Not a bad small gathering cocktail place to grab a drink or two. Mainly for smaller groups and they open late so that's nice. It's not too bad in terms of price for FiDi. Decent spot to start at before you continue your night. read more

Will was great to chat with while I was trying to kill time in the the city waiting for my flight back to Oregon. He made me feel seen and welcomed. He's also a super talented bartender and can manage many different dynamics being the solo bartender. This place is super homey feeling and gives a local non-touristy vibe, which I absolutely love!!! A hidden gem 10/10 read more

I can't speak to the quality of Terminus as a cafe. Heck, with so many inspiring options in the vicinity I can't even factually say that I aspire to. But what I can speak to is the experience here when the drinks turn adult, and the atmosphere that makes Terminus one of my favorite little drink nooks in the district. Okay, so this place is small. Out the gate. Come here before 4:30pm if sitting is something that you're into. You'd be surprised how many people resolve to pack this joint, and if you're not careful, you'll probably end up on the outside looking in. Literally. The drinks here are spot on. I dare say they're almost "weak". But you know something? I'm not 23 anymore. I don't care. They're tasty. They're fast. And the service is friendly. Everything about Terminus is prompt and professional. I like that. Beer offerings are sparse, but the bartenders here are great at making recommendations. If you're on the fence, know you're in good hands. read more

We came across this place because we had a 40 Minute wait for our next Bart train- overall great service and ambiance. Joe was our Bartender and 12/10. Definitely stop by. The RX Gimlet was my fav!! read more

Cafe Terminus - RX GIMLET - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow so impressed with this bartender I think his name is Brian or Ryan. Great bar spot to get a drink after work. The art here, why, I'd be willing to buy it. I recommend sitting by the bar or by the window - those are the two best places to sit at Terminus. read more

Cafe Terminus - Friday rosé and a good bartender - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was a very pleasant place to suck down some booze! Cool spot. Clean location 1849 to use the bathroom and not too pricey for the financial. All in all is all we are It's good. Go ! read more

My friend and I were looking for a bar close to the Embarcadero Bart station on a Sunday evening and decided to check Cafe Terminus based on the yelp reviews (it is also one of the few bars open on a Sunday evening in this area!) It is only a 4 minute walk from the Bart station, and the place is really cool. It looks like a cafe from the outside with chairs lined along the window, and a bar from the inside. Once you go in, there's music and a big bar with a great alcohol selection. Cocktails are $12. I ordered El Cholo (with mezcal, pineapple, and lemon juice) and loved it! Some wines are under $10 a glass, which is pretty affordable. The staff is welcoming and the ambience is chill (although the later it gets, the louder the music). Overall, great spot to hang out with friends! read more

I'm embarrassed to admit that I had never been to Canteen, Denis Leary's popular Tendernob spot. Don't you get all smug with me. You try writing 2,595 reviews and living up to an unearned reputation for eating everywhere. Yes, everywhere. No, I haven't eaten everywhere. Now look, I've had a sandwich at The Sentinel a few times, especially since it's usually located near where I've worked the past five years (review: http://bit.ly/19jetbn). I've also tried Leary's other spot, Golden West in Trinity Alley (review: http://bit.ly/1gIE4U0), and of course, I've had a few libations at House of Shields because well, who doesn't have a drink at House of Shields? (review: http://bit.ly/1gIEaer) But Jamie W. made me aware of their new spot near where the California Street cable car begins...or ends depending on where you're going. He and his partner Eric Passetti sure keep busy because they've already opened another spot in the Tenderloin, Trocadero Club, before I even got a chance to jot down this review. We decided to go there for an after-work drink which is not Jamie's usual way of spending a weeknight evening. So I figured I should take advantage and treat us to a round. It's a pretty compact spot with just a couple of tables for groups and the bar and a couple of counters along the perimeter (photo: http://bit.ly/17SYuae). It was a pretty quiet scene that night and the two guys at the bar barely acknowledged us after handing us the paper with the cocktail listing on it. Jamie was by-the-book and ordered the Citizen's Committee, an apt beverage for him since he is so civically minded. It was a smooth mix of gin, pastis, orgeat, mint and lemon (photo: http://bit.ly/1hEMjlg). Very Mad Men, very white-collar with cufflinks-type of drink. I decided on my standby, a Pimm's Cup which they didn't mind making off the menu with a little ginger ale (photo: http://bit.ly/170UMbE). Cocktails are a flat $10 each. It was all fine except the tall ceilings caused an echo effect that made the unexpurgated guffaws of the portly woman fifty feet away from me sound like she was yelling in my ear. Still, I was so entranced by their simple lunch menu (photo: http://bit.ly/1aDVsks) that I came back two days later and ordered the $9 "Salvador Style" Pork Shoulder Sandwich with Citrus, Napa Cabbage and Mint. It was served in a soft kaiser roll slathered in mayo, so I was a happy camper (photo: http://bit.ly/19je4WA). With a $2 bag of kettle chips and a $3 glass of lemonade, it started to add up, but the pork was fork-tender like something you'd get at a barbecue takeout. So indeed, it is like The Sentinel meets House of Shields, and that's not a bad marriage if Leary is the justice of the piece. FOOD/COCKTAILS - 4 stars...decent drinks and even better lunchtime options with the Leary signature treatment AMBIANCE - 3 stars...a rather small space, not that inviting. probably crowds up quickly SERVICE - 2.5 stars...a bit of a ho-hum on behalf of the servers here, could work on treating everyone as nicely as they do with pretty girls TOTAL - 4 stars...this terminus doesn't feel like the end read more

