Elixir is a proper bar - so what do I mean by a 'proper bar'? In my opinion a proper bar is somewhere you can grab a quality drink, chat with friends and have an expert on the other side of the oak you can ask for drinks recommendations. Decor wise Elixir is pretty basic - the main decorations are old bar signs, bottles and chalk boards detailing what drinks they sell. No pomp and ceremony in here but that's just the way it should be. The hipster bar staff are great - laid back, casual and cool. Oh and they know their cocktails - I didn't get one as I had craft beer but I did taste one of my colleagues and it was out of this world. It was relatively quiet when we visited with plenty of stools available but I can imagine that it can get pretty crowded. One note of advice - they are strict on ID so make sure you bring some proof you're over 21! read more

Elixir - A proper bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The Bloody Marys are absolutely amazing! And, I didn't even get to the try the Bacon Bloody Mary (they're only in the daytime) -- but I'll definitely be back to try one of those! They're tasty, delicious and full of flavor! YUM! Possibly the best Bloody Mary I've tried in SF yet. Hands down - significantly - better than the boozy-soaked one at Zeitgeist. This place is a lot smaller than I would have imagined. There's the bar with about a foot of walking space, and a little area next to the front door, and that's about it for floor space. We came here around 9-ish on a Saturday though and it actually wasn't too crowded; the 4 of us stood in the aforementioned nook in the front corner. I wouldn't wanna come here late on a weekend night, but it's nice for an early drink, a 1st stop on your bar crawl, or probably good on a weeknight. read more

Great bar, came here on Valentines day. One of my lady friends gave the bartender one of those kiddie valentine cards you used to pass out in grade school. The bartender was touched, and bought shots for all of us. Hazzah! Great location, good greyhounds. read more

Don't judge a book by it's cover, that's all I've got to say.... Okay, no it's not, but that's because I love the sound of my own voice (or view of my own words). Seriously though from the outside looking in, you may question your choice of bar for a Friday night drink with friends as it looks like a bar from an old John Wayne movie (not necessarily a bad thing), however ask me how it felt from the inside looking out.... Well Yelp friend, funny you ask, as my view of Elixir completely changed after setting up shop on the old oak. The place is old fashioned yes, but in a classy, retro way and it's cosy enough to be somewhere you'd spend the entire evening. I had a couple of great Craft Ales, all reasonably priced around the $6 mark however they had an incredible extensive Whiskey list, so if your a Scotch lad or a Bourbon lassy definitely have a gander at that! The two chaps behind the bar were fantastic, they were knowledgable, full of banter and only added to the atmosphere. read more

Elixir - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Asked for a Moscow mule and got vodka and water for 16 dollars. Literally the worst cocktail I've ever had.

This is my corner bar. We've been coming for years. It seems new people are running it. I got a drink there last night. They charged me $32 not including tax and tip. I just spent $40 on a drink! I guess I need a new bar. read more

Small spot that's very well-situated. Have dinner at Pakwan and then get your drink on here. read more

If you are looking for a trendy bar without a cover charge in the heart of the mission, please find yourself at Elixir. The crowd is full of people from their mid 20s-40s, all engaged in what looks like some good conversation! They literally have a full bar equipped with unique selections of liquor and your traditional beers. All bartenders were quick in getting in your order. I also found their recommendations very helpful. My friend and I enjoyed a couple of drinks here before we were ready to bar hop, although I wish we stayed at Elixir. No overpriced cocktails here! Cheers. read more

Not all Martinis are created equal. Great job Elixir! A picture is worth a thousand words! read more

Elixir - Gin Martini , perfection! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

If you're a whiskey person and you're in The Mission, you should definitely check out this place. Bar staff is nice and will acknowledge you when you're waiting to order a drink. I ordered a "Healthy Glow" which was one of their signature cocktails. I liked it since it was sweet and pretty stiff. The drinks are a bit on the pricey side though (at $14 for the cocktail I ordered) but was mixed pretty damn good. Also saw they had Japanese Nikka Whiskey on the shelf. As I said, pretty good whiskey selection here. read more

Elixr is a small tavern that plays jazz music. It is the place to come if you want to grab a beer or a whiskey, kick back and hang with friends. Personally this is not my scene, but I still had a great time. The bartenders are friendly, and there are tons of other bars and restaurants located in close proximity. If you are looking for a low key and intimate bar, this is your place. read more

