The basil gimlet ROCKs (just sweet enough with a kick), and the bartender was friendly, quick and helpful - 'nough said! :)

Awesome basil gimlet, that's why we're all here. It's a good place to mingle with a group and chat. I've never seen it that crowded on the weekends either; we've always had a place to sit or congregate. read more

Fantastic cocktails (worth the wait) + nice selection of single malts - what more would a girl want? Nice to hang on the low couches in the lounge area. Music was fun & not too loud (on a Thurs) so you can chat with your companions. read more

Regarded as one of SF's top spots for drinks, yet largely forgettable. The crowd's lively, clearly on the younger side and packed into rather cramped quarters. Drinks included The Natural Selection (a literally meaty finish that thankfully started to taste more fruit forward), 5 Island Milk Punch whose flavor profile could be described as "Nutmeg's saucy stepsister" per Michelle L. and my Carosello that served as a pleasantly light way to finish off our night of drinking. Not bad on the whole...I've just had far better elsewhere. read more

I was up in SanFran for 4 days for a friend's birthday. We stopped by this place on two different nights as we were making the rounds. The 1st night was a Thursday and we didn't get there until after 10pm. The place was pretty quiet, but that was ok since it allowed us all to catch up. The drinks we had that night were really good. The 2nd time we stopped in was a Saturday night and the place was packed out, but we had to come back for some great drinks. The vibe in here is really cool. The bartenders here are true mixologists. I can't even name all the crazy concoctions we had. Some of them had raw egg whites in them. So like any great bar with a master mixologist working at it I said, "I have strange mixed taste for either good rum or good scotch." That's all I had to say and he proceeded to whip up some mind boggling drink with 5 different rums in it. It was really good... A+ read more

Talent. In a glass. Shaken. Stirred. Sipped. Savored. Bartenders know what's up whether it's on the menu or on a whim. They'll make it to your liking or take it down themselves. "A Woman Scorned" - fruit-forward but not too sweet. "Added Bonus" - the Y chromosome to the "Woman Scorned". amazing. round two. three. four. Worth repeating Whim of the bartender - always recommended A spacious industrial-chic interior but somewhat small-group seating areas. The crowd ranged from hipsters to professionals, mostly in the early 30-range. Dig it. Sip it. Savor it. See you there. read more

**NOTE: Rye does take credit cards now**--I was asking a friend whether she wanted me to buy her drink because if so, I'd have to use a credit card (I'd already spied the little machine by the register), and she was like "they don't take credit cards." The bartender was swift to point out that they did now, and complained good-naturedly about how this myth was perpetuated when Rye first opened by some early reviews on *that other site* Anyway, I've been here twice now, and the first time was such a blur, no need to mention it here. But we stopped in for happy hour yesterday ($2-off drinks) and it was quite nice. Dark and completely empty inside, and it was a beautiful day so we sat outside in the little caged in patio overlooking Geary. I cannot stress enough how very sweet the bartender was--just such a nice and funny guy. Such baretenders make life worth drinking. The beverages were top notch too. I had the Honey Melon (or something...it had honeydew in it)--very light and refreshing with mint; one friend had the Thai me up (??)--spicy drink with basil; and another the Apple Bomb (??), with apple brandy. The last one was very strong and would be awesome on a cold night. read more

This is a fun little gem in the TL. It has a nice relaxing feel to it, despite any crowd. It's loungey, without trying to be the Eighteenth Street Lounge, and it has a definite sleek and modern look to it that doesn't go over the top. I liked the ginormous wine rack that fills the back wall. It has a more understated feel to than other bars in the area (I'm looking at you Redwood Room). And that's how "cool" is accomplished: through understatement. The Basil gimlet and cucumber flavored "flash" were both very refreshing and not too sweet. I'll definitely go back. read more

Chill spot to relax with the friends! I loved the dim lighting and the soft, low benches. We sat around a small table and just enjoyed each other's companies. We came on a Sunday night so it was quiet but it was perfect. The drinks were made to perfection. My friends loved the flash. I ordered a chartreuse swizzle for my friend and she said it tasted like chex mix. The cocktails are special, unlike many that I've tried. I'd definitely come back! I've only said good things about this place but why not 5 stars? They don't have every drink you'd imagine. Seems like they only have the drinks that they use in the cocktails. I wouldn't come here for shots, but cocktails, yes. read more

