My friend and I stopped by Polkcha on a Wed night to grab a drink after having dinner nearby and we were surprised to find the bar empty. I don't remember the last time I've had a bar to myself! I tried the Nishiki with gin, sake, shiso liquor, mint and lime and my friend got the Night Owl. I really enjoyed the Nishiki which was tangy and refreshing - just what I wanted. I also tried a sip of the Night Owl which was bright as well. The bar is super cute and vibey, decorated with neon lights and reminded me of the night markets in Asia and bars in Seoul. We ended up chatting with the bartender who we found out is also one of the owners and had a great time! It was exciting to hear about the trivia nights and other ideas they have in the works! read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I visited Polkcha and tried the ube drink, which I thought was really good overall. It had a nice creamy sweetness, but there was also a tangy note that I wasn't expecting. It was interesting and made it feel a bit different from other ube drinks I've had. Majority of it was the ice cube but so it was only a couple sips but I did like the flavor. The space itself is super cute. The decoration and ambience really stand out and make it a nice place to hang out or take photos. When I went, they were also hosting trivia night, which seemed like a fun bonus. It's a nice option if you want something social, but it wasn't overly loud or pressured, and participation wasn't mandatory. read more

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my friends and I loved polkcha! we came in on a saturday night and it was packed but luckily we were able to find a seat at the bar. it was bright, colorful, and vibrant inside and had a perfect atmosphere to chat with friends. we especially loved all the themed decor making it feel like a night out in asia! the drinks were so creative and beautifully crafted as well. we ordered the gwangjang and the divisiora, which were both absolutely delicious- the asian flavors work so well in the drinks. overall, would absolutely recommend checking out polkcha! It's definitely one of my go-to bars now. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here last night with a group of 8 people and was able to find a table luckily. It was so crowded but it was lively and the vibes were great. I ordered a kuromon and it was tasty! Service was quick, workers were chill and overall experience was very SF. I will be back! read more

This bar is sooo cute ! If I lived in the area I'd totally be a regular. The decor, the Asian vibe I really felt like I was transported to a really cool bar in Asia. I went with the divisadora bc it had Ube. Anything Ube.. count me in. It wasn't overly sweet and the Ube and coconut taste was pretty strong. Def going back to get that and the pandan drink looked interesting as well!! read more

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Such a fun spot for some drinks. Creative asian-inspired cocktails with decor to make you feel like you're having asian street food. Melona cocktail is so delicious and fun! It can get pretty packed but there are tables farther back in the bar. read more

Polkcha - Ambiance - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Such a fun bar on Polk! First off, decor is beautiful with neon signs and red lights like a night market in Asia. I sat at the bar and deliberated over cocktails with friends before getting Ajumma's Choice and letting the bartender whip something up for me. My friends got the Gwangchang and another whiskey based cocktail I can't remember the name of. The melona one was really good. My drink was also tasty and fruity -- only small downside was it was supposed to have egg foam but there was an egg shortage at the time lol :) The vibes in here were also very lively-- it was packed on a Friday night and there were a lot of groups just chatting. Menu is small but well curated. Can't wait to come back again! read more

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Very crowded on a Saturday night. Good tasting drinks. For an Asian bar they didn't play any Asian music but the melona drink was delicious really amazing bartenders to. Good place to pregame read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

We came here on a Wednesday night and it was not crowded at all and had a lot of seating. There was one bartender so we ordered at the counter. Their drinks are sooo unique and we had to get the drink with the melona bar! It was so sweet and such a great addition to the drink. The bartender was super nice and I complimented him on his ability to bartend cause the drinks were delicious. Especially since I hate bitter cocktails these were perfect. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We came here on a Saturday night around 9pm and there was already a crowd waiting for seats so we were lucky to get two at the bar. I can immediately see why this place is so popular! They have a very unique drink offering, and a vibrant ambiance inside. The bartenders were all really friendly and helpful when ordering too. We got the ube cocktail which was a fun creamy creative drink which wasn't too sweet. The pandan reposado cocktail was very strong and the Campari overpowering. I asked for the bartenders choice and they gave me a mint lemon drop which was super refreshing and not too sweet, it ended up being my favorite drink of the night. This place is great as a cocktail bar but it does not have a lot of standing room so prepare yourself if you come because it gets packed!! read more