Elixir - Inside the bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I just left Elixir hair Salon after a beautiful weave, cut and style from Linet I have so much hair and its so difficult to style but Linet makes it look amazing! I've always experienced hair dressers cutting corners while doing my weave because I have so much hair. After a year of going to Linet, she has always done my hair perfectly. I am so happy that I found the perfect hairdresser! read more

I only need to say one thing: Sunday morning bacon-filled Bloody Mary. Thick, spicy, sumptuous, and with bacon. And a serve-yourself salad bar of options. And bacon. Did I mention that they put a damn crispy completely gorgeous slice of bacon in it? Oh yes! Adding a photo now. read more

Elixir - Bloody Mary with beer. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Great bar, Reggie who stands at the door made our night. So friendly and welcoming, he's the best

Very pleased with this bar. Bartenders are super chill and fun to talk to. Monday is bingo night and you get a card with every drink. Accidentally won 3x in a row and went home with fun dip, a mask, and some stunna shades. Thanks sal! Atmosphere is great. Will definitely be back! Also a convenient location if you want to bar hop. read more

Elixir - Bingo! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fun bar in the mission. Definitely worth the walk from Valencia street. They have a great new outdoor space too, very COVID friendly. Their fruit cocktails are very tasty, but their classics are good too. Great first date spot, fun, medium sized, and not crazy busy. read more

AMAZING BLOODY MARY! you can even design your own. they have a counter corner dedicated to spices and condiments. fabulous! read more

A good cocktail never goes out of style. I've graduated from the fruit juice laced drinks and enjoy the more potent drink such as an Old Fashioned, Sidecar or a Manhattan. This dive bar makes all of them very well. I don't know much about whiskey but I know I like the drinks. The menu changes with the seasons, but I don't think I'll stray from these three. It's been a great place to meet before dinner, or for a nightcap. I didn't see any Happy Hour specials, or any food, but people have mentioned the 4505 Chicharron, but I will pass on those. There are a lot of places to eat around here. Can't tell much about the crowd, as I've only been in on off nights when it was quiet. read more

So it seems like it has been a Friday afternoon ritual for me. I help out with the operations of a local food pantry, and when I am done there I drive over and find myself at this place. nice way to start the weekend. I guess my ammo is that i'm happy to be helping out those in need, and then even more happier to be able to visit this local watering hole to begin the weekend a little buzzed. I came here with a few friends from graduate school in January and I have to say, for a "dive bar," this place just feel right. Relaxed and dark, the atmosphere boasts a type of energy that I can't describe. I enjoy getting to know the people behind the bar, like H and Shea. The drink menu changes with the season, so it is good to hear things that are at one with the season. They have a well stocked bar as well. If you want a beer and enjoy conversation, definitely hit this place up. They also make a great old fashioned I have not been here in the evening, but from the size of it, I can imagine that it does get crowded. read more

I met a few friends here before our dinner reservation. My friends enjoyed their rather traditional cocktails and I asked the bartender for a non-alcoholic "elixir" which he dazzled me with. I think it had ginger beer as the base, some fruit, some bitters...it was quite lovely. It's an old bar with a lot of character that can only be truly appreciated when there aer few people in there. We had about 30-minutes of pure enjoyment and then more people piled into the small space. read more

They have a huge bourbon and whiskey selection. The prices at a tad but in the pricy side. They do have smaller pours. As luck would have it a the bourbons which I wanted to try were out of stock. The place is busy so service was slow. Just couple of bartenders behind the bar. read more

First off, Oh.My.Gosh. They have Leffe on tap?!?! FTW! Loved the ambiance. Warm, masculine, pub-like atmosphere. Bold, yet substantial colors on the wall (cranberries mixed with brown wooden shades). Bustling, intriguing crowd - good-looking, but not Marina. Hipsters, but not cocky. I liked it, I really liked it. Most of all: the music. First, there was straight up hardcore when we walked in. Some might be surprised by this, but I don't actually mind hardcore. And I have been to a straight edge concert (old school AFI) back in the day - circa 1999. Then there was my favorite punk song. Ever. Pennywise "Fight til you die". And upon leaving, M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes". I think the better question is: what's not to like? read more

Great drinks, very laid back and great service. Always got a seat and not too crowded. Only jukebox , no cover charge! Great place to watch a game, hang out with friends after dinner party or meet new people. read more

