1. Nihon Whisky Lounge
7.8
1779 Folsom St (at 14th St), San Francisco, CA
Whisky Bar · Mission District · 109 tips and reviews
Sanjay Kewlani: Fantastic food and a whole range of Whiskey!
Susan Loh: Classy and intimate spot in the most random part of the Mission. Great selection of whisky, superb happy hour, and get the agedashi tofu with a side of rice.
Pete Ippel: Come with friends who know their whiskey lounge and you'll leave enlightened. Bar staff is also well educated. Fun place to relax and chat.
2. Bourbon & Branch
8.7
501 Jones St (at O'Farrell St), San Francisco, CA
Speakeasy · Tenderloin · 318 tips and reviews
Charbay Winery and Distillery: Amazing cocktails, fabulous bartenders and hard to find libations (read: Charbay Whiskey II, Doubled & Twisted, etc). Always a good time!
The Daily Meal: A date night that’s drinks-focused is still a date and the location should be chosen wisely. Bourbon and Branch is the right atmosphere with mood lighting, cozy booths, and creative minds tending bar. Read more.
Kim Le: The imperial eagle is a great drink for bourbon lovers
4. Rickhouse
8.1
246 Kearny St (at Bush St), San Francisco, CA
Cocktail Bar · Downtown San Francisco-Union Square · 250 tips and reviews
matt oesterle: best cocktails in SF, if you don't include sister bar bourbon & branch. vieux carre is my personal favorite. punch bowls great for large groups if you are lucky enough to find seating.
Jaimy Szymanski: Avoid like the plague during weekday happy hour - too crowded with FiDi bros. Otherwise, expertly crafted cocktails and a fantastic whiskey selection. Nice atmosphere, too!
Billy Anders: Get the Laphroaig Project and Penicillin if you want awesome Scotch cocktails
7. Rye
8.5
688 Geary St (at Leavenworth St), San Francisco, CA
Cocktail Bar · Lower Nob Hill · 141 tips and reviews
James Yu: Get the Dark and Stormy, a nice mixture of ginger beer and bourbon
SFGate Manager: As its name suggests, this sleek bar in a gentler section of the Tenderloin specializes in rye whiskey and specialty cocktails made with rye and other spirits.
Eric Nelson: Great for unique bourbon and rye and the bartenders are very knowledgeable
8. Local Edition
8.4
691 Market St (at 3rd St), San Francisco, CA
Cocktail Bar · SoMa · 267 tips and reviews
SHOWRUNNER: Great, strong cocktails in the loungey basement of the Hearst Building. I like the Eagle (bourbon, homemade root beer syrup, soda).
Drew W: Great scotch/ whiskey/ bourbon selection.
Rouven Weßling: Great whisky based cocktails! Try the Lieutenant Governor if you like scotch.
9. Humphry Slocombe
9.0
2790 Harrison St (at 24th St), San Francisco, CA
Ice Cream Parlor · Mission District · 375 tips and reviews
Eli Reyes: Shorter lines than Bi-Rite and the ice cream flavors are so different. Try the Secret Breakfast (Bourbon and Corn Flakes) and the Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee - those are a MUST!
Priya Saiprasad: Order the brown sugar fennel along with the secret breakfast. The combo of bourbon, cornflakes and brown sugar is delicious
Minyi Shih: Combine Secret Breakfast (bourbon w/cornflakes) & Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee flavors to get the perfect cup!
10. The Epicurean Trader
9.1
401 Cortland Ave (at Bennington St), San Francisco, CA
Gourmet Store · Bernal Heights · 19 tips and reviews
Mathieu Verbeeck: A curated selection of the most amazing wines, whiskey's, coffees, teas and cheese/chocolate delicacies. Serving free coffee on Saturday's as well.
timoni west: Despite the name, really the best of all things: best chocolate, best whiskey, best wine, best shrubs.
Matthew Brennan: Best selection of craft whiskey & craft spirits in SF. Very fair prices and hard to find whiskies. Great selection of artisanal cheese, pantry items and oils and vinegars. Amazing sandwiches too!
14. ABV
9.0
3174 16th St (btwn Guerrero & Albion St), San Francisco, CA
Cocktail Bar · Mission Dolores · 148 tips and reviews
Benjy Weinberger: The Whisky in Church is smokey, smooth and delicious.
Braden Kowitz: "Whiskey in church" is excellent.
Eater: All 16 cocktails on the menu (organized by spirit) feel thoughtful and smart. Highlights include Whiskey in Church (smoky scotch, oloroso, maple, smoked pear bitters) and the Sutro Swizzle. Read more.