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STOA

4.2 (75 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

STOA Photos

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STOA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Outdoor seating

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Chicken Wings and Squash Blossoms
William S.

Cocktails were delicious, food was alright. I think my favorite was the squash blossom. The mochi dish was incredibly weird and hard to eat. Everything else was alright. I was expecting more of a restaurant vibe, but this place is definitely bar first, restaurant second. Our bartender was nice, told us not to rush when the place abruptly cleared out around 10. I'll come back for a cocktail and a snack, but no full dinners here!

Chrysanthemum Saly
Tahir N.

Really glad I made the short drive over here from by Geary. Parking Gods smiled, and I found parking just across the street from the bar. Strangely, I made the drive over not for the beverages, but for the food. I was searching for tapas on yelp and this place was among the result. The items on the menu looked pretty good for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. On the way in, I walked by their outdoor seating, which was getting some use on this January night. Inside, is a very long bar which was packed, and there are small tables and long tables along the walls. Most of the small tables were taken by couples, but three people are leaving the bar when I arrived so I got a seat at the bar along with a waiting couple. I don't know how long the bar has been there, but it definitely looks like a pre-World War II space. My bartender set me up with a glass of water and a menu. I confirmed that I could get the food to go. I asked him to time putting in the food order so I could finish my drink. For my drink while waiting, I ordered the aristocrat from the "low intensity" list. This essentially is a Negroni with Sherry substituting for Vermouth. Amontillado Sherry which brought to mind the Edgar Alan Poe story. I quite liked it and may start making it at home. My order came out fairly quickly, but not before I finished most of my drink. So I finished it and took my order home. Our food order consisted of the deviled egg which they take pains to tell you is not a hard-boiled egg but a soft boiled egg over which ingredients have been poured. I imagine there have been some accidents in the past :-) Knowing what to expect, we quite enjoyed the soft yolk gooiness and the chili crisp. I imagine it's a popular dish. We got the chrysanthemum salad, which is their take on a citrus salad and sunflower seeds. I think this needs to be immediately eaten and we let it sit a bit as we finished our hot food. My wife had the roasted squash which she found very tasty and I had the lamb Chalupa, which was nicely greasy, and I was able to eat much like a taco but a very full taco If I lived in the neighborhood, I would probably be here every so often. It seemed to be all groups, but I would try to strike up a conversation with someone cute if I were still looking. I look forward to coming back with some friends!

Salmon tostada
Richard T.

A true neighborhood gem! My only regret was not trying this spot earlier. Love the vibes, great decor, and a super friendly and attentive staff that made us feel really comfortable. The egg, chicken wings and pork collar were fantastic. Cocktails were a bit tart for me so ill be sticking with beer next time.

I'd give this place 3/5 stars overall. The food was actually pretty good and definitely the highlight of the experience. Most of the dishes were flavorful and well prepared, so the kitchen did a solid job. The drinks were just okay - not bad, but nothing particularly memorable. What brought the experience down for me was the atmosphere and service. The bartender who took our order came across as kind of rude and not very welcoming, which set the tone for the night. Also, the metal music playing throughout the restaurant just wasn't my vibe and made it harder to relax and enjoy the meal. Overall, decent food, but the service and ambiance would make me think twice before coming back.

Empanada of happiness
Markus N.

I may be the last person in SF that gets how the Divisadero/Lower Haight is kind of a popping go-to place for delicious victuals. But. I'm not anymore. Feels like neighborhoods establish themselves, exist in this established state, maybe get replaced and decline a little, then reinvent when the time is right. Maybe because rents for popping places get popping and make it harder for new places to enter. Right now, this neighborhood feels like it's in a sweet spot. So take advantage of it. Stoa was the capstone of a Day of Eating in the neighborhood. A yummy toast and coffee, followed by a shared smashed burger, followed by a walk then oysters and mussels. Then a little more walking because goodness you need to otherwise you'll be a character out of Wall-E. Then ... finish here. Plan around the no reservations possible and allow a little extra time if it's a popular weekend day/time. The cocktails look good and the bartenders clearly care for their craft. The zeroes are tasty and leave you sufficiently clear-headed to think about your food. Sampled a few things and liked the tacos the best. Though there's a variety and a return trip is in order to sample more. That strawberry empanada was the perfect punctuation mark at the end of a perfect sentence. Go Divis. Go Stoa.

