the color red; roses, wine, ladybugs, fire trucks, mars, Hello Kitty (the old school one, not that crazy ass stupid pink sad excuse for Hello Kitty they have come out with now), sunsets, cherries and oodles of other stuff.
I do not, however, like this bar. It is too damn red. EVERYTHING is red, which makes people aggressive. Especially the men who hang out here. Which makes me want to get away from them, but I cant because everything is it is all crammed into a little bitty space that makes you want to cut yourself because it is so claustrophobic. Which would mean you would be bleeding all over their red bar and red benches with fancy red drinks where everyone looks red because even the damn lights are red.
Since blood is not on the list of red things I like I will be skipping this place in the future. -
Review from Lauren F.
Oakland, CA
4/26/2007
Right in the heart of the tender-nob lies this small bar filled with a split personality, a nice cocktail menu (aimed at the ladies of course), and an eclectic mix of seats, barstools and benches. It's not the biggest space, so that's why I think it's interesting that they chose to go with Red. I say that the bar has a split personality due to what happens when the color red is involved. There are many psychological as well as physiological reactions that have been known to occur....and here, you are definitely surrounded. EVERYTHING is red, thus aptly named The Red Room.
Red has been shown to increase blood pressure and stimulate the adrenal glands. The stimulation of the adrenals glands helps us become strong and increases our stamina. This is a bonus if you are guy taking a girl on a date here. This happens naturally, and you don't even need to wow her with your sexual prowess. However this could backfire. While red has proven to be a color of vitality and ambition it has also been shown to be associated with anger. Sometimes red can be useful in dispelling negative thoughts, but it can also make one irritable. Just don't get angry when your lady friend can't figure out what she wants to drink, or you realize you have to hit up an ATM because it's cash only.
In the words of the late Bradley Knoll:
"Baby if ya wanna get low, baby if ya wanna get high.
It makes no sense at all, I saw red. I saw red.
One more secret lover that I shot dead."
Edit: I'm silly and forgot the most obvious part of my experience there....thanks Eric for the reminder that I ordered the Passion Fruit Mojito. Not only a delicious beverage....but Red = Passion.....point made. -
Review from Autumn K.
6/5/2007
This is a very good place to make out and listen in on complete strangers' conversations. Did I mention it's very very red? Seriously. This makeout station is the size of my bathroom and every square inch is dripping in red. Luckily, I like the color red. And I really like to make out. So Red Room's ok with me.
If you are claustrophobic or red's really not your color, this is probably not the place for you.
If you don't like to make out, then you shouldn't come here with me.
Drinks are strong and those in attendance don't appear to be of any particular type: last night, there was a clown with a mullet and short-sleeve button down hitting on what was clearly a midwestern tourist, a group of stoned 20-something skaters, and some striped-shirt marina strays.
If you feel like hiding from the world, this is a good place to get lost. And makeout. -
Review from margie b.
San Francisco, CA
5/12/2007
I love to travel. This is what i live for. Books like Lonely Planet are by night time reads. Every time I go to Border, I just sit in the travel section and go trough the whole LP collection. I'm at that point where I'm waiting for a new country to be found or created so I have something new to read.
Anyway, there is this amazing book by Lonely Planet, it's called The Blue List. It's basically a summary of best places in the WORLD. (which means NOT only in the USA). There are categories like 'Classic Train Trips' , 'Cities on the Rise' and 'Most History Per Square Mile'. It's very informative.
And then, there is 'Most Unusual Restaurants and Bars'.
And then (remember, this is WORLDWIDE), The Red Room is in the Top 5.
WHAT? How the freaking hell did that happen? The Red Room featured in my official list of must-do's-before-I-die? I mean, yeah, it's original, loungy, hip, cutesy, a bit aphrodisiac...but COME ON, what am I supposed to expect of the other bars on the list?
SOOO embarrassing...even thought about settling down for good and stopping by sightseeing career.
I'll forgive the staff at Lonely Planet for this mishap. But only once! I'll blame it on the fact that they were too drunk to see that there is nothing to go THAT crazy about this place. Because that's what you do there. Get drunk. That's it.
Oh, and you see red. So do I.Listed in: places we might bump into each…
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Review from Robert P.