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Date: Thursday, August 14th, 2025 Time: around 8:30pm Party of: 2 *Back Bay ($14) *Fresh Press ($7) After dinner, drinks were in order. After looking around, we decided to stop by Polkcha. Parking wasn't too bad that day. We found a spot about a block away. Atmosphere here is fun a lively. Very interactive as I think they were also doing a trivia night. It was packed, so no seats avail. We used the little rail like table along the wall by the opposite side of the bar. Kinda in the way of people going in and out, but we were only here for a round, so it wasn't too bad. My drink was good. Not conventional in any way, but reminiscent of an old fashioned / manhattan which are two of my fav cocktails. My friend got a no abv beverage as he was the driver that night. Honestly, I probably would have loved this spot in my younger years, but as an old grandma, I found it too loud and uncomfortable. If you want something more chill, this is probably not the spot for you. But if you want a fun bustling atmosphere, this is a cool spot. REVIEW #3831 read more

Polkcha - Back Bay ($14), Fresh Press ($7) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really fun spot on Polk. Came here with friends and loved how creative the drinks were. I got the Gwangjang and the Melona popsicle in the drink was such a fun surprise. Everyone's drinks looked super unique and tasted great too. The vibe is lively and the interior has a cool Asian street market feel. Staff were friendly and quick with service. Seating is a bit limited, so it can fill up fast, but it's worth the wait. Prices are on the higher side but fit the quality and presentation. Perfect place to start the night or grab drinks with friends. I'll definitely be back to try more. read more

Polkcha - Gwangjang and Melona popsicle - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great cocktail spot. Very underrated. The wine bar next to it for some reason gets more attention than this spot. This spot gets a bit hidden with the crowd outside. Definitely drop into this spot. Decor is really nice. All the drinks my friends and I got were amazing. The one with the melona ice cream was like drinking a ramune soda. Their ube one was also amazing. read more

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Great cocktails served by true professionals. We requested a tequila drink, out bar tender whipped one up that included a white chocolate liqueur. Sounds crazy but it was delicious. He added spicy bitters to my honeys and mine was mild. read more

Came for a Halloween hangout with around 10 people total. Don't be fooled by the name, it's not actually a pocha spot as they only have drinks. Decorations here were super cute! Not sure if it was just the night we came, but the drinks were so bad -- we got amfs and long islands and they tasted nothing like what they were supposed to. Overall probably wouldn't come back, though vibes are nice. read more

Polkcha - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cute bar if you're in the area! My friend mentioned that I probably would enjoy Polkcha due to its Asian themed menu, and I very much enjoyed the Asian influence. This bar reminds me of some of the bars in Korea I visited last year; of course not as great though - bars in Asia are on another level. But this bar was similar enough to give me a nostalgic kick. I ordered the kuromon which is a popular drink on their menu. It honestly tasted like an Aperol spritz but less strong and more watered down. Overall though, not bad, but next time I'd definitely try something different and more unique. The bar isn't very big. It's narrow and long, and with a party of 4 the day we went, we were seated in the back. Not going to lie, the benches in the back against the wall were not comfortable, but we didn't stay super long so I didn't mind all too much. I'd come again if I find myself on Polk but would try to get a seat at the bar next time. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ambience is super nice! Bartenders are super nice and friendly and easy to talk to. I came for Halloween 2025, since this is my first time experience Halloween in San Francisco! We got a few drinks and they're expensive, but maybe it's because it's San Francisco! vibes are really nice and comfy! We came around 6-7pm on Friday so it wasn't busy. I would love to bring my friends here :D my go to are green tea shots and surprisingly they do white tea shots! Instead of Jameson it's going to be Vodka instead. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My wife and I stopped by Polkcha before our dinner reservation nearby and the bar was completely empty at 5:00 p.m. on a rainy Thursday evening. I ordered the "Back Bay" -- a spirit forward sesame-washed whiskey drink, while my wife ordered the "Divisoria" -- a sweet concoction of dark rum, banana, ube, coconut, and lime. We both thoroughly enjoyed the creativity, the presentation, and the Asian flavors infused in each of the cocktails. The cocktails are just as described on the menu, and no single element overwhelmed the others. In addition to the set drinks on the menu, you can also order the "Ajumma's Choice," where you work with the bartender to craft a custom cocktail. All you have to do is specify your preferred liquor and any flavors you're looking for in particular. Definitely a cool experience worth trying out if nothing strikes you on the main menu. If you find yourself on Polk street looking for a bar with great drinks, I would definitely recommend stopping by Polkcha. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Stopped in on a Saturday night with friends and was pleasantly surprised to find a few seats at the bar. The vibe was lively and fun without being packed and uncomfortable. Drinks were delicious and beautiful. Will defintely come back! read more

