Kumquat caipirinha - the drink tasted great and the name alone deserves an extra star. Who doesn't want to watch kumquats get muddled after being pestled in a giant mortar? I like Elixir - it's a no nonsense bar without the feeling that it's catering to any discernable scene. The Tipperary cocktail (Irish whiskey, vermouth, and chartreuse) was delicious, like I would expect a Manhattan to taste in my dreams. Great booze selection for a bar of this size. read more

We went for the Bloody Mary bar after brunch one Sunday and after bartender dude handed me a pint glass filled with vodka, I quickly realized I have no fucking idea how to make a Bloody Mary. Not a good Bloody Mary, just *A* Bloody Mary. Hmmm. My tactic (one I normally implement) entailed stuffing the glass with lots of snacks, including beans, sport peppers, asparagus, olives, pickles, limes, and more peppers. Reminds me of when Pop's used to have Bloody Mary Mondays, complete with a mini slice of pizza perched seductively on the glass's rim. Sigh. Okay, so my lack of Bloody Mary makin' skills already made my Elixir experience a bit too, um, challenging? Like work? Dudes, I'm lazy as fuck, so this whole Bloody Mary bar thing was a little too chore-like for me. Further, I do not dig the broseph atmosphere. Apparently, sports are not to be fucked with in this household and, well, I hate sports. It stems from the inherent laziness thing, in addition to my fear of teenaged boys, and for some reason teenaged boys equal SPORTS in my slow, alcohol-saturated head. I do like the bathroom, though. Clean, spacious, and nice lighting. And since I'm vain as fuck, well, a nice bathroom with good lighting can really pile on the stars. read more

Our company hosted a private event at Elixir this week - a fitting venue for our Speakeasy themed event since it's the second oldest bar in San Francisco! Nick + Nick (yes, both bartenders are really named Nick) were absolutely delightful to work with. A few weeks before the event, we did a run-of-show with Nick D. and were very impressed by his thoroughness and attentiveness. He helped us envision the flow of the event and where we'd set everything up. He made sure everything was planned down to the last detail (like what the bartenders should wear and whether the curtains should be drawn or remain open). On the day of, Nick + Nick were extremely helpful during set up and tear down, re-arranging furniture and moving barstools to make space as needed. They even helped us set up an writing station in the back of the bar, by laying a large plank of wood over two barrels. Once they set up the candles and drew the red velvet curtains, it really was like being transported back into the 1920s Speakeasy era. Behind the bar, Nick + Nick were very accommodating with our special requests. We asked them to give us periodic updates on where the tab stood, take "drink tickets" from guests in exchange for cocktails, and close the bar temporarily during an interactive activity we had planned. They even wore Elixir button downs to go with our event theme. As far as the drinks go: the cocktails are delicious + unique. It's clear that a lot of thought goes into the recipes - each drink is designed by the staff and they change the menu periodically each season. A lot of the guests gushed about how much they loved the cocktails. We were able to take over the speakers with our own playlist, and their microphone system came in handy to make announcements. Renting out the place for a private event is also very reasonable cost-wise compared to other places in the city. The owner, H., was the one who handled writing up the event contract. We'd give the Elixir team 10 out of 5 stars if we could. Would highly recommend working with them for all your private event needs, especially ones that require a unique, unforgettable experience. Thanks Nick, Nick, and H. for such a memorable event, all our guests had a magnificent time. read more

Lowkey without being dive, candle-lit small room, clean but no nonsense neighborhood bar. The casualness hides an intense dedication to alcohol, a serious drinkers' bar, not some cosmo lemondrop fantasy or a vodka red bull joint. They specialize in small batch bourbon, plus rye and whiskey, and some serious tequila. Hit me up a Freida Kahlo Anejo with agave nectar, light on the Cointreau. 150 years old, not counting the 101 year interruption that just ended last year. They run "economic recovery" specials for ultra-top-shelf liquors 30-40%, like Compass Box Hedonism scotch or Hudson For Grain whiskey for $10-13 a shot. Wow. Whoo hoo! They have several Hebrew Beers on tap. Crowd is straight or gay, old, young, hotties or your socially inept guy friends, shabby tees, suits, skateboarders, bring your pit bull lab mix in here, you can *cough cough* set your Mac on the counter to write Yelp reviews. read more

