Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Persona

    4.7 (545 reviews)
    Closed • 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Persona Photos

    Business Info

    PERSONA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Live music
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Persona

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    RJ A.

    Always a great experience at Persona in San Francisco! Things haven't changed from three years ago. The atmosphere is a vibe. Definitely a spot I'd recommend if you're looking for a fun night out in the city. Shoutout to Dragos for the quality service.

    Rachael G.

    We made our way down the stairs into Persona and found a couple of seats near the bartender, Jake. We chatted with him for a few minutes before ordering, and after he took care of everyone else waiting for drinks, we got the chance to talk with him more about the bar--which is always one of our favorite things to do when visiting a new spot. We tried the Intersection, Room Service 75, Last Word Mezcal, I Love Yolanda, and Body Double, and every drink was absolutely delicious. The cocktail menu was amazing, with so many unique and interesting options that it was hard to choose! Jake provided outstanding service and made the whole experience even better. Between the atmosphere, fantastic cocktails, creative menu, and great conversation, Persona was an awesome find and definitely a bar worth checking out!

    Cynthia W.

    Came down here after dinner. Pretty decent size bar. Cool place Bartender was efficient and friendly. The menu was quite interesting. It was a cute little book. The live jazz music was nice, but I think it was a bit too loud for me. It was hard to carry a conversation in there.

    Fresh Popcorn
    Yuri H.

    Popped in on a girls night out in this underground kicked back lounge spot, cool mellow vibes. DJ was spinning a blend of house music keeping the energy flowing. We were immediately served cocktails and greeted with smiles. Great place to hang with friends or find a table in the corner with a date.

    Dj booth
    Emily V.

    Atmosphere: 5/5 aesthetic fits the theme very cool vibe Customer service 5/5 very friendly helpful and attentive Outside: it is non assuming but beware of the steep staircase

    Julia V.

    Great spot for drinks and catching up. It's dark and moody but fun. They don't offer food other than popcorn so come for an apero or after dinner drinks.

    Madhu J.

    Without a doubt, one of the most underrated cocktail bars in San Francisco. The place is spacious, and you can really bring a large group. It's modeled after a speakeasy, though it's not a speakeasy. They have a really great cocktail program, and there's definitely a drink for everyone. They also do non-alcoholic cocktails too. The DJ on the weekends can be a little too loud for some people. This is the place I'd bring a friend from out of town.

    Megan T.

    we came here as a reservation for 1/3 of the place, service was great for the 70 people in our party. servers were attentive and made sure we had our drinks, popcorn, and water the whole night. menu is great, loved the pictures and wanted to share. would love to come back and see it in its glory

    Sweet Paradise
    kim d.

    Beautiful drinks with the nicest bartenders + Marcus The drinks are super creative & I loved the inclusion of bitters + the passion fruit flavor/prominence in the Pleasure Palace.

    Lasya R.

    Came here during happy hour and it was such a good find, $3 off drinks!!. The vibe is really chill with plenty of seating, so it didn't feel cramped even as it got busier. The staff were all super friendly, and shoutout to our bartender Marcus who was especially great -- really welcoming and made solid recommendations. We tried the Sweet Paradise and Pleasure Places, and both were so good. Also really appreciated that they have non-alcoholic options. Overall, great drinks, great service, and a comfortable space to hang. Would definitely come back!

    Patricia R.

    There were many unique options and a happy hour deal. The drinks were tasty and the staff were very friendly. I would come back again.

    Becky V.

    We were so well taken care of! Service is top notch. After the recommendation of many, I planned a bday party for a group here for a night of sf downtown bar hopping. This was excellent. Classy space, dim lit, moody lighting, one side is quieter and more private and the opposite side where the pool table is was lively and public. It's got whatever you're in the mood for! Or both! We started at private table then migrated over to the pool table and our bday couple challenged another bday couple (new friends that night) to a game. All in good fun REALLY appreciate servers checking in and taking drink orders often, and also in the end telling me that a large group gratuity was already added to my bill. The bar we went to right before this didn't disclose that so I felt a bit salty I had double tipped Reservations can be made online (with a $ deposit) but not needed on weekend before 7pm since it wasn't crowded Popcorn! Comes in super cute retro boxes!

    drink and popcorn
    Cami R.

    Have only heard good things about Persona so finally stopped in on a Friday night for a quick drink! Aliah was the best bartender - gave us a couple of recs based on what we liked and read us perfectly! Had the intersection, body double and the tropical tease!! All amazing :)

    Red table wine

    See all

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    This place is nice!!! Ambiance is perfect and they have great popcorn. I would come again.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Great drinks and atmosphere! Love the comic book style menu! Will definitely be back!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Great drinks and great vibes. Live music on Wednesday and Nathan took care of us. Def will be back!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    16 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    25 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen S.
    264
    30
    51

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Diana C.
    133
    27
    19

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 4
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 14

    Persona Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Persona

    I've heard this place has great music and ambiance; is there any dancing?

    Generally not a dancefloor kind of place, but I have sometimes seen small groups dancing in the open areas.

    Do you need to have a reservation? I have an informal group of folks who want to meet up for cocktails (around 25-30) but don't want to "rent" a space.

    Can we bring cake or desserts inside if we're celebrating a birthday?

    We preffer cupcakes as we don’t allow kniefes on premises and desserts are ok.

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Persona

    “Aliah was the best bartender - gave us a couple of recs based on what we liked and read us perfectly!”

    Mentioned in 32 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Novela

    Novela

    4.0(1.6k reviews)
    0.6 mi•Financial District, SoMa
    •$$
    Casual dining
    Full bar

    The cutest book bar ever! The theme is like a library/bookstore and the walls are full of real…read morebooks. We loved the author quotes on the ceiling too. We got drinks that were strong and tasty. The average cocktail is around $12-$15. And they had a DJ too. The music was a great R&B mix, pop and reggaeton. Def will be coming back.