Front bar area with TV
Ashley R.

We came here after an early dinner in the area on a Saturday, so it wasn't too busy. The vibe feels nice and friendly, like an elevated neighborhood hang out spot. Since we came here after dinner, we just got drinks. The drinks were solid. There's 3 categories of drinks - my partner and I got drinks in the first and second groups and liked all the drinks we had. The drinks were a good strength and tasted great. The bartenders were friendly and liked to talk with people at the bar. A personal bonus for us was that the TV at the front was playing the OSU game - being Buckeyes, we were happy to watch the game while sipping our drinks.

Nirsh A.

Loved the salmon ceviche tostada and the potatoes! The mocha donuts are also delicious! Such a cute vibe. Will need to try the cocktails next time.

Wine & non alcoholic mocktails
Erica Y.

10/10!! Food - incredible. The rice porridge hit the spot! The mushrooms were well-cooked and the fancy kind, the eggs were perfectly soft-boiled like the kind in Japanese ramen, the chicken was full of flavor, and the rice porridge is cooked in chicken stock so it was also really jam-packed with savory goodness. But the peanuts & popcorn were just aight. Drinks - Every single drink we got was well-balanced, you could taste the ingredients listed in the cocktail, and we were really impressed with the mock tails too. Service- we sat at the bar, and our bartender was so amazing. She was attentive to every detail, always refilling our water, not pressuring us to order more but just checking in, even noticing that my napkin was dirty and replacing it with a clean one. She made the experience so smooth and we felt so taken care of. Heads up, No matter where you sit, you do have to go up to the bar to order. So no waiters come to you, even if you seat yourself at a booth. Ambiance- casual, lively, social, local vibes New fave local bar with bomb food and bomb drinks

Mochi on the bottom
Sirikanya p.

Very interesting spot. My friends and I planned to have dinner at another spot but stupid us.... No one checked if they were open or not. This place did not disappoint us though. You ordered at the bar both drink and food. Drinks were kinda not the usual drink but for somehow interesting. Food was nice. Service was not bad.

Strawberry empanada (top), warm chocolate cake (bottom)
Sabrina H.

Hmm I don't think that this is the most comprehensive review since I only came here to try their desserts but I would be down to come back and try their food items as well. The food items sounded really good but I was pretty full by the time I came here so instead, I tried both desserts on the menu- strawberry empanada and the warm chocolate cake- and felt pretty underwhelmed. The strawberry empanada was texturally kind of gummy and the sweet tofu was odd and a bit gritty with the lemongrass anglaise. The warm chocolate cake was very dry, dense, and floury but the mergingue or the peanut cream didn't do enough to moisten the cake. The food came out fast though and since it's a bar, you keep an open tab until you're ready to close it.

tempura squash blossom
Cynthia S.

I've been to Stoa a couple times now and love that I've found a cocktail bar that also doesn't compromise on its food menu. It's rare to be able to get a full, well thought out, sit down dinner at a bar so I'm glad I stumbled upon this place! I love how creative and unique each of its dishes are (and was even more surprised to find that everything is gluten free despite not advertising itself as such). Everything we tried had such unique texture and flavor components to it and you can really tell how thoughtfully planned out each dish was! Some of the dishes were a little more hit or miss, but what surprised me the most was that some of the most unassuming dishes (like the long beans or the little gem salad) were the most impressive and packed with flavor! Others (like the wings or the grilled mochi or the mochi donuts) were a little less impressive, although still interesting and tasty. Of everything we tried over multiple visits, my stand out favorites were the potato chips & dip, the cumin lamb belly tacos, and the tempura squash blossom. My partner loved the rice porridge and the lemongrass bbq pork collar. Overall I loved how creative the menu was here! Lots of experimental dishes you wouldn't be able to find elsewhere, and a very cool cocktail menu as well.