Sundays in SF. I am completely hung over, regretting something or other from the night before. Thank god there is a make-your-own bloody mary station at the bar next to my brothers apartment. Usually its one or two bloody marys, followed by conversation of how this Sunday we are all going to take it easy. Once the Hamms start cracking and friends are called for a good 'ol session of day drinking, then its on fo sho. Sunday around noon this place is stellar. Sunday night, not so much. Still a good joint, just not as lively. Elixir, you are the best and the worst thing for my hangovers in the city. Damn you. read more

I have to call out "Frisky M." for the ridiculous suggestion that the owner of Elixir is anything less than one of the most courteous, likable and welcoming proprietors in the city. Given the popularity of this top watering hole, it's no surprise one might have to wait their turn for one of their legitimate craft cocktails. One only has to look at Frisky M.'s other reviews to see a pattern of slaying numerous highly respected businesses with personalized attacks-including multiple ethnic references. read more

I really hate rude bartenders. These guys seem to drip with attitude. This guy, in particular, had a religious saint on his forearm and a mustache. I know the bar is old, which is cool. It's got great potential, just get rid of the bad service bartenders. read more

I really liked this place. Had a long conversation with a friend over skinny bitches (vodka + soda, her drink, not mine) and a steaming warm concoction of burbon and apple cider in a tall beer mug. "It reminds you of the holidays," the bartender says. He's from South Carolina, and we talk a little bit about drinks and things before he tends to the other patrons. Overall, this bar had a distinct oakiness to it, lacquered bar and trimmings having long lost their luster, but still giving off a honey soaked glow that complements the windows frosted with condensation, and the cold tule fog pulling through the streets. Not a bad place to spend on a cold December night. read more

My favorite dive bar in the mission. Super nice and fun bartenders, delicious and freshly made cocktails (with real fruit), unpretentious crowd. The restroom is usually clean which is unusual for dive bars, lets be real. A really chill place to grab drinks with friends or casual dates! read more

I only have 3 words for you: Monday night BINGO!! This dive has real San Franciscan charm. It's probably the most fun you can have on a week night, playing a game that involves no real skill. I won twice over the course of an evening (beginner's luck??) and I have to tell you, the BINGO prize tree is amazing, random, and hilarious. My friend actually won the "grand prize of the evening -- $20 gift card to Elixir FTW! And thus, we had a very successful night out. In fact, I probably should've bought a lottery ticket before going home.... Oh, and the drinks are great too! Decent selection of beer, classic cocktails and such. Every drink you order gets you a new BINGO card ;) read more

In a city that claims to be green and progressive, there are very few certified green businesses, but this is one of them. I give them 5 stars for doing their best when so many hipster joints seem pained to even recycle. If it didn't get so damned crowded on the weekends, I'd like this place more. I just go on weeknights instead, especially when they're doing a tasting of something. read more

I love this bar. I found myself there at 10:50 in the morning yesterday. No, Im not an alcoholic, I am the girlfriend of a serious Steelers fan. Being that Comcast doesn't show many important games, we needed to find a spot that had NFL Sunday ticket. A quick google search brought me to Elixir. Being that the spot is yelp approved we decided to roll through. GOOD TIMES! bloodymary bar: yes great beer selection: yes salty dog made w/ fresh squeezed grapefruit juice: yes cool bartender (Eddie): yes 4 games of football for my viewing pleasure: yes 1 cute dog to pet: yes free BBQ for the meat eaters and pretzels for me: yes Like I said, I love this bar. I might add that I met some of the coolest people ever there! Three hours in and we were all taking pictures together. Yes, Ill be back... read more