San Francisco, CA
6/1/2007
Um...this place is totally gay. Not gay in the way that elementary school kids now use to describe something "lame," but like gay as in is that Madonna I hear playing in the background? I looked and looked for a rainbow anything around, but had no luck. Apparently it's a "straight" bar. To test this, we sent the one female of the bunch, a very attractive female wearing a very short skirt to the bathroom to see how many guys would turn their heads. 25 guys in the bar, 1 turned his head.
Gay.
I liked it. -
Review from Stephy S.
San Francisco, CA
6/21/2006
The Red Room
1 part perfect LA bar
1 part perfect New York bar
2 parts perfect SF bar
Blend fun filled ingredients together and mix with cool people, awesome lighting and a comfy vibe. Serve chilled.Listed in: Travel Destinations
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Review from Veronica V.
San Jose, CA
11/14/2007
The sexiest place to grab a drink in the city.
Seriously, there was a couple making out for a good 15 minutes straight when we first walked into the door, perhaps it's something with the dim lighting. In any case, it is sultry.
The Red Room is great on many levels. You can have a conversation yet still hear Tribe and Stone Roses playing in the background. The bar is relatively small but if you are lucky enough to grab a booth, it is intimate without being too boring or quiet. Everything you would want in a bar is here. -
Review from Gusty S.
San Francisco, CA
12/10/2006
Let's play a little game called find the one item in a list that doesn't fit:
Sultry, subdued decor.
Comfy well arranged seating for conversation.
Good drinks.
Ear splitting loud music.
Why is it that many bars with no dance floor whatsoever feel the need to play music excruciatingly loud? I can understand it when dance clubs play loud music, because I get into the "don't talk to me, I'm dancing" mood there and I really enjoy loud music then. However when I go somewhere with no dance floor I can usually count on having a conversation or three, and loud music isn't really helpful in that setting.
I liked the look and feel of the place, so it gets an extra star for that. The drinks were tasty and strong, and service was quick even though it was quite a busy night. We eventually left, because we got very tired of saying "huh?", "what?" and "say that again." over and over. It could be a much better place if they played music that fit the sultry decor, and at a more appropriate volume. -
Review from Dan M.
San Francisco, CA
7/9/2005
I went there the other night, and it was totally packed...with 40 somethings! they all had their "bar uniforms" you know, guys with their button down shirts, buttoned two too low. Girls with their blue, and green, halter tops... yuck!
The only redeeming feature of this bar is the (relatively) inexpensive martini's -
Review from Braden B.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2008
Break me off a piece of that red hue. That Red Room sure is red, rojo, pinkish, reddish, pretty red darn it! My friend lives 1/2 block up the street, so we tend to fall into the barstools here alot. It's cash only- hmmmm- oh well- ATM on site. It's nice to order 1 expensive drink off the drink list- and then some "cheap" drinks- like a vodka tonic, or straight martini. They make great "Pear" Martinis, with Absolut, that aren't outrageously expensive. The guys behind the bar range from a tall, dark, handsome, and mysterious gay man, to a punk-rocker type. They're all nice dudes and they all pour some strong drinks.
Best times to go- 6-10 pm any weeknight. Usually it's also not too crowded on Mon-Wed nights.
Viva Rojo! -
Review from Gil S.
7/1/2006
bit martinis half the price of the local restaurants. But the decor hasn't been freshed for a decade and nobody goes there anymore. Too crowded.
Update for 2007.
Still. Very. Red.
They got new barstools and either repainted or dimmed the lights. So it looks sleek again. Very nice on a quiet night. +1 star.Listed in: Bars (loungerific)
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Review from MiYong E.
Ewa Beach, HI
4/21/2008
minus one star because it is cash only.
The red will mess you up! That is if the drinks don't. They were stiff (well-done!). The joint is small, but that makes it cozy. If you had a larger group of us strange ones in there with you, you may not have enjoyed it...come come....we're a jovial bunch! -
Review from Stellah D.
New York, NY
5/5/2005 1 photo
In this red room.
Red glitter glints from it's resinous trap, red filled bottles stand ringed at angry attention, on guard at the door.
Campari slowly mates with soda and slowly stains the orange rind slowly sinking to the bottom of the glass.
A girl stands at the bar. Her back to me is
naked and luminously pale where her dress
falls away, just enough.
