It's been almost 4 years since my last review of Rye and I've probably been here more than any bar in Chicago. It's typically my last stop of the night so most Rye experiences are a bit hazy, but thanks to the future Baby R I have no problem remembering my most recent experience. I walked in with the infamous Nish N and of course the bartender knew his name. You could say that he's a bit of a regular here. He asked the lovely bartender to make him, his wife and our friend one of their infamous cocktail concoctions. And then for me he asked for a virgin cocktail that was so good I'd feel drunk. The bartender worked her magic and I ended up with a fruity drink that was way tastier than any cocktail I've had in the past. Who needs alcohol? We were able to score a table (not too crowded on a Wed evening) and enjoy our cocktails. While the cocktail was quite tasty it didn't make me feel drunk, but that's probably a good thing for Baby R's sake. read more

Love the vibe here. It's dimly lit, calm, and they have great cucumber and basil gimlets. The drinks are fast, and you can order at the seated areas too. Great place to start or enjoy the night out with friends at. Best of all, no cover! Couple places near by: Jones, Ambassador, Traditions, all places you can barhop around to! read more

I liked Rye, the drinks were awesome. When did the TL get soooo hip? The bartendress made some "off the menu" special cocktails that were simply lovely. So good in fact, I had quite a few. My night favorite - the red and blue, a vodka drink made with muddled strawberries and blueberries. She also made this special champagne cocktail with Orange Blossom that tasted like a spiked Orange Julius (for those of you who know what that is) or a flower. Oh and the basil martini was great too. YUMMM-tastic. read more

Nice ambiance and amazing craft cocktails. The place wasn't overly crowded when we went and had a nice vibe to it. I enjoyed the music selection very much. The cocktails were delicious and well balanced! They have a decent whiskey selection if you aren't feeling their cocktails. The team that night was very efficient and made sure no one waited too long for a drink. Of course, we didn't mind they took their time in making the drinks because they were delicious! read more

Why Rye, why!? Why are you located in such a sketch area?? Thankfully, I was with an individual who doubled as my bodyguard. I already had my cocktail-crazed eyes glued to the $10 PIMM'S CUP #5, a house-made recreation of the original Pimm's No. 5 with a rye whiskey base, lemon, english cucumber, mint, ginger syrup, and seltzer. Ultimately, my friend decided on the special written on the board: the $11 "This Ancho First Rodeo (?)" made with 1.5 bourbon, 1 ancho chili liquor, 0.5 creme de cacao, 0.5 lemon, a dash of angostura bitters, with egg white, topped with bourbon barrel aged beer (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rye-san-francisco?select=12AM0e4ypK1M9g7KpOKVZA#12AM0e4ypK1M9g7KpOKVZA). And, staying true to its name, he asked for his drink as a question ahaha. I adored their rendition of the Pimm's Cup #5, which I would colloquially describe as a strongly gingerfied mojito with rum swapped out for whiskey. After some Wiki research, I learned that Pimm's Cup is a fruit cup, an English-specialty long drink comprised of a spirit base (#5 uses rye whiskey) and a soft drink (ginger syrup in this case). Despite it being labeled a starter rather than a cocktail (thanks for calling my palate a wimp, Rye), the drink harmoniously highlighted the duo of mint and ginger, the perfect partners-in-crime for masking the taste of alcohol. The bartender muddles...smashes some real ginger into the drink, and he sticks in a cucumber peel to seal the deal. Ooh I should request smashed cucumber in it next time. Mint + ginger + cucumber = EPIC TRIFECTA. My friend said that the egg white in the Ancho First Rodeo (?) lends to the creamy froth of the drink, but not so much the flavor. The bourbon went down smoothly and paired well with the blend of light ancho chili and cacao creme, sprinkled with some dark cacao bits. I didn't really taste the lemon or ango, but perhaps the chocolate and cream dimensions outweighed the citrus. This was a drink that grew on me, mhmmm. Menu: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rye-san-francisco?select=12AM0e4ypK1M9g7KpOKVZA#2nQxi8z9lnRTLxy9oPooeQ and http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rye-san-francisco?select=12AM0e4ypK1M9g7KpOKVZA#GZxIG2JgFp37d46UsKV2Fw Random facts: They have a lone restroom in the back, next to the humongous chalkboard (omg we forgot to leave our marks! Too busy moving on to the next one...next time grr), which is also next to the pool table. The seating includes bar seats, some small tables in the side area and back, and chairs along the side wall. It can get cushy, but it never got crowded. Oh, and they have an open air porch in the front of the venue...which comes off more as a prison for smokers =__= tbh, I enjoyed Rye's drinks as much as I enjoyed the Alembic's, and I would give them 5 stars...but, y'know, I don't think 2 drinks is a large enough sample size. I need to have tried a representative variety of drinks so that I can appropriately evaluate this cocktail bar with statistical significance. A very valid reason to return to Rye, o' course. Which means a return to the Tenderloin...why Rye, whyyyyyyyyyy. read more