Great little bar in the mission that's a cut above most mission bars. Even when it gets crowded the hipster quotient is usually fairly low which is a rarity in the mission. This makes me wonder if there's something about this bar that actually repels hipsters, and if there so what we can do to implement this feature in more bars in the area. Anyway, the drinks are usually strong, the beer selection is decent, and the vibe is great. The music comes from an internet jukebox, so it's a crapshoot depending on who's feeding it that night. Not really a bar worth seeking out, but if you find yourself in the mission and needing a drink, you could do a lot worse then Elixir. Oh, and I have no idea why they have this place classified as a dive bar, because it doesn't even begin to resemble one. read more

I was trying to help my friend Ron find a woman. So we were wandering all over the Mission "bar-hopping," as it were, and couldn't find a decent place to chill. We were at the Elbo Room for awhile, but all the women had dudes all over them already, so that bar was tapped. Then we wandered into Skylark, which was dead, and a few other places that didn't appear to have any single women hanging out inside. Finally we entered Elixir, which I didn't want to go into initially because when I see the word "saloon" that's usually code word for: "no chinks allowed." But there were a couple other folks of color in there, so if some shit goes down, they'll have to try to take down more than one. Anyway, Elixir was pretty cool. It was a nice mix of queer and straight folks. Good male/ female ratio. The music was alright, the drinks were alright, the atmosphere was really laid-back and generally pretty friendly. It was a nice place to plop down at on a Thursday night, which I hear is the new Friday or whatevers. What I learned from Project Find Ron a Woman is that the dating scene is rough. Especially in San Francisco, where you have to bring your buddies to bars with you to help you identify lesbians so you don't go barking up the wrong tree. Or bush, which I think is more accurate. read more

This is what I would call a quality neighborhood bar: the wood paneling and fixtures feel grand and a tad classy, but without distracting too much from the nuts and bolts of drinking with one's friends. It knows what it is: and its cologne of old, spilled beer on wood is always there if you need a reminder. Its location on the corner of Guerrero makes it a tollhouse of sorts between the Mission and the Castro, and to my amazement, just about everyone walking inbound to the Mission, or staggering back out toward the Castro, stops and pays the toll. This can make for an interesting mix: you'll have stoned former jocks going through their hemp clothing phase bumping elbows with rowdy, piss-drunk baby dykes, next to hipsters in porkpies and marina tourists. And everyone's in a good mood. read more

I know that the description calls Elixir a dive bar, but I respectfully disagree. There's a difference between a dive and a locals bar. One may not think of Elixir as a place to wow out-of-towners (although I do), but there's a lot to this little place on the corner of 16th and Guerrero. First off, H (the owner) is nationally renowned for his innovative cocktails. Just take a look at some of the ingredients kept behind the bar. I appreciate being able to get a great drink without having to pay double for flashing lights or modern art (I've got nothing against either, by the way). The bar tenders have always been really nice to me and they generally know a lot of the people who are hanging out there. It's like cheers, except I can never remember anybody's name. I think of Elixir as my default bar in the Mission where I can either start a night, or finish one. Also, take a minute to look at the building diagrams on the inside wall next to the window. It shows what the place looked like before it was a bar. Man, it's so cool to think about a place like that within the context of it's history. read more

Completely chill and low-key atmosphere. It's not all that unlike a tiny little modern-day saloon that draws a very down-to-earth crowd. The owner will explain that it's a historic spot, located on a corner where the first saloons in SF opened, right next to the Mission. If you like the idea of spiked lemonade, try the "hard ball" made by the owner - he uses fresh-squeezed lemons and a bit of powdered sugar... tastes really, really good. It's what keeps me coming back. Keep an eye out for the wine bar he's planning to open next door towards the end of the year. read more