Chalupas, fat potatoes, Brussels sprouts. Flavors on point
Jenny O.

Great place! Food was insanely flavorful and delicious. Plates are a little small and on the pricey side. The ambiance is very relaxed and cool. Loved all the designs and art pieces. Service was very good, gave us water without us having to ask. Overall great experience.

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10 months ago

Great lowkey spot, friendly bartenders, simple but really well done cocktails, great smaller bites as well.

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1 year ago

STOA has phenomenal drinks! Always good vibes. I heard their food is amazing too, would love to try sometime

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Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room

Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room

4.6
(93 reviews)
0.9 mi

The craft cocktails are fantastic and designed to mimmic Asian dishes…read more Korean Cold Noodles ($19) Probably the most unique cocktail, and equally as delicious. Pandan Vieux Carré ($22) By far my favorite cocktail of the night - very well balanced, spirit forward but also bright and silky. A5 Wagyu & Black Truffle Old Fashioned ($25) This was also fantastic, rich and buttery old fashioned with truffle accents. The A5 Wagyu is sourced from the Niku Steakhouse local butcher shop! Ube Cheesecake ($19) Wonderful dessert cocktail to finish the night. We didn't have time to try the Escape Room connected to the Speakeasy, but we'll be back! There are two rooms, one in the front with a puzzle theme, and another in the back with a Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings) vibe. Staff was friendly and took time to explain the clever menu to us!

Lore's Wonderland escape room was a fun and delightfully whimsical experience. **This review is…read moremainly for the escape room, as we did not order any additional drinks outside of the escape room.** THE SPACE // Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room has cool themed decor everywhere, from the dimly-lit speakeasy/bar room in front, to the Middle Earth/Lord of the Rings-themed board game room, to the individual bathrooms, and of course the escape room's multiple Alice in Wonderland-themed rooms. Clearly a lot of effort went into building these rooms and evoking a certain vibe for each. THE ESCAPE ROOM // The puzzles in the escape room varied in difficulty - some required us to think a bit more, some required our observational skills to work harder, and others required a light level of physical skill/movement. We were perplexed a few times but never got stuck for too long, as the White Rabbit (played by Phoenix, the live actor/puzzle master) would jump in occasionally to provide clues over the speaker or in person. It took us about 1 hr 20 min to finish the entire escape room; I thought the pacing was good. THE [ESCAPE ROOM] DRINKS // Lore's escape room experience comes with "a flight of themed cocktails or mocktails, including "potion"-style drinks that are integrated into the experience as you progress", per the website. We got to choose one cocktail/mocktail option (Korean Cold Noodles) from a list on the website, and the other two drinks are pre-selected to supposedly fit into the Wonderland theme, with the flavors described online as "berry" and "peach". You can get both cocktail and mocktails for your party, in case some people want alcohol and others don't. We all enjoyed the flavor of the Korean Cold Noodles cocktail, which was refreshing and surprisingly a bit minty in the mocktail version. However, we didn't like the two other two pre-selected themed drinks as much. The "berry" drink gave us cherry cough syrup vibes, and the cocktail version of it was quite strong. The "peach" mocktail drink reminded me of canned fruit syrup; we also were missing the two cocktail versions, though we decided not to ask for them as the mocktail version already was less than impressive. One other missed expectation here was the size of the drinks that we received in the escape room. We were expecting full-sized cocktails, like what they serve in the speakeasy in front. Instead, we found out that the drinks are served in small "vials". Given the size of the drinks in the escape room, combined with us not even enjoying two out of the three drinks, I would preferred to go through the escape room without the drinks at all, and likely pay a bit less for the escape room then. OVERALL // I'd still recommend the escape room as a good one-time experience with a date/friends/family. Just don't expect too much from the included themed drinks! The speakeasy drinks on the main menu do sound unique/tasty, so I might come back again to try those sometime.