I'm a big fan of Moscow Mules and just had to get it when I saw it on the menu here. It's called a Merchant Mule here but it's the same thing. It's vodka with ginger beer, lime, mint all in a copper mug. The copper mugs gives it a cool factor, literally. They usually ask to hold an ID in exchange for the copper mugs since people try to steal them. The mule was so good that all my friends kept stealing my drink from me. I think I was slurping ice when I got it back in my hand. No worries though, I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. read more

This may be a fine bar, but it's definitely not my kind of atmosphere. First of all -- the decor is super modern and super trendy...which in itself isn't a bad thing. However in a bar with 20 foot ceilings, the almost bare walls make the place feel uninviting and sort of gloomy. Now the crowd -- I couldn't quite place my finger on it, but I definitely smelled some Marina douchebaggery in the air.... Hmm...in fact, now that I think about it...this place totally reminds me of a couple of bars I've been to in the Marina -- the decor, the crowd, the atmosphere. What it's doing in the tenderknob -- I don't know. Oh, and to top it off -- we were charged $21 for a Don Julio Anejo neat and a Makers/Ginger. Seems a bit excessive. read more

I'm only giving 4 stars for now since I was only able to enjoy 1 drink before rushing off to a show, so I didn't get the full experience but will definitely be back. The drinks are speakeasy type of drinks you know, ginger beer, fresh herbs, high quality alcohol lovingly mixed just for you! I went on a Friday night around 6:30 and there were only 4 other people in the bar. If Rye were in any other neighborhood I'm sure it'd be packed. $2 off their cocktails until 7-which are normally $9-$10. Also, perfect view of the a**holes riding by in Critical Mass. read more

I would have loved to love Rye. The place is great, very nice design, intimate lights, very nice smoking area, I really loved the way everything was organized in this bar. The drinks list was also very nice and tempting. Basil cocktails, original names... From the list, I wanted to drink them all! The only tiny problem is... I really didn't like my drink... I had the Fraised and Confused (greaaat name), which sounded really nice, but which I found really too strong for my own taste. I tried out a few drinks from my friends but didn't find the perfect match there either... Sad...! Add to this the fact that the drinks were really looong to make (the waitress took lots of care to prepare them, but since she was all alone at the bar, it took some time), I was a bit disappointed with the place. But I think I should go back there one day and try again, because the place really is nice and comfy! Until then... 3 stars! read more

Hello to my new favorite drink, the wonderfully crafted basil gimlet at Rye. It was so dangerously delicious that I would trek back into the TL just for it! The down and dirty: Moody dark decor, free non-standard size pool table, outside smoking area, and a limited seating area (good luck getting a table). The bartenders take a lot of time and care to make their drinks aka it can take awhile so be patient! I definitely want to come back on a non-weekend night and ask the bartenders to make me something "special". Drinks on the pricier side, $14 for the gimlet. read more

Quite generous with the hard stuff, and easy on the eyes, if you find yourself on a Tenderloin bar crawl (OK, WHEN you find yourself on a Tenderloin bar crawl), Rye is a must-stop. The bartenders are incredibly friendly, even topped off our drinks because a friend put the whole tab on one card, and the crowd's surprisingly upscale for the neighborhood. There's dim lighting, and lots of late night eating options for the inevitable 1am ravenous hunger. The gender ratio's a little off (though my female friend says that's why she likes the place), but if you like anything orange or full of whiskey, make it a point to stop by Rye. read more

I went last nigh was Monday night. So it was pretty empty and relaxed environment. I really liked the furniture's and setting, very nice. Very comfortable. Really good for date. Romantic lighting. My first drink was gin with green tea and pineapple juice type cocktail. It was pretty good even though I didn't taste any green tea. Then I had "The Flash" was made with gin, kiwi, cucumber and lemon. The cocktail was to die for! then I had "The Flash" again... just to make sure how good it was... I will be back! read more

I've been here a few times and this is a great casual, chill bar with great cocktails. Smoking area attached, comfy seats, dark decor, love the brick walls, cool bartenders, close to other bars and osha thai is right next door if you get hungry! read more