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1st night in the city and wasn't quite ready to head back home so we stopped into Café Terminus. After checking out the wall of booze I was even more confused on what I wanted to drink haha. The bartender for the night was Soule and I told him just make something sweet and girly please, celebrating my birthday weekend early. He made a great grapefruit type drink and it was even made with fresh grapefruit juice and it tasted perfectly sweet & yummy! Plus he had a few other juices ready to be mixed into other drinks too. Starting mingling with some other patrons, wound up doing some birthday shots. Yes it was a fun time. This is a fun stop to end the night or even start your night off, I know I had a great time. read more

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You know you've hit that "oh god, I feel old" point in your life when you experience one of these things: 1. You start going to bed earlier because you're tired earlier 2. You'd rather stay home on a Friday night instead of raging at the club 3. You enjoy going to Bed Bath and Beyond 4. You avoid crowded areas 5. You start to work out because your metabolism just isn't the same anymore 6. You start to see all your friends get engaged, married, or have babies 7. Throwbacks are songs that you listened to a few (I mean, hella) years ago And worst of all... 8. It takes less alcohol for you to get buzzed/drunk now Let's be real, I've experience most, if not all, of these things... but I still try to find ways to trick myself into thinking I'm still that wild party child I was at 21. Once we got situated at a table seat at Cafe Terminus, we looked over the menu and decided we should try their cocktails. Too much beer just means more miles I'd have to run afterwards! (See? It's happening...) The bartender warned David C. that the "drinks won't be kind to us." David questions our decision, but I tell him, "That's good! ... Right?" Cocktails are $12 (pretty typical for SF) and totally worth it! The Metro (bourbon, pastis, creme de griotte) was refreshing and easy to sip on. After ONE drink, we were both feelin' it. When has this ever happened!? Next time I'm going to dish out $12 for a cocktail, which is basically anytime I'm drinking in SF, I wouldn't mind coming back here! Cheers! read more

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This is a small little bar with an eclectic crowd. Great spot for having a late night drink before heading to the hotel if you happen to be staying at the nearby Hyatt. The bartender I had was friendly and quick to serve up a drink. There is a good variety of cocktails and specialty drinks to choose from. Overall it was a good spot to relax at. read more

Cafe Terminus can either be the first or last stop to grab a drink depending on whether you are headed to or from BART or muni. It is located right by the entrance to the Embarcadero station. The little bar is laid back and has a low-key vibe. Among the hustle and bustle of downtown SF, it could very well be a sanctuary to some. A friend brought me there for a drink on a Sunday evening. There wasn't much of a crowd but a few patrons drinking alone at the bar. The bartender was nice and poured me a good glass of pinot noir as my friend had a Manhattan. The wall of bottles seems like it would satisfy all types of drinkers. Cocktail prices are on par with other bars in the area. Wouldn't recommend for a group since this place is small. I'd go back with a friend or two though. read more