Came here NYE and had fun! Doormen were really adorable and cordial! People were awesome, although perhaps there could've been less people or more room, because it was packed. Took forever to flag down a bartender. I think we stood there for a solid 10-15 minutes while they were rushing around. I guess it's kind of forgivable. Other people are also probably waiting forever for their drinks too, and there were a lot of people. At least the bartenders were friendly and fun! We had hot buttered rums, which was a bad idea for my boyfriend, since he doesn't like hot alcoholic drinks. I thought it was really delicious though! Could've used a little more sweetening (I think some vanilla ice cream or marshmallows would be excellent), but it warmed me right up. I did feel bad because I ordered this while other people were ordering stuff like "whiskey and ginger" and other simple well drinks, while froufy little me asks for a hot buttered rum. BLEH I don't care now, it was yummy. When we left, the doorman told us to watch our step, and to stay safe. That was very nice. I think I like this bar. It's old, small, casual, and friendly. A little far for me to drop in regularly and become a regular, but dropping in once in a while is still a good idea. read more

Elixir - Hot buttered rum - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

They were out of 90% of the cocktails they offered. Did not offer any food. Definitely been church and style. Only go if you want a Spirit and a mixer or a beer. read more

Elixir .... what a gem. But honestly , the host Reggie is what makes the vibe. What a gem! Thanks for having us Reggie!

Great little bar, noted as the 2nd oldest bar in San Francisco serving since the 1850's. Great whisky selection with exceptional service and phenomenal mixes. Special thanks to bartender Shay for dropping knowledge on cocktails like he's the Wikipedia of liquor. read more

Cool little place! I came here for a dinner at Overproof and it was a great place to meet up for a beer beforehand.

My default first date location in the Mission. Always plan your first dates around where your date lives. ...and I happen to like to date Mission girls. No I don't have a hipster fetish. I also do not have a migrant worker fetish nor a homeless fetish. I especially do not have a Bacon Dog Cart fetish (althoughI'm sure I would if I tried one of those bad boys). I may have a lesbian fetish since I tend to get a lot of numbers from lesbians at El Rio. Oh waitI do have an El Farolito fetishand a Little Star fetish. Elixir is a fantastic bar to which you could bring a date. Just don't do it on trivia night (it made for a weird date). The bar is definitely dark and quieter. Unfortunately, it has TVs which for someone like me is a huge distraction. A dark bar with a bright TV and my eyes instantly go to the bright TV. So I always try to position myself where there's no TV within my field of vision. Elixir has a certain aura about it. It's very casual, yet pretty classy. It's slightly off the beaten path (on 16th and Guerrero). It never attracts a huge crowd, especially during the week, which is when you should always have a first date. Every table has little candles which adds to the vibe. And everyone is having fairly quiet conversation which makes it easier to have your own conversation. There's a solid selection of beers on tap as well as wine and liquor. Elixir is a great place to impress a girl, to get the night started with friends, or to hang out during the week, since it's so chill. It's also not too casual or too divey. I highly recommend it. read more

Elixir - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dan makes excellent Manhattans, the saloon has great ambiance and the staff are very friendly. I have been here twice in the past two weeks and really enjoy it. Will be back! read more

We visited Elixir on a bustling Saturday night. We had been to a couple spots around town during the day, so the boisterousness of Elixir took us a bit by surprise. It was a bit loud, shots swimming around the room - it wasn't the low-key speakeasy feeling I had anticipated from the name and decor - but the vibes were really fun and cheerful. Atmosphere aside, we were here for the cocktails: First the bad: I ordered the "Kentucky Pilgrim". I had seen it beforehand online and I was excited to try it. I've enjoyed doing some infusions in the past, and Wild Turkey? Maraschino? Some lemon and demerara to balance it out? How could you go wrong? Unfortunately something tasted off. I've had some infusions go wrong in the past - and this one gave me that same feeling. The cardamon was overpowering - with almost an astringent taste. It tasted like they let the cardamon infuse for too long. I usually never send things back, but at $14, I uncomfortably asked if I could swap for something else - as it tasted way off. The Good: When I asked the bartender, Dan, about the cocktail, he was more than happy to make a swap for me. And boy, am I glad I did. We had been to a couple SF staples earlier (Absinthe and Rye) and I think he served up my favorite drink of the weekend - "The Wild Pony" was an absolutely perfect drink to end the day - and the one I keep thinking about weeks later. It was an awesome blend of whiskey, pear, cardamaro (new to me) with a mist of an Islay to give it some smoke. I prefer a spirit-forward cocktail, and this had just the right amount of sweetness, herbs, and that nice smoke pop to bring it all up a notch. Mad props to Dan for this fantastic concoction. My wife prefers something a little less spirit forward and went with the "Pamplamousse au Poivre". She's a huge fan of Sichuan peppercorns - and she loved the combo with the grapefruit. It was a nicely balanced and extremely inventive cocktail. I'd personally like to try it served up, but over crushed ice was the perfect suggestion for her from the bartender. In the end, we had both the best cocktail of the day. The accommodation from the bartender when the first drink wasn't to my taste was really appreciated - combine that with the excellent cocktails we both had in the end - we'll definitely be back. read more