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Cool Middle Earth themed room with lots of seating! Plenty of board games available to play as well
Cool Middle Earth themed room with lots of seating! Plenty of board games available to play as well
Our Pineapple Cake cocktail is an ode to Taiwan.
Our Pineapple Cake cocktail is an ode to Taiwan.
Borscht: Gin, beets, apple, citrus, dill, egg white ($20) + Korean Cold Noodles w/ brandy, pear, pineapples, cucumber, sesame ($19)

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Borscht: Gin, beets, apple, citrus, dill, egg white ($20) + Korean Cold Noodles w/ brandy, pear, pineapples, cucumber, sesame ($19)
The Beehive

The Beehive

4.3
(454 reviews)
1.1 mi
•$$

Cool bar with bites in the Mission District. We got there shortly after it opened at 4pm on Friday…read moreafternoon. I was craving a refreshing craft cocktail and got one with the Green Emmanuelle. I liked the cardamom in the Beauty Mark as well that my partner ordered. We ordered shishito peppers and mushroom bahn mi sliders. The mushroom bahn mi sliders were amazing - the quality fillings and taste of the soft bun - I was unexpectedly hit with a bite of spice from maybe jalapeño seeds left but didn't sour my experience. The shishito peppers ended up being extremely spicy as well, those are usually just a few spicy and not the majority. The roasted lemon and salt was a wonderful combo but just too spicy to eat. However, the server very kindly removed it from our bill without us asking. We order the crostini because we were still hungry and that was an absolute hit. Delicious med-soft crostini with luscious berries and sweet honey. I didn't care my hands got sticky as it was soooo good! Great experience, I would be weary if the peppers as I'm a bit spice-intolerant but everything else was spot-on.

5% surcharge. They have the place all festive for the…read moreholidays. Here's the run-down: 4.6/5: Hot buttered cider $17. With Johnny Walker Black, Drambuie, apple cider, apple butter. I definitely prefer this version to the more traditional version that just adds water. 4.5/5: Pigs in a Blanket $15. The puff pastry is very buttery, and the sausage is higher-end.

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The Beehive
Cocktail Menu
Cocktail Menu
Cocktail Menu

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Cocktail Menu
Horsefeather

Horsefeather

4.0
(816 reviews)
0.3 mi
•$$

I couldn't stop thinking of Horsefeather's Lemon Butter Shrimp after having them at their Palo Alto…read morelocation. The same side order wasn't on the San Francisco menu which forced me to try something new, & now their Shrimp Tacos are another one of my most-loved dishes. The thick homemade corn tortillas are the perfect vehicle for the plump shrimp, salsa verde, avocado, picked onions, & havarti; I was skeptical about cheese with seafood but it works here. Our other two dishes weren't as praiseworthy. The Loaded Birria Baked Potato was certainly tasty, & while I expected nothing less given its name, it did have "food coma" written all over it. The Crab Cakes were the worst of our trio -- heavy fry, no lump crab, & an overwhelmingly tangy sauce. Bright & airy atrium, which is in stark contrast to the dimly-lit restaurant interior. Once our eyes adjusted to the lack of lighting, we took in the beautiful wood paneling & cool 70s vibe, & decided we'd like to return to this place.