Cafe Terminus - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cafe Terminus has been on my list of bars to try out and I tried it today for...breakfast. Not a lot of places that do both. They have a fairly small breakfast menu, muffins, oatmeal, yogurt and a couple of hot items. Eggs and the item that I got, avocado toast. It was really really good! Overall it is a cool spot and I liked it and will be back for drinks. read more

Very good cocktails and very unassuming place where you can hang out with friends. Not really a "scene" place or a place for a date in my opinion. Prices were normal. read more

Best place to visit having nice smooth cocktail with friendly bartender I think is his name is will. His generous and very talented about cocktails. Come here and no worries you're good hands read more

Cafe Terminus - Cheers ! - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I loveD their chicken salad! Is delicious and the bread they give along with it is so good too! LoveD? Past tense? Don't love it anymore? Right. I am not a huge fan ever since they started skimping on the quantity of the greens, nuts and raisins. :-| Oh, and no more andes with the salad either! :( read more

Cafe Terminus - Yes! The Andes came with the salad. :) - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Best lunch spot/bar that's opened in a while! Dennis and Eric did it again! Easily becoming one of my favorite places to go. It is simple yet sheek (I think the inside of the place resembles a train and the tile was imported from Japan, so I hear) and the crowd is just about what you would expect in the financial. The staff is friendly and nice and Will and Eric sure know how to make a drink. The sandwiches are amazing! The roast beef with cabbage is my favorite and the Cuban is slowly making its way up there. The prices are about what you would expect and the location is prime, right in front of the Hyatt embarcadero and the muni station. Good to come after work with your co-workers or just come and chat with some good people. Again, Eric, will it really kill you to play some yeeezy??? Lol Alright, stop reading this and just go! read more

Cafe Terminus - Roast beef sandwich... - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Did a large event here this past week for a large computer company +/- 50 people with drinks & appetizers. Was very impressed! The evening event went over vey well; the drinks and the appetizers were outstanding. Both bartenders were very accommodating and professional. We were promptly greeted by one who's a dead-ringer for Ben Affleck. One of my colleague's ordered an Old Fashioned and I ordered a Boulevardier'. Both were perfectly executed - was impressed that he knew the recipe for the Boulevardier off the top of his head-but then they do offer some pretty cool cocktails. Did not get their names, but appreciated the care & concern for how they accommodated all of our guests. The hostess passing hors devours' was also very personable - my personal favorite was the roast beef & horseradish. Eric took very good care of us and made the billing aspect pretty darn painless as well. Went the extra mile - and he did not have too... I feel it worked out quite well! Would go back in heart-beat! Thank you- Tom From DFW! read more

Terminus, as in the final place you will remember being at...before waking up the next morning. This place is so easy to grab a drink at; it feels like the bar is on the sidewalk since the front of the place is full glass and not very deep. It is a small place but it makes up for it in liquor selection. The bartenders make sure you get to where you came in to go...get drunk! There's seating outside where you can smoke the night away properly. There's only one bathroom so it can get stuck if somebody is too drunk and lost inside. This is the after work, neighborhood get-drunk-quick-hang-out-all-night-meet-cool-people-and-smoke spot. read more

I came here a few weeks ago, and really enjoyed that experience. I thought this might be one of my regular sports. Second time, it's 1:30pm this past Wednesday. I wait at the bar for a few minutes but nobody comes. So, I sit down with my friend who arrived a few minutes earlier. She told me her chai tea was extremely spicy. I tasted it, and, although I love spicy food, it was bordering on undrinkable to me. So, we go back to the counter, and, finally, the lady comes up from the back after I waved. I asked if we could get another drink that's no so spicy, and she refused. She said all customers prefer it that spicy. I have trouble believing that every other customer prefer habanero chai tea, but, okay. So, I asked if we could get a coffee instead, because my friend can't physically drink it. She said that they are out of coffee, and only had coffee for cold brew. So, I asked if we could replace it with that, and she said, only if we paid for it. So, 1:30pm, no coffee, and no chai tea, not to mention being treated extremely rudely, we left. I thought I'd found another regular spot for our weekly coffee, but instead, I will never come here again. My friend's stomach was still hurting by the time we got to another cafe. So, Cafe Terminus. To save on the price of 10 cents worth of coffee, you lost two customers forever. Great business. read more