A lone bead of sweat traces the arc of her
spine as my eyes slowly follow.
The light makes everything it's own, red on red multiplying itself over and over, the air is red, my fingers held before the candle flame reveal their very bones, the red of my blood, purely so.
Campari, bitter and perfumed, pools and warms, as the words cushioned by distance ease themseves forth.
here, in this red room, it is in the silence between us,
between the words, where everything is said. -
Review from Johnny C.
San Francisco, CA
4/21/2006
The room is red, but ain't no big thang! If you really want a red room, a red bar, a red EVERYTHING, get some red sunglasses and walk into any other bar anywhere...and that can be your own, personal red room. More fun hanging out at SFO watchin' planes take off and land..... with your red sunglasses on, than going here.
1 ducket for being red..Whatev'. -
Review from jen s.
San Francisco, CA
8/28/2006
Amazonian bartenders with some of the nastiest pours in San Francisco, oversized cocktails for very reasonable prices (the same that most bars charge for drinks of half the size), top of the line juices, booze, and ingredients, incredibly comfortable, cushy, and dangerous leather couches and bar stools...
DON'T BE FOOLED: while the Red Room used to get lines outside the door every night, and still packs 'em in on the weekends, this bar is really a neighborhood dive dressed to kill in her most wanton red dress. Very relaxed and unpretentious. And a magnet for visiting Europeans looking to get laid.
INSIDER TIP: stop by on a Monday or Saturday night to hear old-school, dirty r&b and funk of a quality (and sometimes obscurity) rarely heard in SF bars... -
Review from Tony A.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2007
This place felt like I was kicking it in a huge vagina.
Not necessarily a bad thing.... -
Review from Gabriel R.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2006
While at a wine bar last night, I met some cool people from Switzerland who wanted to know if I would like to join them at "The Red Room". Being ever-so-curious about another new place in SF I said "Hell Yeah. Let's Go!" Maybe not in those words but whatever...
The place is dark and, well, Red. I like places like this though so it suits me and the vibe for a Wednesday night. I quickly met the bartenders and they were great. Kayana made a great drink for me and my new friends and it was no issue moving around seeing that we were there after midnight to closing. Little hardcore for a weds. I admit.
The place was filled with quite a variety of characters. Guys in suits in the corner talking, a wasted rocker who could barely keep his head off the bar, a cool guy who manages Lucid (great place) and me and the Swiss couple. Good thing I had a date with me because there were no woman! It was late on a Wednesday night though and it sounds like other reviewer have the opposite to say about it on the weekends.
For me, perfect weeknight bar. I can't do crowded places often so this probably won't work for me on the weekends. Overall, a really good experience and I will most likely be back.Listed in: Lounges
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Review from Dante S.
Palo Alto, CA
7/8/2008
Things That the Red Room is Good For; a Checklist.
[ x ] Safely opening a packet of photo paper.
[ x ] Hanging out after your eyes have been dilated.
[ ] Privacy.
[ x ] Camouflaging your acne/rosecia/drunken redness .
[ x ] Meeting hottie exchange students.
[ x ] Getting a Manhattan big enough to drown an exchange student in.
[ ] Karaoke.
[ x ] Making you crave a post modern bedroom makeover.
[ ] Intimate conversation.
[ x ] Hiding blood stains.
[ ] Pets.
[ x ] Getting hammered.
[ ] The claustrophobic.
[ x ] Making me wonder why I don't venture out more often. -
Review from Maurice G.
Austin, TX
5/13/2008
Every time I walk into this bar at the beginning of the night, I stumble out drunkenly much later. The drinks are so intense here, I start revealing, like every fucking secret I've never told. If I was a double-0-agent, this place would likely be my little secret hiding place, and also the place I took down the Crown of England with those loose lips of mine. Try every drink on the menu. Its worth the time, money, and return visits.
[EDIT]: man, it breaks my heart to see this one close up shop. It held some dear memories for me and my fiancee on our first ever roadtrip together. RIP. -
Review from Julia T.
Seattle, WA
9/18/2007
This place is cool.
And it's ALL RED.
Bartender was nice, although that might have been because it was a Sunday at like 6 pm, but I mean, he wasn't going to judge us.
My drink was also strong.