Super hip spot for Korean inspired drinks! Decoration and interior was on point. We came on a Thursday and it was soooo crowded. We happened to stumble upon a trivia night. What I ordered: - Gwangjang: 4/5 cocktail was super delicious but also super sweet - Night owl: 3/5 the egg white foam was too eggy for me, I couldn't get over the smell. It was also overly sweet. Overall fun night here but would caution that the drinks here are quite sweet. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Headed over on a Friday night at around 9:30 pm and it was pretty full. We got two seats at the bar after a little while and the inside is so cool with the neon signs and decor covering the walls. Night Owl - This one came with vodka, lychee, lime and egg white. Very similar to a whiskey sour as well but the vodka made it a lighter cocktail. The tanginess and sweetness made it enjoyable especially with the fluffy egg white on top. My friend tried the Gwangjang which is the popular cocktail that comes with the melona ice cream. The sweetness and flavor definitely comes from the ice cream when mixed in. The energy and aesthetics were very cool, so I would check it out again for drinks. read more

Polkcha - Gwangjang (Melona Bar), Night Owl - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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One of my favorite bars ever! The bartender was really nice and paid attention to new people coming in and people who wanted another drink. I got the gwangjang, and it was great! A little strong, but the Melona bar helped balance everything. The interior was so well decorated, I loved all the neon signs! read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I tried the GWANGJANG cocktail, and it was great! The mix of soju, Midori, St. Germain, Suze, lemon, yuzu lime soda, and a Melona bar created a delicious and surprisingly easy-to-drink cocktail. Our group went for trivia night, and it was a blast! The lively and fun atmosphere made it the perfect spot for after-work drinks and socializing with friends. read more

Polkcha - GWANGJANG - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Delicious Asian-flavored cocktails, friendly servers, and a vibey decor that resembles an Asian street at night. We went here for their Thursday trivia, and it was run smoothly. There's not too many tables for the trivia, but there's a long bar with bar stools that groups can also sit at read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

===TL;DR=== - Gwangjang - Ajumma's choice - Hua hin - Divisoria ===TMI=== Plot twist: previously Trade Routes but now Polkcha BUT same owner, just rebranded. How brilliant. Reminds me of vibrant Asian bars in Asia countries. Neon signs all the way down. Not an extensive menu but sometimes that's the best. They have a lot of fun and themed cocktails. My favorite is the gwangjang.. for the melona popsicle haha. Loved the ajumma's choice of you're indecisive - the bartender will craft you a drink of surprise. It's a good vibe in here, back space is great for bigger parties. Another great bar on Polk! read more

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Solid asian inspired bar on Polk (4.5 stars rounding up)! I'm a sucker for asian inspired cocktails so Polkcha easily got my attention. I've been here a few times and have tried several drinks and I liked all of them! Gwangjang is a fun drink because it comes with a melona bar. Divisoria is one of my favs because of the ube and the ube flavor comes through! Hoi An is a Vietnamese twist on an expresso martini - I like the salted creme on top. The interior decor is very cute as well. Prices are also reasonable for SF standards at $14-15 per drink. SF needs more of these spots! read more