    I've gotta say, I love the intimate vibes of this bar! Though we did sit in the middle of the…read moreplace, there are plenty of spots and corners to make it feel as cozy as the library aesthetic that they are going for. It's dark but still well lit inside. Bathrooms are nice and clean, too. Service was okay. What we got: - Punch on Tap flight - sampled four drinks, pretty good especially if you have FOMO like me or are scared to spend money on a drink that you might not end up liking! I think we ended up liking 2/4 of - Mini churros - pricey for what you get (basically one churro cut up into four pieces), but it was our choice so we must now live with it lol Overall, I'd say it's great to visit once since it's an interesting concept for a bar. I've gotta say, I love the intimate vibes of this bar! Though we did sit in the middle of the place, there are plenty of spots and corners to make it feel as cozy as the library aesthetic that they are going for. It's dark but still well lit inside. Bathrooms are nice and clean, too. Service was okay. What we got: - Punch on Tap flight - sampled four drinks, pretty good especially if you have FOMO like me or are scared to spend money on a drink that you might not end up liking! I think we ended up liking 2/4 of - Mini churros - pricey for what you get (basically one churro cut up into four pieces), but it was our choice so we must now live with it lol I'd say it's great to visit once since it's an interesting concept for a bar.

    Photos
    Novela - The "Lena Younger" - Made with house made vermouth, ginger beer, citrus, fresh herbs, and gin. One of our newest house made cocktails!

    The "Lena Younger" - Made with house made vermouth, ginger beer, citrus, fresh herbs, and gin. One of our newest house made cocktails!

    Novela
    Novela

    See all

    Shelby's Rooftop Lounge - Orange blossom creme brulee

    Shelby's Rooftop Lounge

    3.9(435 reviews)
    0.7 mi•SoMa
    •$$$

    We went there for lunch to celebrate my nephew's 50th birthday. The lunch menu was very limited so…read morewe all had the chicken sandwich. It was ok. The 4 stars review is for our waitress. She was very attentive. When we got there at 12:30pm we all decided to sit inside since it was a little cold on the patio. After about an hour the sun came out and we decided to move outside on the patio. That was short lived since it got so hot and no shade so we all went back inside. There were 2 other brave customers who stayed outside the entire time. The view from the patio is spectacular. I'm sure it's even nicer during the night when all the high rise buildings are all lit up. I'm sure it's nice to see all the lights during Christmas. I would go back at dinner to experience the night views from the patio. One suggestion I have is for Shelby's to provide some awnings or shades, and I think they would attract more daytime customers. Overall a nice venue, and will definitely be back to try the dinner menu.

    I went here last weekend, and while the views were amazing, unfortunately the service was terrible…read more It was a cold San Francisco night, and we asked FOUR separate times for the heater near us to be turned on. After finally asking a fifth person, we were told, "Oh, I think it's broken." Why wasn't that communicated to us the first time we asked instead of having us sit outside in the cold with little blankets waiting? The service overall was extremely slow. Everything took so long that we eventually had to go inside just to pay our tab. There was also an uncomfortable inconsistency with how guests were treated. I noticed several people were vaping outside, yet only one person was singled out by a host and very rudely told, "DON'T DO THAT." The issue wasn't that they were asked to stop. It was the tone and the fact that multiple other people were doing the exact same thing without being addressed. I've been to several rooftop bars here in San Francisco and in other cities, and unfortunately this was by far one of the worst service experiences I've had. I realize the last time I was here was pre COVID, when this rooftop was Everdene at the Virgin Hotel. I was here for a company event back then, and the experience from then to now is truly night and day. Beautiful views, but the service really took away from the entire experience.

    Photos
    Shelby's Rooftop Lounge - The bar

    The bar

    Shelby's Rooftop Lounge - Roasted cauliflower

    Roasted cauliflower

    Shelby's Rooftop Lounge - Shelby's Breakfast Plate with Bacon

    See all

    Shelby's Breakfast Plate with Bacon

    Lost Cat Bar & Bites

    Lost Cat Bar & Bites

    4.5(216 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Union Square, Lower Nob Hill
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Private events

    Was visiting the city once again and knew I had to stop back at the spot. This time I was with…read moreothers enjoying the city along with me. We ultimately enjoyed their cocktails and I did get a bite of food. I also got their pizza, which was very yummy at the time. Again, the service was super sweet and kind. Very helpful. Will continue to visit this spot whenever I am visiting the city.

    I was walking around the area near my hotel, and decided to pop in for a drink and a snack.... 100%…read morebased on the name alone. As a cat lady missing my cats at home, I was hoping to see real live cats but I'd settle for a good cat theme! I was the only person in the bar on a Sunday at 4PM, and they were still cleaning and setting up when I arrived. I ordered the Thai Tea Milk Punch (Scotch-based) because I'll never turn down anything TT-flavored, and the chips with spinach/artichoke dip. The bartender made me a delicious drink and brought out water. I made myself comfortable at a high top near the window. The bar was dark and cozy and I loved the balance of cat decor... it was noticeable but not TOO much. I saw an indoor clear "catio" that looked like it was set up for a cat to live in, but sadly, no cat. I finished my drink and was about to leave, thinking they forgot about my chips/dips because no one had ever said anything to me about them. They were brought out just as I was about to close my tab, so I hung out a little longer. It was decent, solid hot spinach/artichoke dip with extra cheese on top. I really liked my drink and might come back for another one, or something in a cat mug! Friendly, laid-back vibes.

    Photos
    Lost Cat Bar & Bites
    Lost Cat Bar & Bites
    Lost Cat Bar & Bites

    See all

    Persona - cocktailbars - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...