Oh and did I mention it's ALL RED!Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Nate C.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2007
Great place for Mojitos and all the mixed drinks are great.
yes the crowd is kinda lame but if you like getting picked up by the older ladies or just hit on by some middle aged dudes then this is the place for you. i go once in a while with some friends for a drinks really. -
Review from Nish N.
8/22/2006
This bar is connected to the Commodore Hotel, and I say this only as a landmark if you're trying to find it.
I used to go here years ago, like in 1998-2000, and the place hasn't changed much since. It's pretty small inside, dark. Oh and is cherry red inside, if that wasn't so obvious by the name.
Has a decent crowd on weekends, and can be internationally sexy since a lot of tourists seem to be attracted to the Commodore Hotel as a place to stay, and this becomes the start and end to their night. -
Review from Nicole N.
San Francisco, CA
8/11/2007 2 photos
The Red Room is Red. Very Red. Very, very red.
Very, very good for hiding the fact that making eye contact with the cute tall boy at the bar made me blush.
Hehehe (covers mouth as she giggles)Listed in: I'm Parched
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Review from Laurel B.
San Francisco, CA
2/10/2007
I love the Red Room, ever since I first went here with my friend Tom and some date of his, where we drank French 75's (hooray) before eating a fancy dinner at Fleur de Lys, where, I kid you not, she kept grabbing his leg under the table. The fact that I got invited along speaks volumes about how he thought the date was going to turn out. We had a really great time (he's a lovely guy), even with the leg grabbing.
The Red Room serves Chandon Blanc de Noir as its standard cheaper pour of sparkling wine, and as I think it stands up seriously to much more expensive French champagnes, they had me at the menu. That plus a seriously good cocktail = a success in my books.Listed in: Cafe Society
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Review from Jill D.
11/22/2006
Because the Red Room is literally next door to my apartment, it has been frequented regularly by our little gang. It's AWESOME! The staff is phenomenal and the drinks are generously poured and priced. My roomie is a regular which makes me one by default.
Word has it that the Commodore Hotel has been bought by the Academy of Art and they are turning it into a dorm which will then dispose of the Red Room. Which will effectively leave our little gang without a local watering hole. Personally, I think a dorm would be a hell of a lot cooler and more practical WITH a goddamn bar.
****Update 6/29/07****
It's official. The Red Room is on it's last legs and will no longer be open on Sundays and Mondays. FUCK The Academy of Art for killing my neighborhood spot! Closure slated for July...stay tuned. -
Review from Teddy d.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2006
Used to be a great place to hang out at when my very good friend worked here. But with her gone I don't venture out to the Red Room that much. As everyone said it is bright and red and the Idea was excellent at a time but you know with time we all have to change and I think the Red Room is due a change.
One big plus... they pour well here and the staff is wonderful.Listed in: late night...
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Review from Yelper F.
San Francisco, CA
9/22/2007
I've been the to the Red Room many, many times (I've been to a lot of bars many, many times), and finally decided to write a little something about it.
It's pretty much what every other reviewer said it was: really RED inside, low lights, small, crowded at times....but I can't say that any bartender has ever been rude to me, and the drinks are always strong and at the right price. That combined with the fact that it's walking distance from 10 other bars worth stopping off at, what's not to love? -
Review from Jim Z.
Concord, CA
6/2/2008
The Red Room is the quintessential SF lounge bar. It's a good weekend party place from what I've heard from the bartenders (some of whom insist on calling me Dominic for reasons I'll never know). It seems to be more interesting during the week when the after work crowd comes in to drink and vent.
The name of the place is no misnomer. It is very red and the lighting is great for us that need a little help in the face department. People just look better in the dim red light of this place. It might be the darkest bar I frequent since the Arrow was shut down.
I heard from a friendemy that there has been a change of ownership in the place. I sincerely hope the evil Academy of Art Empire hasn't wrapped it's tentacles around this place too. -
Review from Cindy P.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2006
SEXY REDNESS
I love red so this bar looks gorgeous to me. As others have said, it gets PACKED on Friday and Saturday nights after about 11pm or midnight--hey, it's a small bar!
I've never had a problem getting a drink here--crowded or not. They make 'em strong and I think drinks are reasonably priced. I mostly come to this bar when I am downtown shopping during the week. It's not that far of a walk and it isn't very crowded during the week.