What a quaint spot in Palo Alto. The decor looks thoughtful and modern, but homey. It has a…read morebeautiful bar area. The restaurant is in the Town and Country Village plaza so it's not too hard to find parking. It's in one of the corners of the plaza so it feels nicely tucked away. We decided to come for brunch on a Sunday and was seated right away. Their menu is small, but that means each option is unique. We got the BLT and the Soft Scramble. The BLT has their signature umami bacon, which is a candied bacon with an interesting seasoning that includes things like mushroom powder, seaweed powder, etc to give that "umami" flavor. The bacon was definitely a highlight. The wasabi aioli on the BLT was great too. The soft scramble was overall just okay.

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Indoor dining
Indoor dining
Crispy Chicken Sliders
Crispy Chicken Sliders
Queen of Hearts (n/a cocktail) $15.00

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Queen of Hearts (n/a cocktail) $15.00
Terrene

Terrene

4.1
(207 reviews)
2.7 mi
•$$

The food is very good - we've been here twice and had great food all around…read more Our first visit we had some trouble with the service, feeling rushed thru for what is a pretty expensive dinner, but the team there contacted us after (we had a reservation so they had our email) and they made it right by inviting us back as guest of Rob, the Bev Mgr. The 2nd visit the service was impeccable, everything went exactly as we had hoped. We will be back. We can recommend the scallops and the Salmon, the chicken was very tasty. Also, for the food, I recommend the dips and the fresh pitas, so good. We'll be back just for that. Reminds me of the old Berkeley restaurant years ago, Holy Land (IYKYK). Mmmm. Thanks!

We each ordered the sunrise sandwich - one with bacon and one with sausage. The sausage was super…read morethin and dry. The bacon was fine. The sandwich comes with a small dressed salad and three tomato halves. It was nice. The potatoes served with the sandwich were roasted but served cold and dry. Like they were left over from the night before. Randy enjoyed his mocha. We shared a very dry, flavorless except for the two small bits of jam in them, "cheese" danish. Definitely skip this $7 item that you could get at a circle k for $1.50 and it would taste fresher. You order when you walk in and someone delivers your order and then you're left to fend for yourself. We were able to locate some ketchup for the potatoes on our own. Nobody ever checked on us. This is the second place on this visit that's charging an extra 5% fee so that their employees can have a living wage and health insurance, which absolutely, every employee should have. With the prices they charge, they should already be able to do that, though. I read an article about this fee with many different names and I would rather pay a bit higher of a price and know the employees were taken care of than be surprised by this fee later. Two sandwich breakfasts, a mocha and a danish on top of tax and their healthy sf fee was $63. Steep for the quality we got. Won't be back.

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Terrene Lounge
Terrene Lounge
Steak and eggs
Steak and eggs
Seared scallops

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Seared scallops
Cavaña

Cavaña

3.9
(539 reviews)
2.4 mi
•$$$
Live music
Rooftop seating

* catching up on old backlogged drafts so this review may be a bit out of date…read more Cute little rooftop bar on top of the LUMA hotel. Good drinks and snacks, seating is limited so might need to wait a while or opt for the outdoor standing section on weekend nights. Firepit couches are nice if you are able to grab one! Would be a good stop to kick off the night but not really close to a lot of other great cocktail bars in walking distance since this area is kind of dead except for Giants game days.

My family and I recently visited Cavaña in SF on Sunday 6/21 at 5:30pm, expecting to enjoy what we…read moreunderstood to be a rooftop restaurant and bar. Unfortunately, our experience started off on the wrong foot before we even made it upstairs. When we arrived, the doorman, a tall, heavyset gentleman, was eating and did not acknowledge us as we approached. I politely asked if the restaurant was open, and instead of simply answering the question, he responded that it wasn't a restaurant but a rooftop bar, adding, "I don't know where you got that misconception." I found the comment unnecessarily dismissive and somewhat condescending. As an educated woman visiting with my husband and our minor daughter, I felt there were more professional ways to clarify the venue's concept. Rather than engage further, I chose to ignore the remark. He then pointed us toward the line, despite there being no one else waiting, and pressed the elevator button with an attitude that made us feel like we were inconveniencing him simply by being there. First impressions matter, and unfortunately this interaction left us feeling unwelcome before we even had the opportunity to experience the venue itself. Hospitality begins at the door, and I hope management provides additional customer service training to ensure future guests are greeted with courtesy and respect.