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All around cool bar. Great place to hang out. Vibe is chill and quiet enough to have a convo. Good drinks and bartenders!

I really want to like Rye a lot more because they make pretty fine cocktails here but it can just be unbearably packed and slow on weekend nights. Still, if you come for an early happy hour during the week, it is quite delightful. You might even get a sofa seat and table service. Score. Bartenders... sorry I mean mixologists, are pretty deliberate with their concoctions which means meticulously crafted cocktails if you don't mind the wait. Leave your ID as collateral for a copper mug and enjoy a crisp Moscow Mule. Also like the fact that they have a tiny smoking nook just inches from potential tenderloin street craziness. It sometimes can be a drink and a show. Typically skipping Rye if it's packed, I don't mind it as a weekday happy hour spot in the Loin but it is getting competitive for "craft cocktail" bars in the neighborhood. Rye thankfully is an early pioneer. read more

If I visited twice in less than a week, then a fan I am! Rye is what I'd like to all a divey cocktail lounge. Sleek and chic? Maybe, but something about the extremely dim lighting, pool table, and crowd of no more than a dozen people (most of them within our group), makes this little sexy escape a bit more "personal" than "panache." I didn't stray from my choice of cocktail, Pimm's Cup, and I really didn't have any reason too. It was just as refreshing as my beloved Anvil in Houston ... albeit, a tad smaller in size for the same price. (What can I say? Everything's bigger in Tejas.) Only reason it slightly misses that solid five-star rating is due to the somewhat slow service on slow nights. However, the barkeep was friendly once we flagged 'em away from the regulars. read more

Okay this has got to be one of my favorite bars in the city now! Super cute. Fantastic bartenders. Classy cocktails. There's tons of great restaurants around the area that will make Rye the most natural choice for post-dinner aperitifs. I walked in to meet a few friends and was in awe of the pretty lights and sexy mood. There is a variety of seating at the bar and not. There's even an outdoor patio section. My friends and I sat at the bar to enjoy a spicy basil gimlet then migrated to one of the longer tables in the back. Both cocktails I ordered were amazing. They were expertly crafted in a timely manner. This place is simple and sexy (can't say that enough) so come check out their impressive selection of cocktails, bring a date, and enjoy the experience! read more

We stopped by here for Ruggy's last hurrah. Wanugee thought this was more like a NYC bar so it was fitting for Ruggy to have a last goodbye here since he's off to the Big Apple soon. The dark interior and the lower seating area as well makes this place swankier than most bars in this 'hood. They have a good drink selection and when it's not packed to the gills I'd imagine this would be a good place for a date. Overall, I would recommend this place to people looking to gather folks for a drink. read more

I tried the Basil Gimlet, ranked #2 on the Alcademics top 50 drinks you have to drink before you die in SF, and it was amazing! Strong, tangy, and tasty. After a couple of these, I reluctantly asked the bartender for a drink recommendation similar to the basil gimlet just so I could try something new. He whipped up a raspberry gimlet (not on the menu), which I dare say, might be better than the Basil Gimlet! It tasted really fresh, and I liked that it was more tart. Tried a couple others, some were pretty good (blood and sand was made perfectly), and some were just OK. I want to note that I felt that the bartenders were quite unnecessarily rude. I love that their drinks are somewhat reasonably priced ($9-11) and they take credit card (unlike some other places nearby ... ahem Big...) read more