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Before eating dinner with my fiancé we decided to get some drinks. We found this place on Yelp & immediately saw the melona popsicle in a cocktail - SAY LESS. We walk in 730 pm on a Saturday and there was a small crowd with most seating near the back filled. The ambiance is trendy, bright and Asian-inspired decor. Loved seeing all the Asian snacks behind the bar. Service was super friendly and attentive, handing us a menu as we sat down at the bar. Now onto the drinks... Hua Hin - Subtle sweetness, with the tequila being the main flavor. Couldn't really identify the pandan, although was a refreshing sip. Divisoria - This one was my favorite. The sweet Ube and banana flavor came through, almost like a Ube juice. Super dangerous could've drank at least 3 - maybe next time lol. Gwangjang - Melona bar in the drink - enough said! Jokes aside, also a refreshing drink with some fizz from the yuzu lime soda. Appreciated the playfulness of this drink. We wanted to let the bar dissolve into the drink but our reservations were nearing so we chugged it and took the bar to-go. Will come again! read more

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Fun spot with good drinks! I stopped by on a Sunday night with a couple of friends. We all ordered Ajumma's Choice because we wanted our drinks to be a fun surprise. I told the bartender I liked sweet but refreshing drinks, and hr nailed it. My drink was smooth, well-balanced, and super easy to sip on without being too sugary. The vibe of the place is overall pretty chill on Sundays. It's a great spot for a more casual night out. I'll definitely be back to try more drinks. Also Tip! The korean hot dog spot next door is delicious and the bar lets you bring outside food :) read more

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Great service, great ambiance, great drinks! Loved this spot, & the music was lively which added to the energy of the bar. The BACK BAY (sesame-washed whiskey. meletti, sichuan-oolong amaro) was my favorite drink. Will definitely be back! read more

Polkcha - Back bay (on right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Asian inspired drinks at a cutesy vibey but rowdy bar on Polk. Admittedly the Korean signs are kind of horrendous... they had names of SF landmarks like pier 39 written out in Korean but kind of had horrible translations. Instead of 금문교 for golden gate bridge, they just spelled out the english name for golden gate bridge in like Korean alphabet and had Drawn Men instead of Painted Ladies. Either this is a joke im missing or they like ran translator wrong... The gwangjang was super yummy. It was a take on the common kbbq drink of melona soju. It was definitely an upgraded version though and I liked that it was light but still fizzy and like sweet over time from the ice cream. Hoi an was a bit disappointing. The initial sip was super sweet and reminded me of Korean vending machine milk coffee (in a good way) but then the saltiness and the cold brew's bitterness got super overwhelming toward the end. read more

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Super cute bar on Polk street with lots of neon signs. I love all their cocktails. We got the night owl, hoi an, Kuromon, and gwangjang. My favorite was gwangjang, which was soju and melona bar read more

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The decor is really cool and reminiscent of lit up streets full of nightlife in Asia, but the trendy drinks didn't live up to the hype. We got a couple rounds of cocktails here and decided that overall they were not within our preferred palate. We of course had to try the popular Gwangjang and Kuroman cocktails but didn't like either of them, as they tasted very medicinal. For the second round, we got the Hoi An (basically an espresso martini but with gin) and Night Owl. The Hoi An was the only drink we agreed tasted good, as the coffee flavour was on point. For some reason, the egg foam on top of the Night Owl smelled rotten, which made it very unpleasant and off-putting to drink. I've ordered many cocktails with egg foam at other bars and never experienced the egg whites smell this strong. They usually have a neutral scent or at most a very light egg-y smell. I would only recommend this place for their Vietnamese coffee cocktail or to those who don't mind medicinal-tasting cocktails. read more