The bar is great. Bar tenders are friendly and funny, and tend to make really good cocktails. It gets pretty busy here after work, but if you get there in time to snag a place its worth it. The food is the reason for my low review. Had a lunch once and it was a tuna salad that literally had one piece of tuna that was one square inch large. Went back and they gave me a new one, but still it was annoying. Got a breakfast burrito this morning, it was a good price, but pretty poor quality. The tortilla, cheese, and bacon were just thrown in the microwave, and then some eggs that had obviously just been sitting there were thrown on top. All the cheese and bacon grease that came out during the microwave just left you with a really sad soggy burrito. read more

The ambience of a gym locker room, cocktails that arrive looking half empty for $12 which is seemingly the new norm for cocktails in SF. I give Terminus a big meh. read more

Cafe Terminus - Skimpy cocktail for $12. I'll go elsewhere - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Interesting spot in downtown San Francisco to catch up with an old friend over nice cocktails. Despite its nice interior, it comes off as rather pretentious and hipsterish; the pseudo-intellectual rich boy types. The service was a bit slow and a bit stingy on their pouring of drinks, plus some of the employees were lazing around. However, it looks nice and the outside looks gorgeous at night with lights and rains drowning the city. read more

Breakfast : Ordered the oatmeal w fruits, $5. Good portion and I like how the oatmeal is prepared. Fruits are cooked witht he oats and it's quite good on its own. Ordered it with brown sugar on the side. Lunch: got there around 12:15 on a Monday. Place was still empty but after we ordered and sat down, people started coming in, mostly for To-Go orders. I had the spicy pork sandwich, $9. It was a good size. Imagine pulled pork w mango. It was good. Will recommended to try. My friend had the Vietnamese BBQ Beef, $9. Generous portion. read more

I dig the decor and the drinks are pretty solid. It's a scosche pricy but I guess that's to be expected in the FiDi. The lunch foods look good and I'll def be back to try them. read more

Great little spot for drinks (I usually get a mule or an IPA). I'd be cautious coming here during happy hour though. Terminus is TINY. With limited bar seating, and only a few small tables to spare, this place gets crowded fast. Hope you like drinking with your bodies packed like sardines, because that's about as much room as you're gonna get. Coming here in the morning is a totally different story though (coffee house by day, cocktail bar by night). Definitely not as crowded, but with all the same fast and friendly service. It's right off a Bart entrance, so it's super convenient making a quick morning coffee stop before heading to work. read more

Over the weekend, I sort of went on a Yelp search frenzy looking for non-chain coffee establishments. Things got kicked off with going to illy, and then it sort of escalated into wanting to take on a new place a few mornings out of the week to find a spot that has the best latte. Cafe Terminus happens to be right across the street from my office, and if you walked by, you'd never guess they serve coffee and breakfast items at 8am. Terminus is basically a one-stop shop for people like me: coffee/breakfast in the AM, lunch items at 12pm, and cocktails/beer in the PM. So basically, YOU NEVER HAVE TO LEAVE! I haven't gotten around to trying the lunch or been by for a cocktail, but their latte was delish. They roast their own coffee in house, and advertise a delectable blueberry muffin and oatmeal in the morning. This is definitely a great option for me since the Peets/Starbucks line is generally at least a 15 minute wait during coffee rush hour. Updates to follow after trying lunch there! read more

Cafe Terminus - Gluten is not Satan - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here on a HowAboutWe date that included 2 absinthe cocktails, tastings of 3 kinds of absinthe, and a roast beef sandwich. The sandwich was surprisingly and amazingly tasty with delicious smoke flavor. The bartender was very professional and knowledgeable about his absinthe. We watched him do this thing and he was eager to show off his skills. We felt like we were getting a private tasting and were really entertained Top notch, fella! And man, that absinthe was intense. There was some sort of tech company after party going on so it was louder than usual (according to the bartender). We got pretty intoxicated and had a great time. Would love to come back on a quieter evening. Parking could be an issue for some drivers. read more