Two nights ago JB and JM did some good philosophizing before rolling to Rye to check out the scene. I've been to this bar several times before and have always had a great time. The lounge on Geary has an unpretentious urban hipster feel and attracts a cool SF crowd this is looking for a good chill spot, but also a place where you can people watch. For some reason I always order a French Connection here and am generally not disappointed. For those who like their Hennessy or Grand Marnier this is a great spot to enjoy it. JB pointed out that Rye was showing various pics of nudes in a slideshow on the exposed brick wall. This subtle visual stimulus ads an artsy flair to the place. The smokers lounge outside also allows patrons to add some nicotine to their night without feeling the need to leave or be isolated from the action. I like the versatility of Rye and plan on coming back soon. read more

Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Rye has a very NYC feeling to it (a good thing). I recently came here for a Cal alum reunion and was REALLY impressed as soon as I walked in. The space is great. I love exposed brick walls, high ceilings and pool table. I had a couple of Racer 5's and tried a sip of the some egg nog martini they had which was tasty. The bartenders were very friendly with us and all in all very impressed with this place. It is stumbling distance from my house so I was shocked I hadn't been there before. Very impressive cocktail menu so if you're into that it is definitely worth checking out. read more

Looks a garage from a certain angle. Looks like a cage when you stand in front of the lounge. It's not a garage or a cage, it's actually a lounge. We had...The Flash (reminds me of a superhero), Swizzle (tropical), Basil Gimlet? and a few others...I'm not a drinker so I can't really say how they good/bad they were. Drinks do take a while, there's only one waitress & she's always busy. This place can get crowded so get there early (9ish) if you want a table. Very dark & very loud. WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?!?! read more

Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lol, watch me as I try to recall my night here: So we walked in around 10pm on a Friday night and the crowd was so-so. My friend and I just wanted a "chill" night so we ordered two drinks each. I wish I remember what they were called! I'll post a picture later. Anyway, they were pretty good. They took their time making the drinks, which a lot of bars don't usually do. So I'll commend them on that. I do remember ordering two spicy watermelon margaritas. They were so good, a bit peppery and more on the spicy side though! I am a lover of watermelon and delicious fruity cocktails, so this was pretty good. It was only $6! I am not sure if they have this as a weekly promotion, but if you go - do try the margaritas. It isn't all too crowded, so it was easy to find a seat. I would say this is definitely a more "pre-game let's chill here before we go hard" kind of bar. Don't get too trashy, now. read more

Rye - Spicy strawberry margaritas $6 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The drinks are expensive, but I suppose this is to be expected in SF. I asked the bartender to recommend a "not so sweet" cocktail and ended up with a $10 Pimm's Cup that was definitely more sugary than I liked. Ended up getting a house Scotch at $12 (again, it's SF). The crowd is light at first, but it gets busy around 10. Their bathroom is actually pretty clean and well-stocked! read more

Good locations, super trendy inside and a nice intimate atmosphere. Service is rather slow and they def need more staff at the bar for how busy it was. Drinks were decent, but not amazing. read more

I found a gem! This place is super nice. The bartender knows what he's doing. Fantastic drink menu. Awesome atmosphere. Will definitely come back!! read more

Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ditto Farah S. Whiskey Sour was incredibly disappointing for a place called Rye. We sent it back. However, the rest of the drinks did live up to expectation, so that must have been a fluke. Basil gimlet was as good as they claim. I had the drink special of the night, a woman scorned, which was delicious. We tried at least ten different drinks between the seven of us and all of them were quite tasty. The place blends in well, so it's not loud or showy from the outside. It makes it a little incognito if you do a quick drive by down Geary, making it easy to miss. Not such a big fan of the unisex bathrooms. In drinking establishments there should be one bathroom dedicated to the cleanlier sex. Two single stall bathrooms didn't seem sufficient for the amount of crowd that streamed in. Two bartenders were working their tails off trying to keep up with orders and the complicated drinks. The server was also working extremely hard to get all those drinks distributed, but with the crowd that came in on Saturday night, you would think they would up their staff numbers. Service was quite slow as a result. I guess they want to make sure you don't throw down those potent drinks too fast. read more