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Trade Routes rebranded into Polkcha! (But don't worry, they still do the Thursday Trivia!) Love the rebranding that was done here. Asian inspired decor inside and drinks that are actually tasty and not over done. I got to try the lychee drink called the Night Owl and their version of an espresso martini called Hoi An. Night owl was super refreshing, the egg white adds frothiness. The Hoi An had tonic in it which I wasn't the biggest fan of (I don't like carbonation) but still was yum. Also, the bartender was super fun and let us try his own personal drinks that he was creating which I believe should be on the menu because those drinks were delicious! Shout out Michael :-) See you on Thursdays for Trivia! read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Polk street is so lively again! Or I'm just a hermit who hasn't been out in awhile. But fun! I wanted to try this place out after many social media posts. Very vibey and cool. The decorations were fun and vibrant to look at. Luckily wasn't too busy around 7p? on a Friday. We sat and ordered a cocktail each before dinner. The gwanjang - I guess this one is a must if it's your first time. Perfectly refreshing, the melona bar is delicious and makes the cocktail yummier as it melts. My friend got their version of an espresso martini. WHOOO strong, and a tad sweet? My friend didn't love or hate it but since we hadn't eaten dinner yet, she only drank half. GASP. if she wasn't slightly sick, I would have downed it for her. LOL Overall, I would love to come again, and check out what else they have to offer. Too bad no food food for the drunchies. read more

Polkcha - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Polkcha is a vibe! Previously being trade routes Polkcha was the new bar which took over. When you step inside the decor is bright and colorful with a tree in the corner, and tons of fun asian-inspired decor and drinks! They also offer a few mocktails which are quite delicious as well. My favorite drinks were the Gwangjang which is a neon green drink that comes with a full melona bar that melts into the drink, and the Divisoria which was deep purple and tasted of coconuts. The bar can tend to get pretty crowded and there is no dance floor but it is definitely a fun vibe and a great place to come with friends! read more

Polkcha - Gwangjang (green) & Divisoria (deep purple) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

loved this bar! the decor and vibes give hk nightlife yet still somewhat cozy with the seating options and it not being impossibly loud which is always a plus for a bar. the drinks were soooo good. our fav was the gwangjang which had midori, soju, and melona. a great combo. night owl was a lychee and rosé 白酒 with egg white foam drink tht was also delicious. overall, i don't go out much but was a great time read more

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Polkcha makes the exact kind of drinks I look for in a craft cocktail bar. I had the Night Owl, Gwangjang which comes with a whole popsicle, and Ajumma's Choice which the bartender tailored to my taste after having a conversation about the drinks I enjoy. The result was a delicious, top-tier cocktail that I'll remember for a very long time. Prices are very reasonable, the neighborhood feels safe, and there's a lot of good places to eat around. I walked through that god damn tunnel to get to this bar and it was well worth it. read more

Polkcha - Night Owl - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I enjoyed the atmosphere of the place with it being well decorated with lots of neon signs and wall art. Our bartender was friendly and listened to what we wanted out of our drinks. He gave helpful suggestions! The gwangjang is super yummy and light of a drink and it came with a melona ice cream bar. The combination was tasty! read more

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loved the asian street market vibes of this bar + the drinks were quite yummy. - gwangjang: so good and refreshing for milder alcohol preferences, plus the melona bar was the cherry on top - kuromon: quite nice, aperol spritz vibes - night owl: lychee flavor was nice, although they didn't give us the egg white foam because of egg shortage :( - divisoria: delicious! strong ube and coconut flavor - hoi an: salted creme was lovely, cold brew came through pretty well, pretty strong though - hua hin: the strongest alc for sure, but pandan flavor was a little lacking read more

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Polkcha is such a fun spot! I stopped by this weekend during my first trip to San Francisco, and I'm so glad I did. The bar is designed with so much attention to detail and the ambiance creates an inviting and moody homage to Asian markets. Onto the cocktails! We got a few to try, and they were all so unique and bold. BACK-BAY (sesame-washed whiskey, meletti, sichuan-oolong amaro) - strong take on an old fashioned. It was smokey and non-traditional in a constantly intriguing way. NISHIKI (gin, sake, shiso liqueur, green chartreuse, mint, lime) - this was my choice, and it was my perfect cocktail. A variety of alcohols, not too sweet, and perfectly bright. HOI AN (genever, vietnamese cold brew, tonic, salted creme) - an espresso martini's fun cousin, served in a highball with ice. As long as you enjoy the combination of coffee and tonic, you'll love this take. Samir was an incredible bartender, whipping up all of these drinks plus a few mocktails for our group. He even gave me some top tier recommendations for the rest of my visit to SF. Chen-Chen, the owner, is so passionate and creative - you can tell Polkcha is not your average cocktail bar! read more

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