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Cavaña
Cavaña
Cavaña

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Laureate

Laureate

3.8
(43 reviews)
1.3 mi

I went to the Laureate a couple times last week. It happened to be right next-door to University…read morehigh school in San Francisco where I was watching Nor Cal basketball. I went in before the game the place was somewhat Vibing they had a balcony, fireplace, different seating areas and a bar, and they serve food. It wasn't that busy so the bartender came right over. I think his name was Dominic and he got me an IPA. The first time I went I also tried the deviled eggs (3) and they were cool. I have to say my buddies tried the chips and salsa so it came with some guac salsa and a bowl of chips. It was pretty good too. a , but after the game we came back in the place was still a vibe. It was cool and we are went back a few days later for another game with another buddy and sure enough it was cool this time I had a margarita and the expert Cadillac and he floated something like some triple sec in it and when we inquired about the Grand Marnier with him, he got a little attitude although the female bartender said that when she made Cadillac margaritas, she used grandma Marnie, so that was interesting but other than that, I would recommend a spot.

Laureate Bar honestly surprised me! I came here after dinner for a nightcap and I really enjoyed…read moreit. It's lowkey but stylish and the drinks are actually affordable. My martini ($13) was really good, I especially loved the olives they use here. I like the lounge style seating, there were couches, nooks, and chairs arranged in a very comfortable fashion. There were a decent amount of people inside for a Thursday night, mostly small groups of friends or people on dates. It's a really nice atmosphere, very relaxed and inviting to hangout in. Everyone in the bar was weirdly attractive and dressed well for San Francisco and that added to the vibes for sure too lol. Friendly bartender and good cocktail menu, they also have a kitchen for small bites. I am definitely coming back!

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Laureate
Sexy fireplace
Sexy fireplace
Laureate

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Bar Darling

Bar Darling

4.3
(64 reviews)
2.0 mi

Peacekeeper is one of my favorite bars in the city for the past decade, and when I found out Bar…read moreDarling is part of the same family, I knew I was in the right place. After a park day at the Presidio, we wanted to move the party and we decided on Bar Darling. It was a Saturday afternoon and it was jam packed. Luckily we were able to get some space in the alley way for us to order drinks from our server. We've been on a Friday around 5pm on another day, it wasn't as busy, so definitely a great place to start and maybe end the night. In a time where craft cocktails have gotten really expensive, Bar Darling offers craft cocktails (their signature cocktails) all for $14 each. If you know Peacekeeper, you know there's a lot of thought and imagination that goes into their drinks and it definitely shows here. My favorites were the Mama J (tequila based) and the Jaji (mezcal based). The aesthetic and vibes of this place is 10/10. Definitely great for a group of friends and/or date night!

Wanted to love it, really did, but I found the drinks underwhelming. Given the smashing success and…read moremy love for Peacekeeper, I had high expectations for Bar Darling and they sadly weren't lived up to. Drinks had almost a "watered down" flavor to them, not sure if the bartender was just having an off night or if they got too busy to maintain standards or what happened, but it wasn't a good beverage and certainly not worth the price. Even at 7pm it was packed and could definitely tell people had been there for awhile as there were multiple 20 something year old guys and gals stumbling around, so I guess they found the drinks to their liking (or more likely had so many they really couldn't ascertain the difference). Better drinks and better crowd control and Darling will be just fine. But as I mentioned, they were already packed stem to stern at 7pm so my guess is they're doing just fine already.

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Amazing lounge vibes
Amazing lounge vibes
Brand new opening!  Took these right when the bar was getting opened!
Brand new opening! Took these right when the bar was getting opened!
Killer bar

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Killer bar

STOA - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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