Rye - Ry at Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Why 3 stars? Because it wasn't for me, but it was alright. --- --- --- Expensive, a snobby reputation and dimly lit. That's not my normal spot, but I enjoyed some lubrication nonetheless. For starters, the snob-legend did not live up to the hype during my visit. It takes a pretty intensely snobbish atmosphere for me to take heart to such a thing, and this was not one of those situations. It was a little pricey, but isn't everything in San Francisco? In SF, I feel a lot like I do in New York - from the second I land at the airport, I open my wallet and the city sucks out its contents like a vacuum. Our bartender wasn't exactly a beaming light of sunshine and smiles, but she was patient with us non-regulars and helpful with suggestions. Overall, I probably wouldn't return because I'm more of a beer drinker than fancy cocktail consumer, but 'twasn't bad. read more

I actually didn't have any drinks here (besides a sip of my friend's weird olive oil drink), so I can't comment much on the drink quality. The ambiance here isn't bad. I had a group of friends with me and it was really relaxed. No dance floor though. This is definitely a place where you stand or sit around with your friends and just have a good time. They have easily accessible bathrooms inside which is nice. No need to stumble down a flight of stairs while drunk. read more

Rye was one of my highlights of my evening in S.F After mentioning I was a big fan of the Manhattan, my gf's buddy recommended that we go here. It was spot on. When we got there I ordered the Dogpatch - Pikesville Supreme Rye, Averna, Noilly Prat Rougue, Regan's Bitters. Spot on again. Throughout the evening I ordered many more drinks that were recommended by the bartender. The fifth star is for her knowing Murrary and the famous Zig Zag Cafe in my hometown of Seattle! read more

Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great find in Lower Nob Hill. We popped in randomly on a Saturday night for nightcaps and we were so impressed! These bartenders are top notch. The drink menu is very creative. As a gin lover, I had the Ethereal Pause and it was fantastic. If I lived here, this would be my bar. read more

Rye - Ethereal Pause and the Steiger Grapefruit Radler - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I visited Rye in 2011 and I remember having great drinks and a fun time... My impression was so good, that I confirmed it was still open so that I could return on this recent trip. Our experience was as great as it was a few years ago. Cocktails are amazing. Bartenders here are experts and will not serve you a bad drink. The basil gimlet is still a winner, however the birds of a feather is a solid choice for bourbon/rye drinkers. If you love an old fashioned or a Manhattan, then this cocktail will leave you going nuts. Fridays and Saturdays it gets busy, so plan accordingly. Seating is available indoor and outdoor. Music was great and the vibe was fun. I would certainly return on future trips. read more

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Love the atmosphere! Met a friend who lives in SF at Rye. She recommended this place over Bourbon and Branch. We didn't sample many drinks; just got the Basil Gimlet (multiple). The drink is very delicious and potent! Service was great; it was surprisingly empty. I'm guessing it may have been because of Comicon. We were told the place is usually very packed. We enjoyed our time there! read more

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OMG. One of my favorite bars we visited but was ruined by a rude desperate girl at the bar. I got the old fashion and it was delicious. My friend also enjoyed his Pimm's Cup. We got here around 9pm for a party of 4. Three of us sat at the bar and I put my jacket down to save a seat for our last person. A rude girl ordered her drink at the gap and sat on the chair. Without even asking. She brushed my jacket off as if I was using it to only put my jacket somewhere. When the fourth person came to join us...we had to just stand at the bar instead of sit because this rude girl. Would definitely come back for another old fashioned. Hopefully the desperate rude girl isn't there anymore. read more

Nice lounge, with a great little area to hang out. Doesn't seem to be as crowded as some of the other places, but I'm haven't been enough to tell. They have interesting cocktails, and they take time to make them. It's interesting standing by the bar to see them make the drinks though; they even crush the ice right there on the side of the counter. The drinks are good; a bit to the sweet side which is perfect for me. read more