Rye - Yummy Vertigo Cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Been mostly in NY for speakeasy bars. First time in SF, great cocktails had 2 whiskey ones One was name ....feather it was one of my best cocktails ever. Crowd very un cool though, screaming loud people, so not speakeasy bar more a regular one. read more

Pros: - whoa that basil gimlet is really good - fun, young, and slightly hipster atmosphere - you can reserve a table for parties and whatnot Cons: - kind of pricey? I think 1 drink is around $10 - only one bathroom/toilet - really loud and not great for talking Bottom line: Cool place. I might stop here at the beginning of the night to warm up, but ultimately go somewhere else with music or dancing after. read more

This Tenderloin oasis is proof that gentrification happens everywhere. Or maybe its just easier to catch a cab and women will walk further in non-sensible shoes than I originally thought. One of my favorite things about the bar is the use of wood in the design. Especially its entrance, a dignified wooden door slid open between the bar's monkey cage and portal where all worthy alcooldidacts must pass. The interior is stylish and inviting. Although something about the layout makes the space feel a bit cramped. Which is really only bad if the place is flooded with a heavy crowd in search of a tasty beverage. But I admire the choice not to skimp on the bar which rests in the center of the space. It took me more than one visit to realize that, like the Lions Pub, this place has it going on in the produce department. They keep a nice selection of things like mint, peach and blackberry on hand. It makes for a great Mojito, or something akin to an infused vodka, without having to wait all that time while the ingredients marinate. It's the next best thing to transubstantiation, and even the un-Metro will enjoy the fruitier side to Rye. If not, there is always Chimay. And in case you were wondering, yes they have tapioca balls. They are served in a drink that looks like a thin milkshake with a not-quite-ricoculous over-sized lavender straw that won't get clogged by the star ingredient. Nice touch! Its super close to the Clift so your out of town guests can experience some of the best of the city without fear of getting lost when they tire of the Redwood Room. I've been here a couple of times recently and I'm thinking there are still a few cool secrets I've yet to figure out. Like where they keep the key to the wine library... read more

Rye is hot... the people, the drinks, the ambiance, and the location. I've been here twice now and both times were wonderful. Order anything with fruit -- their fruity drinks are amazing and fresh. The owner is really cute and very personable. The people are super funky and fun. AND, the first time I was in there, they played Ladytron, Destroy Everything you Touch. Ummmm -- that, alone, made this bar a keeper. Go to Rye before the word gets out and you have to drink your fruity marvel on the curb, because there's just not enough room for all the hot San Franciscans in there. read more

This one star review is based purely on the service. We got there on Saturday night around 10 30ish. It was starting to get pretty crowded, with people crowded around the bar talking, not exactly ordering drinks. The bartender in my section really took her sweet time, and refused to look at anyone or acknowledge anyone while she very VERY slowly made her drinks. When she finally got to me I asked her what drinks come with the fresh fruit that was in front of her, and I got a menu shoved in my face as she turned her back on me. I think it would've taken all of 5 seconds to suggest a drink, but apparently me and my friends weren't worth that. So after that I sent the bf to the bar to get us drinks, where he was basically ignored completely by the same bartender. She'd take the drink order of the guy on his left, then the one on his right, then the guy on his left again. I got all worked up about it and made everyone leave without even trying the fresh fruit drinks that everyone has been raving about, which was kind of disappointing. And maybe the timing was bad, but all the beautiful people either haven't shown up yet, or have realized that this bar has crappy service and moved onto the next hot spot... read more

Excuse me, Hot Buttered Rye - we have never met until last night...twice, but you are the definition of pleasure in a short & stout clear glass mug. If I could stalk you on Foursquare, I would. xoxo, Krystha read more

The pool table is free! Oh, but they're missing a striped ball. OK, we'll play 9-ball. 9-ball is much more a game of skill than 8-ball anyway. Oh, but they have two 4-balls and no 3-ball. OK, when the 2 is sunk, you get your pick of the available 4s. This is actually more fun than standard 9-ball. And I had the basil gimlet. Worth writing home about. (I did.) read more

Meh. It's on my block. It has a quasi-outdoor smoking room - good for hanging out with both smoking and non-smoking friends. Cocktails are kinda pricey and it always seems really crowded. It gets four stars for being extremely convenient and having halfway decent cocktails. And a smoking room. Update: OK, they have some pretty great cocktails. The bartenders are awesome considering how insanely busy they are every time I go. But I gotta try to go on like a Tuesday or something. read more