Listen to the girl who drinks mid-week--I'm a professional. This bar is cool. It's a perfect addition for a Tenderloin Pub Crawl. -
Review from Surf R.
San Francisco, CA
12/21/2006
I like the decor, but a bar's gotta offer something more than that to get me to pony up $7-$9 for a cocktail.
Actually, the number of red-themed bars I've been to across the country now is staggering. Really, it's not the only hip decorating scheme to seem edgy, yet trendy! Maybe something more original to justify the prices?
Our drinks were not even stellar for the price, which is a little disappointing. Both were a little weak on alcohol.
I'm sure good times can be had here, but that's true of just about any bar. -
Review from Ryan W.
San Francisco, CA
12/6/2006
I like this place because I like my bars dark & divey. I like hitting this spot during the week, cuz there'll be a sparse crowd and you can hunker down at the bar and get your fade on. I'd bring your own company with you, however...as other pople have pointed out, it's not exactly a singles scene.
That rumor someone wrote about the Commodore being turned into an Academy of (f)Art dorm is HORRIBLE! That will essentially ruin this place for me...
The Academy of Art needs to STOP BUYING ALL THE REAL ESTATE IN SAN FRANCISCO. -
Review from Linh D.
San Jose, CA
10/6/2006
The Red Room Cocktail Lounge is a cool place to hangout afterwork. I feel very intimate, soothing, and relaxing which it takes the stress away. The lighting and jazz music calm the mood of expressing my hidden dark secret. Most of the drinks are good especially Cosmopolitan.
Definitely, this is a good place if you want to find any dark secrects about your lover. Sounds too scary! -
Review from Brad S.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2007
For someone who is colored blind, especially red-green deficient (ie myself), this room is an absolute nightmare; However, it's one of the nightmares where you wake up in a cold sweat because elvira was tickling you with raven feather in your parents bed.
Cool vibe, super mellow, good music, what more could you ask for? Maybe a cure for this damned color blindnes? -
Review from Caroline L.
San Francisco, CA
7/11/2006
The Red Room should be called "The NO ROOM" because I couldn't walk in there without hitting someone. And their bathroom was pink ... EVERYWHERE. I knew it was a bad sign.
*shudder* -
Review from Megan C.
8/23/2006
What a blast from the past this place is still around!?
! I have to say that I still remember them having one of the best Appletinis in the city. With a scrumptious fresh cut green apple floating on top. Mmmm Vodka Soaked Apple YUM!! If you're in the mood to go to a "cozy" little spot with a couple of friends or a sexy hot date this place is quaint and even on a slow evening in SF it could do the trick. Certainly doesn't feel empty with a handful of people in the place. Busier nights can get a little too tight but either way it's a great spot.
I would give The Red Room 3.5 yelp stars but since the scale won't allow it in this case I will just round up to 4. Like everyone else says.... yes it's RED.
Romance Factor: 5
Hobnob Potential: 2
Destination Rating: 4
Strong Suggestions: be in the mood to lounge. -
Review from Angela N.
1/12/2007
Intimate. It's small and there were only two other men there aside from the 7 of us in my group last Saturday night. True to the name, it is all red. The upholstery needs a little help. The music was decent but there's no live DJ. Can't complain about a decent glass of champagne for $7.
Odd twist after beginning the night in the Redwood Room but decidedly more affordable. -
Review from Tatiana D.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2007
I wanted to give a full 5 stars because they played some good Beastie Boys songs off of Ill Communication
The bartender made my drink delicious although it is a simple drink, Raspberry Stoli and 7up.
One star taken away because the bartender was a tad douschey.
It's a nice, casual place to get a quick drink or 10 drinks. -
Review from Ken G.
6/4/2008
This spot is pretty cool - it's small, but very cozy. Like the name implies, it's definitely red - everywhere. It's interesting that a place that has this kind of cool, modern decor can still be a neighborhood bar that usually attaracts a good crowd.
Like I said, this place is tiny so grab your spot early if you're looking to sit down with friends for the evening. -
Review from Lilly O.
San Mateo, CA
1/25/2007
Gasp! I can't breathe...so red, so crowded.
Definitely not my kind of place.