We came here spontaneously on a Saturday past 11. It may be in a shady TL area, but really though, there's SO many ppl bar hopping/clubbing in this area, it's not bad at all. It was packed, took us over half an hour to get drinks. The reason being is that this place has well made unique drinks, so it takes awhile to make it. We just kept staring at the bartenders making drinks in a fascinating fashion, hmmm... Anyways, got 2 hophead hooch and a Manhattan and Birds of something? $10 each, pretty good for quality drinks. They all turned out strong, a plus. We didn't like the flavor of the hophead so much, actually I couldn't finish it and gagged halfway through. The others didn't enjoy their drinks so much, but its because we were noobs and didn't 't know the right ones to try. A lot older and sophisticated crowd on a Saturday night, another plus. Will we come back here? Since its in the TL, don't think we will go out of way again, but if we stumbled upon it, we'll def order something. read more

This place was OK. I was looking for places that made really good mixed drinks, being the mood for some whiskey-based refreshment. I found this location. The name told me it should be what I'm looking for. There were only a few people sitting at the bar when we arrived (it was 6:30ish on a Tuesday night). It had a cool vibe to it- dark, lots of dark distressed wood and candlelight. I asked the bartender (a girl squeezing herself into a midriff-exposing top that she really shouldn't have been trying to wear) if we could sit anywhere, and she said yes but we had to order at the bar. My date sat, while I waited at the bar to order. She was conversing with some customers she seemed to know, and it took a long time for her to move her attention to me. I stood there awkwardly waiting at the end of the bar. Finally should took my drink orders, and proceeded to make them. It took a long time, but was pretty neat to watch- they are definitely particular about their drink-making there. With all of the hullabaloo that went into making them, I expected to have two of the best cocktails I'd ever had. They were good, but not outstanding (see pictures). It seems like a cool place for small groups to hang out. Definitely a hipster vibe. read more

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Since this establishment and I share the same name I can vouch that we have another thing in common...we're both Awesome. If you're not looking for a club spot or a typical bar then Rye is a cool joint to chill. I had a going away party here and I couldn't have found a better and convenient spot to host. The atmosphere, music, people, and drinks didn't disappoint. The Outdoor area is a good outlet for you smokers but then again I felt like a caged laboratory animal shouting out vulgar obscenities at people passing by. The only problem is the parking, it can be problematic and you'll be doing more circles around the block than the Indy 500. The best thing is that Osha's is RIGHT next store! So if you have a craving for some Duck Fried Rice you can literally crawl next store and fill your stomach full of some Thai food minus the lady boys. So if you're looking for good times, good drinks and good music come to Rye where the beer flows like wine...where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. read more

Rye - Rye @ Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I liked Rye. We went on a Friday night and it was busy. Ordering at the bar can take a bit if its packed, but they also have servers. Bartenders and severs are nice and fast. All their drinks are really handcrafted without attitude (even a mojito). Cool industrial style decor. The smokers pen is really sorta funny, resembles a cage, but thats probably applicable. Anyway, cool art, good music, good location, good crowd. Worth checking out for sure. read more

Rye - Smokers cage at rye. Not as inhumane as it looks. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fun place with fun atmosphere. When you're there have one of the bar's mixologists make you something yummy! The pool table is a great conversation starter too. Tucked away so locals like this one. The only negative was that it was hard to get a drink, but really... It's worth it! read more

Rye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was a great place to get a nice cocktail. The lighting was very dim and the atmosphere was very dark/romantic. I like that it was in walking distance from my hotel that was located in Union Square. The price was reasonable for San Francisco pricing. It Also felt very large inside compared to a lot of the places in the surrounding area. It was recommended by a friend and I would pass on the recommendation to anyone in the area. read more

Rye - This place has a really low light, it is bad for pics. But good for you to hang out!!!!!!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came a few Mondays ago on a second date, and while the date ended poorly (my fault, of course), I finally got to try Rye, and it was fantastic! I forget what exactly my date ordered, but both that and my Bank Heist Swizzle were tasty drinks, albeit a bit on the sweeter and lighter side - or so I thought, because I did start feeling just a little something towards the end of my cocktail: in other words, the bartenders here do a pretty good job of masking the alcohol in the drinks, which is great for those who don't actually like alcohol that tastes like, well, alcohol. The space itself has kind of a chic, modern, industrial look to it. Pretty nice, especially on a Monday, when the place isn't crowded. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - A pretty large space with an open floor plan, albeit on two separate levels, so only one of them (the main level, from the entrance) is actually accessible. Bathroom - Fortunately, they have two sets of bathrooms, one per level. I didn't actually check them out, but I suspect they were accessible as well. read more