The review is for the late-night bar only. Four of us came on Friday evening, and it was decently crowded. Clearly a happening place to be, but still enough space to move around and not feel like a sardine. We sat at the bar to order a few drinks. A few minutes after we'd ordered our drinks, the short, Caucasian bartender with an afro messed-up tapping the keg, and sprayed beer unrelentingly onto all of us. We all had beer on our hair, faces and clothes. The bartender apologized briefly, and then scampered off. Listen, I'm not one to ask for freebies, but there's still basic etiquette. If you've messed up, admit you've screwed up, and atone for it. He didn't offer anything - not even napkins to dry ourselves off with. We were then talking amongst ourselves about how the afro'd fellow should have been more accommodating, and he apparently overheard us (we were sitting at the bar, after all). He then launched into a huge tirade about how people were always expecting free stuff, and that life wasn't full of handouts, and its insulting for hard-working bartenders like himself. It was the all-too-familiar rant of someone who's just looking for a reason to be mad at the world for his own cruel hairdo (er, fate). My response: a) we weren't asking for free anything, b) you spilled beer all over us, and c) it would be prudent to learn how to tap a keg before becoming a bartender. It's too bad that one fellow soured our experience, because we have heard decent things otherwise. read more

I love their whiskey selection - when a bartender can be bothered to serve it. Most of the time they're severely understaffed, and waiting 20 minutes for a drink is further enhanced on Monday nights by the most obnoxious bingo game I've ever had the misfortune of overhearing. Somehow it attracts the fratboy types, as well, adding an extra dose of obnoxiousness. I've been kicked out at 11:30 because the bartender decided to close up early, telling me and my friend to "chug your beers or I'll grab it from you and then you will get out". I want to love this place. I want to even like it. But its horrible service and terrible vibe have consistently conspired against my affection. read more

Not so crowded on a Wednesday night that we couldn't sit down...but crowded enough to accidentally brush nice asses on the way to the bar. If I were straight, I could have picked up at least three different women in there tonight. Fun crowd. Laughs and good times were had by all. read more

The Yelp reviews for this place can be misleading. Elixir is nothing more than a crowded dive bar on a cool corner in the Mission. I met a friend for a drink there last night and found the place to be too loud and too crowded for any real conversation. Don't get me wrong, dive bars can be great. This spot, unfortunately, wasn't that charming or relaxed for a neighborhood hang out out. After one round we moved across the street so we could keep the conversation flowing. If you're looking for ambience and something cool, but also chill, this isn't your spot. read more

Hit this place in honor of absinthe being legal again. Got there around 8:45 and managed to secure a spot at the bar right next to one of the fancy water fountains. I don't think the bartenders were quite prepared for the onslaught on green fairy seekers, they managed to lose (or someone stole) one of their slotted spoons so they had to improvise and advised us to stir our sugar in with a straw. Hmmmm.The guys were quite on top of their game though, and were still way nice and up beat even with the large throng of people. Overall, think the actual bar is really cool. Though their $9 organic mixed drink menu is a bit pricey, there was some interesting choices on it. Something to try sometime. read more

Clever name for a divey type bar in the Mission, serving up everything from tap beers to specialty cocktails (cheap during happy hour!) and a decent selection of absinthe. I wondered in weary from a tattoo appointment (bring on the cliches) and decided on some their specialty fizz with muddled blackberries. Sadly, the bartender reported no blackberries, so I moved onto the traditional Sazerac. This one, laced with absinthe, had a nice kick to it. The crowd looked mostly like after-work happy hour locals, san suits and ties. A refreshing change the usuall happy hour crowd in some bars. I sipped it slowly, sitting at the window counter, facing the street for some classic people-watching. This perch also allowed me to have a quiet catch-up phone conversation with a friend without disturbing the people around me! read more

I really like this bar. It looks super divey on the outside, but when you go inside it is more like a British pub. They even have several English brews on tap as well as some interesting craft brews. I started with a pint of Old Spreckled Hen which is one of my favorite UK brews. It looked like a beautiful amber Guinness when pulled from the tap. Nice & refreshing & it gave me a beer mustache. Yum! Brian W. tried a Bloody Mary after I told him they came highly recommended on Yelp. After one sip of his & decided that would have to be my next drink. It was spicy & chunky & had some flavor that we could not identify...clam juice, maybe? Next time I'll ask but it was a really good Bloody. This is a cool spot to hang out & meet up with friends. Reasonably priced, too. read more