Cool upscale neighborhood bar with a laid back vibe going on. The place has a bunch of tasty specialty cocktails, including a lot of labor intensive drinks like mojitos. Just be prepared to wait awhile for your drinks. Definitely the sort of place that I like to go for a few drinks with friends. Good drinks, a very low douchebag count, and lot of eye candy. Random quasi-celebrity sighting: Irene from the Real World Seattle. You know, the girl that got slapped as she left the house for good because she called Stephen a homosexual. I am such a reality tv dork. =) read more

I love Rye, this place is the bar-version of a good sushi restaurant. The bartender has it all laid out - the booze, the bitters, the fruit all cut up and ready, and the simple syrup handy in a bottle. All they have to do is mix it up, crush it a little. Also if you don't know what you want, you just let them know you'd like a surprise and bam, there it is. They usually get it right. Pretty much quick cocktail making in an artform. Plus these are the funnest and the most down to earth, coolest bartenders in the city. Clean bathrooms, separate smoking room, chic decor, and really one of a kind cocktail menu. If you want to drink a gin and tonic... go elsewhere. You come here for a different experience - and although CLASSY and a bit on the pricier side, there is nothing unapproachable or pretentious about this place. And for what it is - a cocktail lounge - this place is chill and a good gathering place for ALL kinds of people. Don't expect music and dancing, don't expect trendy or hip. It is what it is and a good one at that. read more

Why would you spend $2-5 for a round of pool when you can play here for free on a ghetto pool table, balls missing, no 8 ball, and a cardboard box on the bottom catching the balls? This is not a dive bar, but it's my dive bar (does that make sense?). Drinks are pricey, but order the $9 Basil Gimlet and it makes it all worth it. It's the most delicious drink I've ever had. It's perfect and I start buzzing off of 2. The hispanic bartender is nice and lets me eat the mini blood oranges on top of the bar. The music is good, the drinks are delicious, the patrons are mixed, and the bartenders are sweet. read more

What a great hidden gem! If it wasn't for the location I'd be all over it all the time. Rye has great drinks and great staff. The location is in the TL so the neighborhood is a little sketchy. But the space and the design of Rye is really nice. It's sleek and simple, they also have a pool table in the back which I thought was cool. I'm a fan of Rye for a few reasons. 1. They make their drinks with fresh ingredients (no sweet and sour mix for your whiskey sours kiddos!) 2. You can come in dressed up or dressed down, either way you're good to go! 3. I would definitely come in on a weekday to insure seating and great service. read more

The decor and ambiance...sexy. Having blackberry seeds in my teeth after drinking the AMAZINGLY good Black and Blue drink on the cocktail menu... not sexy. Luckily my friends seemed to appreciate my company, seedy teeth and all. The bartender took and produced drink orders quickly, but I spent a good 10-15 minutes waiting to close out my tab. :( I'd recommend this place. Not cheap or a place to spend the whole night, but a nice polished stop for strong drinks on your night out and about. Oh, and a chance to brag that you hung in the "Loin." read more

The voices are split on this one. Is it a cool bar that serves delicious drinks or is it a gross meat market? The drinks are not cheap but they are good the decor is urban brick and there is some music floating through the air. I 've been here a couple times mid week and it was very chill but the times I've gone on the weekends I grabbed my friends hand and refused to be left alone with the local wolves.. I'm gonna' call it: you are gay go here because there are sooooo many dudes who are drunk enough to do anything. read more

This is actually a pretty nice bar. Definitely was struggling of whether to give it a 3 star or 4 star review... and although I initially had it as 3 stars, I bumped it that extra status simply because I'm glad it exists as an option. It's an aesthetically refined bar although the vibe inside is amazingly friendly. I remember the moscow mules being not great. The cucumber basil drink that everyone posts about on yelp was too sweet for me however the majority of the group enjoyed it. Came here on a weeknight so I can't comment on how crowded it gets but it's very nice and service is attentive when it's less busy (as it should be but we all know this isn't always the case) read more

Q: What's better than a perfectly made 'perfect manhattan' made with Rye? A: Nothing. This place is elegant with a dive attitude. I kinda feel like I want to move in. It works for happy-hour, date spot, a quick drink before a show, or marathon drinking. Once inside, you won't want to leave because the decor, the employees, and the patrons are all friendly and fun. Well done Jon and Greg!! read more