One of my favorite bars in the city. Their craft cocktails are superb. Their cure all old fashion is a go to drink, but my favorite that a bartender recommended was the dog patch (if you like spirit forward cocktails). They also make a good paper airplane. Fun vibe, but not pretentious or snobby. read more

Came here on a Sunday night and it was pretty packed. Don't know if it was just cos it was labor day weekend or what. This was one of our last stops bar hopping and it was a great stop. Drinks were delicious, strong, and consistent. Loved the atmosphere and the drinks, which were also reasonably priced for the amount of care/work they put into it. I will def come back when I'm in SF. read more

Rye has pretty much been my home bar for my myriad visits to SF over the past 8 years for work. It hits the sweet spot for me - excellent cocktails, chill vibe, unpretentious and friendly bartenders, diverse liquor, wine and beer offerings, and mostly decent crowd. Granted I only ever visit on weeknights. But that works perfect for me. My homie Ruggerford introduced me to this haunt many moons ago and I've never looked back. I've consumed libations in many of this city's iconic craft bars, and Rye easily holds its own. There's a nice mix of spirit-forward drinks and creative shaken concoctions as well. The prices track average cocktail prices for this caliber of drinks. And I rarely taste anything I don't like. There are plenty of dark corners to cozy into with friends, or you can sit at the bar watch the bartenders in action. It's as simple and straightforward as that. Good drinks, good service, good space, and no bullshit. What every bar should be. read more

A perfect spot for a small group of friends or Happy Hour. Delicious drinks made with fresh muddled fruit in a swank layout. Only one pool table, but plenty of standing room in this bar. The lighting is pretty dim and there are fun little couches and seats to cozy up. There's even a small corralled smoking area for those of you who like to light up! The location is very key when you plan on stumbling over to Ambassador for a quick drink and a to sneak a few scenes of Casablanca that is usually playing on the wall. read more

This place gets crowded! It has seating areas that are cozy and proper for maybe a party of no more than 8. It has an outdoor smoking area like a cage, clean bathrooms and pool table too. The waitress was really nice, but the service was slow. Their credit card machine was defunct later that night so they made me sign a random piece of paper with the bartender's scribbles on it. They also charged my bff twice for a round of drinks that was $60 (charged $120!). I am now a fan of wine cocktails. I had the French 75 (*Plymouth gin, fresh lemon juice, organic sugar and Prosecco float - was a bit sour), but had three Yellow Bicycles later (*St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse and Druisian Prosecco). They were damn good! Too bad (or good fortune) that they only offer two kinds. Only $9 - strong but small glass. Just the way I like it. Mixing two Patron shots was not a good idea, but I still felt fine the next morning since the wine cocktails were good quality. I had a sip of the bloody mary style cocktail and it was ok. I would come back for the drinks, but not in a large crowd. I wasn't coordinated enough for Thai food (plus I just came back from Thailand then) so we walked down the street for some pizza. It was good! *Just in case you were wondering, I do not have exceptional memory, but took a picture of the drink menu. ha! =) read more

Rye is a funny one. You know how sometimes you sense something is off but can't quite put your finger on it? I've been here a few times, like the bartenders, have enjoyed the carefully made cocktails, played pool, lounged in the best seat in the house, gotten tipsy off their toddy, el bano is not horrendous... but the vibe is a bit off. It may be feng shui. There aren't many seats at the bar, not much space when crowded to walk to the bathroom which is right off the pool table so beware being jabbed by cue sticks or errant balls from aggressive players... again, the inventive drinks are truly well executed, there's some smoky drink that comes with a can of Tecate for awesomeness sake, and I've had good times with friends but I don't know. My spidey senses tingle there. With the feeling that this place turns into a vampire lair or something when it get really late. I'm sure it doesn't but if you find out let me know. read more