Terrible service last night. The bar tender refused to make me a basic cocktail. A few friends and I went to have a drink - the bar was a little busy but probably only 40 people. We asked for a cocktail me u and the bartender was very rudely told they don't have one. One of us wanted an Old Fashioned but the bar tender told us it was too busy and they couldn't make it. He was pretty rude about it, as well. read more

Taking a walk through the City on our way to Dolores Park and decided to stop by a local bar to get a quick drink in. About 3 other people were in there already so it was pretty dead. Like any bar in the City there's a ton of options available but the good thing about this one is that they had a seasonal menu for Christmas. There was a menu with about 10 different seasonal drinks. My GF got a hot Christmas drink, can't remember the name of it but it tasted really good, I went with a regular Mission beer that they had on tap which did not disappoint. Service was eh, bar tender was talking to her friend before we walked in and stayed with her basically the entire time and did not look happy to take our order. Probably won't go back but at least the beer was nice and cold lol. read more

One of my favorite SF dive bars! It looks ghetto on the outside but the inside has a cool victorian feel, along with killer cocktails. So far i've tried the Whatamelon, Pina Colada, and Pisco Sour. All great cocktails and you can pay via card! Extra stars for the array of seating and friendly crowd. Can't wait fo trivia night. read more

Located on a Mission street with many other bars, Elixir is a saloon that makes it easy to chat with friends and have a casual hang out. The home-like cozy wooden theme and furnishings make it feel comfortable and relaxing, although saloons are not my top bar choices. The nice thing about this bar is that it accommodates groups well as we had a group of 8 people. We were able to occupy a side corner of stools and circle around each other without being in anyone else's way. Ordering drinks was easy and not crowded. The drink menu was larger than many other bars, and the place had really good cocktails. I ordered one with bourbon, lemon, st. Germain, and some other ingredients that I don't quite remember. Some other people got piña coladas, which were amazing. I usually think those are mediocre, but Elixir made them the perfect balance of sweet, smooth, and alcohol. It was strong, but still tasted good. I enjoyed my first time here, but unless someone wants to come here, I wouldn't come back since I'm not about the dive bar or saloon scene. read more

Elixir - Bourbon with st. Germain and lemon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The second oldest bar in San Francisco! My husband and I love places like this - bars with history that don't feel tacky or touristy. Even if this place didn't have the history, we would come here for the amazing drinks. The bartender (or should I say mixologist), Natalie, was really nice, made great drinks, and was super knowledgable about the bar and about mixology in general. They've got seasonal drink menus. I ordered the pilgrim first, which was great and then a hot butt rum which was FANTASTIC. It was the equivalent of snuggling in a warm blanket while watching a Hallmark Christmas movie. The interior was cool with little touches of history (i.e., newspaper clippings framed and such) but it didn't shove the historical stuff down my throat. Oh and the bar has hooks underneath to hang your purse, which is such a huge bonus for me. This bar donates some of its proceeds to charity and they list the charity each month on the menu - super cool! They also have 4 TVs, and we were there on a Sunday so it was nice to see the different football games that were on. The location is also excellent in the Mission are of SF. I can't wait to come back here next time we are in town! read more

Elixir - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I'm going to let you in on a secret; the claim that this place has been open since 1858 is absurd on the face of it. There was a little thing called prohibition that closed all the bars. In fact until about ten years ago this place was called Jack's Elixir and they only claimed to have been open since 1936. That being said I don't hold it against them because I'll be the first person to say not to let the truth get in the way of a good story. For Easter a friend asked me if I wanted to go to church. I told her that I didn't have church clothes and being an atheist I'd feel like a hypocrite going anyway. I did say however that I'd be up for some bloody marys. My friend was coming from Oakland so I met her at 16th St BART and since it was raining we needed to go someplace close. Walking into Jacks, err I mean Elixir, I saw that they had a do it yourself bloody mary bar. I didn't realize that you could still get one made from the bartender and was taken aback; I don't go to bars to make my own drinks! My whole attitude changed once I realized that I make the best bloodys I've ever had! I guess all the time I've spent watching bartenders do their work has rubbed off. You should come in here and try your hand at bloody mary construction or if you're paying I'll do all the work. read more