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I've only tried the breakfast so far but I really like this place. It's a mom and pop menu with a nice modern cafe vibe . I like that the menu is limited and changes daily - very farm to table feel. They bake muffins fresh every morning for breakfast - the apple cranberry one is so good. Hope they make this again soon. The oatmeal is pretty good as well - instead of just putting toppings on plain oatmeal - they cook it with apples, cinnamon, and blueberries. I tried the baked eggs which is similar to a quiche - delicious! baked with potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, bacon - I really like this one, a nice change of pace from the standard egg and bagel. Prices are on the higher side but for the quality and daily menu selections - it's well worth it for Fidi area. ($3 for a muffin, $6 baked eggs, $3.50+ for a latte, $5 for a cup of oatmeal) Not a huge place - few tables and bar seating. They take credit cards - not sure if there is a minimum but I don't think so. read more

Cafe Terminus - Baked eggs with tomatoes, bacon, spinach, and potatoes ($6) - really good! - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Walked in here on a slow Saturday evening for pre-dinner drinks. Cocktail game was strong, both on menu and custom, they were delicious and unique. Ryan set us up well with drinks and was great to chat with. We followed his recs for dinner at Wayfare Tavern and that mashed potatoes were everything promised and more. read more

I'm not even sure where to begin, but I'll give some background. My friend and I were about to head to the Bart station and I wanted to use the restroom for the hour ride back. Headed to the Hyatt and they said guest only, but was told to go to Terminus. Walked over there and was in the process of handing over our ids to the guy at the front (caucasian looking male with wavy/blondish hair, said his name is Chris). My friend mentions that we were just at Hyatt and I have no idea what triggered it but immediately he was like no, you can't come in. Weird right? We were going to get drinks, no big deal and buy something. So please someone tell me what's wrong here? They weren't busy. There was no line. I asked him what was going on since I didn't hear it the first time and he said you're not coming in. I'm not letting you in. Now, what in the prejudice is going on here? We're both of different races. That can't be it right? Did we look like transients? I didn't think so. I had a foldable Uniqlo jacket, Apple Watch, Zara jeans, and converse on. Was he thinking we were going to do drugs or something? I can't even stand being around cigarettes. Were we being rude or drunk or obscene? Absolutely not. I get a business has the right to refuse service, but at least have a legitimate reason. There are proper ways to communicate, and for the guy to represent the business, I would definitely reconsider who you put at the front of your door. He's the first person a customer sees. I haven't been treated like that in a while, and it had discrimination feels all over it and made me feel disgusted inside. My review isn't saying don't go here, but I do want the business owners, managers and staff to know what goes on. Don't treat people like shit, especially if they're willing to give you their hard earned money. Sorry if this was such a rant but I'm not going to let someone be rude to my friend and I for no reason. The good news is I went back to the Hyatt, told them what happened. They let me use their restroom even though I offered to buy something (bar was closed), had some jokes and went on our way. read more

First time here in years -- the NOLA Rouge is an amazing cocktail! And the pale ale on tap was really good too! we will be back....

What a cute spot for an after work drink. The wine by the glass list is pretty small, but so is the café so it's understandable. The ambiance is hopping, the tv not too loud and the bartender was funny and attentive and the crowd was hip; I'll definitely be coming back here. Great people read more

Great old fashioned cocktail. Quick service. Could of easily stayed and had 10, then crawled home, but had to keep moving. read more

We stopped in for a drink while we were waiting for the trolly workers to take their break and get going again. My husband ordered an old fashioned and I had a vodka/soda and the drinks were wonderful. I used the restroom and it was spotless and had a code on the door that you could only access from the bartender, which I liked. We loved the hip vibe and the location a lot. The only reason I don't give it 5 starts is because the bartender's language was a bit too salty for me - he was very loud and free with the F word with someone he knew that walked in to say hello. The place looks to be aspiring as an upscale joint, but he was a bit off putting. I'd still recommend giving the place a try. read more

Plan A was Schroeder's. Unfortunately it was packed. Thanks to Yelp for helping us pull an effective audible. Coffee in the morning that turns into a bar a night? It works. Went with an old fashioned. It wasn't anything fancy but it did the job. Plenty of standing room, a few tables and decent sized bar. Loved the fact that it was only a block or so from Bart. read more