As soulless as a Starbucks ... I don't know what I expected, it's trendy "new" bar ... Well I expected something! Some sort of individual touch, a wee sign that the place is owned, staffed or frequented by human beings and not the empty-eyed carrion birds of capital. This space is more mediated than the new mall. From the blank walls to the late-night cable shilled alterna-hits of the 90's comp playing in the background Rye is a marketing scheme aimed straight at the wallets of the mid-level, mid-thirties office drone/technocrat. I don't have a problem with that demographic, being one myself, but this place is contemptible in its transparency. It's a hotel bar sans hotel. Yet the bartender was nice, and I won't even hold the really heavy vermouth pour in his Manhattan against him --- that being a personal choice. read more

I love the smoking cage. I love the bar tenders. I love how they have a million things to add to your cocktail. I love the crowd. I love that Ambassador is next door (adding to the bar hop potential). I love this place... let's go get a drink there right now!! read more

I'd heard of Rye after reading how Radiohead had wandered into the locale during their last visit to the Bay Area. Easily fascinated by stories of possible rockstar sightings, I happened to find Rye while wandering around the area one Friday night. A few gin and tonics later, we shimmied back to the bar to order another round singing Mickey Avalon and were greeted with free shots from a grinning bartender who also happened to love the eccentric LA glam rapper. I told her to make me anything she wanted and she gave me the most delicious cucumber infused drink called the Amoure. The next time I went in though, the bartender hadn't heard of it but made me a muddled kiwi and cucumber confection that still makes my heart jump. Plus any bar that plays indie rock without being pretenious in a city like San Francisco, gets double points my book. I also had a company party there and it was open bar so I got to drink and try a million of their muddle magnificence (well it felt like a million the morning after). Everytime I go the bartenders are helpful, cheery, and willing to make you a delicious drink if youre overwhelmed with the marvelous selection of fresh fruits waiting to be muddled. It's fun to just grab a drink, settle into the leather seat next to the brick wall and people watch the cage (the smokers spot) or the door in the Tendernob without dealing without too much B&T crowd or the annoying. read more

The interior looks like a darker version of Logan's Run. A movie that I love. The wine set-up is in a cage. I thought, hmmm these wines must be pretty good, right? Stroll over to take a closer look. Wow, good thing they have that Kendall Jackson under lock and key. I mean this a is very special wine. You can't just get it at every corner store in the city. WTF? This expreince summarizes Rye for me. Over priced drinks- I mean come on 18 bucks for 2 cocktails. I think on a whole it isn't that bad of a bar. The decor is cool. A bit too cool for me. Would I go if I lived in the neighborhood? Maybe, at someone elses behest, I might. Otherwise, I am sticking to my mission bars. I am not missing anything. read more

My first experience here was quite an extraordinary one! My night started out with my friend joining me from Grand Rapids, MI. I wanted to show him a good time so we joined up with some friends of mine on a bar crawl to a few bars that I hadn't been to before. This was the second bar we ended up going to. The vibe walking into to it on a Friday night was very welcoming. The bar and the decor is fairly simple and classy. Prior to approaching the quite busy bar, I had a slight apprehension of what the service was going to be like; which to my surprise the service was some of the best I've had in the city. Because of such great atmosphere and service we ended up canceling our bar crawl with friends and staying here till last call. I'd recommend this bar and atmosphere to anyone that is visiting or a local looking to have a great evening out. read more

2 words. Basil Gimlet. Enough said! I love this place, its vibe and its cozy atmosphere. Worth checking out! read more

Came here on a Thursday night to celebrate a friend's birthday. The staff are pretty friendly, but that's about as good as it gets. Their specialty drink that night cost $10...and I'm guessing the rest aren't too far along the cash scale. There's only one pool table, and seating is limited. What makes this place an absolute killjoy is that its main clientele is yuppies. That's right. You may not have known it exists, but there is a bar in the Tenderloin that caters to dirty, scruffy-dressed, pant-leg-raised, messenger-bag-toting, hygiene-ignoring yuppies. The place is small and friendly, but I don't want to spend a night with these people. Until the yups decide to find another watering hole, I'll stick to pubs. read more