Over the past couple of months as a single girl, my roommate has settled into her wingwoman role nicely. What sweetens the deal even further is that, while we get along smashingly, we have different types. She likes her scruffy fixie-riding Mission boys, and I, well I like anything in a polo north of Market Street. What this really means is that we don't compete for men at bars - I am not interested in those that lived in co-ops in college, and she doesn't get weak in the knees when she finds out a potential used to play football. It should not be a surprise then that I am not too chuffed about winding up in the Mission about half of the time, but I pay my dues so that I can have her by my side when I spot a target in Russian Hill. Reciprocity, my friends, is the name of the game. Elixir does well for both of us. We've ended up here on a number of nights out in the neighborhood, and it's a quality smallish bar without the pretension that a lot of the super-hipster bars on 16th seem to possess. The drinks are fun and creative, if not moderately expensive (an $11 drink? in a dive bar? really?) and the bartenders are always more than helpful in hooking you up with a tasty gin and tonic. Even better is that the men who frequent this bar may be of the horizontal stripe persuasion (which makes the roomie happy), but they also are vertically blessed (which makes me happy). I've never walked into Elixir without seeing at least 3-4 guys taller than me, which is extremely rare in this city. Ok, so some of them need to shave off their hipster pedophile staches and stop trying to be the lead singer of Gogol Clap Your Hands Say Bright Eyes, but pickings are slim in this neighborhood, and I'm willing to diversify my little black book for the roommate's sake. read more

Oh, what's that, I'm Mug #33? HELLS YES I AM! Hello, my name is stephy and I'm a whore. No, no, no, not that kinda whore....unless of course you've read that little tidbit about me in the 3rd stall in the Rainbow's girl's bathroom, to which I say, look, I didn't know he was taken and my mother is not a son of a bitch...oh and you spelled my name wrong, it's stephy with a y, not an i. Anyhoo, I am a Bloody Mary whore and I'm proud dammit! And I will do just about anything, drive just about anywhere and while I won't do anyone for one, I will tell you that no Sunday is complete without a proper BM and this Sunday I found my new score! Elixir offers up a do it yourself Bloody Mary Bar and it is friggin awesome! First of all, the vodka. You can go with a straight Kettle or Absolut (ewhh!) or you can go with the homemade roma tomato infused vodka that is just insanely good! After you get your big glass full of boozey booze, it's down to the end of the BM bar you go. While there you will find a ton, and I mean A TON of things to throw into your BM. Peppers, fresh horseradish, super extra duper crunchy celery stalks, BACON!!! and a choice between the Tomato Juice, the House Special mix or the Clamato (ick, but hey, more power to ya if ya like it.) Also in the mix are the pickled peppers, green beans, olives!! YUMMMMM!!! As for the place, it's a perfect dive bar complete with a hot ass bartender (sorry dudes, he's a dude, but he's super cute) and there were people just chilling out and dogs (not ugly people, but real whoof whoofs) also chilling. One even goosed my ass with his muzzle! Hello 5 stars!!! Yeah, this place rocks and it is the kind of place that I would definitely hang out at if I lived in this fine city, but since I am an LAer with no intentions of leaving (hear that people!! you're stuck with me!!) well, I will just have to save this place for special yelp invasion occasions. read more

Apparently it was a 5 star kind of day. After ingesting what may have been the most delicious brunch in my entire life (as I am still waiting for the perfect man to make me the perfect brunch and bring it to me), getting lost whilst driving through the city, and picking up a hot chick...I made it here. As it was the beginning of the second game, the bar was crowded, but not so much that you couldn't move. We did manage to score a couple of prime seats at the bar, and ogle the liquor selection. And what a selection it is. It was Sunday, and as this wasn't a mimosa kind of place, I went with something that I rarely drink- a Bloody Mary. The first bloody was built by the bartender (that's a letter "B" learning sentence for the kids), but on the second I did a build your own bloody. There is nothing like having a pint glass with just ice and vodka placed in front of you, meandering over to the selection of additives and being creative. I have no idea what I put in my Bloody, but it was pretty tasty. They had a good beer selection, and as I mentioned, a liquor selection that has something for everyone. Well, maybe not you, but you're just too picky. It's not the biggest bar in the land, but for a "dive," I love it. I also give bonus points (if I could, anyway) to the fact that you can bring your pooch here. I will definitely be back to do the BYOBM, but not too many, as the bathroom sounds kind of scary. read more