I visited Elixir last Friday night. It was pretty early, so the bar wasn't too crowded. Elixir gives off a dive bar vibes, but it is definitely more of a mix-ology/craft beer type of bar. As someone of West Indies heritage, I was surprised and impressed to see that the cocktail of the day was a Barbadian drink with Mt. Gay Rum, lime juice, almond liqueur, and bitters with a cherry garnish. I ordered this drink, and it tasted exactly like a cocktail I would have in Barbados. All of the bartenders were really friendly too. My only critique is that they were going too far towards being friendly on the friendly/professional spectrum. It took a while to get my drink, and the bar wasn't crowded at all. I can see this being kind of annoying when the bar is crowded. Overall, this was a pretty cool cocktail bar, and I would definitely come back again. read more

This would be my neighborhood bar, if I lived in the neighborhood anyways. $1 off drafts at happy hour (3-7) and the best damn porter I have ever had (god I miss west coast beer!). Not too packed in the early evening, the bartender was fast, witty and nice to look at, and the clientel was friendly mix of regulars, old and young. Plus you gotta love any bar that allows dogs! read more

What??! Wait...WHAT?!?! That was about the extent of all my conversations at this bar. Might be good for an early school night beer, but yelp pretty much infiltrated this place on Friday and it got kinda messy and too loud and someone broke my pint of Stella. Lame. read more

Seems like I started to drink. Oh well.. these are the days.. Alrightie, everything that was supposed to be said - it's been :) Great food (try their pickled asparagus!!!!), GREAT selection of drinks of all kinds (I started to appreciate that thing so much lately..), great music + friendly and careful stuff :) BEST BLOODY MARY EVER! And if you can do it by yourself - wooow, respect :) Cause I tried and it was the most delicious thing ever! Olga's Bloody Mary's haha sounds hella cool :) read more

Impressive rum and tequila selection! Comfortably downmarket without actually entering (too far into) the realm of divey. Awesome staff and owner! read more

With how early they close down bars in San Francisco you might as well day drink over here. My last stop on my mini bar crawl during the day was Elixr. Solid joint, had a beer and a cocktail. Was quite pleased. Especially when there are seats by an electrical socket. Free charging station! The people in the bar and our bartender were a friendly batch of people to chat with. Prime real estate right on the corner of a busy intersection. I'm sure they get lots of foot traffic during the day and that it would be quite busy at times. Worth checking out for sure. read more

UPDATE: turns out the owner took all the employees out to dinner this night and left a newbie to tend the bar. he was extremely gracious and invited me to come have a free drink. seems ok in my book. Sure they have 4 TVs and all of them were playing the golden state game (we believe!), and I heard they have a pretty fun trivia night on tuesdays, BUT you better not come here thirsty cause you're going to have a hell of a time getting a damn drink. I thought maybe it was just the guy there last night was super slow, but when he left his poor successor to tend a full bar all alone I knew it was over. She seemed more interested in texting her friends than moving her ass a little bit to serve her customers. I heard many complaints from other patrons as well. Maybe it was a fluke, at least all the staff was very nice and the rest of the crowd was cool too (typical mission). and they had a build your own bloody mary bar that looked pretty good. I'm willing to give it another try. read more

I love businesses that are constantly reinventing themselves; businesses that take a regular look in the mirror and ponder, "How can I be a better establishment?" Elixir does just that, but doesn't tread far from tradition. Apparently there has always been a bar in this space on the corner of 16th and Guerrero, from the Barbary Coast days and through its Latino transvestite phase. During the day, Elixir is the neighborhood bar that attracts all walks of life (including sports fans and dog enthusiasts). At night, the bar is transformed in to a candle-lit lounge...but the crowd is still the same! Most San Franciscans hit the beach/park last Saturday to enjoy the warm spring weather. I chose to cower in the darkest bar I could find to piece together my life from the night before. A Bloody Mary was entirely necessary, and Zeitgeist seemed too.....social. Elixir has a do-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar with an assortment of pickled veggies, fresh veggies, every hot sauce and spice imaginable. My beverage literally looked like a veggie bouquet in a vase. Elixir also has a mug club, which seems like a great deal if you live in the neighborhood. You buy a mug for 100 bones, decorate it and make it your own. Every night you get one free drink. Every mug has a number. Every night a number is drawn. If your number is drawn, you get six free drinks in addition to your nightly free drink. On your birthday, you drink for free. Again this is a sweet deal if you have at least one drink and day and live in the 'hood. Elixir is a great spot; no matter what day, no matter what time, no matter what the weather is like. It can get pretty packed in here, but don't avoid it if you ever see it empty! Eddie the bartender is a fascinating conversationalist. read more