Well, my friend and I went in for a cocktail after work and I was blown away by how shitty and rude the bartender was. Verbatim, this is what happened: Me: "Hey how's it going? I'll have a High West Double Rye perfect manhattan straight up with a twist" Bartender: "You don't say straight up, you say up". Me: "But you know what I mean?" Bartender: "No, you don't say straight up, you say up, so I don't know what you mean." My friend and I look at each other, totally blown away at how rude he's being. So I look at my friend and say, "who's THIS guy?" while we both start laughing. Bartender: "You know what, get the fuck outta here, and fuck off, I'm not serving you". Let's just say, I couldn't WAIT to write this review. Owner, if you're reading this I'm happy to talk to you about it, or come into the bar personally and show you which one it was. read more

Opening a top notch bar in the Financial District in the 21st Century takes chutzpah. Opening a bar that opens early for coffee and has a kitchen with a kickass lunch takes genius. Genius by way of Dennis Leary, Eric Passetti, and Will Herrera. I predict many a failed startup drunkenly launching here. read more

Came here twice on a recent trip up to the city. Once for breakfast, where they proved to have a cool and interesting selection of options, good coffee, and one of the better bread puddings I've had outside of Louisiana. Just no whiskey sauce. That said, I came back that night because they have one of the better bourbon selections I've seen anywhere. One more time, just to get the search term higher: BOURBON. The bartenders knew everything about what they had too. I had one in mind, but I bet they have something really nice that might be your new best booze friend (an unknown bourbon is just a friend you haven't met). And that could be two reviews for two different places, but I love the concept of having it be a cafe for the overworked Financial District folks to grab the breakfast they don't have time to make because they can't afford to live close enough to have a decent commute, and the bar where they can all come to wallow away their sorrows about having to commute in from Hayward. And wallow, they do, as the place was pretty busy when I came in. I hope to come back. read more

Some see this is as the end of the line, others will see it as the beginning. Cafe Terminus is the beginning, the end and the well-ridden line of bars, cocktails and cafes in San Francisco. Located right at the core of inner downtown is a bar cafe that captures the current times, along with an ode to the history of classic cafes in this city. Some cafes here are different than what you'd suspect in the name. It's not just about a place for a quick cup or a morning drop by, or a place where you pop up tablet and post up for three hours after spending three bucks on a cup. Instead, this type of cafe invites people to linger over a bar, over coffee & tea, too, along with being upfront about being a bar. One aspect of the bar + restaurant industry in a major city to take advantage of is that the industry has serious professionals -- restaurant, hospitality groups and cocktail consultants. Cafe Terminus is from the Dennis Leary Group. You'll recognize them from the long-running, now-shuttered Canteen, the breakfast and lunch nooks of Golden West and The Sentinel, along with an upcoming bar Natoma Cabana, and the current Trocadero Club. Here they're capturing all aspects of their trade: breakfast, lunch, catering options, coffee, teas, and a well-crafted full bar. I can smell the absinthe. I can taste the Ricard and pastis. And the afternoon or lunch champagne. Or, all of it all at once. The focus on afternoon aperitifs for their cocktail menu, including Ricard, pastis, absinthe and a drink called Death in the Afternoon, made for 4pm, keeps it straight forward with absinthe and champagne in a coupe cocktail glass. If you ask me, they're not trying to do too much, they're doing going beyond the standard, and executing it really well. A heavy-trafficed pit stop for tourists on the cable cars, and the suits on fly by lunches, and happy hours for all. The not so secret aspect of Terminus is they're open 'til 2am, and in this neighborhood that goes a long way when you want a classic late night in, of all things, a quiet downtown. Like 1964 Manhattan. One thing to embrace in San Francisco is that our population is in fact sparse for a major city. There are more bars per capita here than other major cities, which means sometimes you can find an establishment like this late at night to linger alone, on a date, after a late night of work. You can pony up here in denims or a dark-pleated suit. For the beginning of your day, for along the daily work train, or to end the days in a high ceiling-ed, dimly lit, modern space to begin it all over again. read more