I know they like to call it a "neighborhood bar," but I go across town to get a drink at Elixir. The space is classic saloon, the drinks are well made and the staff is good-natured and competent. I spent the last two nights in the Elixir classroom for whiskey seminar/tastings and can't wait to get back in there. H secured the adjacent space where they have educational events on Thursday nights, and I just really dig it. read more

A solid choice for a fun evening. Mellow, low-key vibe. It was definitely a little cozy with the thirsty friday happy hour crowd, but we managed :) The bartender on the evening of my visit, Jack, was friendly and extremely efficient. Tasty drinks, reasonably priced... definitely plan on becoming a regular! read more

Elixir is okay in my book...more specifically in terms of Mission dive bars. The first time I went to Elixir it was a Sunday and early, maybe 6:00pm. It was a very tame location, which was fine by me as I was able to chat with the people I came with as I was meeting a lot of them for the first time. The second time I went was way more popping...it was later in the evening on a Sunday (3-day weekend) so I can imagine would be comparable to a Friday or Saturday. The crowd was very mixed and diverse and very friendly. Guys moved aside so I could sit on a bar stool. One of the bartenders gave me free beer. All this made for an awesome bar experience. Elixir is like the Mission's equivalent to the Richmond district's Bitter End or Sunset's Yancy's....good default, go to neighborhood bar that even those who don't live in the neighborhood would feel welcomed. read more

I brought the office here for an after work happy hour, and the atmosphere was great. The drinks are strong, the happy hour is rockin (we had about 12 people and left with a $130 tab after 3 hours!) and the crowd is a great mix of people. We went on a Thursday and got to taste and hear about the history of Maker's Mark. It was interesting and something you don't see at most places in the neighborhood. This place advertises itself as being supportive of organic alcohol, but aside from Square One Vodka and 2 beers, the picking are slim if you're looking for earth-friendly alcohol. I hope they improve that in the future, I would go for organic drinks if they had more variety. read more

BEST BLOODY MARYS!!! sers soo good. There is a bloddy mary bar on the side so you can spruce it up to your liking. Pickled asparagus sooooo good. GIVE ME ONE NOW :D read more

I could give Elixir love for many reasons. It was the site of my 30th birthday, my first bloody mary bar experience, and they encourage you to bring in your own food -- which is great given the number of fab takeout in the neighborhood. But they're getting five stars from me for their World Cup coverage. Open for every game. 4 TVs, sometimes 2 games at once. Great crowd. Great house bloody maries. Great themed drink specials. Great proximity to Katz's bagels (final). And thanks for tracking down that teabag on the morning when I wasn't drinking. This is my favorite bar in the neighborhood for when you want a drink, some conversation, and maybe a little people watching. Like I wrote, you can bring in food, and that coupled with the Sunday bloody bar makes it a tip-top place to watch NFL games. Word of caution though: avoid the froo-froo drinks and stick with the classics. UPDATE: We went on July 3 for bar trivia -- brought 3 teams worth of people. The bartender (I think he was new) canceled it due to the crowd. :( read more

Bloody Mary Review - Every sunday at Elixir, the build your own bloody mary choices reign supreme. Options range from olives, pickled green beans, asparagus, lemon wedges, banana peppers, pepperoncini, bar onions and olives to a variety of hot sauces and seasonings including green tabasco, Old Bay, celery salt, and Worcestershire. Just make sure to hit this vodka salad bar before 6pm. Why go? A vodka salad bar. Price: $11 read more

Elixir - Bloody Mary from Elixir - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dim lit and rather cozy dive bar perfect for Sunday drinking with a good friend. Because sometimes you don't want to hang out with the bicyclists at Gestalt Haus or listen to too much loud music at Dalva. read more